K2 output distortion

[djl]

My K2 with 100 watt amp and KAT100 works very well on ssb. If I put on a
Rigblaster or a SignaLink and MFJ switch combo, The mic always seems to get rf
in it, or, for some other reason, the received signal is very distorted, to
unreadability  in most cases. I've tried rf chokes on all cables, etc and that
makes absolutely no difference. I'm going a little nuts because I simply
cannot understand why this behavior obtains.
Has anyone out there had this problem? What's the cause? Any hints?
Thanks
Don


--
"The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who
have not got it."
 -George Bernard Shaw

Dr. Don Latham AJ7LL
Six Mile Systems LLC
17850 Six Mile Road
Huson, MT, 59846
mail:  POBox 404
Frenchtown MT 59834-0404
VOX 406-626-4304
Skype: buffler2
www.lightningforensics.com
www.sixmilesystems.com


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[Don Wilhelm-4]

Don,

First suggestion - make certain it is an RFI problem.  Operate the K2
into a dummy load and monitor the data transmissions with a local
receiver - borrow one if you have to, and you may need a 2nd computer
for that test.  You can feed the headphone output of the monitor
receiver directly into the soundcard or even place a soundcard
microphone near the receiver speaker to observe the decoded signal from
the K2.

Make certain the compression setting is 1-1 and adjust your SignaLink
output to the level just below that which produces ALC bars in the
bargraph - increase the gain until you see an ALC bar, then back down
until it just goes off.
If you operate SSB with compression it would be wise to activate the
RTTY filter set and set the filters and BFOs for best operation with
data modes.  Remember that you must set the RTTY FL1 filter to OP1. You
can copy the FL1 BFO settings from the SSB BFO settings.  Using the RTTY
filter set allows you to set the compression for the RTTY mode
independently from the SSB compression setting.

OK, if operating into a dummy load does not cause the problem, then you
can blame it on RF in the shack.  Rather than trying to fix the problem
with ferrites on every cable, you may find easier and better success
with using a more effective common mode choke at the antenna feedpoint
and perhaps another common mode choke at the point where the feedline
enters the shack.  See the fine information on RFI by Jim Brown K9YC for
creating effective common mode chokes.  If you can keep the RF energy
out in the antenna field where it belongs, you may not need any ferrite
on the cables in the shack.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 11/5/2014 4:35 PM, Don Latham wrote:
> My K2 with 100 watt amp and KAT100 works very well on ssb. If I put on a
> Rigblaster or a SignaLink and MFJ switch combo, The mic always seems to get rf
> in it, or, for some other reason, the received signal is very distorted, to
> unreadability  in most cases. I've tried rf chokes on all cables, etc and that
> makes absolutely no difference. I'm going a little nuts because I simply
> cannot understand why this behavior obtains.
> Has anyone out there had this problem? What's the cause? Any hints?
>

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