K3 and SPE 2K-FA Amplifer Problem

[Chris Page-3]

I would appreciate any ideas and/or suggestions regarding the following
problem, please, especially from K3/100 users with a SPE 2K-FA amplifier:

I am running a K3 with the SPE 2K-FA amplifier and sometimes when I am in S & P
mode, I call a station as 'G4BUE' and they answer me as 'F4BUE'.  It is never
anything other than F4BUE, if it is not G4BUE.  I cannot see an obvious
connection between the 'G' being read as an 'F' unless the first dash of the G
is being split into two dits, but it has been happening fairly regularly since
I had the 2K-FA last year.

I use the K3's internal keyer and the CW text decode option in the K3's menu to
constantly monitor my transmitted CW to ensure my spacing is good, etc, and
confirm that G4BUE is what was sent.  It doesn't make any difference whether I
use QSK or semi-QSK, or if I send G4BUE manually or with one of the K3's
internal memories.

I have tried advancing the TX DELAY menu option from the default 8 in
increments  up to the maximum of 20, but the problem still persists.

At the end of last year, the 2K-FA developed a problem and had to go back to
the factory in Italy to be repaired.  Whilst it was there, I told them about
the F4BUE problem and asked them to check the amplifier.  They said, "We tested
the amplifier with RTX Kenwood TS590 and a digital oscilloscope Picoscope S203
in modality CW all lines from 5ppm to 60ppm, and we have not encountered no
splitting of the first line, and subsequently the amplifier is working 100%".

I think they are probably right because I now have a second K3 and that does
not cause the F4BUE problem, even with the TX DELAY set at the default 8!

I have all the menu options and settings identical between the two K3s.  The
only difference between them is that the offending K3 has the second
receiver and a PR6 fitted, and the other has just the ATU.

Unfortunately I do not own an oscilloscope to look at the output of the K3.

Thanks and 73 de Chris, G4BUE
______________________________________________________________
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

[David Pratt]

You haven't mentioned this, Chris, but have you tried resetting the K3
to factory settings (after saving your configuration with the K3
Utility, of course)? Also, reloading the latest firmware to the K3 might
help. The latest firmware is MCU 4.67, DSP 2.81, FL 1.15.

73 de David G4DMP
G-QRP 11046

In a recent message, Chris Page <[hidden email]> writes
>I am running a K3 with the SPE 2K-FA amplifier and sometimes when I am
>in S & P
>mode, I call a station as 'G4BUE' and they answer me as 'F4BUE'.  It is never
>anything other than F4BUE, if it is not G4BUE.  I cannot see an obvious
>connection between the 'G' being read as an 'F' unless the first dash of the G
>is being split into two dits, but it has been happening fairly regularly since
>I had the 2K-FA last year.

--
 + - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - +
 | David M Pratt, Kippax, Leeds.   |
 | Website: http://www.g4dmp.co.uk |
 + - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - +

______________________________________________________________
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