Elecraft

[K3] Sub receiver intermittant failures

Classic

List

Threaded

9 messages Options

Ray Albers-2

[K3] Sub receiver intermittant failures

I bought my K3 used. It's now a bit over six years old (S/N 8240). The
seller kindly included the manual, original invoice, a repair invoice and
even the Fred Cady book. The K3 was factory assembled, with a
factory-installed KRX3 subreceiver and the BNC auxiliary antenna connection.

If I had bought a new K3 or K3S I probably would not have bothered getting
the subreceiver, but since I have it, I figured I may as well put it to
some use. I don't chase DX but the notion of experimenting with diversity
reception interested me. So I threw a chunk of wire over the roof and
connected it to the BNC input. Admittedly not a really good diversity
antenna (much too close to the main antenna, for one thing) but OK to play
with. When I found that the Carrier Operated Relay was operating as I sent
CW, in order to protect the sub-receiver, I stopped until I could get and
install an Array Solutions Receiver Front End Protector.

So I had many months of fun and even found that at times there was enough
diversity between the antennas to help with reception in the face of fast
QSB. And then suddenly the sub started failing.

I check it when turning the radio on, and often the sub is working but
then after a while it stops. It doesn't seem to be correlated to
transmitting, i.e., it may stop after I've been sending but not always and
never right away. There has even been a time or two when it didn't work
initially but then came back to life after a while. Often it will work on
20 and up but not on 80, 40, and 30.

I've opened the radio, taken the cover off the sub, and poked, wiggled and
re-seated everything I could get my hands on. I've even tried this poking
while the radio was powered up and the sub was quiet, to see if any poking
could bring it to life. Nada.

I suppose at this point the "right" thing to do would be to send the radio
to Elecraft and I may do that at some distant future point, but right now I
feel that I don't want the sub badly enough to warrant the expense and time.

Of course if meanwhile anyone has a miracle cure to suggest, that'd be
great!

Thanks for listening.

73
Ray K2HYD
______________________________________________________________
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
Message delivered to [hidden email]

ke9uw

Re: [K3] Sub receiver intermittant failures

Maybe you could remove the sub and send it for evaluation somewhat economically

Chuck Jack Hawley
KE9UW

Sent from my iPhone, cjack

> On Jun 10, 2020, at 12:59 PM, Ray Albers <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> I bought my K3 used. It's now a bit over six years old (S/N 8240). The
> seller kindly included the manual, original invoice, a repair invoice and
> even the Fred Cady book. The K3 was factory assembled, with a
> factory-installed KRX3 subreceiver and the BNC auxiliary antenna connection.
>
> If I had bought a new K3 or K3S I probably would not have bothered getting
> the subreceiver, but since I have it, I figured I may as well put it to
> some use. I don't chase DX but the notion of experimenting with diversity
> reception interested me. So I threw a chunk of wire over the roof and
> connected it to the BNC input. Admittedly not a really good diversity
> antenna (much too close to the main antenna, for one thing) but OK to play
> with. When I found that the Carrier Operated Relay was operating as I sent
> CW, in order to protect the sub-receiver, I stopped until I could get and
> install an Array Solutions Receiver Front End Protector.
>
> So I had many months of fun and even found that at times there was enough
> diversity between the antennas to help with reception in the face of fast
> QSB. And then suddenly the sub started failing.
>
> I check it when turning the radio on, and often the sub is working but
> then after a while it stops. It doesn't seem to be correlated to
> transmitting, i.e., it may stop after I've been sending but not always and
> never right away. There has even been a time or two when it didn't work
> initially but then came back to life after a while. Often it will work on
> 20 and up but not on 80, 40, and 30.
>
> I've opened the radio, taken the cover off the sub, and poked, wiggled and
> re-seated everything I could get my hands on. I've even tried this poking
> while the radio was powered up and the sub was quiet, to see if any poking
> could bring it to life. Nada.
>
> I suppose at this point the "right" thing to do would be to send the radio
> to Elecraft and I may do that at some distant future point, but right now I
> feel that I don't want the sub badly enough to warrant the expense and time.
>
> Of course if meanwhile anyone has a miracle cure to suggest, that'd be
> great!
>
> Thanks for listening.
>
> 73
> Ray K2HYD
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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
> Message delivered to [hidden email]

______________________________________________________________
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
Message delivered to [hidden email]

Chuck, KE9UW

Elecraft mailing list

Re: [K3] Sub receiver intermittant failures

That probably wouldn’t help. In this case the system includes the SubRx, the Synthesizer and all the interconnects and cables that connect these to the rest of the radio.

I would check the interconnects, especially the tmp coax cables that go from the SubRx to the rear panel connector and to the Synthesizer. Also make sure the SubRx synthesizer is working properly. That might also explain the SubRx issue.

73!
Jack, W6FB

> On Jun 10, 2020, at 11:26 AM, hawley, charles j jr <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> Maybe you could remove the sub and send it for evaluation somewhat economically
>
> Chuck Jack Hawley
> KE9UW
>
> Sent from my iPhone, cjack
>
>> On Jun 10, 2020, at 12:59 PM, Ray Albers <[hidden email]> wrote:
>>
>> I bought my K3 used. It's now a bit over six years old (S/N 8240). The
>> seller kindly included the manual, original invoice, a repair invoice and
>> even the Fred Cady book. The K3 was factory assembled, with a
>> factory-installed KRX3 subreceiver and the BNC auxiliary antenna connection.
>>
>> If I had bought a new K3 or K3S I probably would not have bothered getting
>> the subreceiver, but since I have it, I figured I may as well put it to
>> some use. I don't chase DX but the notion of experimenting with diversity
>> reception interested me. So I threw a chunk of wire over the roof and
>> connected it to the BNC input. Admittedly not a really good diversity
>> antenna (much too close to the main antenna, for one thing) but OK to play
>> with. When I found that the Carrier Operated Relay was operating as I sent
>> CW, in order to protect the sub-receiver, I stopped until I could get and
>> install an Array Solutions Receiver Front End Protector.
>>
>> So I had many months of fun and even found that at times there was enough
>> diversity between the antennas to help with reception in the face of fast
>> QSB. And then suddenly the sub started failing.
>>
>> I check it when turning the radio on, and often the sub is working but
>> then after a while it stops. It doesn't seem to be correlated to
>> transmitting, i.e., it may stop after I've been sending but not always and
>> never right away. There has even been a time or two when it didn't work
>> initially but then came back to life after a while. Often it will work on
>> 20 and up but not on 80, 40, and 30.
>>
>> I've opened the radio, taken the cover off the sub, and poked, wiggled and
>> re-seated everything I could get my hands on. I've even tried this poking
>> while the radio was powered up and the sub was quiet, to see if any poking
>> could bring it to life. Nada.
>>
>> I suppose at this point the "right" thing to do would be to send the radio
>> to Elecraft and I may do that at some distant future point, but right now I
>> feel that I don't want the sub badly enough to warrant the expense and time.
>>
>> Of course if meanwhile anyone has a miracle cure to suggest, that'd be
>> great!
>>
>> Thanks for listening.
>>
>> 73
>> Ray K2HYD
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> 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
>> Message delivered to [hidden email]
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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
> Message delivered to [hidden email]

KeithWE6R

Re: [K3] Sub receiver intermittant failures

Administrator

In reply to this post by Ray Albers-2

Do NOT send in just the sub! (also an intermittent will invariably NOT
fail when here at Elecraft).
Like Jack said, check the sub KSYN3 by tapping DISP and look for PL2
voltages or SYN2 OK (tech mode must be on). When wiggling all the
cables, don't forget the one at the back of the sub. Look for green LED
if you have the newer KSYN3A.
BUT if it works on some bands, and not others, it points to the KSYN3 if
older, run the VCO cal *on the sub receiver* if you have the old KSYN3
(shows PL2 voltages vs SYN2). (a BPF or LPF problem would be by band
"pairs", not the whole range below 20M).
When "quiet" is it just low sensitivity? Or dead completely?
Is it dead on BOTH antenna inputs to the sub, IE Aux and Main sharing?
Toggle back and forth repeatedly.
When dead, does toggling JUST the SUB on and off fix it?
Keith WE6R Elecraft K3 Tech.

______________________________________________________________
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
Message delivered to [hidden email]

ke9uw

Re: [K3] Sub receiver intermittant failures

In reply to this post by Elecraft mailing list

Maybe swap synthesizers

Jack BMW Motorcycles
Chuck KE9UW
[hidden email]

Sent from my iPad

> On Jun 10, 2020, at 2:00 PM, Jack Brindle via Elecraft <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> That probably wouldn’t help. In this case the system includes the SubRx, the Synthesizer and all the interconnects and cables that connect these to the rest of the radio.
>
> I would check the interconnects, especially the tmp coax cables that go from the SubRx to the rear panel connector and to the Synthesizer. Also make sure the SubRx synthesizer is working properly. That might also explain the SubRx issue.
>
> 73!
> Jack, W6FB
>
>
>> On Jun 10, 2020, at 11:26 AM, hawley, charles j jr <[hidden email]> wrote:
>>
>> Maybe you could remove the sub and send it for evaluation somewhat economically
>>
>> Chuck Jack Hawley
>> KE9UW
>>
>> Sent from my iPhone, cjack
>>
>>>> On Jun 10, 2020, at 12:59 PM, Ray Albers <[hidden email]> wrote:
>>>
>>> I bought my K3 used. It's now a bit over six years old (S/N 8240). The
>>> seller kindly included the manual, original invoice, a repair invoice and
>>> even the Fred Cady book. The K3 was factory assembled, with a
>>> factory-installed KRX3 subreceiver and the BNC auxiliary antenna connection.
>>>
>>> If I had bought a new K3 or K3S I probably would not have bothered getting
>>> the subreceiver, but since I have it, I figured I may as well put it to
>>> some use. I don't chase DX but the notion of experimenting with diversity
>>> reception interested me. So I threw a chunk of wire over the roof and
>>> connected it to the BNC input. Admittedly not a really good diversity
>>> antenna (much too close to the main antenna, for one thing) but OK to play
>>> with. When I found that the Carrier Operated Relay was operating as I sent
>>> CW, in order to protect the sub-receiver, I stopped until I could get and
>>> install an Array Solutions Receiver Front End Protector.
>>>
>>> So I had many months of fun and even found that at times there was enough
>>> diversity between the antennas to help with reception in the face of fast
>>> QSB. And then suddenly the sub started failing.
>>>
>>> I check it when turning the radio on, and often the sub is working but
>>> then after a while it stops. It doesn't seem to be correlated to
>>> transmitting, i.e., it may stop after I've been sending but not always and
>>> never right away. There has even been a time or two when it didn't work
>>> initially but then came back to life after a while. Often it will work on
>>> 20 and up but not on 80, 40, and 30.
>>>
>>> I've opened the radio, taken the cover off the sub, and poked, wiggled and
>>> re-seated everything I could get my hands on. I've even tried this poking
>>> while the radio was powered up and the sub was quiet, to see if any poking
>>> could bring it to life. Nada.
>>>
>>> I suppose at this point the "right" thing to do would be to send the radio
>>> to Elecraft and I may do that at some distant future point, but right now I
>>> feel that I don't want the sub badly enough to warrant the expense and time.
>>>
>>> Of course if meanwhile anyone has a miracle cure to suggest, that'd be
>>> great!
>>>
>>> Thanks for listening.
>>>
>>> 73
>>> Ray K2HYD
>>> ______________________________________________________________
>>> 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
>>> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> 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
>> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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
> Message delivered to [hidden email]

Chuck, KE9UW

Buck

Re: [K3] Sub receiver intermittant failures

In reply to this post by ke9uw

Check the obvious. Are you sure you didn't accidentally turn down the
RF and/or AF gain on the SubRx? I know how easy it is to do. I have
seen me do it.

Buck, k4ia
Honor Roll
8BDXCC
EasyWayHamBooks.com

On 6/10/2020 2:26 PM, hawley, charles j jr wrote:

> Maybe you could remove the sub and send it for evaluation somewhat economically
>
> Chuck Jack Hawley
> KE9UW
>
> Sent from my iPhone, cjack
>
>> On Jun 10, 2020, at 12:59 PM, Ray Albers <[hidden email]> wrote:
>>
>> I bought my K3 used. It's now a bit over six years old (S/N 8240). The
>> seller kindly included the manual, original invoice, a repair invoice and
>> even the Fred Cady book. The K3 was factory assembled, with a
>> factory-installed KRX3 subreceiver and the BNC auxiliary antenna connection.
>>
>> If I had bought a new K3 or K3S I probably would not have bothered getting
>> the subreceiver, but since I have it, I figured I may as well put it to
>> some use. I don't chase DX but the notion of experimenting with diversity
>> reception interested me. So I threw a chunk of wire over the roof and
>> connected it to the BNC input. Admittedly not a really good diversity
>> antenna (much too close to the main antenna, for one thing) but OK to play
>> with. When I found that the Carrier Operated Relay was operating as I sent
>> CW, in order to protect the sub-receiver, I stopped until I could get and
>> install an Array Solutions Receiver Front End Protector.
>>
>> So I had many months of fun and even found that at times there was enough
>> diversity between the antennas to help with reception in the face of fast
>> QSB. And then suddenly the sub started failing.
>>
>> I check it when turning the radio on, and often the sub is working but
>> then after a while it stops. It doesn't seem to be correlated to
>> transmitting, i.e., it may stop after I've been sending but not always and
>> never right away. There has even been a time or two when it didn't work
>> initially but then came back to life after a while. Often it will work on
>> 20 and up but not on 80, 40, and 30.
>>
>> I've opened the radio, taken the cover off the sub, and poked, wiggled and
>> re-seated everything I could get my hands on. I've even tried this poking
>> while the radio was powered up and the sub was quiet, to see if any poking
>> could bring it to life. Nada.
>>
>> I suppose at this point the "right" thing to do would be to send the radio
>> to Elecraft and I may do that at some distant future point, but right now I
>> feel that I don't want the sub badly enough to warrant the expense and time.
>>
>> Of course if meanwhile anyone has a miracle cure to suggest, that'd be
>> great!
>>
>> Thanks for listening.
>>
>> 73
>> Ray K2HYD
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> 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
>> Message delivered to [hidden email]
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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
> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>

John-2

K3 very slow to reach dialed rf output

In reply to this post by KeithWE6R

When I dial up, or down rf output, it takes in excess of 30 seconds

to reach the output level, which is much lower than requested.

3 "bars" on the rf meter. That looks to be 20 to 25 watts.

If I readjust the level, up or down, it takes another 30+

seconds and it will not go over 3 "bars".

Anyone offer any suggestions?

Thanks.

73.

John.

ve7day.

______________________________________________________________
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
Message delivered to [hidden email]

David Herring

Re: K3 very slow to reach dialed rf output

Sounds like your audio level it set too low.
Try adjusting that up. Don’t quote me, but if memory serves that has to be 4 bars with the 5th flickering.
A search through the archives will find that addressed many times.
Audio too low makes the K3 “power hunt” which is what it sounds like yours is doing.

73,
David - N5DCH

> On Jul 13, 2020, at 11:52 PM, John <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
>
> When I dial up, or down rf output, it takes in excess of 30 seconds
>
> to reach the output level, which is much lower than requested.
>
> 3 "bars" on the rf meter. That looks to be 20 to 25 watts.
>
> If I readjust the level, up or down, it takes another 30+
>
> seconds and it will not go over 3 "bars".
>
> Anyone offer any suggestions?
>
> Thanks.
>
> 73.
>
> John.
>
> ve7day.
>
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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
> Message delivered to [hidden email]

John-2

Re: K3 very slow to reach dialed rf output

Thanks to all who had suggestions.

Windows had made an update and changed audio settings.

Problem solved.

73.

John.

ve7day.

On 14/07/2020 6:18 a.m., David Herring wrote:

> Sounds like your audio level it set too low.
> Try adjusting that up. Don’t quote me, but if memory serves that has to be 4 bars with the 5th flickering.
> A search through the archives will find that addressed many times.
> Audio too low makes the K3 “power hunt” which is what it sounds like yours is doing.
>
> 73,
> David - N5DCH
>
>
>
>> On Jul 13, 2020, at 11:52 PM, John <[hidden email]> wrote:
>>
>>
>> When I dial up, or down rf output, it takes in excess of 30 seconds
>>
>> to reach the output level, which is much lower than requested.
>>
>> 3 "bars" on the rf meter. That looks to be 20 to 25 watts.
>>
>> If I readjust the level, up or down, it takes another 30+
>>
>> seconds and it will not go over 3 "bars".
>>
>> Anyone offer any suggestions?
>>
>> Thanks.
>>
>> 73.
>>
>> John.
>>
>> ve7day.
>>
>>
>>
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> 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
>> Message delivered to [hidden email]