K3 Abnormal Behavior
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Fired up my K3 the last couple of mornings and noticed this. As the autotuner was searching for a solution the power output was slowing rising. Not so unusual right . But, after the tuner made a match the K3 was reading about 40w of output. I went into tune mode again (key down), the antenna was matched 1:1 but the output was slowly coming up so I let it continue. A slow climb to full output after about a minute or so was achieved. I have eliminated the tuner as the problem by using it on another transceiver. I'm thinking it may be a heat related issue somewhere, my guess is it's possibly on the PA board and possibly a solder problem, but then again it could be that same issue anywhere in the drive chain. If I don't transmit for a period of time it will repeat but not as bad as from a cold start. No other abnormal behavior has been noted. Any ideas ? Thanks in advance. Serial # 3378
Jim W7OUU ______________________________________________________________ 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 Message delivered to [hidden email] |
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Jim,
Your unit is about the same age as mine (#3645) which was sent to Elecraft a few months ago for what I thought would be installation of some upgrades I couldn't do myself. Turns out they found (and fixed) several items including two resistors in the LPA that appeared burned and were replaced with "more robust components". Your problem sounds similar to what I had seen but not as severe. My K3 came back acting like a new puppy. I'm not saying yours needs to be sent in; just wanted to share what my experience with a similar s/n rig had been. Cheers, Clark, WU4B On Sat, Nov 30, 2019 at 1:26 PM Jim Kennedy <[hidden email]> wrote: > Fired up my K3 the last couple of mornings and noticed this. As the > autotuner was searching for a solution the power output was slowing rising. > Not so unusual right . But, after the tuner made a match the K3 was reading > about 40w of output. I went into tune mode again (key down), the antenna > was matched 1:1 but the output was slowly coming up so I let it continue. A > slow climb to full output after about a minute or so was achieved. I have > eliminated the tuner as the problem by using it on another transceiver. I'm > thinking it may be a heat related issue somewhere, my guess is it's > possibly on the PA board and possibly a solder problem, but then again it > could be that same issue anywhere in the drive chain. If I don't transmit > for a period of time it will repeat but not as bad as from a cold start. No > other abnormal behavior has been noted. Any ideas ? Thanks in advance. > Serial # 3378 > > Jim > W7OUU > > > ______________________________________________________________ > 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 > Message delivered to [hidden email] > -- 73, Clark, WU4B QRPARCI #10815 SKCC #3892 NAQCC #5055 CWOPS #1869 Collins Collectors #AC90-12432 Southeastern DX Club <http://www.sedxc.org> North Georgia QRP Club <http://www.nogaqrp.org> *"It is vain to do with more what can be done with less."* *Attributed to *William of Occam (1288 AD - 1348 AD) ______________________________________________________________ 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 Message delivered to [hidden email] |
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My K3S has a bit of a slow power rise after any power change. I wouldn't say it takes a minute, but I was told this occurs as the power management system makes adjustments. This is done in order to prevent ALC overshoot.
With the ATU bypassed I have my TUNE power set to 20 watts. That is adequate for my KAT500 and drives my KPA500 to rated output. I don't think this affects the K3S ATU tune power. 73 Bob, K4TAX Sent from my iPhone > On Nov 30, 2019, at 2:01 PM, Clark Macaulay <[hidden email]> wrote: > > Jim, > > Your unit is about the same age as mine (#3645) which was sent to Elecraft > a few months ago for what I thought would be installation of some upgrades > I couldn't do myself. Turns out they found (and fixed) several items > including two resistors in the LPA that appeared burned and were replaced > with "more robust components". Your problem sounds similar to what I had > seen but not as severe. > > My K3 came back acting like a new puppy. I'm not saying yours needs to be > sent in; just wanted to share what my experience with a similar s/n rig had > been. > > Cheers, > > Clark, WU4B > >> On Sat, Nov 30, 2019 at 1:26 PM Jim Kennedy <[hidden email]> wrote: >> >> Fired up my K3 the last couple of mornings and noticed this. As the >> autotuner was searching for a solution the power output was slowing rising. >> Not so unusual right . But, after the tuner made a match the K3 was reading >> about 40w of output. I went into tune mode again (key down), the antenna >> was matched 1:1 but the output was slowly coming up so I let it continue. A >> slow climb to full output after about a minute or so was achieved. I have >> eliminated the tuner as the problem by using it on another transceiver. I'm >> thinking it may be a heat related issue somewhere, my guess is it's >> possibly on the PA board and possibly a solder problem, but then again it >> could be that same issue anywhere in the drive chain. If I don't transmit >> for a period of time it will repeat but not as bad as from a cold start. No >> other abnormal behavior has been noted. Any ideas ? Thanks in advance. >> Serial # 3378 >> >> Jim >> W7OUU >> >> >> ______________________________________________________________ >> 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 >> Message delivered to [hidden email] >> > > > -- > 73, > > Clark, WU4B > QRPARCI #10815 > SKCC #3892 > NAQCC #5055 > CWOPS #1869 > Collins Collectors #AC90-12432 > Southeastern DX Club <http://www.sedxc.org> > North Georgia QRP Club <http://www.nogaqrp.org> > > > *"It is vain to do with more what can be done with less."* > *Attributed to *William of Occam (1288 AD - 1348 AD) > ______________________________________________________________ > 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 > Message delivered to [hidden email] > ______________________________________________________________ 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 Message delivered to [hidden email] |
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In reply to this post by kennedyjp
Thanks guys for the responses. I have checked the DC line as Mike K6MKF suggested. No high resistance or abnormalities there. I think it's time to send it to the experts and have them do a "wellness" check on this bad boy. The K3 is an awesome rig and I imagine the "S' and K4 are even better. Again, thanks for the input guys ! This is a great group.
Jim W7OUU ______________________________________________________________ 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 Message delivered to [hidden email] |
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In reply to this post by kennedyjp
Jim,
How were you observing the power increase? There is a big difference in how your situation can be analyzed depending on whether the power increase is noted by the K3 display or whether with an external wattmeter. I am not saying that you have no problem, but that the area to look can be different depending on how you observe the power increase. 73, Don W3FPR On 11/30/2019 1:26 PM, Jim Kennedy wrote: > Fired up my K3 the last couple of mornings and noticed this. As the autotuner was searching for a solution the power output was slowing rising. Not so unusual right . But, after the tuner made a match the K3 was reading about 40w of output. I went into tune mode again (key down), the antenna was matched 1:1 but the output was slowly coming up so I let it continue. A slow climb to full output after about a minute or so was achieved. I have eliminated the tuner as the problem by using it on another transceiver. I'm thinking it may be a heat related issue somewhere, my guess is it's possibly on the PA board and possibly a solder problem, but then again it could be that same issue anywhere in the drive chain. If I don't transmit for a period of time it will repeat but not as bad as from a cold start. No other abnormal behavior has been noted. Any ideas ? Thanks in advance. Serial # 3378 ______________________________________________________________ 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 Message delivered to [hidden email] |
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Hi Don, I have checked it with both my Bird 43 and Daiwa CN801. Both with the same results. Now with the K3 warmed up there is no problem. I will have to wait for another cold start since I didn't even bother to see if the power meter in the K3 was tracking with the other two. I'll post again when on a cold start if the K3 tracks the same.
Tnx es 73's Jim W7OUU ----- Original Message ----- From: "Don Wilhelm" <[hidden email]> To: "Jim Kennedy" <[hidden email]>, "elecraft" <[hidden email]> Sent: Sunday, December 1, 2019 11:09:08 AM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Abnormal Behavior Jim, How were you observing the power increase? There is a big difference in how your situation can be analyzed depending on whether the power increase is noted by the K3 display or whether with an external wattmeter. I am not saying that you have no problem, but that the area to look can be different depending on how you observe the power increase. 73, Don W3FPR On 11/30/2019 1:26 PM, Jim Kennedy wrote: > Fired up my K3 the last couple of mornings and noticed this. As the autotuner was searching for a solution the power output was slowing rising. Not so unusual right . But, after the tuner made a match the K3 was reading about 40w of output. I went into tune mode again (key down), the antenna was matched 1:1 but the output was slowly coming up so I let it continue. A slow climb to full output after about a minute or so was achieved. I have eliminated the tuner as the problem by using it on another transceiver. I'm thinking it may be a heat related issue somewhere, my guess is it's possibly on the PA board and possibly a solder problem, but then again it could be that same issue anywhere in the drive chain. If I don't transmit for a period of time it will repeat but not as bad as from a cold start. No other abnormal behavior has been noted. Any ideas ? Thanks in advance. Serial # 3378 ______________________________________________________________ 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 Message delivered to [hidden email] |
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Hi again Don, this morning on a cold start the K3 power indicator tracked with the Bird watt meter. Technically competent and not one to give up easily I continued to trouble shoot almost to the verge of paralysis analysis. I put the K3 on the bench and lashed it up as it were in the station including Tigertronics USB digital interface. Fired it up and again had low power slowly climbing operating in FT8 using the tune tab in the WSJT program to key the rig. Hmmm better check SSB,FM,CW,AM modes. What the "H" I got full output on the Bird 43 !!! Back to TX Data mode. Hit the tune tab in FT8 and power coming up slowly again ?? Something wrong in the TX DATA mode ?? Well as it turns out, somehow the TX audio setting on the Tigertroncis USB interface got reduced and it was a simple matter of not enough transmit audio in TX Data mode. Turned up TX audio on the Tigertronics USB interface less than one division and "voila" full power output. I'm still a little puzzled about the symp
toms but for now my K3 is back in operation. Thanks to everyone who offered suggestions and help. This is a great group of hams. Excuse me while I go wipe the egg off my face. Jeesh ! Jim W7OUU ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jim Kennedy" <[hidden email]> To: "donwilh" <[hidden email]> Cc: "elecraft" <[hidden email]> Sent: Sunday, December 1, 2019 4:46:00 PM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Abnormal Behavior Hi Don, I have checked it with both my Bird 43 and Daiwa CN801. Both with the same results. Now with the K3 warmed up there is no problem. I will have to wait for another cold start since I didn't even bother to see if the power meter in the K3 was tracking with the other two. I'll post again when on a cold start if the K3 tracks the same. Tnx es 73's Jim W7OUU ----- Original Message ----- From: "Don Wilhelm" <[hidden email]> To: "Jim Kennedy" <[hidden email]>, "elecraft" <[hidden email]> Sent: Sunday, December 1, 2019 11:09:08 AM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Abnormal Behavior Jim, How were you observing the power increase? There is a big difference in how your situation can be analyzed depending on whether the power increase is noted by the K3 display or whether with an external wattmeter. I am not saying that you have no problem, but that the area to look can be different depending on how you observe the power increase. 73, Don W3FPR On 11/30/2019 1:26 PM, Jim Kennedy wrote: > Fired up my K3 the last couple of mornings and noticed this. As the autotuner was searching for a solution the power output was slowing rising. Not so unusual right . But, after the tuner made a match the K3 was reading about 40w of output. I went into tune mode again (key down), the antenna was matched 1:1 but the output was slowly coming up so I let it continue. A slow climb to full output after about a minute or so was achieved. I have eliminated the tuner as the problem by using it on another transceiver. I'm thinking it may be a heat related issue somewhere, my guess is it's possibly on the PA board and possibly a solder problem, but then again it could be that same issue anywhere in the drive chain. If I don't transmit for a period of time it will repeat but not as bad as from a cold start. No other abnormal behavior has been noted. Any ideas ? Thanks in advance. Serial # 3378 ______________________________________________________________ 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 Message delivered to [hidden email] ______________________________________________________________ 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 Message delivered to [hidden email] |
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Hi Jim,
The symptom you observed is exactly how the K3 normally operates when the audio level is too low. The correct way to set up your audio level to: - place the K3 in TX TEST mode - click the TUNE button on the WSJT-X main screen - adjust the audio level to display four bars with the fifth bar flickering on the ALC display. The K3 COMP display should read zero. - click the WSJT-X TUNE button once more - place the K3 in TX NORMAL mode - set the K3 PWR control for desired output power. - NEVER use the WSJT-X power slider or the K3 MIC control to adjust the output power. Use them only to maintain four bars with the fifth bar flickering on the K3 ALC display Good luck! 73 Frank W3LPL ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jim Kennedy" <[hidden email]> To: "donwilh" <[hidden email]> Cc: "elecraft" <[hidden email]> Sent: Monday, December 2, 2019 8:29:43 PM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Abnormal Behavior Hi again Don, this morning on a cold start the K3 power indicator tracked with the Bird watt meter. Technically competent and not one to give up easily I continued to trouble shoot almost to the verge of paralysis analysis. I put the K3 on the bench and lashed it up as it were in the station including Tigertronics USB digital interface. Fired it up and again had low power slowly climbing operating in FT8 using the tune tab in the WSJT program to key the rig. Hmmm better check SSB,FM,CW,AM modes. What the "H" I got full output on the Bird 43 !!! Back to TX Data mode. Hit the tune tab in FT8 and power coming up slowly again ?? Something wrong in the TX DATA mode ?? Well as it turns out, somehow the TX audio setting on the Tigertroncis USB interface got reduced and it was a simple matter of not enough transmit audio in TX Data mode. Turned up TX audio on the Tigertronics USB interface less than one division and "voila" full power output. I'm still a little puzzled about the symp toms but for now my K3 is back in operation. Thanks to everyone who offered suggestions and help. This is a great group of hams. Excuse me while I go wipe the egg off my face. Jeesh ! Jim W7OUU ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jim Kennedy" <[hidden email]> To: "donwilh" <[hidden email]> Cc: "elecraft" <[hidden email]> Sent: Sunday, December 1, 2019 4:46:00 PM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Abnormal Behavior Hi Don, I have checked it with both my Bird 43 and Daiwa CN801. Both with the same results. Now with the K3 warmed up there is no problem. I will have to wait for another cold start since I didn't even bother to see if the power meter in the K3 was tracking with the other two. I'll post again when on a cold start if the K3 tracks the same. Tnx es 73's Jim W7OUU ----- Original Message ----- From: "Don Wilhelm" <[hidden email]> To: "Jim Kennedy" <[hidden email]>, "elecraft" <[hidden email]> Sent: Sunday, December 1, 2019 11:09:08 AM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Abnormal Behavior Jim, How were you observing the power increase? There is a big difference in how your situation can be analyzed depending on whether the power increase is noted by the K3 display or whether with an external wattmeter. I am not saying that you have no problem, but that the area to look can be different depending on how you observe the power increase. 73, Don W3FPR On 11/30/2019 1:26 PM, Jim Kennedy wrote: > Fired up my K3 the last couple of mornings and noticed this. As the autotuner was searching for a solution the power output was slowing rising. Not so unusual right . But, after the tuner made a match the K3 was reading about 40w of output. I went into tune mode again (key down), the antenna was matched 1:1 but the output was slowly coming up so I let it continue. A slow climb to full output after about a minute or so was achieved. I have eliminated the tuner as the problem by using it on another transceiver. I'm thinking it may be a heat related issue somewhere, my guess is it's possibly on the PA board and possibly a solder problem, but then again it could be that same issue anywhere in the drive chain. If I don't transmit for a period of time it will repeat but not as bad as from a cold start. No other abnormal behavior has been noted. Any ideas ? Thanks in advance. Serial # 3378 ______________________________________________________________ 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 Message delivered to [hidden email] ______________________________________________________________ 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 Message delivered to [hidden email] ______________________________________________________________ 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 Message delivered to [hidden email] |
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In reply to this post by kennedyjp
Jim,
With audio data modes (even if you are using SSB instead of DATA A), you must have 4 bars solid on the ALC meter with the 5th bar flashing - that is the NO ALC point for the K3/K3S/KX3/KX2. If you do not have sufficient audio, the K3 will "power hunt" trying to bring the power up to the power that was requested. Sorry that I did not observe that you were using a data mode, or I would have pointed to that first. If your audio level is 'touchy', then likely one or more of the audio controls is at an extreme (not near mid-position). Refer to the article on my website www.w3fpr.com to see how to set the audio to your best advantage. 73, Don W3FPR On 12/2/2019 3:29 PM, Jim Kennedy wrote: > Hi again Don, this morning on a cold start the K3 power indicator tracked with the Bird watt meter. Technically competent and not one to give up easily I continued to trouble shoot almost to the verge of paralysis analysis. I put the K3 on the bench and lashed it up as it were in the station including Tigertronics USB digital interface. Fired it up and again had low power slowly climbing operating in FT8 using the tune tab in the WSJT program to key the rig. Hmmm better check SSB,FM,CW,AM modes. What the "H" I got full output on the Bird 43 !!! Back to TX Data mode. Hit the tune tab in FT8 and power coming up slowly again ?? Something wrong in the TX DATA mode ?? Well as it turns out, somehow the TX audio setting on the Tigertroncis USB interface got reduced and it was a simple matter of not enough transmit audio in TX Data mode. Turned up TX audio on the Tigertronics USB interface less than one division and "voila" full power output. I'm still a little puzzled about the symptoms but for now my K3 is back in operation. Thanks to everyone who offered suggestions and help. This is a great group of hams. Excuse me while I go wipe the egg off my face. Jeesh ! > > ______________________________________________________________ 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 Message delivered to [hidden email] |
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In reply to this post by donovanf
Thanks Frank, I will do as you suggested. JimW7OUU Sent via the Samsung Galaxy S9+, an AT&T 5G Evolution capable smartphone
-------- Original message --------From: [hidden email] Date: 12/2/19 13:57 (GMT-07:00) To: elecraft <[hidden email]> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Abnormal Behavior Hi Jim,The symptom you observed is exactly how the K3 normally operateswhen the audio level is too low.The correct way to set up your audio level to:- place the K3 in TX TEST mode- click the TUNE button on the WSJT-X main screen- adjust the audio level to display four bars with the fifth bar flickering on the ALC display. The K3 COMP display should read zero.- click the WSJT-X TUNE button once more- place the K3 in TX NORMAL mode- set the K3 PWR control for desired output power.- NEVER use the WSJT-X power slider or the K3 MIC control to adjust the output power. Use them only to maintain four barswith the fifth bar flickering on the K3 ALC displayGood luck!73FrankW3LPL From: "Jim Kennedy" <[hidden email]>To: "donwilh" <[hidden email]>Cc: "elecraft" <[hidden email]>Sent: Monday, December 2, 2019 8:29:43 PMSubject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Abnormal BehaviorHi again Don, this morning on a cold start the K3 power indicator tracked with the Bird watt meter. Technically competent and not one to give up easily I continued to trouble shoot almost to the verge of paralysis analysis. I put the K3 on the bench and lashed it up as it were in the station including Tigertronics USB digital interface. Fired it up and again had low power slowly climbing operating in FT8 using the tune tab in the WSJT program to key the rig. Hmmm better check SSB,FM,CW,AM modes. What the "H" I got full output on the Bird 43 !!! Back to TX Data mode. Hit the tune tab in FT8 and power coming up slowly again ?? Something wrong in the TX DATA mode ?? Well as it turns out, somehow the TX audio setting on the Tigertroncis USB interface got reduced and it was a simple matter of not enough transmit audio in TX Data mode. Turned up TX audio on the Tigertronics USB interface less than one division and "voila" full power output. I'm still a little puzzled about the symp toms but for now my K3 is back in operation. Thanks to everyone who offered suggestions and help. This is a great group of hams. Excuse me while I go wipe the egg off my face. Jeesh !JimW7OUU ----- Original Message -----From: "Jim Kennedy" <[hidden email]>To: "donwilh" <[hidden email]>Cc: "elecraft" <[hidden email]>Sent: Sunday, December 1, 2019 4:46:00 PMSubject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Abnormal BehaviorHi Don, I have checked it with both my Bird 43 and Daiwa CN801. Both with the same results. Now with the K3 warmed up there is no problem. I will have to wait for another cold start since I didn't even bother to see if the power meter in the K3 was tracking with the other two. I'll post again when on a cold start if the K3 tracks the same.Tnx es 73'sJimW7OUU----- Original Message -----From: "Don Wilhelm" <[hidden email]>To: "Jim Kennedy" <[hidden email]>, "elecraft" <[hidden email]>Sent: Sunday, December 1, 2019 11:09:08 AMSubject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Abnormal BehaviorJim,How were you observing the power increase? There is a big difference in how your situation can be analyzed depending on whether the power increase is noted by the K3 display or whether with an external wattmeter.I am not saying that you have no problem, but that the area to look can be different depending on how you observe the power increase.73,Don W3FPROn 11/30/2019 1:26 PM, Jim Kennedy wrote:> Fired up my K3 the last couple of mornings and noticed this. As the autotuner was searching for a solution the power output was slowing rising. Not so unusual right . But, after the tuner made a match the K3 was reading about 40w of output. I went into tune mode again (key down), the antenna was matched 1:1 but the output was slowly coming up so I let it continue. A slow climb to full output after about a minute or so was achieved. I have eliminated the tuner as the problem by using it on another transceiver. I'm thinking it may be a heat related issue somewhere, my guess is it's possibly on the PA board and possibly a solder problem, but then again it could be that same issue anywhere in the drive chain. If I don't transmit for a period of time it will repeat but not as bad as from a cold start. No other abnormal behavior has been noted. Any ideas ? Thanks in advance. Serial # 3378______________________________________________________________Elecraft mailing listHome: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraftHelp: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htmPost: mailto:[hidden email] list hosted by: http://www.qsl.netPlease help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.htmlMessage delivered to kennedyjp@cableone.net______________________________________________________________Elecraft mailing listHome: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraftHelp: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htmPost: mailto:[hidden email] list hosted by: http://www.qsl.netPlease help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.htmlMessage delivered to [hidden email] ______________________________________________________________ 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 Message delivered to [hidden email] |
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In reply to this post by Don Wilhelm
Thanks Don. I will look at that info also. Essentially I assume it's the same as Frank just posted. You guys are awesome. You would think after 65 years of haming I would get this stuff figured out LOL. Gettin' old ain't for sissies hi !Thank again guysJim W7OUU Sent via the Samsung Galaxy S9+, an AT&T 5G Evolution capable smartphone
-------- Original message --------From: Don Wilhelm <[hidden email]> Date: 12/2/19 14:09 (GMT-07:00) To: Jim Kennedy <[hidden email]> Cc: elecraft <[hidden email]> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Abnormal Behavior Jim,With audio data modes (even if you are using SSB instead of DATA A), you must have 4 bars solid on the ALC meter with the 5th bar flashing - that is the NO ALC point for the K3/K3S/KX3/KX2.If you do not have sufficient audio, the K3 will "power hunt" trying to bring the power up to the power that was requested.Sorry that I did not observe that you were using a data mode, or I would have pointed to that first.If your audio level is 'touchy', then likely one or more of the audio controls is at an extreme (not near mid-position). Refer to the article on my website www.w3fpr.com to see how to set the audio to your best advantage.73,Don W3FPROn 12/2/2019 3:29 PM, Jim Kennedy wrote:> Hi again Don, this morning on a cold start the K3 power indicator tracked with the Bird watt meter. Technically competent and not one to give up easily I continued to trouble shoot almost to the verge of paralysis analysis. I put the K3 on the bench and lashed it up as it were in the station including Tigertronics USB digital interface. Fired it up and again had low power slowly climbing operating in FT8 using the tune tab in the WSJT program to key the rig. Hmmm better check SSB,FM,CW,AM modes. What the "H" I got full output on the Bird 43 !!! Back to TX Data mode. Hit the tune tab in FT8 and power coming up slowly again ?? Something wrong in the TX DATA mode ?? Well as it turns out, somehow the TX audio setting on the Tigertroncis USB interface got reduced and it was a simple matter of not enough transmit audio in TX Data mode. Turned up TX audio on the Tigertronics USB interface less than one division and "voila" full power output. I'm still a little puzzled about the symptoms but for now my K3 is back in operation. Thanks to everyone who offered suggestions and help. This is a great group of hams. Excuse me while I go wipe the egg off my face. Jeesh !>> ______________________________________________________________ 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 Message delivered to [hidden email] |
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Jim,
Yes, the net result is the same as what Frank posted. My article goes a bit further into explaining that there are multiple audio level controls, and that none of them should be near the lower or upper extremes (because the adjustment gets "touchy"). Just how many audio level controls there are depends on the software application and the drivers for the soundcard. Some soundcards (interface boxes) have a rotary control. 73, Don W3FPR On 12/2/2019 4:19 PM, kennedyjp wrote: > Thanks Don. I will look at that info also. Essentially I assume it's > the same as Frank just posted. You guys are awesome. You would think > after 65 years of haming I would get this stuff figured out > LOL. Gettin' old ain't for sissies hi ! > > ______________________________________________________________ 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 Message delivered to [hidden email] |
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