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K3 Problems

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chas

K3 Problems

Hi Gary,

I was using text decode on transmit when suddenly very few of the
buttons on the front panel of the K3 would perform their normal
function. Some produced no response ie - MENU and CONFIG do not work at
all, SUB does not work at all. Many buttons produce a response which is
completely different from their intended function. The K3 is totally
unusable.
I tried to install the latest firmware and got the following on the K3
screen:

E O2OCOC
ERR DSE
Firmware failed to load

I now have a very expensive piece of equipment that is totally unusable.

I have the KAT500 on order but I am wondering if I should cancel that
order as I will not be able to use it.

Can you please advise me of a way forward?

73 from Charles Rodgers - M0BIN
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Don Wilhelm-4

Re: K3 Problems

Do you have a saved K3 configuration file? If so, do an EEINIT (see
Parameter Initialization in the manual) and reload the configuration.

That will give you something to accomplish while waiting for the support
people to wake up this morning.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 11/26/2012 3:41 AM, chas wrote:

> Hi Gary,
>
> I was using text decode on transmit when suddenly very few of the
> buttons on the front panel of the K3 would perform their normal
> function. Some produced no response ie - MENU and CONFIG do not work
> at all, SUB does not work at all. Many buttons produce a response
> which is completely different from their intended function. The K3 is
> totally unusable.
> I tried to install the latest firmware and got the following on the K3
> screen:
>
> E O2OCOC
> ERR DSE
> Firmware failed to load
>
> I now have a very expensive piece of equipment that is totally unusable.
>
> I have the KAT500 on order but I am wondering if I should cancel that
> order as I will not be able to use it.
>
> Can you please advise me of a way forward?
>
> 73 from Charles Rodgers - M0BIN

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chas

Re: K3 Problems

On 26/11/2012 12:19, Don Wilhelm wrote:
> Do you have a saved K3 configuration file? If so, do an EEINIT (see
> Parameter Initialization in the manual) and reload the configuration.
>
> That will give you something to accomplish while waiting for the support
> people to wake up this morning.
>
> 73,
> Don W3FPR

Thank you Don, but you need to read my latest reply to Gary.
The SHIFT LO NORM button is not working correctly - so what you are both
suggesting will not work.

I have read the Parameter Initialisation page in the manual.

I have tried reinstalling the Configuration Menu.

Until you appreciate that the K3 front panel buttons are all totally
corrupted then any cure to this problem cannot be found.

Charles - M0BIN
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KD4NUE

Re: K3 Problems

In reply to this post by chas

You may have broke the DSP firmware by keeping a key pressed too long.

Power down, remove from power for 30 seconds, then power up while holding the VFO button unfilled you hear a response from the speaker.

Then try a reload.

David
KD4NUE
Sent from my Verizon Wireless Phone

----- Reply message -----
From: "chas" <[hidden email]>
Date: Mon, Nov 26, 2012 03:41
Subject: [Elecraft] K3 Problems
To: "Gary Surrency" <[hidden email]>, <[hidden email]>, "elecraft" <[hidden email]>

Hi Gary,

I was using text decode on transmit when suddenly very few of the buttons on the front panel of the K3 would perform their normal function. Some produced no response ie - MENU and CONFIG do not work at all, SUB does not work at all. Many buttons produce a response which is completely different from their intended function. The K3 is totally unusable.
I tried to install the latest firmware and got the following on the K3 screen:

E O2OCOC
ERR DSE
Firmware failed to load

I now have a very expensive piece of equipment that is totally unusable.

I have the KAT500 on order but I am wondering if I should cancel that order as I will not be able to use it.

Can you please advise me of a way forward?

73 from Charles Rodgers - M0BIN
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Dick Dievendorff

Re: K3 Problems

In reply to this post by chas

Can you try the steps in K3 Utility Help, Troubleshooting, MCU Load
Failure, and reload load all firmware?

73 Dick, K6KR

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email]
[mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of chas
Sent: Monday, November 26, 2012 4:48 AM
To: [hidden email]; elecraft; Gary Gregory
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Problems

On 26/11/2012 12:19, Don Wilhelm wrote:
> Do you have a saved K3 configuration file? If so, do an EEINIT (see
> Parameter Initialization in the manual) and reload the configuration.
>
> That will give you something to accomplish while waiting for the
> support people to wake up this morning.
>
> 73,
> Don W3FPR

Thank you Don, but you need to read my latest reply to Gary.
The SHIFT LO NORM button is not working correctly - so what you are both
suggesting will not work.

I have read the Parameter Initialisation page in the manual.

I have tried reinstalling the Configuration Menu.

Until you appreciate that the K3 front panel buttons are all totally
corrupted then any cure to this problem cannot be found.

Charles - M0BIN
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Dave Hachadorian

Re: K3 Problems

In reply to this post by chas

>Until you appreciate that the K3 front panel buttons are all
>totally corrupted then any cure to this problem cannot be found.

Sometimes the encoders on the four rotary/pushbutton knobs to the
left of the main VFO knob stick, and cause the problem of
nonresponsive buttons.

Try rotating/pushing these four knobs for a while. This was the
advice to me from one of the factory guys, and it worked. I went
ahead and ordered replacement encoders ($2 each), but I never
installed them because the rig has worked fine for a year or two
now after twiddling the controls, and installing the encoders
does not look like fun.

Dave Hachadorian, K6LL
Yuma, Arizona

.

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KD4NUE

Re: K3 Problems

In reply to this post by chas

Chas,

If a single button held in on power up won't cure it, grab a handful.

The CPU should still be attempting to strobe the panel for key presses.

All you want it to do is have the lockup clear up long enough for the cpu to
sense a correctable failure.

If/When you get it unlocked; immediately reload all firmware; or at a
minimum, the firmware that seemed to be affected.

And the word corrupted is probably the most salient term here.

You may have to scare the cpu worse than it already is, before it will allow
a fix.

You may be amazed to find that if you disconnect all devices, cables, etc
and physically move the K3 so you can be sure it is not connected, in any
way, to the real world; the problem may dissipate after a few hours;
provided it is the equivalent of a ground loop.

If not, removing the back-up battery and letting it stand for a half hour
may bear favorable results.

This is a computer. It fails just like any other computer..

It's stability is largely dependent on the complexity of the firmware's
ability to be able to second guess every way a task can be attempted.

Before you try the radical approach; Elecraft Support should be available
soon, as they sun is coming up on the left coast.

David
KD4NUE

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email]
[mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of chas
Sent: Monday, November 26, 2012 7:48 AM
To: [hidden email]; elecraft; Gary Gregory
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Problems

On 26/11/2012 12:19, Don Wilhelm wrote:
> Do you have a saved K3 configuration file? If so, do an EEINIT (see
> Parameter Initialization in the manual) and reload the configuration.
>
> That will give you something to accomplish while waiting for the
> support people to wake up this morning.
>
> 73,
> Don W3FPR

Thank you Don, but you need to read my latest reply to Gary. The SHIFT LO
NORM button is not working correctly - so what you are both
suggesting will not work.

I have read the Parameter Initialisation page in the manual.

I have tried reinstalling the Configuration Menu.

Until you appreciate that the K3 front panel buttons are all totally
corrupted then any cure to this problem cannot be found.

Charles - M0BIN
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chas

Re: K3 Problems

In reply to this post by Don Wilhelm-4

gm3sek

Re: K3 Problems

chas wrote:

>On 26/11/2012 12:19, Don Wilhelm wrote:
>> Do you have a saved K3 configuration file? If so, do an EEINIT (see
>> Parameter Initialization in the manual) and reload the configuration.
>>
>> That will give you something to accomplish while waiting for the support
>> people to wake up this morning.
>>
>> 73,
>> Don W3FPR
>
>Thank you Don, but you need to read my latest reply to Gary.
>The SHIFT LO NORM button is not working correctly - so what you are
>both suggesting will not work.
>
>I have read the Parameter Initialisation page in the manual.
>
>I have tried reinstalling the Configuration Menu.
>
>Until you appreciate that the K3 front panel buttons are all totally
>corrupted then any cure to this problem cannot be found.
>

If your description is correct, this could be a hardware problem
involving communication between the buttons, the MCU and the rest of the
rig. Have you tried removing the front panel assembly, and checking for
any connector-related problems?

Search the pdf version of the K3 Assembly Manual for "Removing the front
panel" and follow the instructions there. Carefully lever off the entire
assembly (using the screwdriver slots provided) and then back-track
through the assembly instructions, checking for any possible connector
problems involving the Front Panel Board and its various plug-in
modules. Then, equally carefully, plug it all back together, and this
may be enough to re-establish communication.

--

73 from Ian GM3SEK
http://www.ifwtech.co.uk/g3sek
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Bruce Beford-2

Re: K3 Problems

In reply to this post by chas

This sounds like the issue that has been occasionally seen where one of the
rotary encoder push buttons fails in the "on" state. Another possibility is
a failure of a button mux/demux circuit. In either case, a front panel board
swap-out may be the next step. Hopefully, you will hear back shortly from
Elecraft support on the next logical step to troubleshoot.
Good luck,
Bruce, N1RX

> Thank you Don, but you need to read my latest reply to Gary.
> The SHIFT LO NORM button is not working correctly - so what you are both
> suggesting will not work.

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chas

Re: K3 Problems

In reply to this post by chas

Many thanks to those who responded to my plea for help with my K3.
I spoke to an Elecraft engineer by the the name of Howard.
Howard's advice was to remove the front panel and push it back and forth
to clean the pins. I took Howard's advice and now my K3 is restored to
full working order:-)
The serial number of my K3 is 836 and had been in daily use for a number
of years without the front panel being removed - so it is likely that
there was some corrosion on the pins.
Maybe others will benefit from my experience and Howard's advice.

73 from Chas - M0BIN
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