Elecraft

K3 high pitched tone and noise when keying the mic

Classic

List

Threaded

8 messages Options

VA3LX

K3 high pitched tone and noise when keying the mic

I recently developed a high pitched tone and seemingly random noise when
keying the mic with either PTT or VOX

The K3 has been set up and running brilliantly (as one would expect) for 5
years with no changes to the set up recently.

The noise goes away when the mic gain is set to zero. Changing from the
Yamaha CM500 to a random computer headset made no difference.

The mic is connected via the rear panel connector.

I'd be grateful for troubleshooting ideas.

73s

de Paul
VA3LX

Paul Taenzer
[hidden email]
613-385-1226
______________________________________________________________
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]

Don Wilhelm-4

Re: K3 high pitched tone and noise when keying the mic

Paul,

Do you have the monitor gain up *and* have SPKR+Phones selected in the
menu? If so, the monitor sound from the speaker will be picked up by
the microphone and result in 'squeals'.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 11/15/2015 4:36 PM, Paul Taenzer wrote:
> I recently developed a high pitched tone and seemingly random noise when
> keying the mic with either PTT or VOX
>
> The K3 has been set up and running brilliantly (as one would expect) for 5
> years with no changes to the set up recently.
>
>

______________________________________________________________
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]

Pierfrancesco Caci

Re: K3 high pitched tone and noise when keying the mic

In reply to this post by VA3LX

>>>>> "Paul" == Paul Taenzer <[hidden email]> writes:

Paul> I recently developed a high pitched tone and seemingly random
Paul> noise when
Paul> keying the mic with either PTT or VOX

Paul> The noise goes away when the mic gain is set to zero. Changing
Paul> from the
Paul> Yamaha CM500 to a random computer headset made no difference.

how's your monitor level set? I once forgot to turn it down after some
tests, and it was getting back in the mic, causing the typical loop whistle.

--
Pierfrancesco Caci, ik5pvx
______________________________________________________________
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]

VA3LX

Re: K3 high pitched tone and noise when keying the mic

Thanks for you quick response!

Unfortunately that didn't seem to do the trick.

The speakers are not on (speakers + phone = no) and I tried turning the
monitor gain to zero.

Still no joy.

Other thoughts?

TNX agn,

Paul
VA3LX

Paul Taenzer
[hidden email]
613-385-1226

On Sun, Nov 15, 2015 at 5:00 PM, Pierfrancesco Caci <[hidden email]> wrote:

> >>>>> "Paul" == Paul Taenzer <[hidden email]> writes:
>
> Paul> I recently developed a high pitched tone and seemingly random
> Paul> noise when
> Paul> keying the mic with either PTT or VOX
>
>
> Paul> The noise goes away when the mic gain is set to zero. Changing
> Paul> from the
> Paul> Yamaha CM500 to a random computer headset made no difference.
>
>
> how's your monitor level set? I once forgot to turn it down after some
> tests, and it was getting back in the mic, causing the typical loop
> whistle.
>
> --
> Pierfrancesco Caci, ik5pvx
>

______________________________________________________________
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]

VA3LX

Re: K3 high pitched tone and noise when keying the mic

One more thing I just noticed.

Sometimes (I can't figure out the pattern) the bottom line on the K3
display says low battery.

I'm not sure what that could be referring to.

Perhaps it's related to the mic noise??

TNX

Paul
VA3LX

Paul Taenzer
[hidden email]
613-385-1226

On Sun, Nov 15, 2015 at 5:35 PM, Paul Taenzer <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Thanks for you quick response!
>
> Unfortunately that didn't seem to do the trick.
>
> The speakers are not on (speakers + phone = no) and I tried turning the
> monitor gain to zero.
>
> Still no joy.
>
> Other thoughts?
>
> TNX agn,
>
> Paul
> VA3LX
>
> Paul Taenzer
> [hidden email]
> 613-385-1226
>
> On Sun, Nov 15, 2015 at 5:00 PM, Pierfrancesco Caci <[hidden email]>
> wrote:
>
>> >>>>> "Paul" == Paul Taenzer <[hidden email]> writes:
>>
>> Paul> I recently developed a high pitched tone and seemingly random
>> Paul> noise when
>> Paul> keying the mic with either PTT or VOX
>>
>>
>> Paul> The noise goes away when the mic gain is set to zero. Changing
>> Paul> from the
>> Paul> Yamaha CM500 to a random computer headset made no difference.
>>
>>
>> how's your monitor level set? I once forgot to turn it down after some
>> tests, and it was getting back in the mic, causing the typical loop
>> whistle.
>>
>> --
>> Pierfrancesco Caci, ik5pvx
>>
>
>

VA3LX

Re: K3 high pitched tone and noise when keying the mic

The 'low battery' issue was the problem.

I tweaked the power supply voltage up to 12.8 or so and no more noise!

Thanks everyone for your assistance.

73s

de Paul VA3LX

Paul Taenzer
[hidden email]
613-385-1226

On Sun, Nov 15, 2015 at 5:38 PM, Paul Taenzer <[hidden email]> wrote:

> One more thing I just noticed.
>
> Sometimes (I can't figure out the pattern) the bottom line on the K3
> display says low battery.
>
> I'm not sure what that could be referring to.
>
> Perhaps it's related to the mic noise??
>
> TNX
>
> Paul
> VA3LX
>
> Paul Taenzer
> [hidden email]
> 613-385-1226
>
> On Sun, Nov 15, 2015 at 5:35 PM, Paul Taenzer <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
>> Thanks for you quick response!
>>
>> Unfortunately that didn't seem to do the trick.
>>
>> The speakers are not on (speakers + phone = no) and I tried turning the
>> monitor gain to zero.
>>
>> Still no joy.
>>
>> Other thoughts?
>>
>> TNX agn,
>>
>> Paul
>> VA3LX
>>
>> Paul Taenzer
>> [hidden email]
>> 613-385-1226
>>
>> On Sun, Nov 15, 2015 at 5:00 PM, Pierfrancesco Caci <[hidden email]>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> >>>>> "Paul" == Paul Taenzer <[hidden email]> writes:
>>>
>>> Paul> I recently developed a high pitched tone and seemingly random
>>> Paul> noise when
>>> Paul> keying the mic with either PTT or VOX
>>>
>>>
>>> Paul> The noise goes away when the mic gain is set to zero. Changing
>>> Paul> from the
>>> Paul> Yamaha CM500 to a random computer headset made no difference.
>>>
>>>
>>> how's your monitor level set? I once forgot to turn it down after some
>>> tests, and it was getting back in the mic, causing the typical loop
>>> whistle.
>>>
>>> --
>>> Pierfrancesco Caci, ik5pvx
>>>
>>
>>
>

Bob McGraw - K4TAX

Re: K3 high pitched tone and noise when keying the mic

I suggest you adjust the PS voltage to 14.0 to 14.5 in receive.

73
Bob, K4TAX

On 11/15/2015 6:54 PM, Paul Taenzer wrote:
> The 'low battery' issue was the problem.
>
> I tweaked the power supply voltage up to 12.8 or so and no more noise!
>
> Thanks everyone for your assistance.

______________________________________________________________
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]

k6dgw

Re: K3 high pitched tone and noise when keying the mic

In reply to this post by VA3LX

12.8 is pretty low. I run my Yaesu FP-1030A linear supply at 14.7 V for
K3 and K2. By the time the DC gets to the inside of the K3, it's about
14.5 and higher voltages reduce TX IMD some, not that the K3 isn't
really low IMD to begin with.

Not all power supplies are created equal ... in a host of ways ... but a
really solid one can make a big difference in a number of ways. The
FP-1030A is linear, heavy, and the voltmeter does not move at 100W CW
keying.

I'd turn yours up a bit. 14.0 might be a good point.

73,

Fred K6DGW
- Northern California Contest Club
- CU in the Cal QSO Party 1-2 Oct 2016
- www.cqp.org

On 11/15/2015 4:54 PM, Paul Taenzer wrote:
> The 'low battery' issue was the problem.
>
> I tweaked the power supply voltage up to 12.8 or so and no more
> noise!

> de Paul VA3LX
______________________________________________________________
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]