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K3 RS232 no data out

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oe9fwv

K3 RS232 no data out

My K3 stopped sending data out of its serial port. I can set a frequency
(using a terminal program) but get no response from the serial port. K3
Utility is of course not working because there is no reply to the ;
command. My guess is a problem with U1 on the KIO3 board.

Any idea where to start?

73! de Werner OE9FWV

--
Don't be hesitant. Digital electronics can smell fear.

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oe9fwv

Re: K3 RS232 no data out

Dr. Werner Furlan schrieb am 7 Jun 2010 um 23:57:

> My K3 stopped sending data out of its serial port. I can set a frequency
> (using a terminal program) but get no response from the serial port. K3
> Utility is of course not working because there is no reply to the ;
> command. My guess is a problem with U1 on the KIO3 board.

thanks to Gary Surrency from Elecraft Support, Van W1WCG and Phil WD8QWR
for their help in diagnosing the problem. It is a partially defective U1
on the KIO3 board. I'll have to replace it.

73! de Werner OE9FWV

--
Eine katholische Schwester kann nicht austreten, da sie zeitlebens im
Kloster leben muss.

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Fax +43 5522 22505
Mobile +43 664 6340014
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Pete Smith N4ZR

Re: K3 RS232 no data out

I wonder if there is anything that can be done (on the board, for
example, or in an outboard box) to decrease the vulnerability of U1
(written as I await my replacement KIO3A board).

73, Pete N4ZR

The World Contest Station Database, updated daily at www.conteststations.com
The Reverse Beacon Network at http://reversebeacon.net, blog at reversebeacon.blogspot.com

On 6/8/2010 12:47 PM, Dr. Werner Furlan wrote:

> Dr. Werner Furlan schrieb am 7 Jun 2010 um 23:57:
>
>
>> My K3 stopped sending data out of its serial port. I can set a frequency
>> (using a terminal program) but get no response from the serial port. K3
>> Utility is of course not working because there is no reply to the ;
>> command. My guess is a problem with U1 on the KIO3 board.
>>
> thanks to Gary Surrency from Elecraft Support, Van W1WCG and Phil WD8QWR
> for their help in diagnosing the problem. It is a partially defective U1
> on the KIO3 board. I'll have to replace it.
>
> 73! de Werner OE9FWV
>
>

MontyS

Re: K3 RS232 no data out

Every summer I write this little note. If you see lightning or hear
thunder, disconnect all cables and wires to your K3.

Not just the antennas. Not just the PowerPole. The key lines, ALC, IF out,
LINE IN, LINE OUT, headphone, mic(s), RS232, Accessory, ground, speaker
lines, too.

I had lightning damage 2 years ago when my K3 was brand new. Never again, I
hope.

Monty K2DLJ

> I wonder if there is anything that can be done (on the board, for
> example, or in an outboard box) to decrease the vulnerability of U1
> (written as I await my replacement KIO3A board).
>
> 73, Pete N4ZR
>

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ab2tc

Re: K3 RS232 no data out

Hi,

I am always amused when I see this advice. How many hams are actually doing this? Upstate NY is maybe not the worst place for thunderstorms, but we do get plenty. Were I to follow this advice, I would have no option but leaving the K3 unconnected as a rule and connect up all the wires (at least half a dozen) each time I use it. Access is difficult with the radio up against the back wall (mirror image back panel picture will come in very handy next time I do need to remove the radio from service for whatever reason). I am very loath to mess with the radio and its wires at all. For that very reason I have a second radio for taking places. Knock on wood, so far I have not have any damage to any radio from thunderstorms.

AB2TC - Knut

Monty Shultes wrote

Every summer I write this little note. If you see lightning or hear
thunder, disconnect all cables and wires to your K3.

Not just the antennas. Not just the PowerPole. The key lines, ALC, IF out,
LINE IN, LINE OUT, headphone, mic(s), RS232, Accessory, ground, speaker
lines, too.

I had lightning damage 2 years ago when my K3 was brand new. Never again, I
hope.

Monty K2DLJ

<snip>

Don Wilhelm-4

Re: K3 RS232 no data out

Knut,

For those station installations that have adequate lightning protection
implemented, it will not be necessary to disconnect anything except the
antenna.
If one follows the recommendations of Ron Block in his 2002 QST 3 part
articles on lightning protection, everything in the hamshack area
*should* be at the same potential during a surge event. That does mean
providing protection for *all* lines (power, telco, ethernet, antennas,
rotor control lines, etc) coming into the station at a single grounded
entry panel, and bonding the enclosures of all equipment in the shack to
a single common point which is then bonded to that shack entry grounded
panel (which also must be connected to the utility entry ground). Then
I believe you can leave those miscellaneous cables connected and not
experience a failure except that all bets are off for a direct strike.
All bets are off if you choose to do an incomplete job of equipment
protection in the shack too.

The articles I refer can be downloaded from the ARRL website. Do a site
search on 'lightning protection'.

73,
Don W3FPR

ab2tc wrote:

> Hi,
>
> I am always amused when I see this advice. How many hams are actually doing
> this? Upstate NY is maybe not the worst place for thunderstorms, but we do
> get plenty. Were I to follow this advice, I would have no option but leaving
> the K3 unconnected as a rule and connect up all the wires (at least half a
> dozen) each time I use it. Access is difficult with the radio up against the
> back wall (mirror image back panel picture will come in very handy next time
> I do need to remove the radio from service for whatever reason). I am very
> loath to mess with the radio and its wires at all. For that very reason I
> have a second radio for taking places. Knock on wood, so far I have not have
> any damage to any radio from thunderstorms.
>
> AB2TC - Knut
>
>

MontyS

Re: K3 RS232 no data out

Knut and Don,

I live in Florida, the lightning capital of the planet. I have experienced
overhead cloud-to-cloud discharges three times in my life, once in New
Jersey, once on Cape Cod, and once here. Both caused damage by inducing
voltages in cables connected to computers, printers, microwave ovens, TVs,
and radios.

Connecting the 10 wires I need to use my K3 takes less than 5 minutes. I
place it one the right side feet for the antennas and key and paddle, normal
position for everything else. I have enough slack in the cables to pull the
K3 about 12 inches from the back wall.

I hear you, but will trust nothing but complete disconnection. I have a
complete ground system for the shack.

Monty K2DLJ

> Knut,
>
> For those station installations that have adequate lightning protection
> implemented, it will not be necessary to disconnect anything except the
> antenna.
> If one follows the recommendations of Ron Block in his 2002 QST 3 part
> articles on lightning protection, everything in the hamshack area
> *should* be at the same potential during a surge event. That does mean
> providing protection for *all* lines (power, telco, ethernet, antennas,
> rotor control lines, etc) coming into the station at a single grounded
> entry panel, and bonding the enclosures of all equipment in the shack to
> a single common point which is then bonded to that shack entry grounded
> panel (which also must be connected to the utility entry ground). Then
> I believe you can leave those miscellaneous cables connected and not
> experience a failure except that all bets are off for a direct strike.
> All bets are off if you choose to do an incomplete job of equipment
> protection in the shack too.
>
> The articles I refer can be downloaded from the ARRL website. Do a site
> search on 'lightning protection'.
>
> 73,
> Don W3FPR
>
> ab2tc wrote:
>> Hi,
>>
>> I am always amused when I see this advice. How many hams are actually
>> doing
>> this? Upstate NY is maybe not the worst place for thunderstorms, but we
>> do
>> get plenty. Were I to follow this advice, I would have no option but
>> leaving
>> the K3 unconnected as a rule and connect up all the wires (at least half
>> a
>> dozen) each time I use it. Access is difficult with the radio up against
>> the
>> back wall (mirror image back panel picture will come in very handy next
>> time
>> I do need to remove the radio from service for whatever reason). I am
>> very
>> loath to mess with the radio and its wires at all. For that very reason I
>> have a second radio for taking places. Knock on wood, so far I have not
>> have
>> any damage to any radio from thunderstorms.
>>
>> AB2TC - Knut
>>
>>
> ______________________________________________________________
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>
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Pete Smith N4ZR

Re: K3 RS232 no data out

In reply to this post by MontyS

Hi Monty - what is odd to me is that in 20 years of computer-aided
operating, this is my first RS-232 failure, and it wasn't even that
impressive a storm. Closest hit was ~1000 feet. Anyway, it's an
expensive lesson. I wonder if making *really* sure of a good common
ground between radio and computer might also help (?).

73, Pete N4ZR

The World Contest Station Database, updated daily at www.conteststations.com
The Reverse Beacon Network at http://reversebeacon.net, blog at reversebeacon.blogspot.com

On 6/9/2010 6:54 AM, Monty Shultes wrote:

> Every summer I write this little note. If you see lightning or hear
> thunder, disconnect all cables and wires to your K3.
>
> Not just the antennas. Not just the PowerPole. The key lines, ALC,
> IF out, LINE IN, LINE OUT, headphone, mic(s), RS232, Accessory,
> ground, speaker lines, too.
>
> I had lightning damage 2 years ago when my K3 was brand new. Never
> again, I hope.
>
> Monty K2DLJ
>
>
>> I wonder if there is anything that can be done (on the board, for
>> example, or in an outboard box) to decrease the vulnerability of U1
>> (written as I await my replacement KIO3A board).
>>
>> 73, Pete N4ZR
>>
>
>
>
>

W8JI

Re: K3 RS232 no data out

Pete,

I take hits directly on my towers all the time, and I never disconnect the
K3 or any other rig. Of course my closest tower is about 150 feet away, so
this might not work if you get a hit just feet away where the EMP is huge,
but a good system will significantly reduce chances of a problem. With the
spacing I have from towers to house the problems are virtually gone, this
includes the contest barn that is only about 75-100 feet from the one 200
foot tower.

http://www.w8ji.com/station_ground.htm

73 Tom

----- Original Message -----
From: "Pete Smith" <[hidden email]>
To: "Monty Shultes" <[hidden email]>
Cc: "[hidden email]" <[hidden email]>
Sent: Wednesday, June 09, 2010 2:53 PM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 RS232 no data out

> Hi Monty - what is odd to me is that in 20 years of computer-aided
> operating, this is my first RS-232 failure, and it wasn't even that
> impressive a storm. Closest hit was ~1000 feet. Anyway, it's an
> expensive lesson. I wonder if making *really* sure of a good common
> ground between radio and computer might also help (?).
>
> 73, Pete N4ZR
>
> The World Contest Station Database, updated daily at
> www.conteststations.com
> The Reverse Beacon Network at http://reversebeacon.net, blog at
> reversebeacon.blogspot.com
>
>
> On 6/9/2010 6:54 AM, Monty Shultes wrote:
>> Every summer I write this little note. If you see lightning or hear
>> thunder, disconnect all cables and wires to your K3.
>>
>> Not just the antennas. Not just the PowerPole. The key lines, ALC,
>> IF out, LINE IN, LINE OUT, headphone, mic(s), RS232, Accessory,
>> ground, speaker lines, too.
>>
>> I had lightning damage 2 years ago when my K3 was brand new. Never
>> again, I hope.
>>
>> Monty K2DLJ
>>
>>
>>> I wonder if there is anything that can be done (on the board, for
>>> example, or in an outboard box) to decrease the vulnerability of U1
>>> (written as I await my replacement KIO3A board).
>>>
>>> 73, Pete N4ZR
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
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> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

Phil LaMarche-2

Re: K3 RS232 no data out

I have an engineered ground as well and haven't had any problems, even with
a hit. I don't worry about it either because I have ARRL insurance that is
cheap and pays full price with a very small deductable. Payment is very
fast. I've collected for years for various losses and love it. Been insured
since the 80's.

Phil

Philip LaMarche

LaMarche Enterprises, Inc
[hidden email]
www.LaMarcheEnterprises.com

727-944-3226
727-937-8834 Fax
727-510-5038 Cell

www.w9dvm.com

K3 #1605

CCA 98-00827
CRA 1701
W9DVM

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email]
[mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Tom W8JI
Sent: Wednesday, June 09, 2010 4:45 PM
To: [hidden email]; Monty Shultes
Cc: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 RS232 no data out

Pete,

I take hits directly on my towers all the time, and I never disconnect the
K3 or any other rig. Of course my closest tower is about 150 feet away, so
this might not work if you get a hit just feet away where the EMP is huge,
but a good system will significantly reduce chances of a problem. With the
spacing I have from towers to house the problems are virtually gone, this
includes the contest barn that is only about 75-100 feet from the one 200
foot tower.

http://www.w8ji.com/station_ground.htm

73 Tom

----- Original Message -----
From: "Pete Smith" <[hidden email]>
To: "Monty Shultes" <[hidden email]>
Cc: "[hidden email]" <[hidden email]>
Sent: Wednesday, June 09, 2010 2:53 PM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 RS232 no data out

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