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General Coverage Question - K3

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Don Cunningham

General Coverage Question - K3

Well, I have completed K3, s/n 4076 and all checks well at the low power
level with one exception. I can't figure out how to put the K3 into
"general coverage" mode so I can see if the KBPF3 is recognized and working.
All else I have found, which in itself is amazing to me, hi. I want to
check the KBPF3, then install the 100w amp while I'm on a roll!!! By the
way, the W2 was a fun build, and works like a champ too!!
73,
Don, WB5HAK

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Brett Howard

Re: General Coverage Question - K3

I've not got one in my radio but you should be able to hear it click in
as you tune well out beyond the edge of a ham band. So maybe put it
into really coarse fast tune mode and head off the top end of the 80
meter band until you hear it click into place? You could also pick a
frequency way between bands and turn the KBPF3 on/off and compare
amplitudes. Keep in mind I believe that you have to power cycle the
radio after making changes to options that are installed.

~Brett (KC7OTG)

On Sat, 2010-03-20 at 19:00 -0500, Don Cunningham wrote:

> Well, I have completed K3, s/n 4076 and all checks well at the low power
> level with one exception. I can't figure out how to put the K3 into
> "general coverage" mode so I can see if the KBPF3 is recognized and working.
> All else I have found, which in itself is amazing to me, hi. I want to
> check the KBPF3, then install the 100w amp while I'm on a roll!!! By the
> way, the W2 was a fun build, and works like a champ too!!
> 73,
> Don, WB5HAK
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
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Don Cunningham

Re: General Coverage Question - K3

Brett,
You are a genious, it worked and the KBPF3 lives, hi. That was too simple,
I just didn't try tuning out of the ham bands!!! I still have yet to figure
out how to do a lot on the rig (like entering a direct frequency), so now I
can finish the build with the KPA3 amp. Thanks for your insight, Brett.
73,
Don, WB5HAK

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Brett Howard

Re: General Coverage Question - K3

Entering a direct freq is easy...

Press FREQ ENT (red button high right from the knob). Then use the red
numbers to enter the freq (and you can abbreviate). You can put in 14.2
or you can enter 142 and both will put you on the same freq.

~Brett

On Sat, 2010-03-20 at 19:17 -0500, Don Cunningham wrote:
> Brett,
> You are a genious, it worked and the KBPF3 lives, hi. That was too simple,
> I just didn't try tuning out of the ham bands!!! I still have yet to figure
> out how to do a lot on the rig (like entering a direct frequency), so now I
> can finish the build with the KPA3 amp. Thanks for your insight, Brett.
> 73,
> Don, WB5HAK
>

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Brett Howard

Re: General Coverage Question - K3

In reply to this post by Don Cunningham

Oh yea and don't forget to press the enter button on the bottom right of
the keypad when you've completed the frequency you wish to enter.

~Brett

On Sat, 2010-03-20 at 19:17 -0500, Don Cunningham wrote:
> Brett,
> You are a genious, it worked and the KBPF3 lives, hi. That was too simple,
> I just didn't try tuning out of the ham bands!!! I still have yet to figure
> out how to do a lot on the rig (like entering a direct frequency), so now I
> can finish the build with the KPA3 amp. Thanks for your insight, Brett.
> 73,
> Don, WB5HAK
>

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Don Cunningham

Re: General Coverage Question - K3

Well, I was doing it all right, but didn't see the "return icon" on the
keypad. I'm getting too old, Brett, I don't do icons well at all, hi.
Thanks once more. I will read the manual, after I finish the build and
play, I promise!!!
73,
Don, WB5HAK

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Brett Howard

Re: General Coverage Question - K3

Get your PA in! I just wanted to make sure you were able to move on as
quick as possible... Have fun!!!

~Brett (KC7OTG)

On Sat, 2010-03-20 at 19:28 -0500, Don Cunningham wrote:
> Well, I was doing it all right, but didn't see the "return icon" on the
> keypad. I'm getting too old, Brett, I don't do icons well at all, hi.
> Thanks once more. I will read the manual, after I finish the build and
> play, I promise!!!
> 73,
> Don, WB5HAK
>

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Andy Faber

K3 ERR KEY/PTT Problem

In reply to this post by Don Cunningham

Wayne, Eric and Gang,
I am planning to take my K3 to Aruba Tuesday night, but in testing it out on
phone just now, I started getting ERR KEY messages, which change to ERR PTT
if PTT is asserted. The radio seems to receive ok but won't transmit. The
menus also don't appear.
The manual says this is due to asserting key or ptt line in power up, but
it happened when the radio was already on.
Not sure of the firmware I'm using (can't communicate with the radio) but
I think it's 3.83 and 2.54. The radio is Ser. 076.
Any thoughts? Need to fix this quickly for WPX, or I'll have to go back to
using our Pro2 (ugh!)
73, andy, ae6y

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Don Wilhelm-4

Re: K3 ERR KEY/PTT Problem

Andy,

It may be that you have a glitch in the firmware - yes, ERR PTT or ERR
KEY should only appear at power on time (although you might want to
check to be certain your power supply is not glitching off).

I would suggest you try a firmware download - use K3 Utility, download
the latest release firmware and attempt to load it. Be certain you are
in Advanced Mode and check all the boxes to force not only the MCU, but
the FPF and DSP firmware to load as well.
If the firmware load from K3 Utility is not successful, try the steps to
Force a Firmware Download - see the K3 Utility help file or in the K3
manual.

I won't guarantee the firmware load will fix your problem, but it is
easy to do and has some chance of fixing it.

73,
Don W3FPR

Andy Faber wrote:

> Wayne, Eric and Gang,
> I am planning to take my K3 to Aruba Tuesday night, but in testing it out on
> phone just now, I started getting ERR KEY messages, which change to ERR PTT
> if PTT is asserted. The radio seems to receive ok but won't transmit. The
> menus also don't appear.
> The manual says this is due to asserting key or ptt line in power up, but
> it happened when the radio was already on.
> Not sure of the firmware I'm using (can't communicate with the radio) but
> I think it's 3.83 and 2.54. The radio is Ser. 076.
> Any thoughts? Need to fix this quickly for WPX, or I'll have to go back to
> using our Pro2 (ugh!)
>
>

Andy Faber

Re: K3 ERR KEY/PTT Problem

Don,
Thanks. I just did a full reload of the same firmware, but the symptoms
remain the same.
73, andy, ae6y

--------------------------------------------------
From: "Don Wilhelm" <[hidden email]>
Sent: Saturday, March 20, 2010 6:13 PM
To: "Andy Faber" <[hidden email]>
Cc: "[hidden email]" <[hidden email]>
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 ERR KEY/PTT Problem

> Andy,
>
> It may be that you have a glitch in the firmware - yes, ERR PTT or ERR KEY
> should only appear at power on time (although you might want to check to
> be certain your power supply is not glitching off).
>
> I would suggest you try a firmware download - use K3 Utility, download the
> latest release firmware and attempt to load it. Be certain you are in
> Advanced Mode and check all the boxes to force not only the MCU, but the
> FPF and DSP firmware to load as well.
> If the firmware load from K3 Utility is not successful, try the steps to
> Force a Firmware Download - see the K3 Utility help file or in the K3
> manual.
>
> I won't guarantee the firmware load will fix your problem, but it is easy
> to do and has some chance of fixing it.
>
> 73,
> Don W3FPR
>
> Andy Faber wrote:
>> Wayne, Eric and Gang,
>> I am planning to take my K3 to Aruba Tuesday night, but in testing it out
>> on phone just now, I started getting ERR KEY messages, which change to
>> ERR PTT if PTT is asserted. The radio seems to receive ok but won't
>> transmit. The menus also don't appear.
>> The manual says this is due to asserting key or ptt line in power up,
>> but it happened when the radio was already on.
>> Not sure of the firmware I'm using (can't communicate with the radio)
>> but I think it's 3.83 and 2.54. The radio is Ser. 076.
>> Any thoughts? Need to fix this quickly for WPX, or I'll have to go back
>> to using our Pro2 (ugh!)
>>

Buck - k4ia

Re: K3 ERR KEY/PTT Problem

In reply to this post by Andy Faber

Most likely it is your logging control program that is already asserting a
PTT signal when you turn on the radio. Check your PTT settings, RTS, DTR .
Make sure you boot the logging software after you have the radio on.

Buck
k4ia
k3 #101

In a message dated 3/20/2010 9:03:15 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
[hidden email] writes:
Wayne, Eric and Gang,
I am planning to take my K3 to Aruba Tuesday night, but in testing it out
on
phone just now, I started getting ERR KEY messages, which change to ERR
PTT
if PTT is asserted. The radio seems to receive ok but won't transmit.
The
menus also don't appear.
The manual says this is due to asserting key or ptt line in power up, but
it happened when the radio was already on.
Not sure of the firmware I'm using (can't communicate with the radio) but
I think it's 3.83 and 2.54. The radio is Ser. 076.
Any thoughts? Need to fix this quickly for WPX, or I'll have to go back to
using our Pro2 (ugh!)
73, andy, ae6y

______________________________________________________________
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Andy Faber

Re: K3 ERR KEY/PTT Problem

Buck,
That may be possible, though I've never had that happen before. But isn't
there some way simply to clear the error and move forward?
73, andy, ae6y

--------------------------------------------------
From: <[hidden email]>
Sent: Saturday, March 20, 2010 8:12 PM
To: <[hidden email]>; <[hidden email]>
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 ERR KEY/PTT Problem

> Most likely it is your logging control program that is already asserting
> a
> PTT signal when you turn on the radio. Check your PTT settings, RTS, DTR
> .
> Make sure you boot the logging software after you have the radio on.
>
> Buck
> k4ia
> k3 #101
>
>
> In a message dated 3/20/2010 9:03:15 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
> [hidden email] writes:
> Wayne, Eric and Gang,
> I am planning to take my K3 to Aruba Tuesday night, but in testing it out
> on
> phone just now, I started getting ERR KEY messages, which change to ERR
> PTT
> if PTT is asserted. The radio seems to receive ok but won't transmit.
> The
> menus also don't appear.
> The manual says this is due to asserting key or ptt line in power up, but
> it happened when the radio was already on.
> Not sure of the firmware I'm using (can't communicate with the radio) but
> I think it's 3.83 and 2.54. The radio is Ser. 076.
> Any thoughts? Need to fix this quickly for WPX, or I'll have to go back
> to
> using our Pro2 (ugh!)
> 73, andy, ae6y
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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
>

Buck - k4ia

Re: K3 ERR KEY/PTT Problem

In reply to this post by Andy Faber

The only way to clear the error is to get the logging program to stop doing
whatever misbehavior is going on. I had this happen while I was playing
with the configuration settings in N1MM while the radio was on. I had to
terminate N1MM and turn off the radio. I never did figure out what caused
it but I did make it go away.

k4ia

In a message dated 3/21/2010 2:12:32 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
[hidden email] writes:
Buck,
That may be possible, though I've never had that happen before. But isn't
there some way simply to clear the error and move forward?
73, andy, ae6y

--------------------------------------------------
From: <[hidden email]>
Sent: Saturday, March 20, 2010 8:12 PM
To: <[hidden email]>; <[hidden email]>
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 ERR KEY/PTT Problem

> Most likely it is your logging control program that is already
asserting
> a
> PTT signal when you turn on the radio. Check your PTT settings, RTS,
DTR

> .
> Make sure you boot the logging software after you have the radio on.
>
> Buck
> k4ia
> k3 #101
>
>
> In a message dated 3/20/2010 9:03:15 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
> [hidden email] writes:
> Wayne, Eric and Gang,
> I am planning to take my K3 to Aruba Tuesday night, but in testing it

out
> on
> phone just now, I started getting ERR KEY messages, which change to ERR
> PTT
> if PTT is asserted. The radio seems to receive ok but won't transmit.
> The
> menus also don't appear.
> The manual says this is due to asserting key or ptt line in power up,
but
> it happened when the radio was already on.
> Not sure of the firmware I'm using (can't communicate with the radio)
but

> I think it's 3.83 and 2.54. The radio is Ser. 076.
> Any thoughts? Need to fix this quickly for WPX, or I'll have to go back
> to
> using our Pro2 (ugh!)
> 73, andy, ae6y
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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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Andy Faber

Solved! K3 ERR KEY/PTT Problem

In reply to this post by Andy Faber

Thanks for all the replies. The book says the ERR KEY occurs when the key
is closed when powering up. In the cool, clearheaded light of morning, I
found that in fact that was happening. It wasn't the logging program, but
an external switchbox that I sometimes use to key the radio for amp
tune-up -- in messing with all the cables for contest testing, it had gotten
locked in the ON position.
Now the radio seems fine again. Sorry for spreading my panic to the
reflector!
Wayne, the CONFIG: PTT KEY was in the OFF OFF position. Can firmware be
modified to put in a slight delay on tx if the key or ptt is closed on power
up to avoid this kind of error?
Thanks again for the helpful messages, offers to loan K3s, and Waynes'
offer to call him to discuss it further. Only with Elecraft!
73 and CU all from P49Y in WPX,
Andy, AE6Y

--------------------------------------------------
From: "Andy Faber" <[hidden email]>
Sent: Saturday, March 20, 2010 11:12 PM
To: <[hidden email]>; <[hidden email]>
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 ERR KEY/PTT Problem

> Buck,
> That may be possible, though I've never had that happen before. But
> isn't
> there some way simply to clear the error and move forward?
> 73, andy, ae6y
>
> --------------------------------------------------
> From: <[hidden email]>
> Sent: Saturday, March 20, 2010 8:12 PM
> To: <[hidden email]>; <[hidden email]>
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 ERR KEY/PTT Problem
>
>> Most likely it is your logging control program that is already asserting
>> a
>> PTT signal when you turn on the radio. Check your PTT settings, RTS, DTR
>> .
>> Make sure you boot the logging software after you have the radio on.
>>
>> Buck
>> k4ia
>> k3 #101
>>
>>
>> In a message dated 3/20/2010 9:03:15 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
>> [hidden email] writes:
>> Wayne, Eric and Gang,
>> I am planning to take my K3 to Aruba Tuesday night, but in testing it
>> out
>> on
>> phone just now, I started getting ERR KEY messages, which change to ERR
>> PTT
>> if PTT is asserted. The radio seems to receive ok but won't transmit.
>> The
>> menus also don't appear.
>> The manual says this is due to asserting key or ptt line in power up,
>> but
>> it happened when the radio was already on.
>> Not sure of the firmware I'm using (can't communicate with the radio)
>> but
>> I think it's 3.83 and 2.54. The radio is Ser. 076.
>> Any thoughts? Need to fix this quickly for WPX, or I'll have to go back
>> to
>> using our Pro2 (ugh!)
>> 73, andy, ae6y
>>
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> 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]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

Andy Faber

Re: Solved! K3 ERR KEY/PTT Problem

Bob, I think you are right.
Wayne, I withdraw my suggestion.
73, andy, ae6y

--------------------------------------------------
From: "Bob" <[hidden email]>
Sent: Sunday, March 21, 2010 8:51 AM
To: "Andy Faber" <[hidden email]>
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Solved! K3 ERR KEY/PTT Problem

> Hi Andy,
>
> Might I ask why? It told you the truth and it is a
> "safety". Under what usage would it
> ever be necessary or even desirable for it to turn on and come up in
> transmit mode?
>
> It may have been a hard & frustrating lesson but should that
> error ever appear again
> I'll bet that next time your reaction will be, "Oops, what did I leave
> on?"
>
> 73,
>
> Bob
>
> K2TK ex K2TKR & KN2TKR
>
>
> On 3/21/2010 11:08 AM, Andy Faber wrote:
>> Wayne, the CONFIG: PTT KEY was in the OFF OFF position. Can firmware
>> be
>> modified to put in a slight delay on tx if the key or ptt is closed on
>> power
>> up to avoid this kind of error?
>>
>> Andy, AE6Y
>>