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K2 Audio Level using filters

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Earl Richardet

K2 Audio Level using filters

Hello to the Reflector,

I've recently completed building my Elecraft K2 transceiver and I have one
problem that I would like to resolve. Up to the point where I installed the
SSB kit into the radio, the audio level on each of the filter selections was
strong and working fine. After I installed the SSB kit, the audio level on
the CQ filters dropped off significantly. The OP1 SSB filters are working
great and have strong audio output, but as soon as I select FL3 or FL4 the
audio drops way off. Otherwise the SSB board is working fine and I great
audio reports from other stations on my transmit audio.

At this point I have confirmed all the components on the SSB, no bridges or
splatter that I can see. Everything appears to be ok. Don't know where to
start troubleshooting this issue.

Appreciate any suggestions on troubleshooting or if anyone has experienced
this themselves and of course what you did to resolve.

Thanks and Regards,

Earl VE7QJ

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Don Wilhelm-4

Re: K2 Audio Level using filters

Earl,

It does sound like you have a problem with the filter switching diode
matrix on the KSB2 board. If your signal level is decreased from the
level obtained when the KSB2 is bypassed ( jumper between pins 1 and 3
of both J9 and J10). then you have a problem with the KSB2 board. Make
certainly all the diodes are correctly oriented, and re-flow the
soldering in the OP1 filter end of the board.

If you are relying on the BFO frequency settings listed in the KSB2
manual, be advised that there "is a better way" -- go to my webpage
www.w3fpr.com article on K2 Dial Calibration and go to "page 3" which
deals with the filter settings. Use Spectrogram to give you a visual
indication of the filter placement. Note that recent K2s will have wide
filter widths that are much wider than indicated i\on the K2 display --
use Spectrogram to indicate the actual filter width.

Spectrogram version 5.17 and Spectrogram version 16 may be downloaded
from my website, Both have been seving my needs for a long time and
should be free of problems (there have been reports of bad downloads of
version 16).

73,
Don W3FPR

On 4/16/2012 10:28 PM, Earl Richardet wrote:

> Hello to the Reflector,
>
>
>
> I've recently completed building my Elecraft K2 transceiver and I have one
> problem that I would like to resolve. Up to the point where I installed the
> SSB kit into the radio, the audio level on each of the filter selections was
> strong and working fine. After I installed the SSB kit, the audio level on
> the CQ filters dropped off significantly. The OP1 SSB filters are working
> great and have strong audio output, but as soon as I select FL3 or FL4 the
> audio drops way off. Otherwise the SSB board is working fine and I great
> audio reports from other stations on my transmit audio.
>
>
>
> At this point I have confirmed all the components on the SSB, no bridges or
> splatter that I can see. Everything appears to be ok. Don't know where to
> start troubleshooting this issue.
>
>
>
> Appreciate any suggestions on troubleshooting or if anyone has experienced
> this themselves and of course what you did to resolve.
>
>
>
> Thanks and Regards,
>
>
>
> Earl VE7QJ
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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

Earl Richardet

Re: K2 Audio Level using filters

In reply to this post by Earl Richardet

Earl Richardet

Re: K2 Audio Level using filters

In reply to this post by Don Wilhelm-4

Hi Don,

Just wanted to let you know that I fixed the problem. I re-soldered all the
switching diodes and also found a very small piece of clipping sticking to
the back side of the board. Don't know if it was the clipping or the
re-soldering but working perfectly now. Thanks for all the help.

Earl VE7Qj

-----Original Message-----
From: Don Wilhelm [mailto:[hidden email]]
Sent: Monday, April 16, 2012 10:18 PM
To: Earl Richardet
Cc: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K2 Audio Level using filters

Earl,

It does sound like you have a problem with the filter switching diode matrix
on the KSB2 board. If your signal level is decreased from the level
obtained when the KSB2 is bypassed ( jumper between pins 1 and 3 of both J9
and J10). then you have a problem with the KSB2 board. Make certainly all
the diodes are correctly oriented, and re-flow the soldering in the OP1
filter end of the board.

If you are relying on the BFO frequency settings listed in the KSB2 manual,
be advised that there "is a better way" -- go to my webpage www.w3fpr.com
article on K2 Dial Calibration and go to "page 3" which deals with the
filter settings. Use Spectrogram to give you a visual indication of the
filter placement. Note that recent K2s will have wide filter widths that
are much wider than indicated i\on the K2 display -- use Spectrogram to
indicate the actual filter width.

Spectrogram version 5.17 and Spectrogram version 16 may be downloaded from
my website, Both have been seving my needs for a long time and should be
free of problems (there have been reports of bad downloads of version 16).

73,
Don W3FPR

On 4/16/2012 10:28 PM, Earl Richardet wrote:

> Hello to the Reflector,
>
>
>
> I've recently completed building my Elecraft K2 transceiver and I have
> one problem that I would like to resolve. Up to the point where I
> installed the SSB kit into the radio, the audio level on each of the
> filter selections was strong and working fine. After I installed the
> SSB kit, the audio level on the CQ filters dropped off significantly.
> The OP1 SSB filters are working great and have strong audio output,
> but as soon as I select FL3 or FL4 the audio drops way off. Otherwise
> the SSB board is working fine and I great audio reports from other

stations on my transmit audio.
>
>
>
> At this point I have confirmed all the components on the SSB, no bridges
or
> splatter that I can see. Everything appears to be ok. Don't know where
to

> start troubleshooting this issue.
>
>
>
> Appreciate any suggestions on troubleshooting or if anyone has
> experienced this themselves and of course what you did to resolve.
>
>
>
> Thanks and Regards,
>
>
>
> Earl VE7QJ
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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
>