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K3 Extreme sig mod

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alsopb

K3 Extreme sig mod

How does one test this without a calibrated signal source?

Why was 80M chosen for the test frequency? Most ops have preamp off and
many have attenuation in.

It appears one needs something like an 80db over S9 sig for it to cut in.

73 de Brian/K3KO

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alsopb

Re: K3 Extreme sig mod

I wonder since this is a "software detected" mod at setup if the
firmware program could report it is there. (alternatively, maybe the K3
can report it like it does key err) I'm not keen on zapping the front
end with a high signal level from an uncalibrated source to find out if
it is working.

There perhaps may be other mods that could be detected in software and
reported as well.

73 de Brian/K3KO

Brian Alsop wrote:

> How does one test this without a calibrated signal source?
>
> Why was 80M chosen for the test frequency? Most ops have preamp off and
> many have attenuation in.
>
> It appears one needs something like an 80db over S9 sig for it to cut in.
>
> 73 de Brian/K3KO
>
>

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Brett Howard

Re: K3 Extreme sig mod

Where I think it should be reported is in the kxxx area of the menu.
So in the area where you turn on the krx3 and knb3 and what not you
could have a non editable entry for kesp3 or some other creative part
number.

On 8/30/09, Brian Alsop <[hidden email]> wrote:

> I wonder since this is a "software detected" mod at setup if the
> firmware program could report it is there. (alternatively, maybe the K3
> can report it like it does key err) I'm not keen on zapping the front
> end with a high signal level from an uncalibrated source to find out if
> it is working.
>
> There perhaps may be other mods that could be detected in software and
> reported as well.
>
> 73 de Brian/K3KO
>
> Brian Alsop wrote:
>
>> How does one test this without a calibrated signal source?
>>
>> Why was 80M chosen for the test frequency? Most ops have preamp off and
>> many have attenuation in.
>>
>> It appears one needs something like an 80db over S9 sig for it to cut in.
>>
>> 73 de Brian/K3KO
>>
>>
>

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Ken Wagner K3IU

Re: K3 Extreme sig mod

I believe that the boot up detection is only to determine whether the
jumper is installed, not whether it has been activated by a strong
signal. I really don't see a need to report that the jumper is installed
on the display since one would surely remember if the jumper has been
installed.

It does work, by the way. I put my K2 on a nearby antenna and keyed it
with power at about 1 watt while the K3 was listening on a nearby
frequency with the preamp ON. With a couple of dits, the preamp turned
OFF and with a continuous carrier, it turned the attenuator ON. No
measurements made.

73,
Ken K3IU
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`
Brett Howard wrote:

> Where I think it should be reported is in the kxxx area of the menu.
> So in the area where you turn on the krx3 and knb3 and what not you
> could have a non editable entry for kesp3 or some other creative part
> number.
>
> On 8/30/09, Brian Alsop <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
>> I wonder since this is a "software detected" mod at setup if the
>> firmware program could report it is there. (alternatively, maybe the K3
>> can report it like it does key err) I'm not keen on zapping the front
>> end with a high signal level from an uncalibrated source to find out if
>> it is working.
>>
>> There perhaps may be other mods that could be detected in software and
>> reported as well.
>>
>> 73 de Brian/K3KO
>>
>> Brian Alsop wrote:
>>
>>
>>> How does one test this without a calibrated signal source?
>>>
>>> Why was 80M chosen for the test frequency? Most ops have preamp off and
>>> many have attenuation in.
>>>
>>> It appears one needs something like an 80db over S9 sig for it to cut in.
>>>
>>> 73 de Brian/K3KO
>>>
>>>
>>>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
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>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>
>

Brett Howard

Re: K3 Extreme sig mod

It would give mod installers without means to test a way to assure
themselves that they have properly carried out the task.

On 8/30/09, Ken Wagner K3IU <[hidden email]> wrote:

>
> I believe that the boot up detection is only to determine whether the
> jumper is installed, not whether it has been activated by a strong
> signal. I really don't see a need to report that the jumper is installed
> on the display since one would surely remember if the jumper has been
> installed.
>
> It does work, by the way. I put my K2 on a nearby antenna and keyed it
> with power at about 1 watt while the K3 was listening on a nearby
> frequency with the preamp ON. With a couple of dits, the preamp turned
> OFF and with a continuous carrier, it turned the attenuator ON. No
> measurements made.
>
> 73,
> Ken K3IU
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`
> Brett Howard wrote:
>> Where I think it should be reported is in the kxxx area of the menu.
>> So in the area where you turn on the krx3 and knb3 and what not you
>> could have a non editable entry for kesp3 or some other creative part
>> number.
>>
>> On 8/30/09, Brian Alsop <[hidden email]> wrote:
>>
>>> I wonder since this is a "software detected" mod at setup if the
>>> firmware program could report it is there. (alternatively, maybe the K3
>>> can report it like it does key err) I'm not keen on zapping the front
>>> end with a high signal level from an uncalibrated source to find out if
>>> it is working.
>>>
>>> There perhaps may be other mods that could be detected in software and
>>> reported as well.
>>>
>>> 73 de Brian/K3KO
>>>
>>> Brian Alsop wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>> How does one test this without a calibrated signal source?
>>>>
>>>> Why was 80M chosen for the test frequency? Most ops have preamp off and
>>>> many have attenuation in.
>>>>
>>>> It appears one needs something like an 80db over S9 sig for it to cut
>>>> in.
>>>>
>>>> 73 de Brian/K3KO
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> Elecraft mailing list
>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
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>>
>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>>
>>
>

ac0h

Re: K3 Extreme sig mod

If mod installers don't have at least a cheap DMM to do testing with,
they have no business anywhere near the K3 RF board with a soldering
iron. Why continually add things to the menu?

Brett Howard wrote:
> It would give mod installers without means to test a way to assure
> themselves that they have properly carried out the task.
>
--

R. Kevin Stover

ACØH

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N5GE

Re: K3 Extreme sig mod

On Sun, 30 Aug 2009 11:53:51 -0500, "R. Kevin Stover"
<[hidden email]> wrote:

Agree!

Tom, N5GE

[hidden email]
K3 #806, K3 #1055, PR6,
XV144, XV432, KRC2,
W1 and other small kits.
http://www.n5ge.com
http://www.swotrc.net

>If mod installers don't have at least a cheap DMM to do testing with,
>they have no business anywhere near the K3 RF board with a soldering
>iron. Why continually add things to the menu?

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Amateur Radio Operator N5GE

Brett Howard

Re: K3 Extreme sig mod

In reply to this post by ac0h

Dmm doesn't provide assurance that you have the right points. I
personally wanted assurance and so I used my k1 a dummy load and my
dmm to test. I think there are others who would appreciate assurance
that the mod is in place correctly and don't want to hook a
transmitter directly to their receiver.

On 8/30/09, R. Kevin Stover <[hidden email]> wrote:

> If mod installers don't have at least a cheap DMM to do testing with,
> they have no business anywhere near the K3 RF board with a soldering
> iron. Why continually add things to the menu?
>
> Brett Howard wrote:
>> It would give mod installers without means to test a way to assure
>> themselves that they have properly carried out the task.
>>
> --
>
> R. Kevin Stover
>
> ACØH
>
>

N5GE

Re: K3 Extreme sig mod

On Sun, 30 Aug 2009 10:17:38 -0700, Brett Howard
<[hidden email]> wrote:

In line:

>Dmm doesn't provide assurance that you have the right points. I
>personally wanted assurance and so I used my k1 a dummy load and my
>dmm to test.

That's a good way to test, but why load the menu and precious firmware
bytes up with that kind of stuff?

> I think there are others who would appreciate assurance
>that the mod is in place correctly and don't want to hook a
>transmitter directly to their receiver.
>

Wow! Are there really folks dumb enough to do that???

I say; Let the modifier beware!

[snip]

Tom, N5GE

[hidden email]
K3 #806, K3 #1055, PR6,
XV144, XV432, KRC2,
W1 and other small kits.
http://www.n5ge.com
http://www.swotrc.net

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Amateur Radio Operator N5GE

Brett Howard

Re: K3 Extreme sig mod

I don't understand the fear of menu items. Honestly care not either
way but I know a few people who simply wanted to be certain that the
software saw the mod. Perhaps say it sees it on the first power up.
But that would require that you update the firmware before putting the
mod in place and would probably require more code than a menu item.
I'm just trying to come up with options ideas and solutions to a
problem that many would like confirmation. However there are always
those who would rather do nothing than think of new ideas. In the US
we call these people senator.

On 8/30/09, Radio Amateur N5GE <[hidden email]> wrote:

> On Sun, 30 Aug 2009 10:17:38 -0700, Brett Howard
> <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> In line:
>
>>Dmm doesn't provide assurance that you have the right points. I
>>personally wanted assurance and so I used my k1 a dummy load and my
>>dmm to test.
>
> That's a good way to test, but why load the menu and precious firmware
> bytes up with that kind of stuff?
>
>> I think there are others who would appreciate assurance
>>that the mod is in place correctly and don't want to hook a
>>transmitter directly to their receiver.
>>
>
> Wow! Are there really folks dumb enough to do that???
>
> I say; Let the modifier beware!
>
> [snip]
>
> Tom, N5GE
>
> [hidden email]
> K3 #806, K3 #1055, PR6,
> XV144, XV432, KRC2,
> W1 and other small kits.
> http://www.n5ge.com
> http://www.swotrc.net
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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
>

Bob Garrett

Re: K3 Extreme sig mod

Bret et al,

Haven't we beat this horse to death? Do the mod yourself if you feel you
have the skills to do so. Have a fellow ham give you a hand or if not, send
your K3 back to Aptos and pay to have it done. End of story! 15 plus
e-mails is a huge waste of Inbox space.
73, Bob K3UL

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