K3 - Interface to MFJ 998 Auto Tuner

[Phil Salas]

I use my K3 with a MFJ-998 and Ameritron ALS-600.  The K3 doesn't have an
input YET that puts it in the low power CW tune mode.  I understand this is
planned.  Once this happens it will be easy to make an interface cable from
the MFJ-998 to the K3.  Currently I just feed the K3 amp-key output through
the MFJ-998, and I leave the MFJ-998 in the full auto-tune mode.  When I
change bands or antennas, I just hit the TUNE button on the K3.  If the SWR
is greater than 2:1, the MFJ-998 takes the ALS-600 off-line, tunes, and then
puts the ALS-600 back on-line.

The amp-bypass feature of the MFJ-998 really works well.

Phil - AD5X

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[Jerry Flanders]

At 12:26 PM 7/1/2008, Phil & Debbie Salas wrote:

>I use my K3 with a MFJ-998 and Ameritron ALS-600.  The K3 doesn't
>have an input YET that puts it in the low power CW tune mode.  I
>understand this is planned.  Once this happens it will be easy to
>make an interface cable from the MFJ-998 to the K3.  Currently I
>just feed the K3 amp-key output through the MFJ-998, and I leave the
>MFJ-998 in the full auto-tune mode.  When I change bands or
>antennas, I just hit the TUNE button on the K3.  If the SWR is
>greater than 2:1, the MFJ-998 takes the ALS-600 off-line, tunes, and
>then puts the ALS-600 back on-line.
>
>The amp-bypass feature of the MFJ-998 really works well.
>
>Phil - AD5X
>_____________________

Pin 4 of the aux i/o connector is a PTT line, in parallel with the
mike PTT. If the radio is in any of the continuous modes like FSK
RTTY just keying that line makes the K3 output a signal. I have wired
it up to my Quadra so the Quadra can key up the K3 for antenna
tuning. Works automatically for me, since I am usually in FSK RTTY
mode at approximately the right power level needed, but others need
something like the ICOM rigs provide.

Jerry W4UK

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[Fern Rivard]

I just spoke to a friend who has K3 vintage #1021 which he received mid june. He's having severe receive audio distortion when activating the auto notch. This will happen on signals S9 and stronger. He thinks that the radio has firmware 1.73 but couldn't figure out to bring it up. How does one bring up the firmware version?

Fern


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[Don Wilhelm-4]

Fern,

General instructions to upgrade the firmware are in the manual on page 42.

The procedure is to connect the K3 to a computer serial port;
Download the K3 Utility application from the Elecraft website;
Tell K3 Utility which folder on the local computer should be used for
the download files;
Connect to the internet and click the button in K3 Utility that says
something like "Check for New files"; K3 Utiity will download the files;
Once the files have been downloaded check the boxes for the firmware
versions that are to be loaded to the K3 and then click on 'Load data
files' (close but may not be exact words).

That is all there is to it - K3 Utility does most of the work.

73,
Don W3FPR

Fern Rivard wrote:

> I just spoke to a friend who has K3 vintage #1021 which he received mid june. He's having severe receive audio distortion when activating the auto notch. This will happen on signals S9 and stronger. He thinks that the radio has firmware 1.73 but couldn't figure out to bring it up. How does one bring up the firmware version?
>
> Fern
>
>
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[DaveL G3TJP]

Construction of #1122 was going fine.  The front panel went on easily after removing that obstructive screw in the 2D block.  It was time to fit the left side panel when a problem was encountered.

The DSP printed circuit board had not been trimmed correctly during manufacture, leaving a 1/4" strip down the PCB's left hand side, effectively preventing the left side panel from fitting.

It's clearly surplus PCB material and I'm awaiting a reply from Elecraft support, to whom I've sent a photograph.  There are several possible solutions, but I don't want to be held responsible for damaging what must be an expensive component.

New kit constructors might well check their DSP boards, just in case.  The strip of PCB is plain, unetched and has a groove cut on both sides to mark the edge of the finished PCB.  Better to spot problems before getting as far as I have.  I noticed (and trimmed off)  fibreglass whiskers on several PCBs and wonder if, once etched, boards are scored and snapped apart?

Ho hum.  I suppose there's always the jungle (aka garden) to cut back pending action in accordance with Elecraft's advice.  Malédiction!

73 DaveL  G3TJP

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David,

The same thing happened to 443 here but it was the I/O card on the back of the rig.  The PC Board was scored but was not trimmed off.  After several emails with Support, I took a razor knife and scored it some more and then broke it off.  It works fine too.  About 2 weeks later I got a new one in the mail for Elecraft.  I think at the time they were really swamped and were trying to get things in order.  Things in Aptos was flummoxed.

So, being it is rather an expensive part.....I would wait on instructions from Elecraft or a replacement.  That, I hope, would happen soon.  But this is not the first time for this malady to happen.

Lee - K0WA



In our day and age it seems that Common Sense is in short supply.  If you don't have any Common Sense - get some Common Sense and use it.  If you can't find any Common Sense, ask for help from somebody who has some Common Sense.  Is Common Sense divine?
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