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K2: Help, I messed up the dial calibration!!!

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Steve Kallal

K2: Help, I messed up the dial calibration!!!

I was trying to calibrate my K2/100 and had it within 10 Hz according to
WWV 10 MHz. I should have left it alone. Now it is off by about 700 to
800 Hz on 40 meters. Ouch!

Here are the steps I did so far:

1. I set the C22 trimmer on the Control Board by the N6KR method at
http://w3fpr.qrpradio.com/n6kr_method.htm. I set the dial at exactly
10.000.00 MHz, and alternated between TP1 & TP2 until the readings CAL
FCTR match with about 2 Hz.

2. I ran CAL PLL.

3. I ran CAL FIL on every mode / filter combination, being sure to
change the BFO hex value even if not needed.

I didn't build the K2 in the first place. So I never did the entire
procedure before.

Any help is welcome!

73,

Steve N6VL
K2/100 #2289

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Don Wilhelm-4

Re: K2: Help, I messed up the dial calibration!!!

Steve,

Your steps are correct.

It sounds like you are off by the amount of your sidetone pitch.
Were you receiving WWV in LSB or USB mode? If you used CW mode, that
would explain the difference.

Are you quite certain that you tuned WWV accurately? Do not 'set the
dial at 10,000.00', but instead, ignore the dial and tune until WWV is
received correctly. I use Spectrogram for that with markers (pointers)
set at 500 and 600 Hz for that. When correctly tuned, you will see the
tones alternate each minute from 500 to 600 Hz (yes, I know there are
no-tone minutes, and one minute shortly after the hour is 440 Hz, but
mostly they alternated between 500 and 600 Hz.).

When done correctly (mostly tuning WWV accurately), you results will be
within 20 Hz of WWV. One cannot expect much better than that due to the
DAC resolution used in the K2. I do this most every day, and it has
become 'old hat' to me - use Spectrogram to verify the correct tuning -
ignore the K2 dial display until the last verification step.

73,
Don W3FPR

Steve Kallal wrote:

> I was trying to calibrate my K2/100 and had it within 10 Hz according
> to WWV 10 MHz. I should have left it alone. Now it is off by about 700
> to 800 Hz on 40 meters. Ouch!
>
> Here are the steps I did so far:
>
> 1. I set the C22 trimmer on the Control Board by the N6KR method at
> http://w3fpr.qrpradio.com/n6kr_method.htm. I set the dial at exactly
> 10.000.00 MHz, and alternated between TP1 & TP2 until the readings CAL
> FCTR match with about 2 Hz.
>
> 2. I ran CAL PLL.
>
> 3. I ran CAL FIL on every mode / filter combination, being sure to
> change the BFO hex value even if not needed.
>
> I didn't build the K2 in the first place. So I never did the entire
> procedure before.
>
> Any help is welcome!
>
>

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Steve Kallal

Re: K2: Help, I messed up the dial calibration!!!

Don,

I got back it in the ball park. I read the W5YR instructions on your web
site, about the 5th harmonic of 4 MHz of 20 MHz. Fortunately WWV on 20
MHz is still coming in on the west coast, but fading out. After all this
work, I am back where I was except about 40 Hz low for zero beat on 10
MHz, instead of the former 30 Hz, before exercise in futility hi hi.

Yes I am using CW mode, but not in the way you think. My CW Pitch is set
of 450 Hz. I turn on the CW spot, adjust the volume, listen for zero
beat against the WWV carrier. CW Reverse is usually within 10 Hz using
this method.

I don't like zero beating with LSB/USB because of the guess work of
determining the 0 Hz beat with such a wide frequency range of
sub-audible tones.

One thing I discovered is that C22 can't be adjust while listening for
zero beat with a known reference like WWV. I suspect after each tweak of
C22, CAL PLL and CAL FIL should be rerun. Is this correct?

Also CAL FIL seems to change zero beat anyway. You say on you web site
that 30 Hz is a reasonable ball park figure. I'd prefer to be closer.
WWV 10 MHz is zero beat at 99999.97 MHz LSB & 99999.95 MHz USB. That is
a little much for me. I am not sure if C22 needs re-tweaking or maybe a
slight change in CAL FIL for LSB/USB OP1.

I don't have a frequency counter here. But I do have another rig with a
2nd receiver. It picks up the 4 MHz clock (and its 5th harmonic) easily
with a pickup loop. What do you think the easiest way is for me get it
closer with these tools?

At least I am in the ball park again!

73,

Steve N6VL
K2/100 #2289

Don Wilhelm wrote:

Steve Kallal

Re: K2: Help, I messed up the dial calibration!!!

In reply to this post by Don Wilhelm-4

Don,

Sorry I didn't fully read your comments before my first reply.

Could you briefly explain how you calibrate with the 500 & 600 Hz
markers? Can it be done in real time while tweaking C22? I can't do it.
I have C22 set exactly to 4 MHz via the 20 MHz WWV method, with a
perfect zero beat. Yet, I am about 40 Hz off on WWV 10 MHz. Apparently
there is more than setting the clock to exactly 4 MHz followed by CAL
PLL/CAL FIL.

If you have some canned document of the 500/600 Hz tones Spectogram
method , let me know.

73,

Steve N6VL
K2/100 #2289

Don Wilhelm wrote:

> Steve,
>
> Your steps are correct.
>
> It sounds like you are off by the amount of your sidetone pitch.
> Were you receiving WWV in LSB or USB mode? If you used CW mode, that
> would explain the difference.
>
> Are you quite certain that you tuned WWV accurately? Do not 'set the
> dial at 10,000.00', but instead, ignore the dial and tune until WWV is
> received correctly. I use Spectrogram for that with markers
> (pointers) set at 500 and 600 Hz for that. When correctly tuned, you
> will see the tones alternate each minute from 500 to 600 Hz (yes, I
> know there are no-tone minutes, and one minute shortly after the hour
> is 440 Hz, but mostly they alternated between 500 and 600 Hz.).
>
> When done correctly (mostly tuning WWV accurately), you results will
> be within 20 Hz of WWV. One cannot expect much better than that due
> to the DAC resolution used in the K2. I do this most every day, and
> it has become 'old hat' to me - use Spectrogram to verify the correct
> tuning - ignore the K2 dial display until the last verification step.
>
> 73,
> Don W3FPR
>
>
>
> Steve Kallal wrote:
>> I was trying to calibrate my K2/100 and had it within 10 Hz according
>> to WWV 10 MHz. I should have left it alone. Now it is off by about
>> 700 to 800 Hz on 40 meters. Ouch!
>>
>> Here are the steps I did so far:
>>
>> 1. I set the C22 trimmer on the Control Board by the N6KR method at
>> http://w3fpr.qrpradio.com/n6kr_method.htm. I set the dial at exactly
>> 10.000.00 MHz, and alternated between TP1 & TP2 until the readings
>> CAL FCTR match with about 2 Hz.
>>
>> 2. I ran CAL PLL.
>>
>> 3. I ran CAL FIL on every mode / filter combination, being sure to
>> change the BFO hex value even if not needed.
>>
>> I didn't build the K2 in the first place. So I never did the entire
>> procedure before.
>>
>> Any help is welcome!
>>
>>
>

Don Wilhelm-4

Re: K2: Help, I messed up the dial calibration!!!

Steve,

Yes, the "4 MHz" reference may have to be set a few Hz different than
exactly 4.00000 MHz to calibrate the dial accurately.

The best method I know of is to feed the K2 audio into a computer
running Spectrogram. This method compensates out any difference between
4 MHz and the actual required frequency for the reference - one does not
even need to be concerned about the reference frequency with this method.

On the Spectrogram line display, set markers (pointers) for 500 and 600 Hz.
Now tune WWV in LSB (or USB if you prefer) - 10, or 15 MHz, either is OK
- 20MHz requires a bit of a difference in the VFO/BFO calculation due
the the sum of the oscillators rather than the difference.

When you look at the Spectral line display of the WWV transmission, you
will see the carrier (only if you are mistuned), and a transmitted tone
(wait until the do transmit a tone). The tone is normally either 500 or
600 Hz, but there is a 440 Hz tone for one minute each hour and there
are some non-tone minutes. You can look up the transmission format on
the web and it will tell you which minute is which tone - or you can
just wait and watch the tones alternate. The short tone transmitted for
one second at the beginning of each hour is always1000 Hz, so I move the
cursor to 1000 Hz (read the frequency in the lower left box of the
screen) and click to place a crosshair at 1000 Hz too, it is a handy
reference if WWV is weak ir the other tones are not clear.

Now that you have the Spectrogram 'picture' of WWV and have identified
the relevant tones in the audio (the carrier, and one of the transmitted
tones), tune the VFO first listening until the voice sounds rather clear
- then you may see the carrier near zero Hz and the tone near the 500 or
600 Hz marker that you have set. Tune the VFO until the tone is lined
up exactly with the marker. Wait until the next tone minute to be
certain you are tuned correctly and not 100 Hz off.

Enter CAL FCTR, then check to see if the tones are still lined up - you
can fine tune a bit if necessary, but when you have the VFO set
correctly (for the tones, not the dial reading - the dial reading will
not be correct - that is why you are going to all this trouble). Do not
move the VFO after this, you will next be adjusting C22.
Now, you move the probe between TP1 and TP2 until the frequency
difference is exactly equal to the WWV transmitted frequency. Since WWV
transmitts on 0000.000 kHz boundaries, just look for the low order
digits to be the same at TP1 and TP2. If the digits are not the same,
adjust C22 a bit and see if the frequencies got closer. Once C22 is
adjusted correcctly, the low order digits of the BFO (TP2) and the VFO
(TP1) will match exactly, and you can declare that C22 is now set
exactly right - do not touch it again.

Now, switch to 40 meters and run CAL PLL followed by CAL FIL (change
each BFO setting even if it is correct - moving it up a bit and back
down to where it was constitutes a 'change' to the K2.
Once that has happened, you are done.
Tune WWV again as before and note the dial setting - you should find it
no more than 20 Hz off. The DAC limit of tuning varies with frequency,
but averages about 13 Hz, so 20 Hz is within the expected practical
tolerance limits.

It takes a LOT more time to write this than it does to do it - it is
easier to do than to say.

73,
Don W3FPR

Steve Kallal wrote:

> Don,
>
> Sorry I didn't fully read your comments before my first reply.
>
> Could you briefly explain how you calibrate with the 500 & 600 Hz
> markers? Can it be done in real time while tweaking C22? I can't do
> it. I have C22 set exactly to 4 MHz via the 20 MHz WWV method, with a
> perfect zero beat. Yet, I am about 40 Hz off on WWV 10 MHz. Apparently
> there is more than setting the clock to exactly 4 MHz followed by CAL
> PLL/CAL FIL.
>
> If you have some canned document of the 500/600 Hz tones Spectogram
> method , let me know.
>
> 73,
>
> Steve N6VL
> K2/100 #2289
>
> Don Wilhelm wrote:
>> Steve,
>>
>> Your steps are correct.
>>
>> It sounds like you are off by the amount of your sidetone pitch.
>> Were you receiving WWV in LSB or USB mode? If you used CW mode, that
>> would explain the difference.
>>
>> Are you quite certain that you tuned WWV accurately? Do not 'set
>> the dial at 10,000.00', but instead, ignore the dial and tune until
>> WWV is received correctly. I use Spectrogram for that with markers
>> (pointers) set at 500 and 600 Hz for that. When correctly tuned,
>> you will see the tones alternate each minute from 500 to 600 Hz (yes,
>> I know there are no-tone minutes, and one minute shortly after the
>> hour is 440 Hz, but mostly they alternated between 500 and 600 Hz.).
>>
>> When done correctly (mostly tuning WWV accurately), you results will
>> be within 20 Hz of WWV. One cannot expect much better than that due
>> to the DAC resolution used in the K2. I do this most every day, and
>> it has become 'old hat' to me - use Spectrogram to verify the correct
>> tuning - ignore the K2 dial display until the last verification step.
>>
>> 73,
>> Don W3FPR
>>
>>
>>
>> Steve Kallal wrote:
>>> I was trying to calibrate my K2/100 and had it within 10 Hz
>>> according to WWV 10 MHz. I should have left it alone. Now it is off
>>> by about 700 to 800 Hz on 40 meters. Ouch!
>>>
>>> Here are the steps I did so far:
>>>
>>> 1. I set the C22 trimmer on the Control Board by the N6KR method at
>>> http://w3fpr.qrpradio.com/n6kr_method.htm. I set the dial at exactly
>>> 10.000.00 MHz, and alternated between TP1 & TP2 until the readings
>>> CAL FCTR match with about 2 Hz.
>>>
>>> 2. I ran CAL PLL.
>>>
>>> 3. I ran CAL FIL on every mode / filter combination, being sure to
>>> change the BFO hex value even if not needed.
>>>
>>> I didn't build the K2 in the first place. So I never did the entire
>>> procedure before.
>>>
>>> Any help is welcome!
>>>
>>>
>>
>
>
> No virus found in this incoming message.
> Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com Version: 8.0.138 / Virus Database:
> 270.4.11/1553 - Release Date: 7/15/2008 5:48 AM
>
>
>

Steve Kallal

Re: K2: Help, I messed up the dial calibration!!!

Don,

I finally got to within 10 to 15 Hz at 10 MHz now. I decided to use MixW
for the 500/600 Hz WWV tones. It works really well for that part of the
calibration.

I had misread your web site. You do endorse the N6KR method. I did find
the WWV Signal Format web page. Out here on the west coast, WWVH also
mixes into the MixW waterfall as a weaker trace when only one tone is
present from WWV.

I found the best tool for C22 tweaking is a small glasses repair kit
screw driver. My plastic tool could do the real fine adjustments due to
the tightness of C22. Of course the screw driver is removed before
taking readings.

The part that wasn't clear to me at first, was the need to redo CAL PLL
& CAL FIL after EACH C22 adjustment. I read so many comments on the
reflector archives that mentioned simply listening to WWV and listen for
zero beat. Obviously that is in the greater context of CAL PLL & CAL FIL
reruns.

There must to something electrical loose in my K2. I had the CAL FCTR
TP1 & TP2 values matching once & then they changed a few minutes later.

Using Spectrogram or MixW in LSB/USB modes easier than the CW spot
method I used. Somewhere I read the CW spot audio signal may not to very
accurate. Even though I am confident in my tone matching abilities my ear.

Not sure if I could do it in the time it took you to write it up, maybe
30 to 60 minutes for me! A video on YouTube would be real nice, except
K2 has given way to the K3 in popularity.

The bottom line: my calibration is twice as accurate (half the delta)
against WWV, than before, although in the opposite direction.

Thanks for your help!

73,

Steve N6VL
K2/100 #2289

Don Wilhelm wrote:

> Steve,
>
> Yes, the "4 MHz" reference may have to be set a few Hz different than
> exactly 4.00000 MHz to calibrate the dial accurately.
>
> The best method I know of is to feed the K2 audio into a computer
> running Spectrogram. This method compensates out any difference
> between 4 MHz and the actual required frequency for the reference -
> one does not even need to be concerned about the reference frequency
> with this method.
>
> On the Spectrogram line display, set markers (pointers) for 500 and
> 600 Hz.
> Now tune WWV in LSB (or USB if you prefer) - 10, or 15 MHz, either is
> OK - 20MHz requires a bit of a difference in the VFO/BFO calculation
> due the the sum of the oscillators rather than the difference.
>
> When you look at the Spectral line display of the WWV transmission,
> you will see the carrier (only if you are mistuned), and a transmitted
> tone (wait until the do transmit a tone). The tone is normally either
> 500 or 600 Hz, but there is a 440 Hz tone for one minute each hour and
> there are some non-tone minutes. You can look up the transmission
> format on the web and it will tell you which minute is which tone - or
> you can just wait and watch the tones alternate. The short tone
> transmitted for one second at the beginning of each hour is always1000
> Hz, so I move the cursor to 1000 Hz (read the frequency in the lower
> left box of the screen) and click to place a crosshair at 1000 Hz too,
> it is a handy reference if WWV is weak ir the other tones are not clear.
>
> Now that you have the Spectrogram 'picture' of WWV and have identified
> the relevant tones in the audio (the carrier, and one of the
> transmitted tones), tune the VFO first listening until the voice
> sounds rather clear - then you may see the carrier near zero Hz and
> the tone near the 500 or 600 Hz marker that you have set. Tune the
> VFO until the tone is lined up exactly with the marker. Wait until
> the next tone minute to be certain you are tuned correctly and not 100
> Hz off.
>
> Enter CAL FCTR, then check to see if the tones are still lined up -
> you can fine tune a bit if necessary, but when you have the VFO set
> correctly (for the tones, not the dial reading - the dial reading will
> not be correct - that is why you are going to all this trouble). Do
> not move the VFO after this, you will next be adjusting C22.
> Now, you move the probe between TP1 and TP2 until the frequency
> difference is exactly equal to the WWV transmitted frequency. Since
> WWV transmitts on 0000.000 kHz boundaries, just look for the low order
> digits to be the same at TP1 and TP2. If the digits are not the same,
> adjust C22 a bit and see if the frequencies got closer. Once C22 is
> adjusted correcctly, the low order digits of the BFO (TP2) and the VFO
> (TP1) will match exactly, and you can declare that C22 is now set
> exactly right - do not touch it again.
>
> Now, switch to 40 meters and run CAL PLL followed by CAL FIL (change
> each BFO setting even if it is correct - moving it up a bit and back
> down to where it was constitutes a 'change' to the K2.
> Once that has happened, you are done.
> Tune WWV again as before and note the dial setting - you should find
> it no more than 20 Hz off. The DAC limit of tuning varies with
> frequency, but averages about 13 Hz, so 20 Hz is within the expected
> practical tolerance limits.
>
> It takes a LOT more time to write this than it does to do it - it is
> easier to do than to say.
>
> 73,
> Don W3FPR

Don Wilhelm-4

Re: K2: Help, I messed up the dial calibration!!!

Steve,

When you can receive WWV and WWVH at the same time, that is handy
because there is a tone both at 500 Hz and 600 Hz on each minute. WWV
and WWVH do not transmit the same tones at the same time.

Glad to hear that you are now up and running and are about as close as
you can expect.
Yes, the tuning of C22 must be done carefully, one little slip and you
have to do it again, the adjustment is a bit 'touchy', but persistence
pays off in the end.

Next time, you can do it much more quickly - I am usually successful in
one pass. It does take me 15 to 20 minutes, but 8 minutes of that time
is waiting for PLL to run to completion, so I take a break during that time.

73,
Don W3FPR

Steve Kallal wrote:

> Don,
>
> I finally got to within 10 to 15 Hz at 10 MHz now. I decided to use
> MixW for the 500/600 Hz WWV tones. It works really well for that part
> of the calibration.
>
> I had misread your web site. You do endorse the N6KR method. I did
> find the WWV Signal Format web page. Out here on the west coast, WWVH
> also mixes into the MixW waterfall as a weaker trace when only one
> tone is present from WWV.
>
> I found the best tool for C22 tweaking is a small glasses repair kit
> screw driver. My plastic tool could do the real fine adjustments due
> to the tightness of C22. Of course the screw driver is removed before
> taking readings.
>
> The part that wasn't clear to me at first, was the need to redo CAL
> PLL & CAL FIL after EACH C22 adjustment. I read so many comments on
> the reflector archives that mentioned simply listening to WWV and
> listen for zero beat. Obviously that is in the greater context of CAL
> PLL & CAL FIL reruns.
>
> There must to something electrical loose in my K2. I had the CAL FCTR
> TP1 & TP2 values matching once & then they changed a few minutes later.
>
> Using Spectrogram or MixW in LSB/USB modes easier than the CW spot
> method I used. Somewhere I read the CW spot audio signal may not to
> very accurate. Even though I am confident in my tone matching
> abilities my ear.
>
> Not sure if I could do it in the time it took you to write it up,
> maybe 30 to 60 minutes for me! A video on YouTube would be real nice,
> except K2 has given way to the K3 in popularity.
>
> The bottom line: my calibration is twice as accurate (half the delta)
> against WWV, than before, although in the opposite direction.
>
> Thanks for your help!
>
> 73,
>
> Steve N6VL
> K2/100 #2289
>
> Don Wilhelm wrote:
>> Steve,
>>
>> Yes, the "4 MHz" reference may have to be set a few Hz different than
>> exactly 4.00000 MHz to calibrate the dial accurately.
>>
>> The best method I know of is to feed the K2 audio into a computer
>> running Spectrogram. This method compensates out any difference
>> between 4 MHz and the actual required frequency for the reference -
>> one does not even need to be concerned about the reference frequency
>> with this method.
>>
>> On the Spectrogram line display, set markers (pointers) for 500 and
>> 600 Hz.
>> Now tune WWV in LSB (or USB if you prefer) - 10, or 15 MHz, either is
>> OK - 20MHz requires a bit of a difference in the VFO/BFO calculation
>> due the the sum of the oscillators rather than the difference.
>>
>> When you look at the Spectral line display of the WWV transmission,
>> you will see the carrier (only if you are mistuned), and a
>> transmitted tone (wait until the do transmit a tone). The tone is
>> normally either 500 or 600 Hz, but there is a 440 Hz tone for one
>> minute each hour and there are some non-tone minutes. You can look
>> up the transmission format on the web and it will tell you which
>> minute is which tone - or you can just wait and watch the tones
>> alternate. The short tone transmitted for one second at the
>> beginning of each hour is always1000 Hz, so I move the cursor to 1000
>> Hz (read the frequency in the lower left box of the screen) and click
>> to place a crosshair at 1000 Hz too, it is a handy reference if WWV
>> is weak ir the other tones are not clear.
>>
>> Now that you have the Spectrogram 'picture' of WWV and have
>> identified the relevant tones in the audio (the carrier, and one of
>> the transmitted tones), tune the VFO first listening until the voice
>> sounds rather clear - then you may see the carrier near zero Hz and
>> the tone near the 500 or 600 Hz marker that you have set. Tune the
>> VFO until the tone is lined up exactly with the marker. Wait until
>> the next tone minute to be certain you are tuned correctly and not
>> 100 Hz off.
>>
>> Enter CAL FCTR, then check to see if the tones are still lined up -
>> you can fine tune a bit if necessary, but when you have the VFO set
>> correctly (for the tones, not the dial reading - the dial reading
>> will not be correct - that is why you are going to all this
>> trouble). Do not move the VFO after this, you will next be adjusting
>> C22.
>> Now, you move the probe between TP1 and TP2 until the frequency
>> difference is exactly equal to the WWV transmitted frequency. Since
>> WWV transmitts on 0000.000 kHz boundaries, just look for the low
>> order digits to be the same at TP1 and TP2. If the digits are not
>> the same, adjust C22 a bit and see if the frequencies got closer.
>> Once C22 is adjusted correcctly, the low order digits of the BFO
>> (TP2) and the VFO (TP1) will match exactly, and you can declare that
>> C22 is now set exactly right - do not touch it again.
>>
>> Now, switch to 40 meters and run CAL PLL followed by CAL FIL (change
>> each BFO setting even if it is correct - moving it up a bit and back
>> down to where it was constitutes a 'change' to the K2.
>> Once that has happened, you are done.
>> Tune WWV again as before and note the dial setting - you should find
>> it no more than 20 Hz off. The DAC limit of tuning varies with
>> frequency, but averages about 13 Hz, so 20 Hz is within the expected
>> practical tolerance limits.
>>
>> It takes a LOT more time to write this than it does to do it - it is
>> easier to do than to say.
>>
>> 73,
>> Don W3FPR
>
>
> No virus found in this incoming message.
> Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com Version: 8.0.138 / Virus Database:
> 270.4.11/1553 - Release Date: 7/15/2008 5:48 AM
>
>
>

TR K2 #838

Birdie ?

In reply to this post by Don Wilhelm-4

I am showing a very strong signal at 3590 KHz - is this normal ?

Thanks,

TR, WB6TMY

Tel: . . . 707-832-4304

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w7qhd

Re: Birdie ?

No it's not normal!

W7QHD, Kurt K2 sn 1538
---- K2/100 S/N 868 <[hidden email]> wrote:

> I am showing a very strong signal at 3590 KHz - is this normal ?
>
> Thanks,
>
> TR, WB6TMY
>
> Tel: . . . 707-832-4304
>
> _______________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Post to: [hidden email]
> You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
> Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.):
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>
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> Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com

W6NEK

Re: Birdie ?

In reply to this post by TR K2 #838

Hi OM,
Do you hear the signal with a dummy load connected?
Do different antennas affect the signal strength?
What do you hear if you disconnect the antenna?

What needs to be determined is if the signal is internal or external to your
K2. Disconnecting the antenna should give you a some insight if it's
internal or not.

73,
Frank - W6NEK

----- Original Message -----
From: "K2/100 S/N 868" <[hidden email]>
To: <[hidden email]>
Sent: Wednesday, July 16, 2008 11:16 AM
Subject: [Elecraft] Birdie ?

>I am showing a very strong signal at 3590 KHz - is this normal ?
> > Thanks,
> > TR, WB6TMY

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Geoffrey Mackenzie-Kennedy

Re: Birdie ?

In reply to this post by TR K2 #838

My K2/100 #3255 receiver produced a strong birdie at or within a couple
hundred Hz of 3590 kHz. Unfortunately I do not have most of my 'K2 Birdie'
notes here, but IIRC there is at least one receiver crossover spurious
response which results in this birdie.

73,
Geoff
GM4ESD

----- Original Message -----
From: "K2/100 S/N 868" <[hidden email]>
To: <[hidden email]>
Sent: Wednesday, July 16, 2008 7:16 PM
Subject: [Elecraft] Birdie ?

>I am showing a very strong signal at 3590 KHz - is this normal ?
>
> Thanks,
>
> TR, WB6TMY

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n9adg

Re: Birdie ?

In reply to this post by W6NEK

IF you have the USB/Serial adapter, try unplugging that from the K3 AND the computer -- it's powered by the computer.

The first one that came with the K3 was S9 in the 160m band; replacing the USB/serial adapter cured it.

W6NEK <[hidden email]> wrote: Hi OM,
Do you hear the signal with a dummy load connected?
Do different antennas affect the signal strength?
What do you hear if you disconnect the antenna?

What needs to be determined is if the signal is internal or external to your
K2. Disconnecting the antenna should give you a some insight if it's
internal or not.

73,
Frank - W6NEK

----- Original Message -----
From: "K2/100 S/N 868"
To:
Sent: Wednesday, July 16, 2008 11:16 AM
Subject: [Elecraft] Birdie ?

>I am showing a very strong signal at 3590 KHz - is this normal ?
> > Thanks,
> > TR, WB6TMY

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Don Wilhelm-4

Re: Birdie ?

In reply to this post by TR K2 #838

TR,

That is close to the TV color burst frequency (3.579545 MHz). A badly
functioning TV could possibly put out a signal at 3590 (but it would not
receive color very well). You may want to turn the TVs off and check again.
If you are in a closely populated suburban neighborhood you might have
to wait for a power outage to really check it :-) .

73,
Don W3FPR

K2/100 S/N 868 wrote:
> I am showing a very strong signal at 3590 KHz - is this normal ?
>
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David Woolley (E.L)

Re: K2: Help, I messed up the dial calibration!!!

In reply to this post by Steve Kallal

Steve Kallal wrote:

> The part that wasn't clear to me at first, was the need to redo CAL PLL
> & CAL FIL after EACH C22 adjustment. I read so many comments on the

C22 doesn't control the dial calibration, it only controls the frequency
counter used in the dial calibration. Once you've done the calibration,
including filters, you could actually turn C22 to end stop without
compromising the calibration.

> reflector archives that mentioned simply listening to WWV and listen for
> zero beat. Obviously that is in the greater context of CAL PLL & CAL FIL
> reruns.

Whilst the frequency counter is slightly off, you can work out how much
to over/under-correct, and therefore considerably reduce the number of
iterations. It's sufficiently long since I did this that I cannot
remember the exact details.

--
David Woolley
Emails are not formal business letters, whatever businesses may want.
RFC1855 says there should be an address here, but, in a world of spam,
that is no longer good advice, as archive address hiding may not work.
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