Elecraft › [K3]

[K3] Problems abound

Classic

List

Threaded

5 messages Options

Shane DeSeranno

[K3] Problems abound

Hello everyone,

I’m a newer K3 owner and I’m loving the heck out of the device, but recently I noticed a strange problem. It started behaving as though my MIC wasn’t working correctly.

[All tests from this point out will be into a DUMMY LOAD that is rated up to 300W.]

I would notice that if I used 100W and tried to send, the power draw was never more than 4 amps, and the RF display wouldn’t go above 5 or 10W. After some troubleshooting, I ‘recalibrated’ the TX gain, and this fixed it... until I leave and come back later. Then I’m required to recalibrate the TX gain. I know this isn’t the expected behavior, so I suspect something is amiss.

Another problem that has cropped up at the same time (and is likely related) is my ATU inability to tune correctly. I should be able to “tune” the dummy load 1:1 on all bands (except maybe 10m and 6m), but when I try to tune, I hear the relays click, but after a short wait the K3 beeps and displays “- -“. I’m guessing this is because the TX gain calibration is wacky and thus the ATU ability to read the SWR might be out of whack.

All this said, I’m really stumped and was hoping for suggestions and ideas? I have tried reloading settings from when my device was first brought online, but that didn’t have any effect.

Thanks,
Shane - KF7EFG
______________________________________________________________
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

Don Wilhelm-4

Re: [K3] Problems abound

Shane,

I believe the "- -" display means that the KAT3 is not being properly
recognized as being installed. That fact alone may complicate the
results of your other observations.

You may not be able to TUNE the dummy load to 1:1 SWR - the tuning
mechanism may quit tuning if the SWR is below 1.3 or 1.2 (although it
usually will tune to 1.0). If you want TO ASSURE 1:1 results, you will
have to bypass the KAT3 rather than TUNing intp the dummy load.

If your TX Gain calibration data is not being remembered, that is a
different problem, and should be addressed to [hidden email].
It does seem that is your problem source.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 10/17/2011 5:56 PM, Shane DeSeranno wrote:

> Hello everyone,
>
> I’m a newer K3 owner and I’m loving the heck out of the device, but recently I noticed a strange problem. It started behaving as though my MIC wasn’t working correctly.
>
> [All tests from this point out will be into a DUMMY LOAD that is rated up to 300W.]
>
> I would notice that if I used 100W and tried to send, the power draw was never more than 4 amps, and the RF display wouldn’t go above 5 or 10W. After some troubleshooting, I ‘recalibrated’ the TX gain, and this fixed it... until I leave and come back later. Then I’m required to recalibrate the TX gain. I know this isn’t the expected behavior, so I suspect something is amiss.
>
> Another problem that has cropped up at the same time (and is likely related) is my ATU inability to tune correctly. I should be able to “tune” the dummy load 1:1 on all bands (except maybe 10m and 6m), but when I try to tune, I hear the relays click, but after a short wait the K3 beeps and displays “- -“. I’m guessing this is because the TX gain calibration is wacky and thus the ATU ability to read the SWR might be out of whack.
>
> All this said, I’m really stumped and was hoping for suggestions and ideas? I have tried reloading settings from when my device was first brought online, but that didn’t have any effect.
>
> Thanks,
> Shane - KF7EFG
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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

______________________________________________________________
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

Eric Swartz - WA6HHQ

Re: [K3] Problems abound

Administrator

The '- -' display usually happens when there is not enough power to
tune and generate a proper SWR.

73, Eric

---
www.elecraft.com

On 10/17/2011 4:23 PM, Don Wilhelm wrote:

> Shane,
>
> I believe the "- -" display means that the KAT3 is not being properly
> recognized as being installed. That fact alone may complicate the
> results of your other observations.
>
> You may not be able to TUNE the dummy load to 1:1 SWR - the tuning
> mechanism may quit tuning if the SWR is below 1.3 or 1.2 (although it
> usually will tune to 1.0). If you want TO ASSURE 1:1 results, you will
> have to bypass the KAT3 rather than TUNing intp the dummy load.
>
> If your TX Gain calibration data is not being remembered, that is a
> different problem, and should be addressed to [hidden email].
> It does seem that is your problem source.
>
> 73,
> Don W3FPR
>
> On 10/17/2011 5:56 PM, Shane DeSeranno wrote:
>> Hello everyone,
>>
>> I’m a newer K3 owner and I’m loving the heck out of the device, but recently I noticed a strange problem. It started behaving as though my MIC wasn’t working correctly.
>>
>> [All tests from this point out will be into a DUMMY LOAD that is rated up to 300W.]
>>
>> I would notice that if I used 100W and tried to send, the power draw was never more than 4 amps, and the RF display wouldn’t go above 5 or 10W. After some troubleshooting, I ‘recalibrated’ the TX gain, and this fixed it... until I leave and come back later. Then I’m required to recalibrate the TX gain. I know this isn’t the expected behavior, so I suspect something is amiss.
>>
>> Another problem that has cropped up at the same time (and is likely related) is my ATU inability to tune correctly. I should be able to “tune” the dummy load 1:1 on all bands (except maybe 10m and 6m), but when I try to tune, I hear the relays click, but after a short wait the K3 beeps and displays “- -“. I’m guessing this is because the TX gain calibration is wacky and thus the ATU ability to read the SWR might be out of whack.
>>
>> All this said, I’m really stumped and was hoping for suggestions and ideas? I have tried reloading settings from when my device was first brought online, but that didn’t have any effect.

Augie "Gus" Hansen

Re: [K3] Problems abound

> The '- -' display usually happens when there is not enough power to
> tune and generate a proper SWR.

And this display could be an indication that the K3 is in test mode.
Be sure that the TX indicator is not flashing.

Gus Hansen
KB0YH

______________________________________________________________
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

Shane DeSeranno

Re: [K3] Problems abound

Thank you everyone for your replies. Gary from Elecraft was awesome to
chime in... He had me check a number of things, but I think the core problem
was the wattmeter needed to be calibrated.

"Disconnect any RS232 connection and PC software control.

Redo the WMTR menu calibration.

When in WMTR LP or WMTR HP, turning the VFO A knob counterclockwise for
smaller numbers in the LCD will result in more RF output on an external
wattmeter. Turning the VFO A knob the opposite way will decrease the actual
RF output. The change when turning the knob menu is small, so you may need
to turn the VFO A knob quite a bit to see much change in the actual RF
output on the external wattmeter. This adjustment should be done with the K3
set to the 20m band. This calibration is done while you are in the WMTR menu
and you then press TUNE."

In short, my wattmeter marked stuff as 6W/60W for the 5W/50W test
respectively. After adjusting this setting, my ATU tunes 1:1 on all 9
bands and is pushing 100% of the power as expected!

Thank you everyone (Gary included!)
=Shane - KF7EFG

______________________________________________________________
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