K3 New owner 2B Checklist
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In preparation for the arrival of a K3 kit at my doorstep I'm
thinking I might want to plan ahead to make things simpler. I'm ordering the K3 100W kit and have a K9AY receiving antenna and will be using a Titan 425 amplifier with it. I have several power supplies I can use with one being the larger Heathkit 13.8 supply which works fine with my TenTec gear. I also have a TenTec power supply which matches with my Omni V. Are there any caveats or unexpected boondoggles I can expect to run into that I might get ready to resolve before it arrives? I don't have much working test equipment here, the scope is broken and I need to disassemble it and find out why there are fried resistors. No telling, I wasn't using it when it went south. I do have a Sprague TelOhmMic and a basic digital ohm/volt meter. Also have a newer MFJ SWR analyzer. As to the Amp, When connecting to the TenTec transcievers, the TenTec Titan 425 has RCA connects for key in & key out The key out from the Titan goes to the TX EN of the Omni. The Key in from the Titan goes to the TX out of the Omni. CW key goes to the Transceiver Key jack Apparently those are TenTec designated functions so I question if another rig like the K3 has the exact equivilents. The manual says to interconnect to other transceivers by doing the following: Titan Key out to the transceiver Key jack Titan PTT/VOX to the transceiver "EXT T/R N.O. Relay jack" CW key goes to the Key In of the Titan. I wonder about the relay timing issues as I often run QSK in contests and DX pileups. The 425 is a classic amp so I'm hoping these details have been figured out to exquisite detail by now and I won't have to re-invent the wheel. Anything I should have asked but didn't? Thanks for any pointers. Gary KA1J _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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On Mon, 01 Dec 2008 11:52:48 -0500, Gary Smith wrote:
>The key out from the Titan goes to the TX EN of the Omni. >The Key in from the Titan goes to the TX out of the Omni. >CW key goes to the Transceiver Key jack I have three 425s, and have used them in contesting for years using this arrangement, which was a way of doing QSK with virtually any rig (the 425 was designed before 1980). You do NOT need to do this with the K3 -- the K3 has a built in TX delay (adjustable in CONFIG) so that the TX/RX relay in the amp has time to switch. So simply set the 425 in PTT mode and feed it the amp keying line from the K3. I'm conservative, so I set the delay for 12ms to give the relay plenty of time to switch. The default is 8ms. BTW -- the FT1000MP and others in that family also have the delay built in, so you can use them that way too. My 425s drive to full power with around 30-40 watts, depending on the band, so the K3 is loafing. Which also means that the power supply is only pulling around 10A on transmit. 73, Jim K9YC _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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In reply to this post by Gary Smith
To my initial question:
" > I'm ordering the K3 100W kit and have a K9AY receiving antenna and > will be using a Titan 425 amplifier with it. I have several power > supplies I can use with one being the larger Heathkit 13.8 supply > which works fine with my TenTec gear. I also have a TenTec power > supply which matches with my Omni V. > > Are there any caveats or unexpected boondoggles I can expect to run > into that I might get ready to resolve before it arrives? " Jim K9YC was most helpful with my question on using the Titan 425 with the K3: "I have three 425s, and have used them in contesting for years using this arrangement, which was a way of doing QSK with virtually any rig (the 425 was designed before 1980). You do NOT need to do this with the K3 -- the K3 has a built in TX delay (adjustable in CONFIG) so that the TX/RX relay in the amp has time to switch. So simply set the 425 in PTT mode and feed it the amp keying line from the K3. I'm conservative, so I set the delay for 12ms to give the relay plenty of time to switch. The default is 8ms. ------------------------------------- And Mike AC5P offered the same kind of good suggestion: "Gary, The one thing different about the K3 is the DC power input connector. This is an Anderson 30A Power Pole connector. I don´t know of any other ham gear that uses this type of connector. IMHO, it is superior to the Molex type plug/jacks that the others supply. They supply one (and one only) connector and 6 ft of #12 DC zip cord. Most hams don´t have the special crimp tool, so you will have to solder the pins correctly positioned THE FIRST TIME to make it up." ------------------------------------- As to the Amp, I'll be sure to read up on how to find the delay in config. Last time I modified anything with "config" was back with windoze 95 :) I'm sure that config / setup will be something I will be using a fair amount at first & probably when I update and the like. As to the Power Pole connector, this will be my introduction to them, never seen one before. Thus far I've been a dinosaur when it comes to new ham gear & my newest anything is 20 years old till now with the exception of my K9AY sold by Array and my Ameritron coax switch. Wait, I do have a butternut I use for 40 & up that was made in the mid 90's... :} Any other suggestions regarding a heads up perhaps regarding specialty assembly/test equipment I will need to be ready for the k3 100W kit? Thanks for the help! 73, Gary KA1J _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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You should also consider the Heil Goldline mic for it. That is if you
operate phone. 73, matt zilmer On Tue, 02 Dec 2008 14:34:15 -0500, you wrote: >To my initial question: > >" >> I'm ordering the K3 100W kit and have a K9AY receiving antenna and >> will be using a Titan 425 amplifier with it. I have several power >> supplies I can use with one being the larger Heathkit 13.8 supply >> which works fine with my TenTec gear. I also have a TenTec power >> supply which matches with my Omni V. >> >> Are there any caveats or unexpected boondoggles I can expect to run >> into that I might get ready to resolve before it arrives? " > > >Jim K9YC was most helpful with my question on using the Titan 425 >with the K3: > >"I have three 425s, and have used them in contesting for years using >this arrangement, which was a way of doing QSK with virtually any rig >(the 425 was designed before 1980). > >You do NOT need to do this with the K3 -- the K3 has a built in TX >delay (adjustable in CONFIG) so that the TX/RX relay in the amp has >time to switch. So simply set the 425 in PTT mode and feed it the amp >keying line from the K3. I'm conservative, so I set the delay for >12ms to give the relay plenty of time to switch. The default is 8ms. >------------------------------------- > >And Mike AC5P offered the same kind of good suggestion: > > >"Gary, The one thing different about the K3 is the DC power input >connector. This is an Anderson 30A Power Pole connector. I don´t know >of any other ham gear that uses this type of connector. IMHO, it is >superior to the Molex type plug/jacks that the others supply. They >supply one (and one only) connector and 6 ft of #12 DC zip cord. Most >hams don´t have the special crimp tool, so you will have to solder >the pins correctly positioned THE FIRST TIME to make it up." >------------------------------------- > > > >As to the Amp, I'll be sure to read up on how to find the delay in >config. Last time I modified anything with "config" was back with >windoze 95 :) I'm sure that config / setup will be something I will >be using a fair amount at first & probably when I update and the >like. > >As to the Power Pole connector, this will be my introduction to them, >never seen one before. Thus far I've been a dinosaur when it comes to >new ham gear & my newest anything is 20 years old till now with the >exception of my K9AY sold by Array and my Ameritron coax switch. >Wait, I do have a butternut I use for 40 & up that was made in the >mid 90's... :} > >Any other suggestions regarding a heads up perhaps regarding >specialty assembly/test equipment I will need to be ready for the k3 >100W kit? > >Thanks for the help! > >73, > >Gary >KA1J > >_______________________________________________ >Elecraft mailing list >Post to: [hidden email] >You must be a subscriber to post to the list. >Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): > http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > >Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm >Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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I so rarely use phone, really enjoy the challenge of CW. Did use a
mic last weekend to ask a question of non contesting hams to check my signal quality as someone said I was sending out clicks all over the band. (Turns out the signal was clean & it was just a lid pestering me). I do have a Heil HM-5 I bought back in the 80s and it is wired for the TenTec 4 pin. 73, Gary KA1J > You should also consider the Heil Goldline mic for it. That is if you > operate phone. > > 73, > matt zilmer > > On Tue, 02 Dec 2008 14:34:15 -0500, you wrote: > > >To my initial question: > > > >" > >> I'm ordering the K3 100W kit and have a K9AY receiving antenna and > >> will be using a Titan 425 amplifier with it. I have several power > >> supplies I can use with one being the larger Heathkit 13.8 supply > >> which works fine with my TenTec gear. I also have a TenTec power > >> supply which matches with my Omni V. > >> > >> Are there any caveats or unexpected boondoggles I can expect to run > >> into that I might get ready to resolve before it arrives? " > > > > > >Jim K9YC was most helpful with my question on using the Titan 425 > >with the K3: > > > >"I have three 425s, and have used them in contesting for years using > >this arrangement, which was a way of doing QSK with virtually any rig > >(the 425 was designed before 1980). > > > >You do NOT need to do this with the K3 -- the K3 has a built in TX > >delay (adjustable in CONFIG) so that the TX/RX relay in the amp has > >time to switch. So simply set the 425 in PTT mode and feed it the amp > >keying line from the K3. I'm conservative, so I set the delay for > >12ms to give the relay plenty of time to switch. The default is 8ms. > >------------------------------------- > > > >And Mike AC5P offered the same kind of good suggestion: > > > > > >"Gary, The one thing different about the K3 is the DC power input > >connector. This is an Anderson 30A Power Pole connector. I don´t know > >of any other ham gear that uses this type of connector. IMHO, it is > >superior to the Molex type plug/jacks that the others supply. They > >supply one (and one only) connector and 6 ft of #12 DC zip cord. Most > >hams don´t have the special crimp tool, so you will have to solder > >the pins correctly positioned THE FIRST TIME to make it up." > >------------------------------------- > > > > > > > >As to the Amp, I'll be sure to read up on how to find the delay in > >config. Last time I modified anything with "config" was back with > >windoze 95 :) I'm sure that config / setup will be something I will > >be using a fair amount at first & probably when I update and the > >like. > > > >As to the Power Pole connector, this will be my introduction to them, > >never seen one before. Thus far I've been a dinosaur when it comes to > >new ham gear & my newest anything is 20 years old till now with the > >exception of my K9AY sold by Array and my Ameritron coax switch. > >Wait, I do have a butternut I use for 40 & up that was made in the > >mid 90's... :} > > > >Any other suggestions regarding a heads up perhaps regarding > >specialty assembly/test equipment I will need to be ready for the k3 > >100W kit? > > > >Thanks for the help! > > > >73, > > > >Gary > >KA1J _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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In reply to this post by Gary Smith
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On Tue, 2 Dec 2008 14:14:25 -0800, Ron D'Eau Claire wrote:
>For building the K3/100, there's a complete list of essentials in the >assembly manual. Having built two K3s and added a KRX3, my list of essentials is pretty short. It's hard to imagine a ham needing to buy anything, except maybe the nut starter (if you can still find one). 1 - Medium small Phillips screwdriver with magnetic tip (the magnetic tip is BEYOND essential! 1 - Medium size needlenose pliers 1 - Medium small flat blade screwdriver (to pry things apart) 1 - Ruler to measure the length of hardware so that you know you have the right parts 1 - Really well-lit work area (so you can see how some nearly buried connectors mate together) 1 - Anti-static environment 1 - Big box/barrel to throw packaging in as you empty it 1 - Pen or pencil to check off steps 1 - VOM, digital or otherwise, with a decent Ohms scale (for a couple of voltage and resistance checks) Some things that are very helpful: 1 - Nut holder/starter (one of those 6-inch long soft plastic things with a soft end that a nut can be pushed into to start it in tight places) You'll also need a means of soldering the Anderson Power Pole connectors to the ends of the supplied zip cord. BUT: WHEN ARE RF ENGINEERS GOING TO LEARN THAT ZIP CORD IS VERY SUSCEPTIBLE TO RFI? These cables should be twisted pairs! That's all I needed. 73, Jim K9YC _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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In reply to this post by Gary Smith
Thanks folks, you've offered me some really helpful information. If
this was a website forum I'd suggest these ideas be part of a "sticky" for others would find them most helpful too. Maybe the folks at Elecraft might add a pdf to their info section/FAQ with such helpful pointers for the new members of the group. I loved my Erector sets as a kid & then Heathkit & now I get to play with a parts kit again only prettier and much mo' better. What fun! Thanks, Gary KA1J _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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