K3 - Strange problem on 10 Meter SSB with power out
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K3 - Strange problem on 10 Meter SSB with power out
 
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If this has previously been discussed - please forgive me.
This weekend ten meters was "open" (as much as it could be at the bottom of a cycle) and the 10-10 contest gave me a great opportunity to try out the 10 meter band on my recently completed K3 #1318(latest firmware). All seemed well until I noticed that my power output on SSB was down as indicated on the K3 power meter and where I normally see 100 watt pep output on my tuners average reading meter. So I grabbed my Bird 43 (with PEP option) and a dummy load. Sure enough, only about 50 watts PEP even though the control on the K3 is at 100? Placed the K3 into tune and 95-100 watts out? Go back to SSB and now the PEP power is back where it should be at approx 100 watts PEP. After a few more SSB transmission - low power again(still connected to the Bird and dummy load). This went on for a while as I checked and re-checked all of my mic and comp settings. All other bands worked correctly. Power supply not current limiting, all connections/cables good (connection to my stati o! ! n ground verified), fresh battery in my studio mic, SWR on ten meter antenna below 1.4:1 etc. etc. Took the LPA heat sink bottom cover off to make sure the LPA transistors were making good thermal contact. (I had added a spot of heat sink compound to each transistor during my assy process) There was a clear outline of the TO-220 transistor and an even film of compound indicating good pressure and contact. Put everything back together. Haven't seen the issue again - yet? But I am not convinced I did anything to make it go away? Anyone else had this experience? Rodger N4NRW _______________________________________________ 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 |
Re: K3 - Strange problem on 10 Meter SSB with power out
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I saw the same thing too. The problem seemed to be on the other bands also. I got about 70w out but had to turn the mic gain all the way up. This isnt right to have to hit it this hard to get output. I had a local listen to the signal and until the mic gain was all the way he didnt think I sounded "normal" on the audio.
TX VCE was turned up to 2 and then 3 without any difference. Mike/aj9c ---- [hidden email] wrote: > If this has previously been discussed - please forgive me. > This weekend ten meters was "open" (as much as it could be at the bottom of a cycle) and the 10-10 contest gave me a great opportunity to try out the 10 meter band on my recently completed K3 #1318(latest firmware). All seemed well until I noticed that my power output on SSB was down as indicated on the K3 power meter and where I normally see 100 watt pep output on my tuners average reading meter. So I grabbed my Bird 43 (with PEP option) and a dummy load. Sure enough, only about 50 watts PEP even though the control on the K3 is at 100? Placed the K3 into tune and 95-100 watts out? Go back to SSB and now the PEP power is back where it should be at approx 100 watts PEP. After a few more SSB transmission - low power again(still connected to the Bird and dummy load). This went on for a while as I checked and re-checked all of my mic and comp settings. All other bands worked correctly. Power supply not current limiting, all connections/cables good (connection to my sta ti > o! > ! > n ground verified), fresh battery in my studio mic, SWR on ten meter antenna below 1.4:1 etc. etc. Took the LPA heat sink bottom cover off to make sure the LPA transistors were making good thermal contact. (I had added a spot of heat sink compound to each transistor during my assy process) There was a clear outline of the TO-220 transistor and an even film of compound indicating good pressure and contact. Put everything back together. Haven't seen the issue again - yet? But I am not convinced I did anything to make it go away? > > Anyone else had this experience? > > Rodger > N4NRW > _______________________________________________ > 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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In reply to this post by williamsonr
> #1318(latest firmware). All seemed well until I noticed that my
> power output on SSB was down as indicated on the K3 power meter and > where I normally see 100 watt pep output on my tuners average > reading meter. So I grabbed my Bird 43 (with PEP option) and a > dummy load. Sure enough, only about 50 watts PEP even though the > control on the K3 is at 100? Placed the K3 into tune and 95-100 > watts out? Go back to SSB and now the PEP power is back where it > should be at approx 100 watts PEP. After a few more SSB > transmission - low power again(still connected to the Bird and dummy > load). I've seen behaviour much like this with various past versions of the firmware and have reported it to Elecraft, more than once. Recently I have also seen reports here in DL which seem to indicate that this might be only occurring in USB (LSB on 6m). Imho, This is what the latest beta version of the firmware is aiming to fix, so you might want try it out. I hope to be testing it soon to see if helps any on K3 #67. vy 73 de toby _______________________________________________ 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 williamsonr
I have been having a similar problem on 30m through 160m. Output is fine on CW on all bands. On SSB, I am gettting only about 50 watts on those low bands. It appears to be hardware related, at least in my case. I have been doing a lot of remote troubleshooting with Gary Surrency, and at this point and awaiting my RSA for repair service. 73, John, WA6L
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Re: K3 - Strange problem on 10 Meter SSB with power out
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Hi John,
can you - and the rest of suffering by this problem - put here some more details about your setting: - POWER per Band active? - TUN PWR -nor- or any value defined? Just to have complete picture. Did you try to chenge some settings with some change in behaviour? Thnaks, Lexa, OK1DST WA6L napsal(a): > > I have been having a similar problem on 30m through 160m. Output is fine on > CW on all bands. On SSB, I am gettting only about 50 watts on those low > bands. > > It appears to be hardware related, at least in my case. I have been doing a > lot of remote troubleshooting with Gary Surrency, and at this point and > awaiting my RSA for repair service. > > 73, > > John, WA6L > > > williamsonr wrote: >> If this has previously been discussed - please forgive me. >> This weekend ten meters was "open" (as much as it could be at the bottom >> of a cycle) and the 10-10 contest gave me a great opportunity to try out >> the 10 meter band on my recently completed K3 #1318(latest firmware). All >> seemed well until I noticed that my power output on SSB was down as >> indicated on the K3 power meter and where I normally see 100 watt pep >> output on my tuners average reading meter. So I grabbed my Bird 43 (with >> PEP option) and a dummy load. Sure enough, only about 50 watts PEP even >> though the control on the K3 is at 100? Placed the K3 into tune and >> 95-100 watts out? Go back to SSB and now the PEP power is back where it >> should be at approx 100 watts PEP. After a few more SSB transmission - >> low power again(still connected to the Bird and dummy load). This went on >> for a while as I checked and re-checked all of my mic and comp settings. >> All other bands worked correctly. Power supply not current limiting, all >> connections/cables good (connection to my stati >> o! >> ! >> n ground verified), fresh battery in my studio mic, SWR on ten meter >> antenna below 1.4:1 etc. etc. Took the LPA heat sink bottom cover off to >> make sure the LPA transistors were making good thermal contact. (I had >> added a spot of heat sink compound to each transistor during my assy >> process) There was a clear outline of the TO-220 transistor and an even >> film of compound indicating good pressure and contact. Put everything >> back together. Haven't seen the issue again - yet? But I am not convinced >> I did anything to make it go away? >> >> Anyone else had this experience? >> >> Rodger >> N4NRW >> _______________________________________________ >> 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 |
Re: K3 - Strange problem on 10 Meter SSB with power out
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In reply to this post by williamsonr
For me this problem exists. ATU bypassed. Pwr to 100w. Everything is nor. Antenna is c31xr swr 1 to 1.1. also testd with dummy load.
---- Alexandr Kobranov <[hidden email]> wrote: > Hi John, > > can you - and the rest of suffering by this problem - put here some > more details about your setting: > - POWER per Band active? > - TUN PWR -nor- or any value defined? > > Just to have complete picture. > > Did you try to chenge some settings with some change in behaviour? > > Thnaks, > Lexa, OK1DST > > > > WA6L napsal(a): > > > > I have been having a similar problem on 30m through 160m. Output is fine on > > CW on all bands. On SSB, I am gettting only about 50 watts on those low > > bands. > > > > It appears to be hardware related, at least in my case. I have been doing a > > lot of remote troubleshooting with Gary Surrency, and at this point and > > awaiting my RSA for repair service. > > > > 73, > > > > John, WA6L > > > > > > williamsonr wrote: > >> If this has previously been discussed - please forgive me. > >> This weekend ten meters was "open" (as much as it could be at the bottom > >> of a cycle) and the 10-10 contest gave me a great opportunity to try out > >> the 10 meter band on my recently completed K3 #1318(latest firmware). All > >> seemed well until I noticed that my power output on SSB was down as > >> indicated on the K3 power meter and where I normally see 100 watt pep > >> output on my tuners average reading meter. So I grabbed my Bird 43 (with > >> PEP option) and a dummy load. Sure enough, only about 50 watts PEP even > >> though the control on the K3 is at 100? Placed the K3 into tune and > >> 95-100 watts out? Go back to SSB and now the PEP power is back where it > >> should be at approx 100 watts PEP. After a few more SSB transmission - > >> low power again(still connected to the Bird and dummy load). This went on > >> for a while as I checked and re-checked all of my mic and comp settings. > >> All other bands worked correctly. Power supply not current limiting, all > >> connections/cables good (connection to my stati > >> o! > >> ! > >> n ground verified), fresh battery in my studio mic, SWR on ten meter > >> antenna below 1.4:1 etc. etc. Took the LPA heat sink bottom cover off to > >> make sure the LPA transistors were making good thermal contact. (I had > >> added a spot of heat sink compound to each transistor during my assy > >> process) There was a clear outline of the TO-220 transistor and an even > >> film of compound indicating good pressure and contact. Put everything > >> back together. Haven't seen the issue again - yet? But I am not convinced > >> I did anything to make it go away? > >> > >> Anyone else had this experience? > >> > >> Rodger > >> N4NRW > >> _______________________________________________ > >> 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 _______________________________________________ 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 williamsonr
I have the same problem on LSB 40 meters.
Oms PY5EG -----Original Message----- From: Alexandr Kobranov <[hidden email]> Subj: Re: [Elecraft] K3 - Strange problem on 10 Meter SSB with power out Date: Mon 4 Aug 2008 14:42 Size: 3K To: WA6L <[hidden email]> cc: [hidden email] Hi John, can you - and the rest of suffering by this problem - put here some more details about your setting: - POWER per Band active? - TUN PWR -nor- or any value defined? Just to have complete picture. Did you try to chenge some settings with some change in behaviour? Thnaks, Lexa, OK1DST WA6L napsal(a): > > I have been having a similar problem on 30m through 160m. Output is fine on > CW on all bands. On SSB, I am gettting only about 50 watts on those low > bands. > > It appears to be hardware related, at least in my case. I have been doing a > lot of remote troubleshooting with Gary Surrency, and at this point and > awaiting my RSA for repair service. > > 73, > > John, WA6L > > > williamsonr wrote: >> If this has previously been discussed - please forgive me. >> This weekend ten meters was "open" (as much as it could be at the bottom >> of a cycle) and the 10-10 contest gave me a great opportunity to try out >> the 10 meter band on my recently completed K3 #1318(latest firmware). All >> seemed well until I noticed that my power output on SSB was down as >> indicated on the K3 power meter and where I normally see 100 watt pep >> output on my tuners average reading meter. So I grabbed my Bird 43 (with >> PEP option) and a dummy load. Sure enough, only about 50 watts PEP even >> though the control on the K3 is at 100? Placed the K3 into tune and >> 95-100 watts out? Go back to SSB and now the PEP power is back where it >> should be at approx 100 watts PEP. After a few more SSB transmission - >> low power again(still connected to the Bird and dummy load). This went on >> for a while as I checked and re-checked all of my mic and comp settings. >> All other bands worked correctly. Power supply not current limiting, all >> connections/cables good (connection to my stati >> o! >> ! >> n ground verified), fresh battery in my studio mic, SWR on ten meter >> antenna below 1.4:1 etc. etc. Took the LPA heat sink bottom cover off to >> make sure the LPA transistors were making good thermal contact. (I had >> added a spot of heat sink compound to each transistor during my assy >> process) There was a clear outline of the TO-220 transistor and an even >> film of compound indicating good pressure and contact. Put everything >> back together. Haven't seen the issue again - yet? But I am not convinced >> I did anything to make it go away? >> >> Anyone else had this experience? >> >> Rodger >> N4NRW >> _______________________________________________ >> 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 --- message truncated --- _______________________________________________ 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 Alexandr Kobranov
The problem has been consistent across many configuration changes. TUN PWR is set at 100, though I tried it at several settings. Power-per-band is not active. To test, I use the built-in 2-tone generator that you can enable in the configuration menu. That is very handy for testing audio modes. CW provides full and measured power across all bands. On 6m through 20 meters there is full and measured power on voice and data modes. On 30m - 160m there is approximately 50 watts on voice and data modes. Measuring PEP with a scope at the input to the roofing filters with the 2-tone generator and TUNE selected shows approximatey 4V peak on the higher bands and approximately 2.25V peak on the low bands. I would be interested to know the details of other similar problems. Like I said, at this point I am awaiting and RSA for return to the main office for troubleshooting and repair. Thanks, John, WA6L
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In reply to this post by py5eg
If you experience this problem (low output on SSB), please check if the other
sideband works OK, and note if you are using the 2.7 kHz 5-pole filter or the 8-pole 2.8 kHz filter. Finally, please try the latest beta firmware. 73, Lyle KK7P/7 _______________________________________________ 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 |
Re: K3 - Strange problem on 10 Meter SSB with power out
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I have previously documented the SSB power drop problem to elecraft and understand it's on Wayne's list to resolve. I used the 2-tone test and adjusted the 2-tone peak power to equal CW TUNE power (using an LP-100A). I found three things trigger the SSB power drop: 1) a power change even if you return to the original power; 2) pressing ATU TUNE, and; 3) a band change. On MCU 2.20 the drop was as little as 15% on 160M and as much as 39% on 10M. All these tests were run at 100 watts requested from the K3. And I am using the 2.7 KHz 5-pole filter.
I just loaded MCU 2.23 and re-ran the tests. The results are considerably improved. On 160, 80, 40 and 30M's there was no drop at all. The worst band was 12M (20%). The others were 60M (9%), 20M (3%), 17M (5%), 15M (14%), 10M (11%) and 6M (13%). I spot checked these results with voice input and saw the same results thought clearly not as precise and repeatable as the 2-Tone test. In addition the peak powers on USB and LSB were virtually identical (within 1 watt in every case). I'm not positive if this is an accurate indication as the 2-Tone test help text says to use LSB (not USB). In any case this looks like a significant step forward, so we can hope for continured improvement across all the bands. Chuck, AE4CW
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Chuck, AE4CW |
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