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[K3] T32 IOTA Dxpedition K3 problems

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DC1RS

[K3] T32 IOTA Dxpedition K3 problems

Found on the T32 website:

K3 problem. Any ideas ?
2010-03-28 08:30

This morning local time (Saturday 21:00 gmt) we started our journey to Caroline island. Estimate 5 days sailing. Almost 9,000 Qs in our logs from the 3 days on Malvern. Derek's beloved Elecraft K3 has a problem! On 40m only, the instant the rig is keyed, even at min power, it switches off as if the supply plug is disconnected. After an indeterminate delay power is restored and the rig can be used on other bands. Any ideas, please contact Maury, IZ1CRR (iz1crr @ tin.it). 73 Derek

Maybe someone is able to help them.

73 de Roland, DC1RS

K3/100 #1243, KFL3A-2.8K, KFL3A-2.1K, KFL3A-400, KRX3, KFL3A-2.8K, KFL3A-400, KAT3, KXV3A, LP-Pan

Frank R. Oppedijk-2

Re: [K3] T32 IOTA Dxpedition K3 problems

Hi Maury,

Some things spring to mind:

- Does this problem also occur in TEST mode (press and hold the MODE^ button)?
- If not, it may be RF coming back to the rig. Is the rig grounded?
- I've had this problem once with a multiband antenna, on a band for
which the built-in ATU had problems matching the antenna. What is the
SWR on 40 meters? Does this problem occur when transmitting into a dummy load?
- If the problem is related to the built-in ATU, please notice that
you can bypass it by pressing and holding the ATU TUNE button.

Hope this can be of any help. Good luck on Caroline Island!

73,

Frank PA4N

At 18:59 28/03/2010, you wrote:

>Found on the T32 website:
>
>K3 problem. Any ideas ?
>2010-03-28 08:30
>
>This morning local time (Saturday 21:00 gmt) we started our journey to
>Caroline island. Estimate 5 days sailing. Almost 9,000 Qs in our logs from
>the 3 days on Malvern. Derek's beloved Elecraft K3 has a problem! On 40m
>only, the instant the rig is keyed, even at min power, it switches off as if
>the supply plug is disconnected. After an indeterminate delay power is
>restored and the rig can be used on other bands. Any ideas, please contact
>Maury, IZ1CRR (iz1crr @ tin.it). 73 Derek
>
>
>Maybe someone is able to help them.
>
>73 de Roland, DC1RS
>
>-----
>K3/100 #1243, KFL3A-2.8K, KFL3A-2.1K, KFL3A-400, KRX3, KFL3A-2.8K, KFL3A-400,
>KAT3, KXV3A
>--
>View this message in context:
>http://n2.nabble.com/K3-T32-IOTA-Dxpedition-K3-problems-tp4813803p4813803.html
>Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
>______________________________________________________________
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Brett Howard

Re: [K3] T32 IOTA Dxpedition K3 problems

In reply to this post by DC1RS

In conjunction with the things to check that Frank provided also turn on
the current monitor or better yet externally monitor current. Is there
a meter on your supply or something that you can use to measure that?

~Brett

On Sun, 2010-03-28 at 08:59 -0800, DC1RS wrote:

KK7P

P3 and Digital Mode Operation

In reply to this post by DC1RS

I've been testing the P3 < URL:http://www.elecraft.com/news.htm > for a
while now, and it has a really nice feature for Digital Modes that my
other panadapter solutions lack.

The P3 has a SPAN control. This sets the width of the spectrum display
in kHz. When looking at a busy band, for example during last weekend's
contest, this made it pretty easy to spot activity on a relatively quiet
band (15m) or a hole on a very busy busy band (20m). This isn't much
different than other panadapters, just more convenient.

However, let's say you decide to operate a digital mode, such as PSK 31.

Dial down the SPAN to ± 3 kHz. Suddenly, the display looks like the
usual "waterfall" you are accustomed to when using DM780, MIXW,
MultiPSK, CocoaModem, etc. You can easily distinguish individual
signals, and see the modulation on them. It is extremely simple to then
set the marker on a signal, tap the control to re-tune, then then tap
the SPOT button on the K3 to get it nailed. You are now ready for a QSO
using PSK-D mode.

This same feature is also very useful when operating RTTY. Further, the
P3 lets you see nearby signals in fine detail even when you have the
K3's dual passband feature turned on. Use of such narrow filtering on
the K3 restricts the usual waterfall display on the DM780 or MMTTY
console, for example.

And, the P3 doesn't consume PC screen real estate.

The reason this works so well with the P3 is that as you adjust the
SPAN, the P3 automatically adjusts its internal filters, sampling rates
and calculations to effectively utilize the display width. If you use
the ZOOM control on PowerSDR with LP-PAN, for example, you just get a
much coarser display as you zoom in because the sampling rate for the
soundcard being used with PowerSDR doesn't automatically adjust as you
change displayed bandwidth. If it did, it has limited rate selections
depending on the soundcard being used and its drivers. Since the P3
hardware is purpose-built from the outset to be a panadapter rather than
a general spectrum display or a soundcard, it does not have these
limitations.

73,

Lyle KK7P

Disclaimer: I work for Elecraft.
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Claude Du Berger

Re: P3 and Digital Mode Operation

Lyle, could we use the P3 as a X-Y Scope to monitor RTTY signal
as on MMTTY?

73 de VE2FK

----- Original Message -----
From: Lyle Johnson
To: [hidden email]
Sent: Monday, March 29, 2010 2:40 PM
Subject: [Elecraft] P3 and Digital Mode Operation

I've been testing the P3 < URL:http://www.elecraft.com/news.htm > for a
while now, and it has a really nice feature for Digital Modes that my
other panadapter solutions lack.

The P3 has a SPAN control. This sets the width of the spectrum display
in kHz. When looking at a busy band, for example during last weekend's
contest, this made it pretty easy to spot activity on a relatively quiet
band (15m) or a hole on a very busy busy band (20m). This isn't much
different than other panadapters, just more convenient.

However, let's say you decide to operate a digital mode, such as PSK 31.

Dial down the SPAN to ± 3 kHz. Suddenly, the display looks like the
usual "waterfall" you are accustomed to when using DM780, MIXW,
MultiPSK, CocoaModem, etc. You can easily distinguish individual
signals, and see the modulation on them. It is extremely simple to then
set the marker on a signal, tap the control to re-tune, then then tap
the SPOT button on the K3 to get it nailed. You are now ready for a QSO
using PSK-D mode.

This same feature is also very useful when operating RTTY. Further, the
P3 lets you see nearby signals in fine detail even when you have the
K3's dual passband feature turned on. Use of such narrow filtering on
the K3 restricts the usual waterfall display on the DM780 or MMTTY
console, for example.

And, the P3 doesn't consume PC screen real estate.

The reason this works so well with the P3 is that as you adjust the
SPAN, the P3 automatically adjusts its internal filters, sampling rates
and calculations to effectively utilize the display width. If you use
the ZOOM control on PowerSDR with LP-PAN, for example, you just get a
much coarser display as you zoom in because the sampling rate for the
soundcard being used with PowerSDR doesn't automatically adjust as you
change displayed bandwidth. If it did, it has limited rate selections
depending on the soundcard being used and its drivers. Since the P3
hardware is purpose-built from the outset to be a panadapter rather than
a general spectrum display or a soundcard, it does not have these
limitations.

73,

Lyle KK7P

Disclaimer: I work for Elecraft.
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K6LMP

Re: P3 and Digital Mode Operation

In reply to this post by KK7P

Lyle, am I correct in my understanding that the P3 does not require any connection to a personal computer for any reason?

If it does rely on an external PC for anything, will software be available for all platforms (as with the K3 utility) or only for Windows?

Those of us who use Macs obviously have an interest in this question.

73

Lew K6LMP

On Mar 29, 2010, at 11:40 AM, Lyle Johnson wrote:

>
> I've been testing the P3 < URL:http://www.elecraft.com/news.htm > for a
> while now, and it has a really nice feature for Digital Modes that my
> other panadapter solutions lack.
>
[snip]
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M0XDF

Re: P3 and Digital Mode Operation

My understanding is that F/W upgrades will be performed by the K3 utility, but other thn that, no other reliance upon a computer of any kind.
Kinda important to me too
73 de M0XDF, K3 #174, iMac 24" 2.8GHz Intel Core 2 Duo :-)
--
They are ill discoverers that think there is no land, when they can see nothing but sea.
-Francis Bacon, essayist, philosopher, and statesman (1561-1626)

On 29 Mar 2010, at 19:56, Lew Phelps K6LMP wrote:

> Lyle, am I correct in my understanding that the P3 does not require any connection to a personal computer for any reason?
>
> If it does rely on an external PC for anything, will software be available for all platforms (as with the K3 utility) or only for Windows?
>
> Those of us who use Macs obviously have an interest in this question.
>

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KK7P

Re: P3 and Digital Mode Operation

In reply to this post by K6LMP

> Lyle, am I correct in my understanding that the P3 does not require any connection to a personal computer for any reason?
>
Firmware updates are via RS232, using P3 Utility. For normal operation,
the P3 does not require a computer to be attached.

In general, think of the P3 as bing invisible to the computer, so your
logging programs, etc., will continue to interact with the K3, or not,
as you wish.

73,

Lyle KK7P
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Trevor Smithers

Re: P3 and Digital Mode Operation

In reply to this post by KK7P

Lyle,
How about a few photo's or better still a youtube video showing the P3 in action. I suspect
everyone here can visualise what you just described, but you know what they say about a
picture (or youtube video) painting a 1000 words etc.

Trevor G0KTN
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Alan Bloom-2

Re: P3 and Digital Mode Operation

In reply to this post by Claude Du Berger

Good idea, I'll add it to the list of possible future features. I
haven't used MTTY, but I assume the X-Y display is like the "plus sign"
on the old analog RTTY demodulators of years ago.

Alan N1AL

On Mon, 2010-03-29 at 14:47 -0400, Claude Du Berger wrote:

> Lyle, could we use the P3 as a X-Y Scope to monitor RTTY signal
> as on MMTTY?
>
> 73 de VE2FK
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Lyle Johnson
> To: [hidden email]
> Sent: Monday, March 29, 2010 2:40 PM
> Subject: [Elecraft] P3 and Digital Mode Operation
>
>
>
> I've been testing the P3 < URL:http://www.elecraft.com/news.htm > for a
> while now, and it has a really nice feature for Digital Modes that my
> other panadapter solutions lack.
>
> The P3 has a SPAN control. This sets the width of the spectrum display
> in kHz. When looking at a busy band, for example during last weekend's
> contest, this made it pretty easy to spot activity on a relatively quiet
> band (15m) or a hole on a very busy busy band (20m). This isn't much
> different than other panadapters, just more convenient.
>
> However, let's say you decide to operate a digital mode, such as PSK 31.
>
> Dial down the SPAN to ± 3 kHz. Suddenly, the display looks like the
> usual "waterfall" you are accustomed to when using DM780, MIXW,
> MultiPSK, CocoaModem, etc. You can easily distinguish individual
> signals, and see the modulation on them. It is extremely simple to then
> set the marker on a signal, tap the control to re-tune, then then tap
> the SPOT button on the K3 to get it nailed. You are now ready for a QSO
> using PSK-D mode.
>
> This same feature is also very useful when operating RTTY. Further, the
> P3 lets you see nearby signals in fine detail even when you have the
> K3's dual passband feature turned on. Use of such narrow filtering on
> the K3 restricts the usual waterfall display on the DM780 or MMTTY
> console, for example.
>
> And, the P3 doesn't consume PC screen real estate.
>
> The reason this works so well with the P3 is that as you adjust the
> SPAN, the P3 automatically adjusts its internal filters, sampling rates
> and calculations to effectively utilize the display width. If you use
> the ZOOM control on PowerSDR with LP-PAN, for example, you just get a
> much coarser display as you zoom in because the sampling rate for the
> soundcard being used with PowerSDR doesn't automatically adjust as you
> change displayed bandwidth. If it did, it has limited rate selections
> depending on the soundcard being used and its drivers. Since the P3
> hardware is purpose-built from the outset to be a panadapter rather than
> a general spectrum display or a soundcard, it does not have these
> limitations.
>
> 73,
>
> Lyle KK7P
>
> Disclaimer: I work for Elecraft.
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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]
>
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> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

Don Cunningham

Re: P3 and Digital Mode Operation

You sure know how to hurt a guys feelings, Alan, I plan to use an "old
analog RTTY demodulator", the HAL ST-8000 with my K3 :^) !!! I, too, would
welcome a good X/Y tuning feature on the P3. Any updates on when we might
see the P3 and price?? I am new to the group, just having finished my K3
kit and haven't seen all the past posts on this.
73,
Don, WB5HAK

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Claude Du Berger

Re: P3 and Digital Mode Operation

In reply to this post by Alan Bloom-2

Yes, and still prefered over waterfall by many RTTY contesters.
73, Claude VE2FK - K3# 3889

----- Original Message -----
From: Alan Bloom
To: Claude Du Berger
Cc: Lyle Johnson ; [hidden email]
Sent: Monday, March 29, 2010 7:57 PM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] P3 and Digital Mode Operation

Good idea, I'll add it to the list of possible future features. I
haven't used MTTY, but I assume the X-Y display is like the "plus sign"
on the old analog RTTY demodulators of years ago.

Alan N1AL

On Mon, 2010-03-29 at 14:47 -0400, Claude Du Berger wrote:
> Lyle, could we use the P3 as a X-Y Scope to monitor RTTY signal
> as on MMTTY?
>
> 73 de VE2FK
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Lyle Johnson
> To: [hidden email]
> Sent: Monday, March 29, 2010 2:40 PM
> Subject: [Elecraft] P3 and Digital Mode Operation
>
>
>
> I've been testing the P3 < URL:http://www.elecraft.com/news.htm > for a
> while now, and it has a really nice feature for Digital Modes that my
> other panadapter solutions lack.
>
> The P3 has a SPAN control. This sets the width of the spectrum display
> in kHz. When looking at a busy band, for example during last weekend's
> contest, this made it pretty easy to spot activity on a relatively quiet
> band (15m) or a hole on a very busy busy band (20m). This isn't much
> different than other panadapters, just more convenient.
>
> However, let's say you decide to operate a digital mode, such as PSK 31.
>
> Dial down the SPAN to ± 3 kHz. Suddenly, the display looks like the
> usual "waterfall" you are accustomed to when using DM780, MIXW,
> MultiPSK, CocoaModem, etc. You can easily distinguish individual
> signals, and see the modulation on them. It is extremely simple to then
> set the marker on a signal, tap the control to re-tune, then then tap
> the SPOT button on the K3 to get it nailed. You are now ready for a QSO
> using PSK-D mode.
>
> This same feature is also very useful when operating RTTY. Further, the
> P3 lets you see nearby signals in fine detail even when you have the
> K3's dual passband feature turned on. Use of such narrow filtering on
> the K3 restricts the usual waterfall display on the DM780 or MMTTY
> console, for example.
>
> And, the P3 doesn't consume PC screen real estate.
>
> The reason this works so well with the P3 is that as you adjust the
> SPAN, the P3 automatically adjusts its internal filters, sampling rates
> and calculations to effectively utilize the display width. If you use
> the ZOOM control on PowerSDR with LP-PAN, for example, you just get a
> much coarser display as you zoom in because the sampling rate for the
> soundcard being used with PowerSDR doesn't automatically adjust as you
> change displayed bandwidth. If it did, it has limited rate selections
> depending on the soundcard being used and its drivers. Since the P3
> hardware is purpose-built from the outset to be a panadapter rather than
> a general spectrum display or a soundcard, it does not have these
> limitations.
>
> 73,
>
> Lyle KK7P
>
> Disclaimer: I work for Elecraft.
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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

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N7US

Re: P3 and Digital Mode Operation

The absence of an XY scope for RTTY was an irritant when I had an FT-2000 and DMU, so it would be a nice addition in the P3.

I don't remember seeing this mentioned, but will anything be displayed on the P3 during transmit? I've had two SB-610 scopes and one of the last ones, the HO-5???, but don’t have any scope now to monitor my transmitted signal.

Jim N7US

-----Original Message-----

Yes, and still prefered over waterfall by many RTTY contesters.
73, Claude VE2FK - K3# 3889

----- Original Message -----

Good idea, I'll add it to the list of possible future features. I
haven't used MTTY, but I assume the X-Y display is like the "plus sign"
on the old analog RTTY demodulators of years ago.

Alan N1AL

On Mon, 2010-03-29 at 14:47 -0400, Claude Du Berger wrote:
> Lyle, could we use the P3 as a X-Y Scope to monitor RTTY signal
> as on MMTTY?
>
> 73 de VE2FK
>

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Ken Chandler

Re: P3 and Digital Mode Operation

In reply to this post by KK7P

Maybe behind times, !!! But has a price and shipping been fixed on the
P3!!

Ken..G0ORH

Sent from my iPhone

On 29 Mar 2010, at 19:40, Lyle Johnson <[hidden email]> wrote:

>
> I've been testing the P3 < URL:http://www.elecraft.com/news.htm >
> for a
> while now, and it has a really nice feature for Digital Modes that my
> other panadapter solutions lack.
>
> The P3 has a SPAN control. This sets the width of the spectrum
> display
> in kHz. When looking at a busy band, for example during last
> weekend's
> contest, this made it pretty easy to spot activity on a relatively
> quiet
> band (15m) or a hole on a very busy busy band (20m). This isn't much
> different than other panadapters, just more convenient.
>
> However, let's say you decide to operate a digital mode, such as PSK
> 31.
>
> Dial down the SPAN to ± 3 kHz. Suddenly, the display looks like the
> usual "waterfall" you are accustomed to when using DM780, MIXW,
> MultiPSK, CocoaModem, etc. You can easily distinguish individual
> signals, and see the modulation on them. It is extremely simple to
> then
> set the marker on a signal, tap the control to re-tune, then then tap
> the SPOT button on the K3 to get it nailed. You are now ready for a
> QSO
> using PSK-D mode.
>
> This same feature is also very useful when operating RTTY. Further,
> the
> P3 lets you see nearby signals in fine detail even when you have the
> K3's dual passband feature turned on. Use of such narrow filtering on
> the K3 restricts the usual waterfall display on the DM780 or MMTTY
> console, for example.
>
> And, the P3 doesn't consume PC screen real estate.
>
> The reason this works so well with the P3 is that as you adjust the
> SPAN, the P3 automatically adjusts its internal filters, sampling
> rates
> and calculations to effectively utilize the display width. If you use
> the ZOOM control on PowerSDR with LP-PAN, for example, you just get a
> much coarser display as you zoom in because the sampling rate for the
> soundcard being used with PowerSDR doesn't automatically adjust as you
> change displayed bandwidth. If it did, it has limited rate selections
> depending on the soundcard being used and its drivers. Since the P3
> hardware is purpose-built from the outset to be a panadapter rather
> than
> a general spectrum display or a soundcard, it does not have these
> limitations.
>
> 73,
>
> Lyle KK7P
>
> Disclaimer: I work for Elecraft.
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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