K3 no RF ouput

[T Gahagan-2]

My K3 produces no RF in transmit at the 10 watt or 100 watt levels.  The display shows two horizontal lines during transmit and shows 0.0 watts output.  I have loaded older (4.47) firmware and then reloaded newer (4.48).  I have done a re-initialization and reloaded all parameters.  I removed the KPA3 and reinstalled it.  No noticeable burned components were found.  I believe the K3 did show, very briefly, a fault 6 and fault 7 but it was a very brief flash in the display.  I thought SWR sensing diodes might have been the cause so I replaced D36 and D37.  Any help would be appreciated.  Thanks

Todd
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[Jim N7US]

Todd,

I experienced the same problem a couple of months ago.  I never noticed a
fault, but maybe it did it, and I didn't notice.

I emailed Gary ([hidden email]) and tried the EE INIT including
reloading previously saved configurations.  I ended up sending the radio
(S/N 3598) in.  Keith found an IC that wasn't properly soldered, but really
nothing else.  It never malfunctioned while there.  He did extended burn-in
sessions and installed a couple updates, including De-Oxit to the front
panel connections.  It's worked fine since then.  I was charged for an hour
of time, and I imagine he spent more time than that.

It was unsettling to not have conclusively determined the problem,
especially since it seemed to happen without warning, but it's been working
fine.

73, Jim N7US


-----Original Message-----
From: T Gahagan [mailto:[hidden email]]


My K3 produces no RF in transmit at the 10 watt or 100 watt levels.  The
display shows two horizontal lines during transmit and shows 0.0 watts
output.  I have loaded older (4.47) firmware and then reloaded newer (4.48).
I have done a re-initialization and reloaded all parameters.  I removed the
KPA3 and reinstalled it.  No noticeable burned components were found.  I
believe the K3 did show, very briefly, a fault 6 and fault 7 but it was a
very brief flash in the display.  I thought SWR sensing diodes might have
been the cause so I replaced D36 and D37.  Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks

Todd




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[T Gahagan-2]

Thanks to you guys for the ideas.  The voltage does not vary when going to
transmit mode.  It stays a constant 13.5 volts and the current drain stays
at about 1.18 amps.  The horizontal lines are two lcd (end to end
horizontal) lines that take the place of the frequency when I go to
transmit.  As soon as I go back to receive the frequency returns.  These
lines generally indicate that a device is not installed as I recall such as
dvr3, kat3, etc.  My wife says we had some distant lightning while I was at
the DX convention but all equipment was grounded.  I'm suspicious that
static fried something.  Bypassing the KPA3 does not make any difference.  I
do hear a side tone in CW but again, there is no RF being produced.
Initially the problem was not being able to do 5 watt tx gain and the K3
shut off on its own.  I was able to see power output while doing the 50 watt
tx gain but as stated now there is no RF being produced at all.  Thanks
again and it looks like a trip to Elecraft for the K3.

Todd

-----Original Message-----
From: Jim N7US
Sent: Sunday, April 29, 2012 9:09 AM
To: 'Elecraft List'
Cc: 'Gary Surrency'
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 no RF output

Todd,

I experienced the same problem a couple of months ago.  I never noticed a
fault, but maybe it did it, and I didn't notice.

I emailed Gary ([hidden email]) and tried the EE INIT including
reloading previously saved configurations.  I ended up sending the radio
(S/N 3598) in.  Keith found an IC that wasn't properly soldered, but really
nothing else.  It never malfunctioned while there.  He did extended burn-in
sessions and installed a couple updates, including De-Oxit to the front
panel connections.  It's worked fine since then.  I was charged for an hour
of time, and I imagine he spent more time than that.

It was unsettling to not have conclusively determined the problem,
especially since it seemed to happen without warning, but it's been working
fine.

73, Jim N7US


-----Original Message-----
From: T Gahagan [mailto:[hidden email]]


My K3 produces no RF in transmit at the 10 watt or 100 watt levels.  The
display shows two horizontal lines during transmit and shows 0.0 watts
output.  I have loaded older (4.47) firmware and then reloaded newer (4.48).
I have done a re-initialization and reloaded all parameters.  I removed the
KPA3 and reinstalled it.  No noticeable burned components were found.  I
believe the K3 did show, very briefly, a fault 6 and fault 7 but it was a
very brief flash in the display.  I thought SWR sensing diodes might have
been the cause so I replaced D36 and D37.  Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks

Todd




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Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html 

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[Andy Wood]

Hi Todd,

I experienced the same problem in the field a few months ago. It turned out to be a connection problem between the 10w PA and the main pcb. Removing and re-seating the 10w PA module fixed the problem.

Andy