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Fw: K3 Birdie 28004.560 kHz

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Toby Pennington

Fw: K3 Birdie 28004.560 kHz

----- Original Message -----
From: "Toby Pennington" <[hidden email]>
To: "Poul Erik Karlshøj (PKA)" <[hidden email]>
Sent: Monday, February 24, 2014 6:12 AM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Birdie 28004.560 kHz

> Paul, I can confirm there is a birdie on about that frequency, but I
> also hear a lot of signals nearby.
>
> IF you don't have some kind of emergency that requires you to be on this
> freq., I would just work around it for now. 10 meters is a very big
> band.
>
> Elecraft will take care of it in due time.
>
> Toby K4NH
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Poul Erik Karlshøj (PKA)" <[hidden email]>
> To: <[hidden email]>
> Sent: Monday, February 24, 2014 3:23 AM
> Subject: [Elecraft] K3 Birdie 28004.560 kHz
>
>
>> After upgrading to MCU 04.83 I have a strong birdie (S6) on 28004.560
>> kHz.
>> I think I read about someone having the same, just only a short while
>> after power ON.
>> This one is constantly present and is quite annoying.
>> What is causing it and how may it be removed?
>> /oz4un
>> Paul
>>
>>
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> Elecraft mailing list
>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>>
>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>

Ken Chandler

Re: Fw: K3 Birdie 28004.560 kHz

Hi Paul
All updates completed, No Birdie here its very clean on that frequency.

Ken..G0ORH

------ Original Message ------
From: "Toby Pennington" <[hidden email]>
To: [hidden email]
Sent: 24/02/2014 14:19:51
Subject: [Elecraft] Fw: K3 Birdie 28004.560 kHz

>
>----- Original Message ----- From: "Toby Pennington"
><[hidden email]>
>To: "Poul Erik Karlshøj (PKA)" <[hidden email]>
>Sent: Monday, February 24, 2014 6:12 AM
>Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Birdie 28004.560 kHz
>
>
>>Paul, I can confirm there is a birdie on about that frequency, but I
>>also hear a lot of signals nearby.
>>
>>IF you don't have some kind of emergency that requires you to be on
>>this freq., I would just work around it for now. 10 meters is a very
>>big band.
>>
>>Elecraft will take care of it in due time.
>>
>>Toby K4NH
>>
>>----- Original Message ----- From: "Poul Erik Karlshøj (PKA)"
>><[hidden email]>
>>To: <[hidden email]>
>>Sent: Monday, February 24, 2014 3:23 AM
>>Subject: [Elecraft] K3 Birdie 28004.560 kHz
>>
>>
>>>After upgrading to MCU 04.83 I have a strong birdie (S6) on 28004.560
>>>kHz.
>>>I think I read about someone having the same, just only a short while
>>>after power ON.
>>>This one is constantly present and is quite annoying.
>>>What is causing it and how may it be removed?
>>>/oz4un
>>>Paul
>>>
>>>
>>>______________________________________________________________
>>>Elecraft mailing list
>>>Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>>>Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>>>Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>>>
>>>This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>>>Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>>
>
>______________________________________________________________
>Elecraft mailing list
>Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
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>Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
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Wes (N7WS)

Re: Fw: K3 Birdie 28004.560 kHz

In reply to this post by Toby Pennington

Sadly, they probably won't if my recent experience is a guide.

On Feb 15 I wrote to this reflector:

"In over five years of ownership I've never heard this birdie before so I
don't know whether it's new or I just missed it before.

The birdie is S9 on 7.067 MHz and tunes at a 6X rate in the negative
direction. It's definitely internal. Anyone else have this?"

Two helpful guys responded and said that they did not hear it. I opened the
case and took all of 30 seconds to determine that the issue could be resolved
(temporarily I'm afraid) by wiggling the coax cables on the frequency reference
board. The connectors on this board a badly corroded and moving them apparently
broke through the corrosion and improved the connection. The birdie is still
there but is near the noise level and no longer S9.

I reported my findings, including macro photos of the issue to Elecraft but
never heard a peep back. Rather disappointing.

I've posted the photos here:
https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Elecraft_K3/photos/albums/276423773 (The
cable to J2 is purposely unplugged to show the difference between the cable
connector and the socket.)

Wes N7WS

On 2/24/2014 7:19 AM, Toby Pennington wrote:

> Paul, I can confirm there is a birdie on about that frequency, but I also
> hear a lot of signals nearby.
>>
>> IF you don't have some kind of emergency that requires you to be on this
>> freq., I would just work around it for now. 10 meters is a very big band.
>>
>> Elecraft will take care of it in due time.
>>
>> Toby K4NH
>>

Matt Zilmer-3

Re: Fw: K3 Birdie 28004.560 kHz

Hi Wes,

These are very well resolved photos. From what I can see, there's no
center pin on the top TMP plug - but this may be an illusion. If it
were true, you'd have more problems than a birdie.

If I were you'd I'd request a new TMP cable and see how that works to
fix the birdie problem. Contact [hidden email] and see what
they can do to assist.

73,
matt W6NIA

On Mon, 24 Feb 2014 10:01:53 -0700, you wrote:

>Sadly, they probably won't if my recent experience is a guide.
>
>On Feb 15 I wrote to this reflector:
>
> "In over five years of ownership I've never heard this birdie before so I
> don't know whether it's new or I just missed it before.
>
> The birdie is S9 on 7.067 MHz and tunes at a 6X rate in the negative
> direction. It's definitely internal. Anyone else have this?"
>
>
>Two helpful guys responded and said that they did not hear it. I opened the
>case and took all of 30 seconds to determine that the issue could be resolved
>(temporarily I'm afraid) by wiggling the coax cables on the frequency reference
>board. The connectors on this board a badly corroded and moving them apparently
>broke through the corrosion and improved the connection. The birdie is still
>there but is near the noise level and no longer S9.
>
>I reported my findings, including macro photos of the issue to Elecraft but
>never heard a peep back. Rather disappointing.
>
>I've posted the photos here:
>https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Elecraft_K3/photos/albums/276423773 (The
>cable to J2 is purposely unplugged to show the difference between the cable
>connector and the socket.)
>
>Wes N7WS
>
>
>
>On 2/24/2014 7:19 AM, Toby Pennington wrote:
>> Paul, I can confirm there is a birdie on about that frequency, but I also
>> hear a lot of signals nearby.
>>>
>>> IF you don't have some kind of emergency that requires you to be on this
>>> freq., I would just work around it for now. 10 meters is a very big band.
>>>
>>> Elecraft will take care of it in due time.
>>>
>>> Toby K4NH
>>>
>
>______________________________________________________________
>Elecraft mailing list
>Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
>This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

Matt Zilmer, W6NIA
--
"Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will
spend the first four sharpening the axe." -A. Lincoln
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wayne burdick

Re: Fw: K3 Birdie 28004.560 kHz

Administrator

In reply to this post by Wes (N7WS)

Wes,

We'll be happy to send you replacement cables.

That said, I've never seen anything like this. I have a prototype K3 in my lab that was built in 2007 and shows no evidence of corrosion on TMP connectors, and I live less than a mile from saltwater. I'm glad you found the problem in your case, but fortunately it doesn't apply to any significant number of K3s.

Since TMP connectors use industry-standard plating, I would be concerned that other equipment at your QTH is being similarly affected. Are you by any chance using air conditioning that humidifies the air? Otherwise I'm having a hard time understanding how your QTH (Tuscon?) could affect connectors in this way.

73,
Wayne
N6KR

On Feb 24, 2014, at 9:01 AM, "Wes (N7WS)" <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Sadly, they probably won't if my recent experience is a guide.
>
> On Feb 15 I wrote to this reflector:
>
> "In over five years of ownership I've never heard this birdie before so I
> don't know whether it's new or I just missed it before.
>
> The birdie is S9 on 7.067 MHz and tunes at a 6X rate in the negative
> direction. It's definitely internal. Anyone else have this?"
>
>
> Two helpful guys responded and said that they did not hear it. I opened the case and took all of 30 seconds to determine that the issue could be resolved (temporarily I'm afraid) by wiggling the coax cables on the frequency reference board. The connectors on this board a badly corroded and moving them apparently broke through the corrosion and improved the connection. The birdie is still there but is near the noise level and no longer S9.
>
> I reported my findings, including macro photos of the issue to Elecraft but never heard a peep back. Rather disappointing.
>
> I've posted the photos here: https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Elecraft_K3/photos/albums/276423773 (The cable to J2 is purposely unplugged to show the difference between the cable connector and the socket.)
>
> Wes N7WS
>
>
>
> On 2/24/2014 7:19 AM, Toby Pennington wrote:
>> Paul, I can confirm there is a birdie on about that frequency, but I also hear a lot of signals nearby.
>>>
>>> IF you don't have some kind of emergency that requires you to be on this freq., I would just work around it for now. 10 meters is a very big band.
>>>
>>> Elecraft will take care of it in due time.
>>>
>>> Toby K4NH
>>>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

Rick WA6NHC

Re: Fw: K3 Birdie 28004.560 kHz

In reply to this post by Matt Zilmer-3

While the picture is nice and sharp, even when zooming in it is not
clear about the center pin existence because of the angle of the shot.
The pin would just happen to line up with the slot on the other side of
the connector, not enough contrast or color variation to see it clearly.

However, what IS clear is the level of corrosion. /That /should be of
interest to the support team. It appears that a temporary solution is
to clean the metals, very carefully, until a new cable arrives (twist in
place?). But it won't be a permanent solution since the board connector
is also corroded. Unless exposed to a long term harsh environment (high
humidity sea air) it is rather surprising. You might want to check
other TMP connectors to see if they're in the same or similar condition.

If the others are not in the same shape, it's possible you have a bad
connector, but to also have a bad plug at the same location would defy
most odds.

Please keep us informed.

73.
Rick wa6nhc

On 2/24/2014 9:08 AM, Matt Zilmer wrote:

> Hi Wes,
>
> These are very well resolved photos. From what I can see, there's no
> center pin on the top TMP plug - but this may be an illusion. If it
> were true, you'd have more problems than a birdie.
>
> If I were you'd I'd request a new TMP cable and see how that works to
> fix the birdie problem. Contact [hidden email] and see what
> they can do to assist.
>
> 73,
> matt W6NIA
>

Toby Pennington

Re: Fw: K3 Birdie 28004.560 kHz

In reply to this post by Toby Pennington

Putting the KAT 500 in "Sleep when Idle" got rid of the birdie. I am not
using a control program or other computer interfacing so this will work for
me. Birdie is bye bye!

Toby K4NH

----- Original Message -----
From: "Toby Pennington" <[hidden email]>
To: <[hidden email]>
Sent: Monday, February 24, 2014 6:19 AM
Subject: [Elecraft] Fw: K3 Birdie 28004.560 kHz

----- Original Message -----
From: "Toby Pennington" <[hidden email]>
To: "Poul Erik Karlshøj (PKA)" <[hidden email]>
Sent: Monday, February 24, 2014 6:12 AM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Birdie 28004.560 kHz

______________________________________________________________
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Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

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Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

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Rick Johnson-2

Re: Fw: K3 Birdie 28004.560 kHz

I am rather jealous of your problem with an S3 birdie.
My powerline noise on a good day is S6. OCFD all bands.

73,
Rick W3BI

> From: [hidden email]
> To: [hidden email]
> Date: Mon, 24 Feb 2014 10:14:59 -0800
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Fw: K3 Birdie 28004.560 kHz
>
> Putting the KAT 500 in "Sleep when Idle" got rid of the birdie. I am not
> using a control program or other computer interfacing so this will work for
> me. Birdie is bye bye!
>
> Toby K4NH
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Toby Pennington" <[hidden email]>
> To: <[hidden email]>
> Sent: Monday, February 24, 2014 6:19 AM
> Subject: [Elecraft] Fw: K3 Birdie 28004.560 kHz
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Toby Pennington" <[hidden email]>
> To: "Poul Erik Karlshøj (PKA)" <[hidden email]>
> Sent: Monday, February 24, 2014 6:12 AM
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Birdie 28004.560 kHz
>
>
> > Paul, I can confirm there is a birdie on about that frequency, but I
> > also hear a lot of signals nearby.
> >
> > IF you don't have some kind of emergency that requires you to be on this
> > freq., I would just work around it for now. 10 meters is a very big
> > band.
> >
> > Elecraft will take care of it in due time.
> >
> > Toby K4NH
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Poul Erik Karlshøj (PKA)" <[hidden email]>
> > To: <[hidden email]>
> > Sent: Monday, February 24, 2014 3:23 AM
> > Subject: [Elecraft] K3 Birdie 28004.560 kHz
> >
> >
> >> After upgrading to MCU 04.83 I have a strong birdie (S6) on 28004.560
> >> kHz.
> >> I think I read about someone having the same, just only a short while
> >> after power ON.
> >> This one is constantly present and is quite annoying.
> >> What is causing it and how may it be removed?
> >> /oz4un
> >> Paul
> >>
> >>
> >> ______________________________________________________________
> >> Elecraft mailing list
> >> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> >> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> >> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
> >>
> >> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> >> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> >
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

Wes (N7WS)

Re: Fw: K3 Birdie 28004.560 kHz

In reply to this post by Rick WA6NHC

I've added a couple of more photos. The center pin is most assuredly there. I
wanted the juxtaposition to show the difference in metallurgy between the cable
connector and the socket, and demonstrate that the photo color balance wasn't
"coloring" (sorry) the issue. The other photo show the mother board and
although it is more difficult to see the connectors in the photo, to the eye,
the difference between the XREF board connectors and the ones on the motherboard
of obvious.

Replacing the cables wouldn't hurt, however, IMHO it's the XREF board that
really needs replacing. All of these connectors reside in the same
air-conditioned, non-humidified environment. The day I wrote my original
(unanswered email) the RH in Tucson was 6%.

The only time this radio has been out of this environment is when it spent two
months at Aptos getting birth defects fixed.

Wes N7WS

On 2/24/2014 10:21 AM, Rick WA6NHC wrote:

> While the picture is nice and sharp, even when zooming in it is not clear
> about the center pin existence because of the angle of the shot. The pin
> would just happen to line up with the slot on the other side of the connector,
> not enough contrast or color variation to see it clearly.
>
> However, what IS clear is the level of corrosion. /That /should be of interest
> to the support team. It appears that a temporary solution is to clean the
> metals, very carefully, until a new cable arrives (twist in place?). But it
> won't be a permanent solution since the board connector is also corroded.
> Unless exposed to a long term harsh environment (high humidity sea air) it is
> rather surprising. You might want to check other TMP connectors to see if
> they're in the same or similar condition.
>
> If the others are not in the same shape, it's possible you have a bad
> connector, but to also have a bad plug at the same location would defy most odds.
>
> Please keep us informed.
>
> 73.
> Rick wa6nhc
>
> On 2/24/2014 9:08 AM, Matt Zilmer wrote:
>> Hi Wes,
>>
>> These are very well resolved photos. From what I can see, there's no
>> center pin on the top TMP plug - but this may be an illusion. If it
>> were true, you'd have more problems than a birdie.
>>
>> If I were you'd I'd request a new TMP cable and see how that works to
>> fix the birdie problem. Contact [hidden email] and see what
>> they can do to assist.
>>
>> 73,
>> matt W6NIA
>>
>

W6NF

Re: Fw: K3 Birdie 28004.560 kHz

In reply to this post by wayne burdick

As I previously commented on this thread, we had our K3 less than
1/4-mile from the ocean in Ecuador for 5 months and, with the exception
of hardware (screws, nuts, etc), we have *no* issues with corrosion
anywhere in the radio.

Jack, W6NF/VE4SNA
Shelley, K7MKL

On 2/24/2014 9:21 AM, Wayne Burdick wrote:

> Wes,
>
> We'll be happy to send you replacement cables.
>
> That said, I've never seen anything like this. I have a prototype K3 in my lab that was built in 2007 and shows no evidence of corrosion on TMP connectors, and I live less than a mile from saltwater. I'm glad you found the problem in your case, but fortunately it doesn't apply to any significant number of K3s.
>
> Since TMP connectors use industry-standard plating, I would be concerned that other equipment at your QTH is being similarly affected. Are you by any chance using air conditioning that humidifies the air? Otherwise I'm having a hard time understanding how your QTH (Tuscon?) could affect connectors in this way.
>
> 73,
> Wayne
> N6KR
>
>
>
> On Feb 24, 2014, at 9:01 AM, "Wes (N7WS)" <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
>> Sadly, they probably won't if my recent experience is a guide.
>>
>> On Feb 15 I wrote to this reflector:
>>
>> "In over five years of ownership I've never heard this birdie before so I
>> don't know whether it's new or I just missed it before.
>>
>> The birdie is S9 on 7.067 MHz and tunes at a 6X rate in the negative
>> direction. It's definitely internal. Anyone else have this?"
>>
>>
>> Two helpful guys responded and said that they did not hear it. I opened the case and took all of 30 seconds to determine that the issue could be resolved (temporarily I'm afraid) by wiggling the coax cables on the frequency reference board. The connectors on this board a badly corroded and moving them apparently broke through the corrosion and improved the connection. The birdie is still there but is near the noise level and no longer S9.
>>
>> I reported my findings, including macro photos of the issue to Elecraft but never heard a peep back. Rather disappointing.
>>
>> I've posted the photos here: https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Elecraft_K3/photos/albums/276423773 (The cable to J2 is purposely unplugged to show the difference between the cable connector and the socket.)
>>
>> Wes N7WS
>>
>>
>>
>> On 2/24/2014 7:19 AM, Toby Pennington wrote:
>>> Paul, I can confirm there is a birdie on about that frequency, but I also hear a lot of signals nearby.
>>>> IF you don't have some kind of emergency that requires you to be on this freq., I would just work around it for now. 10 meters is a very big band.
>>>>
>>>> Elecraft will take care of it in due time.
>>>>
>>>> Toby K4NH
>>>>
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> Elecraft mailing list
>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>>
>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>

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Mike Harris-9

Re: Fw: K3 Birdie 28004.560 kHz

In reply to this post by Rick Johnson-2

See CONFIG > SIG RMV page 59 Owners Manual Rev D10.

Regards,

Mike VP8NO
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wayne burdick

Re: K3 Birdie 28004.560 kHz

Administrator

In reply to this post by Wes (N7WS)

Wes,

The level of corrosion shown in your photos is so bizarre that it is of general scientific interest. Therefore, I'm going to replace your board at no charge just so we can see if it happens again. Despite the 6% humidity. Please call CS to make the arrangements. Tell them Wayne sent you.

73,
Wayne
N6KR

On Feb 24, 2014, at 10:27 AM, "Wes (N7WS)" <[hidden email]> wrote:

> I've added a couple of more photos. The center pin is most assuredly there. I wanted the juxtaposition to show the difference in metallurgy between the cable connector and the socket, and demonstrate that the photo color balance wasn't "coloring" (sorry) the issue. The other photo show the mother board and although it is more difficult to see the connectors in the photo, to the eye, the difference between the XREF board connectors and the ones on the motherboard of obvious.
>
> Replacing the cables wouldn't hurt, however, IMHO it's the XREF board that really needs replacing. All of these connectors reside in the same air-conditioned, non-humidified environment. The day I wrote my original (unanswered email) the RH in Tucson was 6%.
>
> The only time this radio has been out of this environment is when it spent two months at Aptos getting birth defects fixed.
>
> Wes N7WS

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