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FP switches

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k6dgw

FP switches

I have a very early K3 [#642). After several years, the FP switches
started to get a little unpredictable ... AGC might cause some other
unrelated action. I had been controlling the radio from the computer
much of the time, something I've now stopped. I've found that repeated
exercise of the switches seems to have rectified the previous behavior,
and those I rarely if ever use [e.g. RX ANT, ANT] still exhibit the
anomaly.**

I suspect these are sealed membrane-type switches, probably integral
with the front panel PCB? The radio works fine. I'm a bit reluctant to
disassemble the FP, it's been so long I can't remember if I had to
originally assemble it or it came as a unit. Anybody know if this is
repairable?

73,

Fred ["Skip"] K6DGW
Sparks NV DM09dn
Washoe County

**Anomaly [ahh-NOM-ahh-lee: n. ] A term used by NASA to describe any
unusual event or condition, such as a sticky switch or the rocket
landing pointy end down, in the desert outside of Phoenix.

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wayne burdick

Re: FP switches

Administrator

Hi Fred,

The switches are replaceable. Please contact support.

73,
Wayne
N6KR

> On Mar 20, 2018, at 4:09 PM, Fred Jensen <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> I have a very early K3 [#642). After several years, the FP switches started to get a little unpredictable ... AGC might cause some other unrelated action. I had been controlling the radio from the computer much of the time, something I've now stopped. I've found that repeated exercise of the switches seems to have rectified the previous behavior, and those I rarely if ever use [e.g. RX ANT, ANT] still exhibit the anomaly.**
>
> I suspect these are sealed membrane-type switches, probably integral with the front panel PCB? The radio works fine. I'm a bit reluctant to disassemble the FP, it's been so long I can't remember if I had to originally assemble it or it came as a unit. Anybody know if this is repairable?
>
> 73,
>
> Fred ["Skip"] K6DGW
> Sparks NV DM09dn
> Washoe County
>
> **Anomaly [ahh-NOM-ahh-lee: n. ] A term used by NASA to describe any unusual event or condition, such as a sticky switch or the rocket landing pointy end down, in the desert outside of Phoenix.
>
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Don Wilhelm

Re: FP switches

In reply to this post by k6dgw

Skip,

It is common (but not too frequent) for switches to develop a bit of
sluggishness if they are not used much. Just how much depends on the
environment they live in. Often they can be restored to 'like new'
simply by exercising the switch - maybe 40 to 50 times.
I don't think those pushbutton switches are completely hermetically sealed.

Most of my experience is with the K2 where similar pushbutton problems
sometimes show up (again, not often even on 20 year old K2s), and more
frequently than not, repeated exercise of the switch will cure it.

For repair, you replace the entire membrane assembly. Not terribly
difficult, but then the amount of difficulty is in the eye (and hands)
of the beholder. See the K3 Assembly Manual and reverse the relevant
assembly steps.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 3/20/2018 7:09 PM, Fred Jensen wrote:

> I have a very early K3 [#642). After several years, the FP switches
> started to get a little unpredictable ... AGC might cause some other
> unrelated action. I had been controlling the radio from the computer
> much of the time, something I've now stopped. I've found that repeated
> exercise of the switches seems to have rectified the previous behavior,
> and those I rarely if ever use [e.g. RX ANT, ANT] still exhibit the
> anomaly.**
>
> I suspect these are sealed membrane-type switches, probably integral
> with the front panel PCB? The radio works fine. I'm a bit reluctant to
> disassemble the FP, it's been so long I can't remember if I had to
> originally assemble it or it came as a unit. Anybody know if this is
> repairable?

k6dgw

Re: FP switches

In reply to this post by wayne burdick

I currently have an inoperative left shoulder [I'm left-handed [:-(( ]
which the VA is working on, and Don, W3FPR, has answered my question ...
exercising the switches does seem to correct the problem. I'm not up to
replacing the switches right now, so I'm not going to bother Esupport.
I've also found that very positive "PUSH" instead of tentative "TAP"
seems to aid in the problem correction.

DON: My K2 operates only in summer, outside, and I've had no switch
issues with it.

73,

Fred ["Skip"] K6DGW
Sparks NV DM09dn
Washoe County

On 3/20/2018 4:26 PM, Wayne Burdick wrote:
> Hi Fred,
>
> The switches are replaceable. Please contact support.
>
> 73,
> Wayne
> N6KR
>

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