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K3 appears to be bricked

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Mike Murray-4

K3 appears to be bricked

I was in the process of updating my K3's firmware this morning when
something apparently burped leaving the K3 bricked. The radio is wired
directly to a power supply which also feeds a RigRunner for other stuff.
At the time I was also using a small 12V air compressor on the RigRunner.
I don't think it was involved, but can't say for sure.

The TX light is flashing, the display shows "MCU LD" and power button won't
power it down. I've tried forcing a firmware download several times,
explicitly following the instructions in the K3 manual without success.
The K3 Utility program can't find the rig on the prior COM port being used,
nor on any other available COM port, so I suspect that's a major clue.
True COM ports are not available on the PC so I'm using a StarTech 4 port
USB converter that utilizes the FTDI chips.

Anyone have any ideas I can try???

Mike - W0AG
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george allen

Re: K3 appears to be bricked

Have you removed power, waited 2 minutes, then restored power?

Sent from my iPad

> On Sep 11, 2016, at 11:52 AM, Mike Murray <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> I was in the process of updating my K3's firmware this morning when
> something apparently burped leaving the K3 bricked. The radio is wired
> directly to a power supply which also feeds a RigRunner for other stuff.
> At the time I was also using a small 12V air compressor on the RigRunner.
> I don't think it was involved, but can't say for sure.
>
> The TX light is flashing, the display shows "MCU LD" and power button won't
> power it down. I've tried forcing a firmware download several times,
> explicitly following the instructions in the K3 manual without success.
> The K3 Utility program can't find the rig on the prior COM port being used,
> nor on any other available COM port, so I suspect that's a major clue.
> True COM ports are not available on the PC so I'm using a StarTech 4 port
> USB converter that utilizes the FTDI chips.
>
> Anyone have any ideas I can try???
>
> Mike - W0AG
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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]

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James Walker

Re: K3 appears to be bricked

In reply to this post by Mike Murray-4

I have the same problem with my K-3 from time to time. It’s a major inconvenience but it’s not fatal. I’ve tried a couple of times to get help from this forum but no one seems to have a good answer. My best theory is that there is a defect with the firmware chip. It’s not a widespread defect, so my theory goes, since most K-3 users don’t suffer from the problem. I’m sure Elecraft would replace the chip but I can’t be sure that’s actually the problem. So I just live with it.

All you have to do is turn everything off including the computer. To turn off the the K-3 you have to remove the power connection. Next, turn on the computer. After the computer boots up, connect the power to the K-3 and turn it on. You will see the same MCU LD message and blinking transmit light, but the computer utility program should be able to find the K-3 and reload the firmware.

Lastly, and sadly, if my experience is any guide, you’ll have the problem again from time to time.

Jimmy Walker
WA4ILO
Macon, GA

Mike Murray-4

Re: K3 appears to be bricked

In reply to this post by Mike Murray-4

Thanks for the suggestions so far - tried each several times but the K3 is
still toast.....

On Sun, Sep 11, 2016 at 10:59 AM, Rick Bates (WA6NHC) <[hidden email]>
wrote:

> Try a full power off shutdown of the computer. If a desktop, pull the
> power cord for 30 seconds to completely discharge the motherboard (pull the
> battery from a laptop).
> Spell Czech happens
>
>
> Have you removed power, waited 2 minutes, then restored power?

All you have to do is turn everything off including the computer. To turn
off the the K-3 you have to remove the power connection. Next, turn on the
computer. After the computer boots up, connect the power to the K-3 and
turn it on. You will see the same MCU LD message and blinking transmit
light, but the computer utility program should be able to find the K-3 and
reload the firmware.
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Don Wilhelm

Re: K3 appears to be bricked

In reply to this post by Mike Murray-4

Mike,

Remove the K3 power cord and wait at least 2 minutes.
While waiting, reboot the computer and after it comes up, power on the K3.
Check to see if K3 Utility can find the K3.
Try the Force Firmware Download again.
If that still does not work, disconnect everything except the RS-232
cable from the K3 and try the sequence again.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 9/11/2016 11:52 AM, Mike Murray wrote:

> I was in the process of updating my K3's firmware this morning when
> something apparently burped leaving the K3 bricked. The radio is wired
> directly to a power supply which also feeds a RigRunner for other stuff.
> At the time I was also using a small 12V air compressor on the RigRunner.
> I don't think it was involved, but can't say for sure.
>
> The TX light is flashing, the display shows "MCU LD" and power button won't
> power it down. I've tried forcing a firmware download several times,
> explicitly following the instructions in the K3 manual without success.
> The K3 Utility program can't find the rig on the prior COM port being used,
> nor on any other available COM port, so I suspect that's a major clue.
> True COM ports are not available on the PC so I'm using a StarTech 4 port
> USB converter that utilizes the FTDI chips.
>
>

James Walker

Re: K3 appears to be bricked

In reply to this post by Mike Murray-4

Do you have a P-3? If so, you might need to reconnect the RS232 directly to the K-3 rather than the P-3 before starting the process.

Jimmy Walker
WA4ILO
Macon, GA

> On Sep 11, 2016, at 1:15 PM, Mike Murray <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> Thanks for the suggestions so far - tried each several times but the K3 is
> still toast.....
>
> On Sun, Sep 11, 2016 at 10:59 AM, Rick Bates (WA6NHC) <[hidden email]>
> wrote:
>
>> Try a full power off shutdown of the computer. If a desktop, pull the
>> power cord for 30 seconds to completely discharge the motherboard (pull the
>> battery from a laptop).
>> Spell Czech happens
>>
>>
>> Have you removed power, waited 2 minutes, then restored power?
>
> All you have to do is turn everything off including the computer. To turn
> off the the K-3 you have to remove the power connection. Next, turn on the
> computer. After the computer boots up, connect the power to the K-3 and
> turn it on. You will see the same MCU LD message and blinking transmit
> light, but the computer utility program should be able to find the K-3 and
> reload the firmware.
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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]

Dick Dievendorff-4

Re: K3 appears to be bricked

In reply to this post by Mike Murray-4

There is a fairly detailed procedure in K3 Utility Help, Troubleshooting,
MCU Boot Loader.

73 de Dick, K6KR

-----Original Message-----
From: Elecraft [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Mike
Murray
Sent: Sunday, September 11, 2016 08:52
To: [hidden email]
Subject: [Elecraft] K3 appears to be bricked

I was in the process of updating my K3's firmware this morning when
something apparently burped leaving the K3 bricked. The radio is wired
directly to a power supply which also feeds a RigRunner for other stuff.
At the time I was also using a small 12V air compressor on the RigRunner.
I don't think it was involved, but can't say for sure.

The TX light is flashing, the display shows "MCU LD" and power button won't
power it down. I've tried forcing a firmware download several times,
explicitly following the instructions in the K3 manual without success.
The K3 Utility program can't find the rig on the prior COM port being used,
nor on any other available COM port, so I suspect that's a major clue.
True COM ports are not available on the PC so I'm using a StarTech 4 port
USB converter that utilizes the FTDI chips.

Anyone have any ideas I can try???

Mike - W0AG
______________________________________________________________
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Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message
delivered to [hidden email]

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Mike Murray-4

Re: K3 appears to be bricked

In reply to this post by Don Wilhelm

Once again, thanks to everyone on the list for input. I was finally
successful in getting everything reloaded only after disconnecting
everything but the serial cable to the PC. Thanks to Don and Bill for
pointing that step out as a solution. Thanks also to Dick for pointing out
the help files in the Utility - just never thought to look there as well,
but will if it ever happens again.

Mike - W0AG

> Remove the K3 power cord and wait at least 2 minutes.
> While waiting, reboot the computer and after it comes up, power on the K3.
> Check to see if K3 Utility can find the K3.
> Try the Force Firmware Download again.
> If that still does not work, disconnect everything except the RS-232 cable
> from the K3 and try the sequence again.
>
> 73,
> Don W3FPR
>
>
> On 9/11/2016 11:52 AM, Mike Murray wrote:
>
>> I was in the process of updating my K3's firmware this morning when
>> something apparently burped leaving the K3 bricked. The radio is wired
>> directly to a power supply which also feeds a RigRunner for other stuff.
>> At the time I was also using a small 12V air compressor on the RigRunner.
>> I don't think it was involved, but can't say for sure.
>>
>> The TX light is flashing, the display shows "MCU LD" and power button
>> won't
>> power it down. I've tried forcing a firmware download several times,
>> explicitly following the instructions in the K3 manual without success.
>> The K3 Utility program can't find the rig on the prior COM port being
>> used,
>> nor on any other available COM port, so I suspect that's a major clue.
>> True COM ports are not available on the PC so I'm using a StarTech 4 port
>> USB converter that utilizes the FTDI chips.
>>
>>
>>
>