Elecraft

K3 Transmit Issue on 80M SSB

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Dave Fugleberg

K3 Transmit Issue on 80M SSB

I seldom operate 80M phone, so don't know if this is a new issue or not. K3
S/N 8334 with latest firmware. When I key the transmitter and speak or
whistle into the mic, I get no RF output. I can hear myself in the monitor.
If I enable VOX, speaking engages the transmitter, but no RF output.
Engaging the TUNE function does produce RF output as expected.
If I switch the mode to CW and tap the straight key, the radio transmits
with expected output. If I THEN switch mode back to LSB, radio functions
normally with expected output.
Note that all of the above is with radio connected to a dummy load, so my
antenna is out of the picture.

Once I switch to CW, key the radio, and switch back to LSB as described
above, transmit works fine until I power cycle the radio, or adjust the RF
Power control (even if I just dial it down a couple watts and then right
back to where it was). Either of those two events appears to disable SSB
transmit until I 'kick' it by transmitting with CW.

As far as I can tell, this behavior is ONLY on 80M. The rig is NOT in 'Test
mode', and Xmit Inhibit is turned off in the menu. All other radio
functions and bands seem to work FB.

Any ideas ?
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Don Wilhelm

Re: K3 Transmit Issue on 80M SSB

Dave,

This is a classic case with Elecraft transceivers that do not drive the
audio sufficiently. Unless you drive the audio as instructed in the
manual, the power output will be erratic or non-existent.

When you speak into the microphone, do you see 5 to 7 bars on the ALC
meter? If not, you do not have adequate audio drive, increase the mic
gain until that condition is realized.

If you have a Heil HC6 or HC7 mic element, those have very low output
levels and you may need to go to the MIC Gain High range.
Note that the high range only applies to the front panel mic jack. Go
to the K3 menu for MIC SEL and tap "3" to toggle the setting on/off.
The high gain mic preamp is indicated by the icon "H'" in the display.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 1/21/2017 10:20 PM, Dave Fugleberg wrote:

> I seldom operate 80M phone, so don't know if this is a new issue or not. K3
> S/N 8334 with latest firmware. When I key the transmitter and speak or
> whistle into the mic, I get no RF output. I can hear myself in the monitor.
> If I enable VOX, speaking engages the transmitter, but no RF output.
> Engaging the TUNE function does produce RF output as expected.
> If I switch the mode to CW and tap the straight key, the radio transmits
> with expected output. If I THEN switch mode back to LSB, radio functions
> normally with expected output.
> Note that all of the above is with radio connected to a dummy load, so my
> antenna is out of the picture.
>
> Once I switch to CW, key the radio, and switch back to LSB as described
> above, transmit works fine until I power cycle the radio, or adjust the RF
> Power control (even if I just dial it down a couple watts and then right
> back to where it was). Either of those two events appears to disable SSB
> transmit until I 'kick' it by transmitting with CW.
>
> As far as I can tell, this behavior is ONLY on 80M. The rig is NOT in 'Test
> mode', and Xmit Inhibit is turned off in the menu. All other radio
> functions and bands seem to work FB.

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Dave Fugleberg

Re: K3 Transmit Issue on 80M SSB

Thanks to all for your suggestions. Carl's suggestion to run the 5 and 50 W
transmitter gain calibration appears to have solved the issue, although I
have no idea why.

Don, I'm familiar with how much drive the K3 wants from the mic, and have
it set properly for my HC-5 element. The behavior was not erratic - it was
easily repeatable using the steps I described. After running the
calibrations, I can no longer repeat the issue.
The only time I had ever previously run the calibrations was during final
setup after assembling the radio a couple years ago. Is that something
that one should do periodically, or after each firmware update?

Hank, I did back up my configuration both before and after running the
calibration, so I have that in my back pocket as well.

Again, thanks to all who responded - I'll keep an eye on it and report back
if it reappears.

73 de W0ZF

On Sat, Jan 21, 2017 at 11:11 PM, Don Wilhelm <[hidden email]>
wrote:

> Dave,
>
> This is a classic case with Elecraft transceivers that do not drive the
> audio sufficiently. Unless you drive the audio as instructed in the
> manual, the power output will be erratic or non-existent.
>
> When you speak into the microphone, do you see 5 to 7 bars on the ALC
> meter? If not, you do not have adequate audio drive, increase the mic gain
> until that condition is realized.
>
> If you have a Heil HC6 or HC7 mic element, those have very low output
> levels and you may need to go to the MIC Gain High range.
> Note that the high range only applies to the front panel mic jack. Go to
> the K3 menu for MIC SEL and tap "3" to toggle the setting on/off. The high
> gain mic preamp is indicated by the icon "H'" in the display.
>
> 73,
> Don W3FPR
>
>
> On 1/21/2017 10:20 PM, Dave Fugleberg wrote:
>
>> I seldom operate 80M phone, so don't know if this is a new issue or not.
>> K3
>> S/N 8334 with latest firmware. When I key the transmitter and speak or
>> whistle into the mic, I get no RF output. I can hear myself in the
>> monitor.
>> If I enable VOX, speaking engages the transmitter, but no RF output.
>> Engaging the TUNE function does produce RF output as expected.
>> If I switch the mode to CW and tap the straight key, the radio transmits
>> with expected output. If I THEN switch mode back to LSB, radio functions
>> normally with expected output.
>> Note that all of the above is with radio connected to a dummy load, so my
>> antenna is out of the picture.
>>
>> Once I switch to CW, key the radio, and switch back to LSB as described
>> above, transmit works fine until I power cycle the radio, or adjust the RF
>> Power control (even if I just dial it down a couple watts and then right
>> back to where it was). Either of those two events appears to disable SSB
>> transmit until I 'kick' it by transmitting with CW.
>>
>> As far as I can tell, this behavior is ONLY on 80M. The rig is NOT in
>> 'Test
>> mode', and Xmit Inhibit is turned off in the menu. All other radio
>> functions and bands seem to work FB.
>>
>

Don Wilhelm

Re: K3 Transmit Issue on 80M SSB

Dave,

I am glad to hear that you have it sorted out.

You should not *normally* have to do a TX Gain Calibration after a
firmware upgrade. However, I do not know how old your prior firmware
happened to be.
There was a prior firmware upgrade which moved the location where the TX
Gain Calibration data was stored, and after *that* particular update it
was necessary to do the TX Gain Calibration in order to move the values
to the new location.

If something like that occurs again, it will be pointed out in the
Firmware Release Notes.
It would be wise to read *all* the Firmware Release Notes between the
firmware that you had in your K3(S) and the most current level to see if
any special actions are necessary.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 1/22/2017 6:54 PM, Dave Fugleberg wrote:

> Thanks to all for your suggestions. Carl's suggestion to run the 5 and
> 50 W transmitter gain calibration appears to have solved the issue,
> although I have no idea why.
>
> Don, I'm familiar with how much drive the K3 wants from the mic, and
> have it set properly for my HC-5 element. The behavior was not erratic
> - it was easily repeatable using the steps I described. After running
> the calibrations, I can no longer repeat the issue.
> The only time I had ever previously run the calibrations was during
> final setup after assembling the radio a couple years ago. Is that
> something that one should do periodically, or after each firmware update?
>
>