K2 SSB Watery Audio Distortion

[John Huffman-3]

There has always been some watery distortion on my SSB signal from my
K2/100.

It is there with or without the KPA100.

It is there with three different mikes.

It is there with two different KSB2 modules.

It is there on both upper and lower sideband.

The CW signal sounds pretty good, no obvious problem.

The SSB distortion is not real bad, but noticeable.

The ALC is high and has a hard time settling down on 80M.  It settles to
two bars but may start at 6 or 7 bars.

The ALC on 10M is just one bar.

The watery distortion is on all bands 80M thru 10M and into a dummy load.

I assume the problem is not KPA100, KSB2, mikes, or RF getting in.  The
problem has been there for years (sn 3194) but has worked it's way up
the fix list.  At this point I'm not sure where to start.

Suggestions welcomed!

73 de K1ESE
John

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[Don Wilhelm-4]

John,

You said it is there with and without the KPA100.  Have you physically
removed the KPA100 and tried it with just the base K2?
If not, please try that.  Should the base K2 be clean, re-install the
KPA100, but after it is installed, remove the right side panel and
fold/tuck the ribbon cable and the speaker cable into the area near
where the ribbon cable attaches to the control board.

Often such a watery sound is caused by coupling from the ribbon or
speaker back into the KSB2 board - dressing the ribbon and speaker
cables away from the KSB2 fixes it.

That is at least a starting point.

73,
Don W3FPR

John Huffman wrote:

> There has always been some watery distortion on my SSB signal from my
> K2/100.
>
> It is there with or without the KPA100.
>
> It is there with three different mikes.
>
> It is there with two different KSB2 modules.
>
> It is there on both upper and lower sideband.
>
> The CW signal sounds pretty good, no obvious problem.
>
> The SSB distortion is not real bad, but noticeable.
>
>

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[n6wg]

Hello John
If you have another ssb receiver available that can tune
to the K2 IF frequency, try listening to ssb directly out
of the KSB2 and see if it is watery there.  If not,
the problem lies elsewhere in the rig.  If it is watery,
which I doubt it will be, since you say you get the
same result with two different KSB2 modules, then
the problem may be in the KSB2s.
Also check the stability of the oscillators by listening
to them.  Is there any warble at all in  their frequencies?
Good luck and 73
Bob N6WG



----- Original Message -----
From: "John Huffman" <[hidden email]>
To: "Elecraft List" <[hidden email]>
Sent: Friday, May 16, 2008 7:12 AM
Subject: [Elecraft] K2 SSB Watery Audio Distortion


> There has always been some watery distortion on my SSB signal from
my

> K2/100.
>
> It is there with or without the KPA100.
>
> It is there with three different mikes.
>
> It is there with two different KSB2 modules.
>
> It is there on both upper and lower sideband.
>
> The CW signal sounds pretty good, no obvious problem.
>
> The SSB distortion is not real bad, but noticeable.
>
> The ALC is high and has a hard time settling down on 80M.  It

settles to
> two bars but may start at 6 or 7 bars.
>
> The ALC on 10M is just one bar.
>
> The watery distortion is on all bands 80M thru 10M and into a dummy
load.
>
> I assume the problem is not KPA100, KSB2, mikes, or RF getting in.
The
> problem has been there for years (sn 3194) but has worked it's way
up

> the fix list.  At this point I'm not sure where to start.
>
> Suggestions welcomed!
>
> 73 de K1ESE
> John
>
> _______________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Post to: [hidden email]
> You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
> Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.):
>  http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm
> Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com

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