Elecraft

K3 Audio

Classic

List

Threaded

5 messages Options

Larry Boekeloo-2

K3 Audio

I have a K3, serial #5278, that's had an receive audio issue for almost as
long as I've owned it.

When I turn the AF gain nearly or completely counter clockwise, the audio
goes to full volume. The only way to fix the problem, is to quickly turn
the AF gain back up and down a few times. Many times, I'll want to turn
the audio all the way to answer the phone or talk to someone in the shack,
and the audio goes to full volume.

Many times, if I reload the DSP software, the issue goes away for a few
months. I have the latest software loaded.

Anyone else have this problem? Maybe the AF gain pot needs to be replaced?

Thanks.

Larry, KN8N
Kalamazoo, Michigan
______________________________________________________________
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]

KeithWE6R

Re: K3 Audio

Administrator

Do a switch test, (Config menu, "SW TEST") you should get a smooth sweep
of numbers, about 002 thr 236.

If erratic in spots, then the Pot could have been knocked in.
Pull Front Panel and look at the back of it, there are some tabs that
hold it together and sometimes you can bend them tight and fix.
Look at the board going inside the pot from where the wires are
soldered, could be cracked.
Also look to see that the extension wires coming up from the board to
Pot are soldered good.
If all looks good, try tuner cleaner.
Otherwise replace; E520015

If the test numbers are _always_ good and smooth, then save your config,
EE INIT (parameter initialization) and see if that fixed it.
If it fixed it, then load a known-good saved config file.
If EE INIT did not fix then you can re-load the file you just saved and
look for anything else, like cracked traces or something touching those
lines.
Keith WE6R

______________________________________________________________
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]

Rick Bates, NK7I

Re: K3 Audio

In reply to this post by Larry Boekeloo-2

My K3 has the same issue. It is a hardware issue since software control
of the volume (HRD) does not cause any problems.

I've not taken the front panel off to see if the pots can be 'treated'
with Deoxit yet.

73 es Merry Christmas,
Rick NK7I

On 12/19/2019 9:01 AM, Larry Boekeloo wrote:

> I have a K3, serial #5278, that's had an receive audio issue for almost as
> long as I've owned it.
>
> When I turn the AF gain nearly or completely counter clockwise, the audio
> goes to full volume. The only way to fix the problem, is to quickly turn
> the AF gain back up and down a few times. Many times, I'll want to turn
> the audio all the way to answer the phone or talk to someone in the shack,
> and the audio goes to full volume.
>
> Many times, if I reload the DSP software, the issue goes away for a few
> months. I have the latest software loaded.
>
> Anyone else have this problem? Maybe the AF gain pot needs to be replaced?
>
> Thanks.
>
> Larry, KN8N
> Kalamazoo, Michigan
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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]

Bill K9YEQ

Re: K3 Audio

You may need to upgrade the connectors. The issue can be created by inconsistent contact and corruption of the firmware. Reload and replace the connectors.

72 & 73,
Bill
K9YEQ
FT’er for K2, KX1, KX3, KXPA100, KAT500, W2, etc.

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email] <[hidden email]> On Behalf Of Rick Bates, NK7I
Sent: Thursday, December 19, 2019 2:53 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Audio

My K3 has the same issue. It is a hardware issue since software control of the volume (HRD) does not cause any problems.

I've not taken the front panel off to see if the pots can be 'treated'
with Deoxit yet.

73 es Merry Christmas,
Rick NK7I

On 12/19/2019 9:01 AM, Larry Boekeloo wrote:

> I have a K3, serial #5278, that's had an receive audio issue for
> almost as long as I've owned it.
>
> When I turn the AF gain nearly or completely counter clockwise, the
> audio goes to full volume. The only way to fix the problem, is to
> quickly turn the AF gain back up and down a few times. Many times,
> I'll want to turn the audio all the way to answer the phone or talk to
> someone in the shack, and the audio goes to full volume.
>
> Many times, if I reload the DSP software, the issue goes away for a
> few months. I have the latest software loaded.
>
> Anyone else have this problem? Maybe the AF gain pot needs to be replaced?
>
> Thanks.
>
> Larry, KN8N
> Kalamazoo, Michigan
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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]

David Olean

Re: K3 Audio

In reply to this post by Rick Bates, NK7I

I had the same problem on a older K3 that had gotten a lot of use. I
just ordered a new pot and got things running just fine again. It sure
sounded like a mechanical problem, and I did not delve any deeper.

Dave K1WHS

On 12/19/2019 8:52 PM, Rick Bates, NK7I wrote:

> My K3 has the same issue. It is a hardware issue since software
> control of the volume (HRD) does not cause any problems.
>
> I've not taken the front panel off to see if the pots can be 'treated'
> with Deoxit yet.
>
> 73 es Merry Christmas,
> Rick NK7I
>
>
> On 12/19/2019 9:01 AM, Larry Boekeloo wrote:
>> I have a K3, serial #5278, that's had an receive audio issue for
>> almost as
>> long as I've owned it.
>>
>> When I turn the AF gain nearly or completely counter clockwise, the
>> audio
>> goes to full volume. The only way to fix the problem, is to quickly
>> turn
>> the AF gain back up and down a few times. Many times, I'll want to turn
>> the audio all the way to answer the phone or talk to someone in the
>> shack,
>> and the audio goes to full volume.
>>
>> Many times, if I reload the DSP software, the issue goes away for a few
>> months. I have the latest software loaded.
>>
>> Anyone else have this problem? Maybe the AF gain pot needs to be
>> replaced?
>>
>> Thanks.
>>
>> Larry, KN8N
>> Kalamazoo, Michigan
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> 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]