Elecraft

Fw: SSB issue K3

Classic

List

Threaded

3 messages Options

Mark Pride

Fw: SSB issue K3

Thanks for the initial round of comments and suggestions.

The radio did go through the calibration as per the instructions - worked fine.

Symptoms: Full CW power yet on SSB with mic at 28 and comp at 25, initially full power out, then quickly drops off to say 10 to 15 watts. Have tried the ATU and no change - thinking it was a problem with SWR and the radio is protecting itself (of course on the same band, the CW power is stable with or without the ATU). Almost behaves like there is some AGC action and drives the power down. But then it will jump back up sporadically. Also the quality of the audio is weird (not sure how to describe). Don't believe the connectors are intermittent with the mic connection.

I have a second K3 and set both MENU and CONFIG items the same - still the problem continues.

The mic connection has been made directly to both the front and the rear connections - no change
With or without ATU on - no change

Different mics tried and no change.
Swapped power supplies (one K3 to the other) no change

Suggestions now?

Regards,
Mark, K1RX

On Monday, February 24, 2014 11:03 PM, Mark Pride <[hidden email]> wrote:

Yes did the cal and worked fine. Tried both front and rear mic connections - same result

Regards,
Mark, K1RX

Please excuse any typos here.

Matt Zilmer <[hidden email]> wrote:

Have you tried the transmit power calibration procedure on your newer
K3? I can tell you from experience that it is an essential item on a
K3 owner's list of things to do before going on the air with a new
KPA3.

73,
matt W6NIA

On Mon, 24 Feb 2014 18:53:21 -0800 (PST), you wrote:

>Just installed the KPA3 module, went from 10 watts to 100 watts - good.
>
>On CW, full power out, no problem.
>
>On SSB, initial voice peak drives power out to the max (100 w) but within moments, the power drops way down to say, 10 or 15 watts, then randomly spikes back up but not as a function of voice peaks. Is there a setting I should change to get that constant SSB power out? Seems there is something fundamentally wrong with the SSB mode on this particular radio.
>
>I have another K3 that has been in use for several years (no problems) and made the settings the same on both but still SSB power levels vary all over the place with the new K3.
>
>Some advice from experts here please? Thanks in advance!
>
>
>Regards,
>Mark, K1RX
>______________________________________________________________
>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
______________________________________________________________
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

Don Wilhelm-4

Re: Fw: SSB issue K3

Mark,

Try this:
Put the K3 into TX TEST so you have no output and don't bother other
hams on the air.
Then set your compression to zero.
Adjust the mic gain to produce 5 to 7 bars on the ALC meter.
Once you have accomplished that, increase the compression to whatever
you desire.
Exit TX TEST and see what happens.

You must have sufficient audio (as indicated by the ALC meter) for the
K3 power control system to work properly.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 2/25/2014 10:43 AM, Mark Pride wrote:

______________________________________________________________
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

Nr4c

Re: Fw: SSB issue K3

In reply to this post by Mark Pride

What mic are you using?

Did you set up the mic according to the procedure in the manual?

You must keep the mic in the same relative position while you speak and keep the voice power constant. Often when making test such as this, we move our head to get better view of meter and turn away from the mic. A headset with boom mic is useful for this test.

Good luck.

...bill nr4c

Sent from my Verizon Wireless 4G LTE DROID

Mark Pride <[hidden email]> wrote:

>Thanks for the initial round of comments and suggestions.
>
>The radio did go through the calibration as per the instructions - worked fine.
>
>Symptoms: Full CW power yet on SSB with mic at 28 and comp at 25, initially full power out, then quickly drops off to say 10 to 15 watts. Have tried the ATU and no change - thinking it was a problem with SWR and the radio is protecting itself (of course on the same band, the CW power is stable with or without the ATU). Almost behaves like there is some AGC action and drives the power down. But then it will jump back up sporadically. Also the quality of the audio is weird (not sure how to describe). Don't believe the connectors are intermittent with the mic connection.
>
>I have a second K3 and set both MENU and CONFIG items the same - still the problem continues.
>
>The mic connection has been made directly to both the front and the rear connections - no change
>With or without ATU on - no change
>
>Different mics tried and no change.
>Swapped power supplies (one K3 to the other) no change
>
>Suggestions now?
>
>Regards,
>Mark, K1RX
>
>
>
>
>
>On Monday, February 24, 2014 11:03 PM, Mark Pride <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
>Yes did the cal and worked fine. Tried both front and rear mic connections - same result
>
>
>Regards,
>Mark, K1RX
>
>Please excuse any typos here.
>
>
>Matt Zilmer <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
>
>Have you tried the transmit power calibration procedure on your newer
>K3? I can tell you from experience that it is an essential item on a
>K3 owner's list of things to do before going on the air with a new
>KPA3.
>
>73,
>matt W6NIA
>
>On Mon, 24 Feb 2014 18:53:21 -0800 (PST), you wrote:
>
>>Just installed the KPA3 module, went from 10 watts to 100 watts - good.
>>
>>On CW, full power out, no problem.
>>
>>On SSB, initial voice peak drives power out to the max (100 w) but within moments, the power drops way down to say, 10 or 15 watts, then randomly spikes back up but not as a function of voice peaks. Is there a setting I should change to get that constant SSB power out? Seems there is something fundamentally wrong with the SSB mode on this particular radio.
>>
>>I have another K3 that has been in use for several years (no problems) and made the settings the same on both but still SSB power levels vary all over the place with the new K3.
>>
>>Some advice from experts here please? Thanks in advance!
>>
>>
>>Regards,
>>Mark, K1RX
>>______________________________________________________________
>>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
>______________________________________________________________
>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
>