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K3 Assembly Tools

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Phil Hystad

K3 Assembly Tools

The K3 Assembly guide says that you would need a accurate power meter measuring 1 mW to 5 W. Also, a signal generator calibrated 50 microVolts output at 20 or 40 meters. I have a signal generator that goes up to 5 MHz but I am pretty certain that the voltage adjust does not go down to 50 microVolts (it is pretty cheap).

So, where does one get these things.

I thought I remember someone telling me that there was a signal generator kit for generating the test signals needed for K3 assembly but I just can grab enough of that memory to do anything with it.

Also, these tools are marked optional. Why are they optional and if they are useful for a particular purpose why would it not be a required tool to achieve the best of whatever they are being used for.

Thanks,
phil, K7PEH

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Don Wilhelm-4

Re: K3 Assembly Tools

Phil,

Note that those are optional - not required, but they are useful if one
wants to do the precise adjustments - the default settings will give you
a fully working K3.

The Elecraft XG2 has a 50 uV output level, look at the Mini Kits.

73,
Don W3FPR

Phil Hystad wrote:

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Phil Hystad

Re: K3 Assembly Tools

Don,

Thanks for the pointer to the XG2 -- yes, that is what I was trying to think of. About them being optional, I did see that but I was curious as to what what gains by the "precise adjustments". If the default settings give you a fully working K3, what is being done by those who are making precise adjustments?

phil

On Dec 11, 2009, at 10:29 PM, Don Wilhelm wrote:

> Phil,
>
> Note that those are optional - not required, but they are useful if one wants to do the precise adjustments - the default settings will give you a fully working K3.
>
> The Elecraft XG2 has a 50 uV output level, look at the Mini Kits.
>
> 73,
> Don W3FPR
>
> Phil Hystad wrote:
>> The K3 Assembly guide says that you would need a accurate power meter measuring 1 mW to 5 W. Also, a signal generator calibrated 50 microVolts output at 20 or 40 meters. I have a signal generator that goes up to 5 MHz but I am pretty certain that the voltage adjust does not go down to 50 microVolts (it is pretty cheap).
>>
>> So, where does one get these things.
>>
>> I thought I remember someone telling me that there was a signal generator kit for generating the test signals needed for K3 assembly but I just can grab enough of that memory to do anything with it.
>>
>> Also, these tools are marked optional. Why are they optional and if they are useful for a particular purpose why would it not be a required tool to achieve the best of whatever they are being used for.
>>
>>

Don Wilhelm-4

Re: K3 Assembly Tools

Phil,

Those optional tools are for those who are not satisfied with the
default settings - in the case of the 50 uV signal generator, it will
allow you to set your S-meter at the S-9 point. My K3 was 'right on'
with the default settings, but since I have an XG2, I checked it anyway.

The 1 mW, 5 W power meter is for calibrating the wattmeter - if you do
not have the KXV3 option, the 1 mW output is not available. Again, the
default settings will be very close.

So, the question becomes - What degree of accuracy in power output and
S-meter reading do you wish to achieve? The default settings will be
very close, but with the added instruments, one can achieve a higher
degree of confidence in those parameters.
Warning - power measurement instruments normally available to hams can
vary a lot (up to 20% of full scale), so unless you have something
comparable to the Elecraft DL2, Elecraft W2 or a calibrated LP-100 from
TelePost, the K3 default setting for the wattmeter are likely to be as
good as or better than your ability to read power output.

73,
Don W3FPR

Phil Hystad wrote:

> Don,
>
> Thanks for the pointer to the XG2 -- yes, that is what I was trying to think of. About them being optional, I did see that but I was curious as to what what gains by the "precise adjustments". If the default settings give you a fully working K3, what is being done by those who are making precise adjustments?
>
> phil
>
>
> On Dec 11, 2009, at 10:29 PM, Don Wilhelm wrote:
>
>
>> Phil,
>>
>> Note that those are optional - not required, but they are useful if one wants to do the precise adjustments - the default settings will give you a fully working K3.
>>
>> The Elecraft XG2 has a 50 uV output level, look at the Mini Kits.
>>
>> 73,
>> Don W3FPR
>>
>> Phil Hystad wrote:
>>
>>> The K3 Assembly guide says that you would need a accurate power meter measuring 1 mW to 5 W. Also, a signal generator calibrated 50 microVolts output at 20 or 40 meters. I have a signal generator that goes up to 5 MHz but I am pretty certain that the voltage adjust does not go down to 50 microVolts (it is pretty cheap).
>>>
>>> So, where does one get these things.
>>>
>>> I thought I remember someone telling me that there was a signal generator kit for generating the test signals needed for K3 assembly but I just can grab enough of that memory to do anything with it.
>>>
>>> Also, these tools are marked optional. Why are they optional and if they are useful for a particular purpose why would it not be a required tool to achieve the best of whatever they are being used for.
>>>
>>>
>

Mike Reublin

Re: K3 Assembly Tools

In reply to this post by Phil Hystad

I didn't use the optional tools when building my K3. I really don't need
to have that degree of precision. Just build it and enjoy it.

73, Mike NF4L

Phil Hystad wrote:

> The K3 Assembly guide says that you would need a accurate power meter measuring 1 mW to 5 W. Also, a signal generator calibrated 50 microVolts output at 20 or 40 meters. I have a signal generator that goes up to 5 MHz but I am pretty certain that the voltage adjust does not go down to 50 microVolts (it is pretty cheap).
>
> So, where does one get these things.
>
> I thought I remember someone telling me that there was a signal generator kit for generating the test signals needed for K3 assembly but I just can grab enough of that memory to do anything with it.
>
> Also, these tools are marked optional. Why are they optional and if they are useful for a particular purpose why would it not be a required tool to achieve the best of whatever they are being used for.
>
> Thanks,
> phil, K7PEH
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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
>
>

Phil Hystad

Re: K3 Assembly Tools

In reply to this post by Don Wilhelm-4

Don and Chuck,

Thanks for the explanations. I will probably get the XG2 kit just because it is yet another kit to build but I doubt that I will get such a meter. Well, maybe I will if I can find a cheap working on somewhere. No rush though. I just realized though that I doubt that I have anything that can measure under 5 watts with any degree of accuracy.

phil

On Dec 12, 2009, at 4:04 AM, Don Wilhelm wrote:

> Phil,
>
> Those optional tools are for those who are not satisfied with the default settings - in the case of the 50 uV signal generator, it will allow you to set your S-meter at the S-9 point. My K3 was 'right on' with the default settings, but since I have an XG2, I checked it anyway.
>
> The 1 mW, 5 W power meter is for calibrating the wattmeter - if you do not have the KXV3 option, the 1 mW output is not available. Again, the default settings will be very close.
>
> So, the question becomes - What degree of accuracy in power output and S-meter reading do you wish to achieve? The default settings will be very close, but with the added instruments, one can achieve a higher degree of confidence in those parameters.
> Warning - power measurement instruments normally available to hams can vary a lot (up to 20% of full scale), so unless you have something comparable to the Elecraft DL2, Elecraft W2 or a calibrated LP-100 from TelePost, the K3 default setting for the wattmeter are likely to be as good as or better than your ability to read power output.
>
> 73,
> Don W3FPR
>
> Phil Hystad wrote:
>> Don,
>>
>> Thanks for the pointer to the XG2 -- yes, that is what I was trying to think of. About them being optional, I did see that but I was curious as to what what gains by the "precise adjustments". If the default settings give you a fully working K3, what is being done by those who are making precise adjustments?
>>
>> phil
>>
>>
>> On Dec 11, 2009, at 10:29 PM, Don Wilhelm wrote:
>>
>>
>>> Phil,
>>>
>>> Note that those are optional - not required, but they are useful if one wants to do the precise adjustments - the default settings will give you a fully working K3.
>>>
>>> The Elecraft XG2 has a 50 uV output level, look at the Mini Kits.
>>>
>>> 73,
>>> Don W3FPR
>>>
>>> Phil Hystad wrote:
>>>
>>>> The K3 Assembly guide says that you would need a accurate power meter measuring 1 mW to 5 W. Also, a signal generator calibrated 50 microVolts output at 20 or 40 meters. I have a signal generator that goes up to 5 MHz but I am pretty certain that the voltage adjust does not go down to 50 microVolts (it is pretty cheap).
>>>>
>>>> So, where does one get these things.
>>>>
>>>> I thought I remember someone telling me that there was a signal generator kit for generating the test signals needed for K3 assembly but I just can grab enough of that memory to do anything with it.
>>>>
>>>> Also, these tools are marked optional. Why are they optional and if they are useful for a particular purpose why would it not be a required tool to achieve the best of whatever they are being used for.
>>>>
>>>>
>>

Peter Wollan-2

Re: K3 Assembly Tools

The Elecraft dummy load DL1 can be used as a watt meter, using a DMM.

Peter

On Sat, Dec 12, 2009 at 8:33 AM, Phil Hystad <[hidden email]> wrote:
> Don and Chuck,
>
> Thanks for the explanations. I will probably get the XG2 kit just because it is yet another kit to build but I doubt that I will get such a meter. Well, maybe I will if I can find a cheap working on somewhere. No rush though. I just realized though that I doubt that I have anything that can measure under 5 watts with any degree of accuracy.
>
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AC7AC

Re: K3 Assembly Tools

In reply to this post by Phil Hystad

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Don Wilhelm-5

Re: K3 Assembly Tools

In reply to this post by Phil Hystad

Phil,

The DL2 has an included diode detector which can be used in conjunction
with a DMM to measure power accurately. and is not very expensive.

73,
Don W3FPR

Phil Hystad wrote:
> Don and Chuck,
>
> Thanks for the explanations. I will probably get the XG2 kit just because it is yet another kit to build but I doubt that I will get such a meter. Well, maybe I will if I can find a cheap working on somewhere. No rush though. I just realized though that I doubt that I have anything that can measure under 5 watts with any degree of accuracy.
>
> phil
>
>
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Don Wilhelm-4

Re: K3 Assembly Tools

In reply to this post by Phil Hystad