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[K3] K3 frozen on power-up

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Don Putnick-4

[K3] K3 frozen on power-up

Hi Elecraft List,

In anticipation of this morning's net, I powered up my KAT500, then my KPA500, and finally
my K3. It came up in a state with an empty bright screen. Also I couldn't turn it off with
the power button.

I unplugged the K3, then plugged it back in. I restarted it in EE INIT mode. It appeared to
work. I then powered it down with the power button, powered it back up, and reloaded the
firmware. Again it appeared to work. I powered it down again , powered it back up, and
reloaded the most recent configuration I saved. It resulted in the same faulty state of an
empty bright screen and the power button wouldn't turn the K3 off. I repeated the entire
sequence again from unplug to EE INIT to firmware reload to configuration reload using the
next most recent configuration file. Same faulty state.

Any idea what might have gone wrong? Any suggestions on how I should proceed? I certainly
know how to reconfigure the filter settings and Menu/Config settings manually after an EE
INIT and firmware reload, but what calibrations have I lost?

73 and Thanks,
Don NA6Z
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Cady, Fred

Re: [K3] K3 frozen on power-up

Hi Don,
I know you turned the KAT and KPA on before the K3 but the symptoms you describe sound like what happens if the KAT is not turned on first, i.e., sounds like something is pulling the AUXBUS down.
Try disconnecting the KPAK3AUX cable from the K3 and see if the K3 comes up OK. If it does, that will give you a clue where to start trouble shooting.
Cheers,
Fred KE7X

Fred Cady
fcady at ieee dot org
"The Elecraft K3: Design, Configuration and Operation 2nd ed"
"The Elecraft KX3 - Going for the summit"
www.ke7x.com or www.lulu.com
(Coming soon: "The KPA500 and KAT500 - the Elecraft K-Line Dream Station")

> -----Original Message-----
> From: [hidden email] [mailto:elecraft-
> [hidden email]] On Behalf Of Don Putnick
> Sent: Sunday, October 13, 2013 2:01 PM
> To: Elecraft List
> Subject: [Elecraft] [K3] K3 frozen on power-up
>
> Hi Elecraft List,
>
> In anticipation of this morning's net, I powered up my KAT500, then my
> KPA500, and finally
> my K3. It came up in a state with an empty bright screen. Also I
> couldn't turn it off with
> the power button.
>
> I unplugged the K3, then plugged it back in. I restarted it in EE INIT
> mode. It appeared to
> work. I then powered it down with the power button, powered it back up,
> and reloaded the
> firmware. Again it appeared to work. I powered it down again , powered
> it back up, and
> reloaded the most recent configuration I saved. It resulted in the same
> faulty state of an
> empty bright screen and the power button wouldn't turn the K3 off. I
> repeated the entire
> sequence again from unplug to EE INIT to firmware reload to
> configuration reload using the
> next most recent configuration file. Same faulty state.
>
> Any idea what might have gone wrong? Any suggestions on how I should
> proceed? I certainly
> know how to reconfigure the filter settings and Menu/Config settings
> manually after an EE
> INIT and firmware reload, but what calibrations have I lost?
>
> 73 and Thanks,
> Don NA6Z
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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

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Don Putnick-4

Re: [K3] K3 frozen on power-up

In reply to this post by Don Putnick-4

Thanks, Fred. After disconnecting the KPAK3AUX cable I was able to reload the config
file. The K3 is feeling much better. Now to diagnose what was pulling the AUXBUS down.
73 Don NA6Z

-----Original Message-----

>From: "Cady, Fred" <[hidden email]>
>Sent: Oct 13, 2013 2:40 PM
>To: 'Don Putnick' <[hidden email]>, 'Elecraft List' <[hidden email]>
>Subject: RE: [Elecraft] [K3] K3 frozen on power-up
>
>Hi Don,
>I know you turned the KAT and KPA on before the K3 but the symptoms you describe sound like what happens if the KAT is not turned on first, i.e., sounds like something is pulling the AUXBUS down.
>Try disconnecting the KPAK3AUX cable from the K3 and see if the K3 comes up OK. If it does, that will give you a clue where to start trouble shooting.
>Cheers,
>Fred KE7X
>

Doug VE3VS

Re: [K3] K3 frozen on power-up

I have a similar equipment setup in my shack. It has been my experience that I put power onto the KAT500 first, before starting the K3. I do not start the KPA500 amplifier until the K3 indicates that it is ready to proceed - this takes only a few seconds. I have not experienced any problems using this sequence of startup events.
Good luck, Doug VE3VS

w7aqk

Re: [K3] K3 frozen on power-up

In reply to this post by Don Putnick-4

Good Morning All,

I can't explain the problem, and maybe I'm barking up the wrong tree.
However, in recent years it has become pretty obvious to me that
microprocessors are pretty finicky! All the devices we use these days that
have microprocessors seem to periodically get hung up due to even a small
spike in voltage, or whatever. More often than not, disconnecting
everything, and probably doing a complete power down, seems to cure it.
I've had to do that with routers, cell phones, satellite receivers,
computers, etc., etc. Every so often I have to do it with the K3 as well.
So, anymore when something quits working correctly, the first thing I do is
a complete power disconnect--even removing batteries is sometimes the
answer. Interconnecting cables may need to be unhooked as well because they
also may have some small voltage passing through them. Anyway, if something
quits working, give this a try first. It may save you from having to have a
conversation with India!

Dave W7AQK

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