K3 key clicks
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I am currently operating barefoot at my new-ish (moved here one year ago) QTH in Glade Park CO with a K3 and a Cushcraft vertical antenna. (Much nicer antennas going up in the next few weeks and more power once I get 220V to the shack).
I have a neighbor, Jerry K0DU, who lives about 4 miles away and is an active contester. We can see each other's QTHs from our respective shacks across a high elevation Colorado plateau. Needless to say we have no trouble hearing each other. I have noticed that I can get within 2-kHz of Jerry when he's operating CW with at full 1.5-kW output with no clicks or elevated tx noise. I can see a giant signal on the P3 but can't hear a thing once I'm 2-kHz either side. This underscores how nice the K3 rx is. I have a full set of accessory CW roofing filters. After the 10m test recently Jerry emailed me "...(Jerry's guest op) came across you several times on CW... heard buckshot or key clicks out of the pass band of our receiver up & down the band" This suprised since I had noted during the contest how close I could operate to Jerry. And he was running his linear and I was operating barefoot. Jerry has a FTdx5000 so I don't think poor selectivity or bad rx design is the issue. I confirmed that Jerry's 5000 did not have the NB engaged during the 10m test. What can I do to check my K3 for transmitted key clicks and other unwanted emissions? How to do to eliminate same once I confirm the problem? Frankly, I Jerry's transmissions don't bother me reciprocity didcates than my transmissions shouldn't bother him especially with an order-of-magnitude different to transmitted power. The Cushcraft vertical (an R8) sometimes has high SWR spikes. Since its being decommissioned soon and I've been running low power I haven't bothered to trouble shoot it. Could this be contributing to the clicks/"buckshot"? I'll run some tests with Jerry after I have a plan of attack. 73 Bill ----- William Hein, AA7XT (ex-AA4XT, NT1Y, AA6TT, KC6EDP) AMSAT Life Member ARRL Life Member UKSMG Member 1st W to OH0 QSO on 6m 1st North America to Asia QSO on 60m Founder of TopBand email reflector Web www.AA7XT.com Tel +1 (970) 628-5120 Email [hidden email] Loc: DM59pa Web twitter.com/williamhein AIM / iChat / iMessage [hidden email] Skype williamhein about.me/williamhein# ______________________________________________________________ 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 |
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The K3 is the most click-free CW transmitter available on the market. Better take a look at the 5000's receiver!
Matt Zilmer Consultant - Product Management Dept. Magellan Navigation / MiTAC Digital Corp. Tel: (909) 394-6052 Cell: (909) 730-6552 In status quo voluntas non sufficit -----Original Message----- From: [hidden email] [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of William Hein Sent: Thursday, December 13, 2012 11:24 AM To: [hidden email] Cc: Larry Gerbaz; Jerry Fleck Subject: [Elecraft] K3 key clicks I am currently operating barefoot at my new-ish (moved here one year ago) QTH in Glade Park CO with a K3 and a Cushcraft vertical antenna. (Much nicer antennas going up in the next few weeks and more power once I get 220V to the shack). I have a neighbor, Jerry K0DU, who lives about 4 miles away and is an active contester. We can see each other's QTHs from our respective shacks across a high elevation Colorado plateau. Needless to say we have no trouble hearing each other. I have noticed that I can get within 2-kHz of Jerry when he's operating CW with at full 1.5-kW output with no clicks or elevated tx noise. I can see a giant signal on the P3 but can't hear a thing once I'm 2-kHz either side. This underscores how nice the K3 rx is. I have a full set of accessory CW roofing filters. After the 10m test recently Jerry emailed me "...(Jerry's guest op) came across you several times on CW... heard buckshot or key clicks out of the pass band of our receiver up & down the band" This suprised since I had noted during the contest how close I could operate to Jerry. And he was running his linear and I was operating barefoot. Jerry has a FTdx5000 so I don't think poor selectivity or bad rx design is the issue. I confirmed that Jerry's 5000 did not have the NB engaged during the 10m test. What can I do to check my K3 for transmitted key clicks and other unwanted emissions? How to do to eliminate same once I confirm the problem? Frankly, I Jerry's transmissions don't bother me reciprocity didcates than my transmissions shouldn't bother him especially with an order-of-magnitude different to transmitted power. The Cushcraft vertical (an R8) sometimes has high SWR spikes. Since its being decommissioned soon and I've been running low power I haven't bothered to trouble shoot it. Could this be contributing to the clicks/"buckshot"? I'll run some tests with Jerry after I have a plan of attack. 73 Bill ----- William Hein, AA7XT (ex-AA4XT, NT1Y, AA6TT, KC6EDP) AMSAT Life Member ARRL Life Member UKSMG Member 1st W to OH0 QSO on 6m 1st North America to Asia QSO on 60m Founder of TopBand email reflector Web www.AA7XT.com Tel +1 (970) 628-5120 Email [hidden email] Loc: DM59pa Web twitter.com/williamhein AIM / iChat / iMessage [hidden email] Skype williamhein about.me/williamhein# ______________________________________________________________ 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 ______________________________________________________________ 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 |
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Or maybe the guest op not being familiar with the Yaezu. Did the
owner of the station ever mention the problem? On 12/13/12, Matthew Zilmer <[hidden email]> wrote: > The K3 is the most click-free CW transmitter available on the market. > Better take a look at the 5000's receiver! > > Matt Zilmer > Consultant - Product Management Dept. > Magellan Navigation / MiTAC Digital Corp. > Tel: (909) 394-6052 > Cell: (909) 730-6552 > In status quo voluntas non sufficit > > > -----Original Message----- > From: [hidden email] > [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of William Hein > Sent: Thursday, December 13, 2012 11:24 AM > To: [hidden email] > Cc: Larry Gerbaz; Jerry Fleck > Subject: [Elecraft] K3 key clicks > > I am currently operating barefoot at my new-ish (moved here one year ago) > QTH in Glade Park CO with a K3 and a Cushcraft vertical antenna. (Much > nicer antennas going up in the next few weeks and more power once I get 220V > to the shack). > > I have a neighbor, Jerry K0DU, who lives about 4 miles away and is an active > contester. We can see each other's QTHs from our respective shacks across a > high elevation Colorado plateau. Needless to say we have no trouble hearing > each other. > > I have noticed that I can get within 2-kHz of Jerry when he's operating CW > with at full 1.5-kW output with no clicks or elevated tx noise. I can see a > giant signal on the P3 but can't hear a thing once I'm 2-kHz either side. > This underscores how nice the K3 rx is. I have a full set of accessory CW > roofing filters. > > After the 10m test recently Jerry emailed me "...(Jerry's guest op) came > across you several times on CW... heard buckshot or key clicks out of the > pass band of our receiver up & down the band" This suprised since I had > noted during the contest how close I could operate to Jerry. And he was > running his linear and I was operating barefoot. Jerry has a FTdx5000 so I > don't think poor selectivity or bad rx design is the issue. I confirmed > that Jerry's 5000 did not have the NB engaged during the 10m test. > > What can I do to check my K3 for transmitted key clicks and other unwanted > emissions? How to do to eliminate same once I confirm the problem? > Frankly, I Jerry's transmissions don't bother me reciprocity didcates than > my transmissions shouldn't bother him especially with an order-of-magnitude > different to transmitted power. > > The Cushcraft vertical (an R8) sometimes has high SWR spikes. Since its > being decommissioned soon and I've been running low power I haven't bothered > to trouble shoot it. Could this be contributing to the clicks/"buckshot"? > > I'll run some tests with Jerry after I have a plan of attack. > > 73 > Bill > > ----- > William Hein, AA7XT > (ex-AA4XT, NT1Y, AA6TT, KC6EDP) > > AMSAT Life Member > ARRL Life Member > UKSMG Member > > 1st W to OH0 QSO on 6m > 1st North America to Asia QSO on 60m > Founder of TopBand email reflector > > Web www.AA7XT.com > Tel +1 (970) 628-5120 > Email [hidden email] > Loc: DM59pa > Web twitter.com/williamhein > AIM / iChat / iMessage [hidden email] > Skype williamhein > about.me/williamhein# > > > > ______________________________________________________________ > 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 > ______________________________________________________________ > 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 > 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 |
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Make sure his NB was off, as that will cause rx artifacts on all strong signals.
Eric www.elecraft.com _..._ On Dec 13, 2012, at 12:00 PM, Greg <[hidden email]> wrote: > Or maybe the guest op not being familiar with the Yaezu. Did the > owner of the station ever mention the problem? > > > > On 12/13/12, Matthew Zilmer <[hidden email]> wrote: >> The K3 is the most click-free CW transmitter available on the market. >> Better take a look at the 5000's receiver! >> >> Matt Zilmer >> Consultant - Product Management Dept. >> Magellan Navigation / MiTAC Digital Corp. >> Tel: (909) 394-6052 >> Cell: (909) 730-6552 >> In status quo voluntas non sufficit >> >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: [hidden email] >> [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of William Hein >> Sent: Thursday, December 13, 2012 11:24 AM >> To: [hidden email] >> Cc: Larry Gerbaz; Jerry Fleck >> Subject: [Elecraft] K3 key clicks >> >> I am currently operating barefoot at my new-ish (moved here one year ago) >> QTH in Glade Park CO with a K3 and a Cushcraft vertical antenna. (Much >> nicer antennas going up in the next few weeks and more power once I get 220V >> to the shack). >> >> I have a neighbor, Jerry K0DU, who lives about 4 miles away and is an active >> contester. We can see each other's QTHs from our respective shacks across a >> high elevation Colorado plateau. Needless to say we have no trouble hearing >> each other. >> >> I have noticed that I can get within 2-kHz of Jerry when he's operating CW >> with at full 1.5-kW output with no clicks or elevated tx noise. I can see a >> giant signal on the P3 but can't hear a thing once I'm 2-kHz either side. >> This underscores how nice the K3 rx is. I have a full set of accessory CW >> roofing filters. >> >> After the 10m test recently Jerry emailed me "...(Jerry's guest op) came >> across you several times on CW... heard buckshot or key clicks out of the >> pass band of our receiver up & down the band" This suprised since I had >> noted during the contest how close I could operate to Jerry. And he was >> running his linear and I was operating barefoot. Jerry has a FTdx5000 so I >> don't think poor selectivity or bad rx design is the issue. I confirmed >> that Jerry's 5000 did not have the NB engaged during the 10m test. >> >> What can I do to check my K3 for transmitted key clicks and other unwanted >> emissions? How to do to eliminate same once I confirm the problem? >> Frankly, I Jerry's transmissions don't bother me reciprocity didcates than >> my transmissions shouldn't bother him especially with an order-of-magnitude >> different to transmitted power. >> >> The Cushcraft vertical (an R8) sometimes has high SWR spikes. Since its >> being decommissioned soon and I've been running low power I haven't bothered >> to trouble shoot it. Could this be contributing to the clicks/"buckshot"? >> >> I'll run some tests with Jerry after I have a plan of attack. >> >> 73 >> Bill >> >> ----- >> William Hein, AA7XT >> (ex-AA4XT, NT1Y, AA6TT, KC6EDP) >> >> AMSAT Life Member >> ARRL Life Member >> UKSMG Member >> >> 1st W to OH0 QSO on 6m >> 1st North America to Asia QSO on 60m >> Founder of TopBand email reflector >> >> Web www.AA7XT.com >> Tel +1 (970) 628-5120 >> Email [hidden email] >> Loc: DM59pa >> Web twitter.com/williamhein >> AIM / iChat / iMessage [hidden email] >> Skype williamhein >> about.me/williamhein# >> >> >> >> ______________________________________________________________ >> 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 >> ______________________________________________________________ >> 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 > ______________________________________________________________ > 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 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 |
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In reply to this post by William Hein-3
Also note that the Blocking Dynamic Range of the FT-5000 is approximately 13-15 dB worse than the K3's, as per the Sherwood and ARRL lab test data. That mean his rx will desense on much weaker local signals than the K3.
Eric www.elecraft.com _..._ On Dec 13, 2012, at 11:24 AM, William Hein <[hidden email]> wrote: > I am currently operating barefoot at my new-ish (moved here one year ago) QTH in Glade Park CO with a K3 and a Cushcraft vertical antenna. (Much nicer antennas going up in the next few weeks and more power once I get 220V to the shack). > > I have a neighbor, Jerry K0DU, who lives about 4 miles away and is an active contester. We can see each other's QTHs from our respective shacks across a high elevation Colorado plateau. Needless to say we have no trouble hearing each other. > > I have noticed that I can get within 2-kHz of Jerry when he's operating CW with at full 1.5-kW output with no clicks or elevated tx noise. I can see a giant signal on the P3 but can't hear a thing once I'm 2-kHz either side. This underscores how nice the K3 rx is. I have a full set of accessory CW roofing filters. > > After the 10m test recently Jerry emailed me "...(Jerry's guest op) came across you several times on CW... heard buckshot or key clicks out of the pass band of our receiver up & down the band" This suprised since I had noted during the contest how close I could operate to Jerry. And he was running his linear and I was operating barefoot. Jerry has a FTdx5000 so I don't think poor selectivity or bad rx design is the issue. I confirmed that Jerry's 5000 did not have the NB engaged during the 10m test. > > What can I do to check my K3 for transmitted key clicks and other unwanted emissions? How to do to eliminate same once I confirm the problem? Frankly, I Jerry's transmissions don't bother me reciprocity didcates than my transmissions shouldn't bother him especially with an order-of-magnitude different to transmitted power. > > The Cushcraft vertical (an R8) sometimes has high SWR spikes. Since its being decommissioned soon and I've been running low power I haven't bothered to trouble shoot it. Could this be contributing to the clicks/"buckshot"? > > I'll run some tests with Jerry after I have a plan of attack. > > 73 > Bill > > ----- > William Hein, AA7XT > (ex-AA4XT, NT1Y, AA6TT, KC6EDP) > > AMSAT Life Member > ARRL Life Member > UKSMG Member > > 1st W to OH0 QSO on 6m > 1st North America to Asia QSO on 60m > Founder of TopBand email reflector > > Web www.AA7XT.com > Tel +1 (970) 628-5120 > Email [hidden email] > Loc: DM59pa > Web twitter.com/williamhein > AIM / iChat / iMessage [hidden email] > Skype williamhein > about.me/williamhein# > > > > ______________________________________________________________ > 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 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 |
Re: K3 key clicks
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In reply to this post by William Hein-3
Bill,
The clicks which your neighbour heard could have been caused by something in your antenna or feeder arcing over, or possibly an intermittent contact. I note that you said that sometimes your Cushcraft vertical "has high SWR spikes", which suggests that something in your feeder or antenna is sometimes misbehaving. 73, Geoff LX2AO On December 13, 2012 at 8:24 PM, William Hein wrote: >I am currently operating barefoot at my new-ish (moved here one year ago) >QTH in Glade Park CO with a K3 and a Cushcraft vertical antenna. (Much >nicer antennas going up in the next few weeks and more power once I get >220V to the shack). > > I have a neighbor, Jerry K0DU, who lives about 4 miles away and is an > active contester. We can see each other's QTHs from our respective shacks > across a high elevation Colorado plateau. Needless to say we have no > trouble hearing each other. > > I have noticed that I can get within 2-kHz of Jerry when he's operating CW > with at full 1.5-kW output with no clicks or elevated tx noise. I can see > a giant signal on the P3 but can't hear a thing once I'm 2-kHz either > side. This underscores how nice the K3 rx is. I have a full set of > accessory CW roofing filters. > > After the 10m test recently Jerry emailed me "...(Jerry's guest op) came > across you several times on CW... heard buckshot or key clicks out of the > pass band of our receiver up & down the band" This suprised since I had > noted during the contest how close I could operate to Jerry. And he was > running his linear and I was operating barefoot. Jerry has a FTdx5000 so > I don't think poor selectivity or bad rx design is the issue. I confirmed > that Jerry's 5000 did not have the NB engaged during the 10m test. > > What can I do to check my K3 for transmitted key clicks and other unwanted > emissions? How to do to eliminate same once I confirm the problem? > Frankly, I Jerry's transmissions don't bother me reciprocity didcates than > my transmissions shouldn't bother him especially with an > order-of-magnitude different to transmitted power. > > The Cushcraft vertical (an R8) sometimes has high SWR spikes. Since its > being decommissioned soon and I've been running low power I haven't > bothered to trouble shoot it. Could this be contributing to the > clicks/"buckshot"? > > I'll run some tests with Jerry after I have a plan of attack. > > 73 > Bill ______________________________________________________________ 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 |
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To confirm what Geoff said, if your antenna has some kind of diodic
contact, then the arc-over at the beginning of each baud, and the cessation of arc at the end, will create beautifilous klix mostly heard by locals. Having a jumpy SWR is not good. The arcing could be in coax and connectors instead of in the antenna, but happening only on one band (is that true?) points more at the antenna. You may need to take down the antenna, clean, regoop and retighten all the connections. If you find carbon traces, you may have more problems than just connections. If you have traps in the antenna, those can have a problem that you can't repair. Engage your neighbor in chasing down the problem. 73, Guy. On Thu, Dec 13, 2012 at 4:15 PM, Geoffrey Mackenzie-Kennedy <[hidden email]>wrote: > Bill, > > The clicks which your neighbour heard could have been caused by something > in > your antenna or feeder arcing over, or possibly an intermittent > contact. I note that you said that sometimes your Cushcraft vertical > "has > high SWR spikes", which suggests that something in your feeder or antenna > is > sometimes misbehaving. > > 73, > > Geoff > LX2AO > > > > On December 13, 2012 at 8:24 PM, William Hein wrote: > > > I am currently operating barefoot at my new-ish (moved here one year ago) >> QTH in Glade Park CO with a K3 and a Cushcraft vertical antenna. (Much >> nicer antennas going up in the next few weeks and more power once I get >> 220V to the shack). >> >> I have a neighbor, Jerry K0DU, who lives about 4 miles away and is an >> active contester. We can see each other's QTHs from our respective shacks >> across a high elevation Colorado plateau. Needless to say we have no >> trouble hearing each other. >> >> I have noticed that I can get within 2-kHz of Jerry when he's operating CW >> with at full 1.5-kW output with no clicks or elevated tx noise. I can see >> a giant signal on the P3 but can't hear a thing once I'm 2-kHz either >> side. This underscores how nice the K3 rx is. I have a full set of >> accessory CW roofing filters. >> >> After the 10m test recently Jerry emailed me "...(Jerry's guest op) came >> across you several times on CW... heard buckshot or key clicks out of the >> pass band of our receiver up & down the band" This suprised since I had >> noted during the contest how close I could operate to Jerry. And he was >> running his linear and I was operating barefoot. Jerry has a FTdx5000 so >> I don't think poor selectivity or bad rx design is the issue. I confirmed >> that Jerry's 5000 did not have the NB engaged during the 10m test. >> >> What can I do to check my K3 for transmitted key clicks and other unwanted >> emissions? How to do to eliminate same once I confirm the problem? >> Frankly, I Jerry's transmissions don't bother me reciprocity didcates than >> my transmissions shouldn't bother him especially with an >> order-of-magnitude different to transmitted power. >> >> The Cushcraft vertical (an R8) sometimes has high SWR spikes. Since its >> being decommissioned soon and I've been running low power I haven't >> bothered to trouble shoot it. Could this be contributing to the >> clicks/"buckshot"? >> >> I'll run some tests with Jerry after I have a plan of attack. >> >> 73 >> Bill >> > > ______________________________**______________________________**__ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/**mailman/listinfo/elecraft<http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft> > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.**htm<http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm> > Post: mailto:[hidden email].**net <[hidden email]> > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > 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 |
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In reply to this post by William Hein-3
Bill,
I recently had a similar report that I was clicking and had spurious radiation up and down the band. I borrowed a spectrum analyzer and confirmed that the K3 was indeed producing lots of spurious radiation. I contacted Elecraft support and within one day they helped me trouble shoot the problem down to the component. In my case Q4 on the LPA board had failed. I replaced Q4 and that cured the problem. I suggest you contact Elecraft support by email (they responded to my email almost immediately). Good Luck and 73 Bill - w7ij ______________________________________________________________ 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 |
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