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K3: USB Adapter cooked

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k0wa@swbell.net

K3: USB Adapter cooked

I just want to make an observation....about the USB Adapter.

This weekend, I was running about 500 watts output to my Inverted-L on 160 meters. Time after time, N1MM Logger would loose connection to the K3. I did attribute this to RF. I stopped and made sure everything was grounded properly, I placed some chokes on the USB Adapter line, did a reboot of the rig and the computer.

Well, finally, the adapter quit working. Nada. I rummaged around in the garage and found a serial cable and connected it to the computer and was back in business. The N1MM Logger program and the K3 performed flawlessly after that.

Now, I know that there are some issues in my shack concerning my Inverted-L feed. The feed point is less that 15 feet from the shack/rig/tuner/amp. All were grounded to a single point. Still, the USB adapter cooked and I attribute this to high amounts of RF in the shack. And, since I am not going have any more children...it seems that I just lost the USB adapter.

This only happened on 160 meters.

Any comments?

Lee - K0WA

In our day and age it seems that Common Sense is in short supply. If you don't have any Common Sense - get some Common Sense and use it. If you can't find any Common Sense, ask for help from somebody who has some Common Sense. Is Common Sense divine?

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Simon (HB9DRV)

Re: K3: USB Adapter cooked

----- Original Message -----
From: Lee Buller

> Any comments?

I know people who have cooked FT-2000, ProSisTel rotator controllers, Linear
Amps - you name it, they've cooked it with too much RF.

Simon Brown, HB9DRV
www.ham-radio-deluxe.com

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Jim Hoge

Re: K3: USB Adapter cooked

In reply to this post by k0wa@swbell.net

Lee,

I have a similar problem. 30m rtty when I use my 80m inverted vee will lock up the computer while in transmit. I too am well grounded but attribute it to antenna proximity and feedline length. I have found that adding a short jumper to the feedline will alter it relative to operating wavelength just enough to eliminate the problem. I once had a vertical that I cut a feedline for that just happened to be 1 wavelength for the antenna and I had fits until I tried the jumper trick. Perhaps a better choke at the antenna would have helped too. Whodathunkit? The 30m rtty problem on the 80m hasn't been solved so easily. I just try to avoid the combo, instead using the 30m vertical but there are times when one antenna works better than the other. I don't think my xyl will go for a Farraday cage. What's the old fishing joke about going fishing one more time? Just trade that for antennas or ham gear, hi hi.

gl,

Jim W5QM

K1LI

Re: K3: USB Adapter cooked

In reply to this post by k0wa@swbell.net

Lee,

I usually have trouble with my DSL connection when I operate high power on 160 and 80, even though the antenna is 200 feet from the shack. I have been attributing it to RF pickup by the long-ish phone lines and AC wiring in the house.

This weekend, I had trouble with my amp, so I moved it onto the bench a few feet away from the main operating position where I could observe it in action. Surprisingly, the DSL connection worked flawlessly!! The only thing that changed was the positioning of the cables from the rig to the amp and from the amp to the window sash through which the cables exit.

The lesson I take from this is that there must be enough RF current on the coax shields that they radiate enough to disrupt "sensitive" electronics. Perhaps ferrites over the coax would prevent this happening to you again.

Brian K1LI

On Mon, Jan 26, 2009 at 9:37 AM, Lee Buller <[hidden email]> wrote:

Now, I know that there are some issues in my shack concerning my Inverted-L feed. The feed point is less that 15 feet from the shack/rig/tuner/amp. All were grounded to a single point. Still, the USB adapter cooked and I attribute this to high amounts of RF in the shack. And, since I am not going have any more children...it seems that I just lost the USB adapter.

This only happened on 160 meters.

Any comments?

daleputnam

Re: K3: USB Adapter cooked

In reply to this post by Simon (HB9DRV)

That would be a very good arguement for qrp....wouldn't it?
I have yet to cook anything with my K2, and I used to run a full ... no.. a full kw, on each band,
160 through 10... but cooked lots of things..
NOT with the K2 at 5 watts ... or less... yet the fun meter is higher..
and antennas are more fun... and contests are even more fun...

some like it hot..
some don't...

I think qrp is COOL!!!!

*G*

I worked WAS in the 160 test a few years ago... with a KW...
I worked WAS minus DE and RI this weekend with 5 watts.....
I needed 1495 watts more when I didn't hear them?

Not one usb device was cooked this weekend...
and not one tree was hurt sending this email...
just a whole bunch of electrons got slighty irritated.

--... ...-- Dale - WC7S in Wy

Windows Live™ Hotmail®:…more than just e-mail. Check it out.
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