K3: KTCXO-3 Compatible Elecraft K3 TCXO 1 PPM High Stability Ref. Osc. Compatible

[Elecraft mailing list]

I'm interested in adding a KTCXO-3 to my K3S.  Since Elecraft no longer sells them I'm wondering if anyone has purchased one of the Chinese versions being sold on eBay and if so how it worked?  https://www.ebay.com/itm/182814802678

Tnx & 73, Dick- K9OM 
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[Elecraft mailing list]

I was thinking the same thing.  Several posters here said that the phase noise created was worse than the Elecraft part.  I do not understand enough about the process to understand how that works.  I keep hoping someone will buy one and try it out - and test the phase noise!

Hank
K4HYJ


----- Original Message -----
From: RVZ via Elecraft ([hidden email])
Date: 05/10/21 19:27
To: [hidden email]
Subject: [Elecraft] K3: KTCXO-3 Compatible Elecraft K3 TCXO 1 PPM High Stability Ref. Osc. Compatible

I'm interested in adding a KTCXO-3 to my K3S.  Since Elecraft no longer sells them I'm wondering if anyone has purchased one of the Chinese versions being sold on eBay and if so how it worked?  https://www.ebay.com/itm/182814802678

Tnx & 73, Dick- K9OM
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[Mark Goldberg]

Most Hams do not have the test equipment to measure phase noise. The big
issue is 49.380 MHz is an unusual frequency and probably a custom order
frequency standard. The knockoff makers generally don't spend for a custom
part. They take a standard TCXO and generate that frequency using a crappy
PLL based synthesizer with high phase noise and lots of spurs. I have not
tested this particular type (Elecraft replacement) though. Others I tested
were awful. The result would be more interference between radios that are
physically close to each other and on the same band. such as contest and
Dxpedition stations. The low phase noise is a big reason that Elecrafts are
prized for such applications. Both RX and TX are affected.

I make replacement TCXOs for Kenwood TS-590s. They also use an unusual
frequency but I was able to get a TCXO chip supplier to provide me a custom
frequency chip that I had to buy in some quantity. That allowed me to
produce a quality product, although things are upside down now with the
component shortages in the industry. If huge companies like auto makers and
a company with a decent volume like Elecraft have part procurement
problems, you can imagine how bad it is for a really small fry like myself.

Has Elecraft stated why they are no longer available? I have not checked
with my supplier recently, but I expect there would be no interest in low
volume runs when demand can't be met for their high volume parts.

73,

Mark
W7MLG





On Mon, May 10, 2021 at 5:58 PM Hank via Elecraft <[hidden email]>
wrote:

> I was thinking the same thing.  Several posters here said that the phase
> noise created was worse than the Elecraft part.  I do not understand enough
> about the process to understand how that works.  I keep hoping someone will
> buy one and try it out - and test the phase noise!
>
> Hank
> K4HYJ
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: RVZ via Elecraft ([hidden email])
> Date: 05/10/21 19:27
> To: [hidden email]
> Subject: [Elecraft] K3: KTCXO-3 Compatible Elecraft K3 TCXO 1 PPM High
> Stability Ref. Osc. Compatible
>
> I'm interested in adding a KTCXO-3 to my K3S.  Since Elecraft no longer
> sells them I'm wondering if anyone has purchased one of the Chinese
> versions being sold on eBay and if so how it worked?
> https://www.ebay.com/itm/182814802678
>
> Tnx & 73, Dick- K9OM
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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]

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[Elecraft mailing list]

They are no longer available from Elecraft based on an email I received several weeks ago when calling to ask for a replacement. I sent my K3s in for an upgrade and to be generally looked over last year. I had already installed the KTCXO-3 crystal new from Elecraft earlier but was still having frequency drift issues. The factory replaced that one with a new one and upon return it began to drift. Without an external reference connected - I have to change the ref frequency almost every time I use the radio.

2 meters is so bad on SSB that it is unusable.

I have switched back to the original crystal that came with the rig new in 2018. It is much better and I can use my rig for outings like field day or training exercises without a reference signal.

For the money spent on a new rig in 2018 (which was the single most expensive ham radio purchase I have ever made and the first and only new Desktop HF transceiver I have ever owned) I am not happy that I can’t even get simple parts for repair less than 3 years later.  If I knew a new model was approaching I would have waited.

The factory has given me 2 options: use the original crystal which I am doing and the performance is ok, or take my KTCXO-3 and tweak it with a screwdriver to get it back closer to the reference frequency.

I have done the first because I can’t do the later. 2 meter SSB is still a little off with the old crystal.

I feet certain that my KTCXO-3 is bad and no amount of tweaking will allow it to be stable so sending back to the factory again probably will do no good.

Some days I wish I had still had my IC-7610/7700 combo :-(

Hank
K4HYJ.

> On May 10, 2021, at 10:12 PM, Mark Goldberg <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> 
> Most Hams do not have the test equipment to measure phase noise. The big issue is 49.380 MHz is an unusual frequency and probably a custom order frequency standard. The knockoff makers generally don't spend for a custom part. They take a standard TCXO and generate that frequency using a crappy PLL based synthesizer with high phase noise and lots of spurs. I have not tested this particular type (Elecraft replacement) though. Others I tested were awful. The result would be more interference between radios that are physically close to each other and on the same band. such as contest and Dxpedition stations. The low phase noise is a big reason that Elecrafts are prized for such applications. Both RX and TX are affected.
>
> I make replacement TCXOs for Kenwood TS-590s. They also use an unusual frequency but I was able to get a TCXO chip supplier to provide me a custom frequency chip that I had to buy in some quantity. That allowed me to produce a quality product, although things are upside down now with the component shortages in the industry. If huge companies like auto makers and a company with a decent volume like Elecraft have part procurement problems, you can imagine how bad it is for a really small fry like myself.
>
> Has Elecraft stated why they are no longer available? I have not checked with my supplier recently, but I expect there would be no interest in low volume runs when demand can't be met for their high volume parts.
>
> 73,
>
> Mark
> W7MLG
>
>
>
>
>
>> On Mon, May 10, 2021 at 5:58 PM Hank via Elecraft <[hidden email]> wrote:
>> I was thinking the same thing.  Several posters here said that the phase noise created was worse than the Elecraft part.  I do not understand enough about the process to understand how that works.  I keep hoping someone will buy one and try it out - and test the phase noise!
>>
>> Hank
>> K4HYJ
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: RVZ via Elecraft ([hidden email])
>> Date: 05/10/21 19:27
>> To: [hidden email]
>> Subject: [Elecraft] K3: KTCXO-3 Compatible Elecraft K3 TCXO 1 PPM High Stability Ref. Osc. Compatible
>>
>> I'm interested in adding a KTCXO-3 to my K3S.  Since Elecraft no longer sells them I'm wondering if anyone has purchased one of the Chinese versions being sold on eBay and if so how it worked?  https://www.ebay.com/itm/182814802678
>>
>> Tnx & 73, Dick- K9OM
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> 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]

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