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K3 not recieving

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Vernon Mauery

K3 not recieving

At the risk of exposing what a n00b I am when it comes to HF, I really
need some help. I recently (last month) purchased a K3. First HF
radio I have owned. I got my license 2 years ago and have spent most
of the time since playing with VHF. I have been trying to teach
myself CW and decided that it was time to step into the HF waters. I
studied, ogled, and dreamed of my ideal HF transceiver. I finally
found the K3 and having looked (at least a cursory glance) at all the
others, I was sold. I saved my pennies and purchased. I also got
myself a 43' untuned vertical antenna, balun, and radial wires.

My setup: K3/100 has 100 feet of low loss 400 coax out to the 43 foot
vertical on the hill in my back yard. It has 8 25 foot radials and a
4:1 balun. The K3 has the KATU3, KPA3, KTCXO3-1, KFL3A-400, and
default 2.8KHz filters. I assembled it and did followed the
calibration instructions as well as I could. I think I got
everything, but obviously I missed something. Or maybe I just need an
elmer to tell me what to do.

I cannot seem to find any signals that make the S meter go above a 3
or 4. I have the RF gain turned up a fair ways (mostly to the top),
and I can hear static. As I tune up some of the bands on SSB, I can
hear a tone that changes higher in pitch as I tune up in frequency. I
have tried listening for CW, but I am hearing nothing as I scan
through the bands. I had a 10m horizontal dipole taped to my wall for
a while until I found time to run the coax out to the back yard. I
had hoped that since it was resonant on the 10m band, maybe it would
be able to pick up something, but it was no better (or worse) than my
vertical.

As far as I can tell, the radio seems to transmit. I can see the
power meter moving and the SWR meter moving. The ATU seems to be able
to find acceptable settings on most of the bands with the vertical.
But I can't hear them. You can't work them if you can't hear them,
right?

This is a desperate plea for help. Is it the radio or me? Please
have pity on the n00b and walk me through my first HF contact.

--Vernon N7OH
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Don Wilhelm-4

Re: K3 not recieving

Vernon,

If your K3 is receiving static, I would tend to blame your problem on
the antenna rather than the K3.
However, there is a way to check the K3. Beg, borrow or purchase an
Elecraft XG2 signal generator. That will give you a tool to produce a
50 uV signal (S-9) and also a tool to do MDS measurements on your K3.

I do suspect your antenna. Verticals do not work well in all locations
- good performance depends on your soil conditions, and 25 foot radials
are likely not long enough. For a good ground screen with the 43 foot
radial, you need at least 32 43 foot radial wires for it to be
effective. A vertical works great right on the edge of salt water, but
inland locations vary depending on the soil conditions. I have always
been disappointed with verticals.

Actually, I suggest a more simplistic approach - use horizontal
dipoles. Use the 43 foot vertical as a mast to hold up the center of a
dipole. Get a 1:1 balun and construct a dipole for 40 and 20 meters. 2
radiator wires 33 feet long and two 16 foot long these two antennas can
run on a single feedline.. Run the center up to the top of your 43 foot
"mast" and hang the ends of the dipole wires as high as you can using
whatever supports are available. You want an angle between the wires to
be at an angle greater than 45 degrees. The two wires for 40 meters
(the 33 ft long ones) should be in the same vertical plane, and the two
wires for 20 meters should be at right angles to the 40 meter wires to
keep interaction to a minimum.

You mentioned 10 meters. Propagation conditions may be a problem too.
The higher HF bands do not have many signals during the hours of
darkness, and 10 meters may not have many signals during the day. 20
meters during the daylight hours is usually reliable and 40 meters at
night will typically have good signals. During periods of greater
sunspot activity, the higher frequency bands will show more activity,
but during the recent sunspot minimum, there were times when 20 meters
was barely usable, but conditions are improving.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 3/8/2011 1:06 AM, Vernon Mauery wrote:

> At the risk of exposing what a n00b I am when it comes to HF, I really
> need some help. I recently (last month) purchased a K3. First HF
> radio I have owned. I got my license 2 years ago and have spent most
> of the time since playing with VHF. I have been trying to teach
> myself CW and decided that it was time to step into the HF waters. I
> studied, ogled, and dreamed of my ideal HF transceiver. I finally
> found the K3 and having looked (at least a cursory glance) at all the
> others, I was sold. I saved my pennies and purchased. I also got
> myself a 43' untuned vertical antenna, balun, and radial wires.
>
> My setup: K3/100 has 100 feet of low loss 400 coax out to the 43 foot
> vertical on the hill in my back yard. It has 8 25 foot radials and a
> 4:1 balun. The K3 has the KATU3, KPA3, KTCXO3-1, KFL3A-400, and
> default 2.8KHz filters. I assembled it and did followed the
> calibration instructions as well as I could. I think I got
> everything, but obviously I missed something. Or maybe I just need an
> elmer to tell me what to do.
>
> I cannot seem to find any signals that make the S meter go above a 3
> or 4. I have the RF gain turned up a fair ways (mostly to the top),
> and I can hear static. As I tune up some of the bands on SSB, I can
> hear a tone that changes higher in pitch as I tune up in frequency. I
> have tried listening for CW, but I am hearing nothing as I scan
> through the bands. I had a 10m horizontal dipole taped to my wall for
> a while until I found time to run the coax out to the back yard. I
> had hoped that since it was resonant on the 10m band, maybe it would
> be able to pick up something, but it was no better (or worse) than my
> vertical.
>
> As far as I can tell, the radio seems to transmit. I can see the
> power meter moving and the SWR meter moving. The ATU seems to be able
> to find acceptable settings on most of the bands with the vertical.
> But I can't hear them. You can't work them if you can't hear them,
> right?
>
> This is a desperate plea for help. Is it the radio or me? Please
> have pity on the n00b and walk me through my first HF contact.
>
> --Vernon N7OH
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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
>

drewko

Re: K3 not recieving

In reply to this post by Vernon Mauery

You don't need a fancy antenna to receive lots of signals on HF. A
random length of wire should yield plenty that are above S3. My main
antenna is a simple 100 ft length of wire 30' high which can often
work DX stations in a pileup, let alone receive them well; and this
with only 10 watts output.

As a simple test attach a length of wire to the other K3 antenna jack
and tune in WWV 10 MHz or W1AW. At one time or another during the day
you should definitely get some S9 or better signals. You can compare
the reception of the simple wire to that of your vertical. Also, try
tuning across some of the DX pileups such as for the CY0 DXpedition or
4A4A. (Google these or look for them on dxwatch.com) There will
typically be many, many signals to hear in the pileup and some of them
should be quite strong at your location, even with the simplest
receiving antenna.

73,
Drew
AF2Z

On Mon, 07 Mar 2011 22:06:19 -0800, you wrote:

>At the risk of exposing what a n00b I am when it comes to HF, I really
>need some help. I recently (last month) purchased a K3. First HF
>radio I have owned. I got my license 2 years ago and have spent most
>of the time since playing with VHF. I have been trying to teach
>myself CW and decided that it was time to step into the HF waters. I
>studied, ogled, and dreamed of my ideal HF transceiver. I finally
>found the K3 and having looked (at least a cursory glance) at all the
>others, I was sold. I saved my pennies and purchased. I also got
>myself a 43' untuned vertical antenna, balun, and radial wires.
>
>My setup: K3/100 has 100 feet of low loss 400 coax out to the 43 foot
>vertical on the hill in my back yard. It has 8 25 foot radials and a
>4:1 balun. The K3 has the KATU3, KPA3, KTCXO3-1, KFL3A-400, and
>default 2.8KHz filters. I assembled it and did followed the
>calibration instructions as well as I could. I think I got
>everything, but obviously I missed something. Or maybe I just need an
>elmer to tell me what to do.
>
>I cannot seem to find any signals that make the S meter go above a 3
>or 4. I have the RF gain turned up a fair ways (mostly to the top),
>and I can hear static. As I tune up some of the bands on SSB, I can
>hear a tone that changes higher in pitch as I tune up in frequency. I
>have tried listening for CW, but I am hearing nothing as I scan
>through the bands. I had a 10m horizontal dipole taped to my wall for
>a while until I found time to run the coax out to the back yard. I
>had hoped that since it was resonant on the 10m band, maybe it would
>be able to pick up something, but it was no better (or worse) than my
>vertical.
>
>As far as I can tell, the radio seems to transmit. I can see the
>power meter moving and the SWR meter moving. The ATU seems to be able
>to find acceptable settings on most of the bands with the vertical.
>But I can't hear them. You can't work them if you can't hear them,
>right?
>
>This is a desperate plea for help. Is it the radio or me? Please
>have pity on the n00b and walk me through my first HF contact.
>
>--Vernon N7OH
>______________________________________________________________

John Lemay

Re: K3 not recieving

In reply to this post by Vernon Mauery

Vernon

At risk of pointing out the obvious, with a short(ish) vertical you'll
probably need to receive with the pre-amp switched on, and the attenuator
switched off, on most bands.

Even with, (quite literally) a screwdriver poked into the antenna socket,
you should hear a good number of signals - and probably a lot of hash and
qrm from local sources such as computers.

Given the paucity of received signals, I don't think transmitting is a
particularly good idea !

Regards

John G4ZTR

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email]
[mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Vernon Mauery
Sent: 08 March 2011 06:06
To: elecraft
Subject: [Elecraft] K3 not recieving

At the risk of exposing what a n00b I am when it comes to HF, I really
need some help. I recently (last month) purchased a K3. First HF
radio I have owned. I got my license 2 years ago and have spent most
of the time since playing with VHF. I have been trying to teach
myself CW and decided that it was time to step into the HF waters. I
studied, ogled, and dreamed of my ideal HF transceiver. I finally
found the K3 and having looked (at least a cursory glance) at all the
others, I was sold. I saved my pennies and purchased. I also got
myself a 43' untuned vertical antenna, balun, and radial wires.

My setup: K3/100 has 100 feet of low loss 400 coax out to the 43 foot
vertical on the hill in my back yard. It has 8 25 foot radials and a
4:1 balun. The K3 has the KATU3, KPA3, KTCXO3-1, KFL3A-400, and
default 2.8KHz filters. I assembled it and did followed the
calibration instructions as well as I could. I think I got
everything, but obviously I missed something. Or maybe I just need an
elmer to tell me what to do.

I cannot seem to find any signals that make the S meter go above a 3
or 4. I have the RF gain turned up a fair ways (mostly to the top),
and I can hear static. As I tune up some of the bands on SSB, I can
hear a tone that changes higher in pitch as I tune up in frequency. I
have tried listening for CW, but I am hearing nothing as I scan
through the bands. I had a 10m horizontal dipole taped to my wall for
a while until I found time to run the coax out to the back yard. I
had hoped that since it was resonant on the 10m band, maybe it would
be able to pick up something, but it was no better (or worse) than my
vertical.

As far as I can tell, the radio seems to transmit. I can see the
power meter moving and the SWR meter moving. The ATU seems to be able
to find acceptable settings on most of the bands with the vertical.
But I can't hear them. You can't work them if you can't hear them,
right?

This is a desperate plea for help. Is it the radio or me? Please
have pity on the n00b and walk me through my first HF contact.

--Vernon N7OH
______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

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Vernon Mauery

Re: K3 not recieving

In reply to this post by Don Wilhelm-4

Don,

It looks like you and at least one other person have said that I need
more radials. I will have to look into that. Thank you for your
suggestion.

--Vernon N7OH

On Tue, Mar 8, 2011 at 4:59 AM, Don Wilhelm <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Vernon,
>
> If your K3 is receiving static, I would tend to blame your problem on the
> antenna rather than the K3.
> However, there is a way to check the K3. Beg, borrow or purchase an
> Elecraft XG2 signal generator. That will give you a tool to produce a 50 uV
> signal (S-9) and also a tool to do MDS measurements on your K3.
>
> I do suspect your antenna. Verticals do not work well in all locations -
> good performance depends on your soil conditions, and 25 foot radials are
> likely not long enough. For a good ground screen with the 43 foot radial,
> you need at least 32 43 foot radial wires for it to be effective. A
> vertical works great right on the edge of salt water, but inland locations
> vary depending on the soil conditions. I have always been disappointed with
> verticals.
>
> Actually, I suggest a more simplistic approach - use horizontal dipoles.
> Use the 43 foot vertical as a mast to hold up the center of a dipole. Get
> a 1:1 balun and construct a dipole for 40 and 20 meters. 2 radiator wires
> 33 feet long and two 16 foot long these two antennas can run on a single
> feedline.. Run the center up to the top of your 43 foot "mast" and hang the
> ends of the dipole wires as high as you can using whatever supports are
> available. You want an angle between the wires to be at an angle greater
> than 45 degrees. The two wires for 40 meters (the 33 ft long ones) should
> be in the same vertical plane, and the two wires for 20 meters should be at
> right angles to the 40 meter wires to keep interaction to a minimum.
>
> You mentioned 10 meters. Propagation conditions may be a problem too. The
> higher HF bands do not have many signals during the hours of darkness, and
> 10 meters may not have many signals during the day. 20 meters during the
> daylight hours is usually reliable and 40 meters at night will typically
> have good signals. During periods of greater sunspot activity, the higher
> frequency bands will show more activity, but during the recent sunspot
> minimum, there were times when 20 meters was barely usable, but conditions
> are improving.
>
> 73,
> Don W3FPR
>
> On 3/8/2011 1:06 AM, Vernon Mauery wrote:
>>
>> At the risk of exposing what a n00b I am when it comes to HF, I really
>> need some help. I recently (last month) purchased a K3. First HF
>> radio I have owned. I got my license 2 years ago and have spent most
>> of the time since playing with VHF. I have been trying to teach
>> myself CW and decided that it was time to step into the HF waters. I
>> studied, ogled, and dreamed of my ideal HF transceiver. I finally
>> found the K3 and having looked (at least a cursory glance) at all the
>> others, I was sold. I saved my pennies and purchased. I also got
>> myself a 43' untuned vertical antenna, balun, and radial wires.
>>
>> My setup: K3/100 has 100 feet of low loss 400 coax out to the 43 foot
>> vertical on the hill in my back yard. It has 8 25 foot radials and a
>> 4:1 balun. The K3 has the KATU3, KPA3, KTCXO3-1, KFL3A-400, and
>> default 2.8KHz filters. I assembled it and did followed the
>> calibration instructions as well as I could. I think I got
>> everything, but obviously I missed something. Or maybe I just need an
>> elmer to tell me what to do.
>>
>> I cannot seem to find any signals that make the S meter go above a 3
>> or 4. I have the RF gain turned up a fair ways (mostly to the top),
>> and I can hear static. As I tune up some of the bands on SSB, I can
>> hear a tone that changes higher in pitch as I tune up in frequency. I
>> have tried listening for CW, but I am hearing nothing as I scan
>> through the bands. I had a 10m horizontal dipole taped to my wall for
>> a while until I found time to run the coax out to the back yard. I
>> had hoped that since it was resonant on the 10m band, maybe it would
>> be able to pick up something, but it was no better (or worse) than my
>> vertical.
>>
>> As far as I can tell, the radio seems to transmit. I can see the
>> power meter moving and the SWR meter moving. The ATU seems to be able
>> to find acceptable settings on most of the bands with the vertical.
>> But I can't hear them. You can't work them if you can't hear them,
>> right?
>>
>> This is a desperate plea for help. Is it the radio or me? Please
>> have pity on the n00b and walk me through my first HF contact.
>>
>> --Vernon N7OH
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> 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
>>
>

Bill K9YEQ

Re: K3 not recieving

In reply to this post by John Lemay

Turn up the RF gain as well. Check your receive with it turned up all the
way to the right. Reduce the audio before hand.

Bill
K9YEQ

-----Original Message-----

..... I have the RF gain turned up a fair ways (mostly to the top), and I
can hear static....

______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
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Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

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Steve Ellington

Re: K3 not recieving

In reply to this post by Vernon Mauery

This is getting out of hand. Vernon can't receive anything and someone
suggest "more radials"! Come on guys.....He has 8 radials and another
hundred might make a few DB difference but certainly not enough to overcome
a dead receiver.
A 10 ft. hank of hookup wire should yield plenty of good signals on 40
meters especially at night.
Vernon needs something in his shack that he knows (works). The suggestion to
buy the XG2 was a good one. Hooking up with another ham in the area would
really help though. If someone lives close to Vernon they could probably be
a big help.

Steve
N4LQ
----- Original Message -----
From: "Vernon Mauery" <[hidden email]>
To: <[hidden email]>
Cc: "elecraft" <[hidden email]>
Sent: Tuesday, March 08, 2011 10:33 AM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 not recieving

Don,

It looks like you and at least one other person have said that I need
more radials. I will have to look into that. Thank you for your
suggestion.

--Vernon N7OH

On Tue, Mar 8, 2011 at 4:59 AM, Don Wilhelm <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Vernon,
>
> If your K3 is receiving static, I would tend to blame your problem on the
> antenna rather than the K3.
> However, there is a way to check the K3. Beg, borrow or purchase an
> Elecraft XG2 signal generator. That will give you a tool to produce a 50
> uV
> signal (S-9) and also a tool to do MDS measurements on your K3.
>
> I do suspect your antenna. Verticals do not work well in all locations -
> good performance depends on your soil conditions, and 25 foot radials are
> likely not long enough. For a good ground screen with the 43 foot radial,
> you need at least 32 43 foot radial wires for it to be effective. A
> vertical works great right on the edge of salt water, but inland locations
> vary depending on the soil conditions. I have always been disappointed
> with
> verticals.
>
> Actually, I suggest a more simplistic approach - use horizontal dipoles.
> Use the 43 foot vertical as a mast to hold up the center of a dipole. Get
> a 1:1 balun and construct a dipole for 40 and 20 meters. 2 radiator wires
> 33 feet long and two 16 foot long these two antennas can run on a single
> feedline.. Run the center up to the top of your 43 foot "mast" and hang
> the
> ends of the dipole wires as high as you can using whatever supports are
> available. You want an angle between the wires to be at an angle greater
> than 45 degrees. The two wires for 40 meters (the 33 ft long ones) should
> be in the same vertical plane, and the two wires for 20 meters should be
> at
> right angles to the 40 meter wires to keep interaction to a minimum.
>
> You mentioned 10 meters. Propagation conditions may be a problem too. The
> higher HF bands do not have many signals during the hours of darkness, and
> 10 meters may not have many signals during the day. 20 meters during the
> daylight hours is usually reliable and 40 meters at night will typically
> have good signals. During periods of greater sunspot activity, the higher
> frequency bands will show more activity, but during the recent sunspot
> minimum, there were times when 20 meters was barely usable, but conditions
> are improving.
>
> 73,
> Don W3FPR
>
> On 3/8/2011 1:06 AM, Vernon Mauery wrote:
>>
>> At the risk of exposing what a n00b I am when it comes to HF, I really
>> need some help. I recently (last month) purchased a K3. First HF
>> radio I have owned. I got my license 2 years ago and have spent most
>> of the time since playing with VHF. I have been trying to teach
>> myself CW and decided that it was time to step into the HF waters. I
>> studied, ogled, and dreamed of my ideal HF transceiver. I finally
>> found the K3 and having looked (at least a cursory glance) at all the
>> others, I was sold. I saved my pennies and purchased. I also got
>> myself a 43' untuned vertical antenna, balun, and radial wires.
>>
>> My setup: K3/100 has 100 feet of low loss 400 coax out to the 43 foot
>> vertical on the hill in my back yard. It has 8 25 foot radials and a
>> 4:1 balun. The K3 has the KATU3, KPA3, KTCXO3-1, KFL3A-400, and
>> default 2.8KHz filters. I assembled it and did followed the
>> calibration instructions as well as I could. I think I got
>> everything, but obviously I missed something. Or maybe I just need an
>> elmer to tell me what to do.
>>
>> I cannot seem to find any signals that make the S meter go above a 3
>> or 4. I have the RF gain turned up a fair ways (mostly to the top),
>> and I can hear static. As I tune up some of the bands on SSB, I can
>> hear a tone that changes higher in pitch as I tune up in frequency. I
>> have tried listening for CW, but I am hearing nothing as I scan
>> through the bands. I had a 10m horizontal dipole taped to my wall for
>> a while until I found time to run the coax out to the back yard. I
>> had hoped that since it was resonant on the 10m band, maybe it would
>> be able to pick up something, but it was no better (or worse) than my
>> vertical.
>>
>> As far as I can tell, the radio seems to transmit. I can see the
>> power meter moving and the SWR meter moving. The ATU seems to be able
>> to find acceptable settings on most of the bands with the vertical.
>> But I can't hear them. You can't work them if you can't hear them,
>> right?
>>
>> This is a desperate plea for help. Is it the radio or me? Please
>> have pity on the n00b and walk me through my first HF contact.
>>
>> --Vernon N7OH
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> 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]

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

______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
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Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

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drewko

Re: K3 not recieving

In reply to this post by Vernon Mauery

Personally, I doubt that adding radials will make any noticeable
change in the number or strength of received signals.

73,
Drew
AF2Z

On Tue, 08 Mar 2011 07:33:29 -0800, you wrote:

>Don,
>
>It looks like you and at least one other person have said that I need
>more radials. I will have to look into that. Thank you for your
>suggestion.
>
>--Vernon N7OH
>

______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

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Tony Estep

Re: K3 not recieving

In reply to this post by Steve Ellington

Steve is right. It ain't the antenna. I can hear plenty of signals with the
previously suggested screwdriver in the antenna jack.

Vernon, turn up RF gain all the way, put the mode on USB, and tune in WWV at
10 mhz, and tune down from there through the loud broadcast stations Or tune
20M phone (14.200 - 14.300) or at night 40M phone (7.15 - 7.3). If you don't
hear loud signals, something other than the antenna is wrong.

Tony KT0NY

On Tue, Mar 8, 2011 at 9:56 AM, Steve Ellington <[hidden email]>wrote:

> This is getting out of hand. Vernon can't receive anything and someone
> suggest "more radials"!....
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Ross Primrose N4RP

Re: K3 not recieving

In reply to this post by Vernon Mauery

Does the received noise decrease when you disconnect the antenna?

73, Ross N4RP

On 3/8/2011 1:06 AM, Vernon Mauery wrote:

--
FCC Section 97.313(a) “At all times, an amateur station must use the
minimum transmitter power necessary to carry out the desired
communications.”

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Vernon Mauery

Re: K3 not recieving

Yes. I can see the S-meter go from 3-4 down with static down to
nothing with quieter static. My best guess is that I am not trying
the right times at the right places.

Thanks to everyone for the help.

--Vernon N7OH

On Tue, Mar 8, 2011 at 8:12 AM, Ross Primrose N4RP <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Does the received noise decrease when you disconnect the antenna?
>
> 73, Ross N4RP
>
> On 3/8/2011 1:06 AM, Vernon Mauery wrote:
>> At the risk of exposing what a n00b I am when it comes to HF, I really
>> need some help. I recently (last month) purchased a K3. First HF
>> radio I have owned. I got my license 2 years ago and have spent most
>> of the time since playing with VHF. I have been trying to teach
>> myself CW and decided that it was time to step into the HF waters. I
>> studied, ogled, and dreamed of my ideal HF transceiver. I finally
>> found the K3 and having looked (at least a cursory glance) at all the
>> others, I was sold. I saved my pennies and purchased. I also got
>> myself a 43' untuned vertical antenna, balun, and radial wires.
>>
>> My setup: K3/100 has 100 feet of low loss 400 coax out to the 43 foot
>> vertical on the hill in my back yard. It has 8 25 foot radials and a
>> 4:1 balun. The K3 has the KATU3, KPA3, KTCXO3-1, KFL3A-400, and
>> default 2.8KHz filters. I assembled it and did followed the
>> calibration instructions as well as I could. I think I got
>> everything, but obviously I missed something. Or maybe I just need an
>> elmer to tell me what to do.
>>
>> I cannot seem to find any signals that make the S meter go above a 3
>> or 4. I have the RF gain turned up a fair ways (mostly to the top),
>> and I can hear static. As I tune up some of the bands on SSB, I can
>> hear a tone that changes higher in pitch as I tune up in frequency. I
>> have tried listening for CW, but I am hearing nothing as I scan
>> through the bands. I had a 10m horizontal dipole taped to my wall for
>> a while until I found time to run the coax out to the back yard. I
>> had hoped that since it was resonant on the 10m band, maybe it would
>> be able to pick up something, but it was no better (or worse) than my
>> vertical.
>>
>> As far as I can tell, the radio seems to transmit. I can see the
>> power meter moving and the SWR meter moving. The ATU seems to be able
>> to find acceptable settings on most of the bands with the vertical.
>> But I can't hear them. You can't work them if you can't hear them,
>> right?
>>
>> This is a desperate plea for help. Is it the radio or me? Please
>> have pity on the n00b and walk me through my first HF contact.
>>
>> --Vernon N7OH
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> 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
>
>
> --
> FCC Section 97.313(a) “At all times, an amateur station must use the
> minimum transmitter power necessary to carry out the desired
> communications.”
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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
>

K5DNL

Re: K3 not recieving

In reply to this post by Vernon Mauery

Vernon,

Have you checked your coax , maybe open.
Try hooking up just the center conductor of the
coax to your rig , leave the shield unhooked.

73 Ken K5DNL
---------------------------------------------------------------------

--- On Tue, 3/8/11, Vernon Mauery <[hidden email]> wrote:

> From: Vernon Mauery <[hidden email]>
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 not recieving
> To: [hidden email]
> Cc: "elecraft" <[hidden email]>
> Date: Tuesday, March 8, 2011, 9:33 AM
> Don,
>
> It looks like you and at least one other person have said
> that I need
> more radials. I will have to look into that.
> Thank you for your
> suggestion.
>
> --Vernon N7OH
>
> On Tue, Mar 8, 2011 at 4:59 AM, Don Wilhelm <[hidden email]>
> wrote:
> > Vernon,
> >
> > If your K3 is receiving static, I would tend to blame
> your problem on the
> > antenna rather than the K3.
> > However, there is a way to check the K3. Beg, borrow
> or purchase an
> > Elecraft XG2 signal generator. That will give you a
> tool to produce a 50 uV
> > signal (S-9) and also a tool to do MDS measurements on
> your K3.
> >
> > I do suspect your antenna. Verticals do not work
> well in all locations -
> > good performance depends on your soil conditions, and
> 25 foot radials are
> > likely not long enough. For a good ground screen
> with the 43 foot radial,
> > you need at least 32 43 foot radial wires for it to be
> effective. A
> > vertical works great right on the edge of salt water,
> but inland locations
> > vary depending on the soil conditions. I have always
> been disappointed with
> > verticals.
> >
> > Actually, I suggest a more simplistic approach - use
> horizontal dipoles.
> > Use the 43 foot vertical as a mast to hold up the
> center of a dipole. Get
> > a 1:1 balun and construct a dipole for 40 and 20
> meters. 2 radiator wires
> > 33 feet long and two 16 foot long these two antennas
> can run on a single
> > feedline.. Run the center up to the top of your 43
> foot "mast" and hang the
> > ends of the dipole wires as high as you can using
> whatever supports are
> > available. You want an angle between the wires to be
> at an angle greater
> > than 45 degrees. The two wires for 40 meters (the 33
> ft long ones) should
> > be in the same vertical plane, and the two wires for
> 20 meters should be at
> > right angles to the 40 meter wires to keep interaction
> to a minimum.
> >
> > You mentioned 10 meters. Propagation conditions may
> be a problem too. The
> > higher HF bands do not have many signals during the
> hours of darkness, and
> > 10 meters may not have many signals during the day.
> 20 meters during the
> > daylight hours is usually reliable and 40 meters at
> night will typically
> > have good signals. During periods of greater sunspot
> activity, the higher
> > frequency bands will show more activity, but during
> the recent sunspot
> > minimum, there were times when 20 meters was barely
> usable, but conditions
> > are improving.
> >
> > 73,
> > Don W3FPR
> >
> > On 3/8/2011 1:06 AM, Vernon Mauery wrote:
> >>
> >> At the risk of exposing what a n00b I am when it
> comes to HF, I really
> >> need some help. I recently (last month)
> purchased a K3. First HF
> >> radio I have owned. I got my license 2 years ago
> and have spent most
> >> of the time since playing with VHF. I have been
> trying to teach
> >> myself CW and decided that it was time to step
> into the HF waters. I
> >> studied, ogled, and dreamed of my ideal HF
> transceiver. I finally
> >> found the K3 and having looked (at least a cursory
> glance) at all the
> >> others, I was sold. I saved my pennies and
> purchased. I also got
> >> myself a 43' untuned vertical antenna, balun, and
> radial wires.
> >>
> >> My setup: K3/100 has 100 feet of low loss 400 coax
> out to the 43 foot
> >> vertical on the hill in my back yard. It has 8
> 25 foot radials and a
> >> 4:1 balun. The K3 has the KATU3, KPA3, KTCXO3-1,
> KFL3A-400, and
> >> default 2.8KHz filters. I assembled it and did
> followed the
> >> calibration instructions as well as I could. I
> think I got
> >> everything, but obviously I missed something. Or
> maybe I just need an
> >> elmer to tell me what to do.
> >>
> >> I cannot seem to find any signals that make the S
> meter go above a 3
> >> or 4. I have the RF gain turned up a fair ways
> (mostly to the top),
> >> and I can hear static. As I tune up some of the
> bands on SSB, I can
> >> hear a tone that changes higher in pitch as I tune
> up in frequency. I
> >> have tried listening for CW, but I am hearing
> nothing as I scan
> >> through the bands. I had a 10m horizontal dipole
> taped to my wall for
> >> a while until I found time to run the coax out to
> the back yard. I
> >> had hoped that since it was resonant on the 10m
> band, maybe it would
> >> be able to pick up something, but it was no better
> (or worse) than my
> >> vertical.
> >>
> >> As far as I can tell, the radio seems to transmit.
> I can see the
> >> power meter moving and the SWR meter moving. The
> ATU seems to be able
> >> to find acceptable settings on most of the bands
> with the vertical.
> >> But I can't hear them. You can't work them if
> you can't hear them,
> >> right?
> >>
> >> This is a desperate plea for help. Is it the
> radio or me? Please
> >> have pity on the n00b and walk me through my first
> HF contact.
> >>
> >> --Vernon N7OH
> >>
> ______________________________________________________________
> >> 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
>

AC7AC

Re: K3 not recieving

In reply to this post by Vernon Mauery

CONTENTS DELETED

The author has deleted this message.

Vic K2VCO

Re: K3 not recieving

In reply to this post by Vernon Mauery

The best thing you can do at this point is to get an experienced local ham who knows what
to expect to listen to your setup. I bet that if you posted the name of your town on the
list there would be someone nearby that could help you. Or you could contact a local radio
club.

Yes, you need more radials for an efficient antenna, but I don't think that's the problem.
It's also the case that 100' of coax is a lot for a 43' vertical which you are matching at
the transceiver. The KAT3 will make the rig see a matched antenna, but the SWR along the
line will be quite high on some bands, which will cause significant loss. Having said
that, I still don't think that's the problem.

It may just be that you are listening at the wrong times. 40 meters in the early evening
should be good.

On 3/8/2011 7:33 AM, Vernon Mauery wrote:

> Don,
>
> It looks like you and at least one other person have said that I need
> more radials. I will have to look into that. Thank you for your
> suggestion.
>
> --Vernon N7OH
>
> On Tue, Mar 8, 2011 at 4:59 AM, Don Wilhelm<[hidden email]> wrote:
>> Vernon,
>>
>> If your K3 is receiving static, I would tend to blame your problem on the
>> antenna rather than the K3.
>> However, there is a way to check the K3. Beg, borrow or purchase an
>> Elecraft XG2 signal generator. That will give you a tool to produce a 50 uV
>> signal (S-9) and also a tool to do MDS measurements on your K3.
>>
>> I do suspect your antenna. Verticals do not work well in all locations -
>> good performance depends on your soil conditions, and 25 foot radials are
>> likely not long enough. For a good ground screen with the 43 foot radial,
>> you need at least 32 43 foot radial wires for it to be effective. A
>> vertical works great right on the edge of salt water, but inland locations
>> vary depending on the soil conditions. I have always been disappointed with
>> verticals.
>>
>> Actually, I suggest a more simplistic approach - use horizontal dipoles.
>> Use the 43 foot vertical as a mast to hold up the center of a dipole. Get
>> a 1:1 balun and construct a dipole for 40 and 20 meters. 2 radiator wires
>> 33 feet long and two 16 foot long these two antennas can run on a single
>> feedline.. Run the center up to the top of your 43 foot "mast" and hang the
>> ends of the dipole wires as high as you can using whatever supports are
>> available. You want an angle between the wires to be at an angle greater
>> than 45 degrees. The two wires for 40 meters (the 33 ft long ones) should
>> be in the same vertical plane, and the two wires for 20 meters should be at
>> right angles to the 40 meter wires to keep interaction to a minimum.
>>
>> You mentioned 10 meters. Propagation conditions may be a problem too. The
>> higher HF bands do not have many signals during the hours of darkness, and
>> 10 meters may not have many signals during the day. 20 meters during the
>> daylight hours is usually reliable and 40 meters at night will typically
>> have good signals. During periods of greater sunspot activity, the higher
>> frequency bands will show more activity, but during the recent sunspot
>> minimum, there were times when 20 meters was barely usable, but conditions
>> are improving.
>>
>> 73,
>> Don W3FPR
>>
>> On 3/8/2011 1:06 AM, Vernon Mauery wrote:
>>>
>>> At the risk of exposing what a n00b I am when it comes to HF, I really
>>> need some help. I recently (last month) purchased a K3. First HF
>>> radio I have owned. I got my license 2 years ago and have spent most
>>> of the time since playing with VHF. I have been trying to teach
>>> myself CW and decided that it was time to step into the HF waters. I
>>> studied, ogled, and dreamed of my ideal HF transceiver. I finally
>>> found the K3 and having looked (at least a cursory glance) at all the
>>> others, I was sold. I saved my pennies and purchased. I also got
>>> myself a 43' untuned vertical antenna, balun, and radial wires.
>>>
>>> My setup: K3/100 has 100 feet of low loss 400 coax out to the 43 foot
>>> vertical on the hill in my back yard. It has 8 25 foot radials and a
>>> 4:1 balun. The K3 has the KATU3, KPA3, KTCXO3-1, KFL3A-400, and
>>> default 2.8KHz filters. I assembled it and did followed the
>>> calibration instructions as well as I could. I think I got
>>> everything, but obviously I missed something. Or maybe I just need an
>>> elmer to tell me what to do.
>>>
>>> I cannot seem to find any signals that make the S meter go above a 3
>>> or 4. I have the RF gain turned up a fair ways (mostly to the top),
>>> and I can hear static. As I tune up some of the bands on SSB, I can
>>> hear a tone that changes higher in pitch as I tune up in frequency. I
>>> have tried listening for CW, but I am hearing nothing as I scan
>>> through the bands. I had a 10m horizontal dipole taped to my wall for
>>> a while until I found time to run the coax out to the back yard. I
>>> had hoped that since it was resonant on the 10m band, maybe it would
>>> be able to pick up something, but it was no better (or worse) than my
>>> vertical.
>>>
>>> As far as I can tell, the radio seems to transmit. I can see the
>>> power meter moving and the SWR meter moving. The ATU seems to be able
>>> to find acceptable settings on most of the bands with the vertical.
>>> But I can't hear them. You can't work them if you can't hear them,
>>> right?
>>>
>>> This is a desperate plea for help. Is it the radio or me? Please
>>> have pity on the n00b and walk me through my first HF contact.
>>>
>>> --Vernon N7OH
>>> ______________________________________________________________
>>> 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

--
Vic, K2VCO
Fresno CA
http://www.qsl.net/k2vco/
______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
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Post: mailto:[hidden email]

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David Herring-3

Re: K3 not recieving

In reply to this post by Vernon Mauery

Here's a follow-on question to the reflector...

Vernon's set-up brings a question to mind. He says he's using a 4:1 balun on his vertical. At first brush that seems counterintuitive, doesn't it? Isn't a vertical unbalanced? Certainly the coax is unbalanced. When you're mating an unbalanced feedline with an unbalanced antenna, wouldn't one be better off using an unun rather than a 4:1 balun?

In further support of my line of questioning, I've read numerous, albeit anecdotal, reports of people being displeased with the performance of their vertical, particularly the untuned ones like Zero-Five for example. But when they add an unun they are then amazed at how the antenna allegedly "sprung to life."

73,
Dave AH6TD

On Mar 8, 2011, at 6:20 AM, Vernon Mauery wrote:

> Yes. I can see the S-meter go from 3-4 down with static down to
> nothing with quieter static. My best guess is that I am not trying
> the right times at the right places.
>
> Thanks to everyone for the help.
>
> --Vernon N7OH
>
> On Tue, Mar 8, 2011 at 8:12 AM, Ross Primrose N4RP <[hidden email]> wrote:
>> Does the received noise decrease when you disconnect the antenna?
>>
>> 73, Ross N4RP
>>
>> On 3/8/2011 1:06 AM, Vernon Mauery wrote:
>>> At the risk of exposing what a n00b I am when it comes to HF, I really
>>> need some help. I recently (last month) purchased a K3. First HF
>>> radio I have owned. I got my license 2 years ago and have spent most
>>> of the time since playing with VHF. I have been trying to teach
>>> myself CW and decided that it was time to step into the HF waters. I
>>> studied, ogled, and dreamed of my ideal HF transceiver. I finally
>>> found the K3 and having looked (at least a cursory glance) at all the
>>> others, I was sold. I saved my pennies and purchased. I also got
>>> myself a 43' untuned vertical antenna, balun, and radial wires.
>>>
>>> My setup: K3/100 has 100 feet of low loss 400 coax out to the 43 foot
>>> vertical on the hill in my back yard. It has 8 25 foot radials and a
>>> 4:1 balun. The K3 has the KATU3, KPA3, KTCXO3-1, KFL3A-400, and
>>> default 2.8KHz filters. I assembled it and did followed the
>>> calibration instructions as well as I could. I think I got
>>> everything, but obviously I missed something. Or maybe I just need an
>>> elmer to tell me what to do.
>>>
>>> I cannot seem to find any signals that make the S meter go above a 3
>>> or 4. I have the RF gain turned up a fair ways (mostly to the top),
>>> and I can hear static. As I tune up some of the bands on SSB, I can
>>> hear a tone that changes higher in pitch as I tune up in frequency. I
>>> have tried listening for CW, but I am hearing nothing as I scan
>>> through the bands. I had a 10m horizontal dipole taped to my wall for
>>> a while until I found time to run the coax out to the back yard. I
>>> had hoped that since it was resonant on the 10m band, maybe it would
>>> be able to pick up something, but it was no better (or worse) than my
>>> vertical.
>>>
>>> As far as I can tell, the radio seems to transmit. I can see the
>>> power meter moving and the SWR meter moving. The ATU seems to be able
>>> to find acceptable settings on most of the bands with the vertical.
>>> But I can't hear them. You can't work them if you can't hear them,
>>> right?
>>>
>>> This is a desperate plea for help. Is it the radio or me? Please
>>> have pity on the n00b and walk me through my first HF contact.
>>>
>>> --Vernon N7OH
>>> ______________________________________________________________
>>> 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
>>
>>
>> --
>> FCC Section 97.313(a) “At all times, an amateur station must use the
>> minimum transmitter power necessary to carry out the desired
>> communications.”
>>
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> 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

AC7AC

Re: K3 not recieving

CONTENTS DELETED

The author has deleted this message.

Mike Reublin

Re: K3 not recieving

In reply to this post by David Herring-3

I've heard quite a few people use balun, when they meant impedence transformer or unun.

I heard somewhere (and the tapes have been erased) that the 43' length came about
because it was the most economical length for a manufacturer to cut stock with the
least waste to meet shipping limitations.

73, Mike NF4L

On 3/8/2011 5:29 PM, David Herring wrote:

> Here's a follow-on question to the reflector...
>
> Vernon's set-up brings a question to mind. He says he's using a 4:1 balun on his vertical. At first brush that seems counterintuitive, doesn't it? Isn't a vertical unbalanced? Certainly the coax is unbalanced. When you're mating an unbalanced feedline with an unbalanced antenna, wouldn't one be better off using an unun rather than a 4:1 balun?
>
> In further support of my line of questioning, I've read numerous, albeit anecdotal, reports of people being displeased with the performance of their vertical, particularly the untuned ones like Zero-Five for example. But when they add an unun they are then amazed at how the antenna allegedly "sprung to life."
>
> 73,
> Dave AH6TD
>
> On Mar 8, 2011, at 6:20 AM, Vernon Mauery wrote:
>
>> Yes. I can see the S-meter go from 3-4 down with static down to
>> nothing with quieter static. My best guess is that I am not trying
>> the right times at the right places.
>>
>> Thanks to everyone for the help.
>>
>> --Vernon N7OH
>>
>> On Tue, Mar 8, 2011 at 8:12 AM, Ross Primrose N4RP<[hidden email]> wrote:
>>> Does the received noise decrease when you disconnect the antenna?
>>>
>>> 73, Ross N4RP
>>>
>>> On 3/8/2011 1:06 AM, Vernon Mauery wrote:
>>>> At the risk of exposing what a n00b I am when it comes to HF, I really
>>>> need some help. I recently (last month) purchased a K3. First HF
>>>> radio I have owned. I got my license 2 years ago and have spent most
>>>> of the time since playing with VHF. I have been trying to teach
>>>> myself CW and decided that it was time to step into the HF waters. I
>>>> studied, ogled, and dreamed of my ideal HF transceiver. I finally
>>>> found the K3 and having looked (at least a cursory glance) at all the
>>>> others, I was sold. I saved my pennies and purchased. I also got
>>>> myself a 43' untuned vertical antenna, balun, and radial wires.
>>>>
>>>> My setup: K3/100 has 100 feet of low loss 400 coax out to the 43 foot
>>>> vertical on the hill in my back yard. It has 8 25 foot radials and a
>>>> 4:1 balun. The K3 has the KATU3, KPA3, KTCXO3-1, KFL3A-400, and
>>>> default 2.8KHz filters. I assembled it and did followed the
>>>> calibration instructions as well as I could. I think I got
>>>> everything, but obviously I missed something. Or maybe I just need an
>>>> elmer to tell me what to do.
>>>>
>>>> I cannot seem to find any signals that make the S meter go above a 3
>>>> or 4. I have the RF gain turned up a fair ways (mostly to the top),
>>>> and I can hear static. As I tune up some of the bands on SSB, I can
>>>> hear a tone that changes higher in pitch as I tune up in frequency. I
>>>> have tried listening for CW, but I am hearing nothing as I scan
>>>> through the bands. I had a 10m horizontal dipole taped to my wall for
>>>> a while until I found time to run the coax out to the back yard. I
>>>> had hoped that since it was resonant on the 10m band, maybe it would
>>>> be able to pick up something, but it was no better (or worse) than my
>>>> vertical.
>>>>
>>>> As far as I can tell, the radio seems to transmit. I can see the
>>>> power meter moving and the SWR meter moving. The ATU seems to be able
>>>> to find acceptable settings on most of the bands with the vertical.
>>>> But I can't hear them. You can't work them if you can't hear them,
>>>> right?
>>>>
>>>> This is a desperate plea for help. Is it the radio or me? Please
>>>> have pity on the n00b and walk me through my first HF contact.
>>>>
>>>> --Vernon N7OH
>>>> ______________________________________________________________
>>>> 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
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>>>
>>> --
>>> FCC Section 97.313(a) “At all times, an amateur station must use the
>>> minimum transmitter power necessary to carry out the desired
>>> communications.”
>>>
>>> ______________________________________________________________
>>> Elecraft mailing list
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>>>
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>> ______________________________________________________________
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Re: K3 not recieving

The 43 foot length is the optimum length for low angle radiation on 20 meters
(5/8 wavelength). It is also not an even half wave on the other bands so will
match reasonably well with a proper coupler and a 4:1 unun. It is a vertical
equivalent of a G5RV.
Willis 'Cookie' Cooke
K5EWJ

________________________________
From: Mike <[hidden email]>
To: [hidden email]
Sent: Tue, March 8, 2011 4:44:33 PM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 not recieving

I've heard quite a few people use balun, when they meant impedence transformer
or unun.

I heard somewhere (and the tapes have been erased) that the 43' length came
about

because it was the most economical length for a manufacturer to cut stock with
the

least waste to meet shipping limitations.

73, Mike NF4L

On 3/8/2011 5:29 PM, David Herring wrote:

> Here's a follow-on question to the reflector...
>
> Vernon's set-up brings a question to mind. He says he's using a 4:1 balun on
>his vertical. At first brush that seems counterintuitive, doesn't it? Isn't a
>vertical unbalanced? Certainly the coax is unbalanced. When you're mating an
>unbalanced feedline with an unbalanced antenna, wouldn't one be better off using
>an unun rather than a 4:1 balun?
>
> In further support of my line of questioning, I've read numerous, albeit
>anecdotal, reports of people being displeased with the performance of their
>vertical, particularly the untuned ones like Zero-Five for example. But when
>they add an unun they are then amazed at how the antenna allegedly "sprung to
>life."
>
> 73,
> Dave AH6TD
>
> On Mar 8, 2011, at 6:20 AM, Vernon Mauery wrote:
>
>> Yes. I can see the S-meter go from 3-4 down with static down to
>> nothing with quieter static. My best guess is that I am not trying
>> the right times at the right places.
>>
>> Thanks to everyone for the help.
>>
>> --Vernon N7OH
>>
>> On Tue, Mar 8, 2011 at 8:12 AM, Ross Primrose N4RP<[hidden email]> wrote:
>>> Does the received noise decrease when you disconnect the antenna?
>>>
>>> 73, Ross N4RP
>>>
>>> On 3/8/2011 1:06 AM, Vernon Mauery wrote:
>>>> At the risk of exposing what a n00b I am when it comes to HF, I really
>>>> need some help. I recently (last month) purchased a K3. First HF
>>>> radio I have owned. I got my license 2 years ago and have spent most
>>>> of the time since playing with VHF. I have been trying to teach
>>>> myself CW and decided that it was time to step into the HF waters. I
>>>> studied, ogled, and dreamed of my ideal HF transceiver. I finally
>>>> found the K3 and having looked (at least a cursory glance) at all the
>>>> others, I was sold. I saved my pennies and purchased. I also got
>>>> myself a 43' untuned vertical antenna, balun, and radial wires.
>>>>
>>>> My setup: K3/100 has 100 feet of low loss 400 coax out to the 43 foot
>>>> vertical on the hill in my back yard. It has 8 25 foot radials and a
>>>> 4:1 balun. The K3 has the KATU3, KPA3, KTCXO3-1, KFL3A-400, and
>>>> default 2.8KHz filters. I assembled it and did followed the
>>>> calibration instructions as well as I could. I think I got
>>>> everything, but obviously I missed something. Or maybe I just need an
>>>> elmer to tell me what to do.
>>>>
>>>> I cannot seem to find any signals that make the S meter go above a 3
>>>> or 4. I have the RF gain turned up a fair ways (mostly to the top),
>>>> and I can hear static. As I tune up some of the bands on SSB, I can
>>>> hear a tone that changes higher in pitch as I tune up in frequency. I
>>>> have tried listening for CW, but I am hearing nothing as I scan
>>>> through the bands. I had a 10m horizontal dipole taped to my wall for
>>>> a while until I found time to run the coax out to the back yard. I
>>>> had hoped that since it was resonant on the 10m band, maybe it would
>>>> be able to pick up something, but it was no better (or worse) than my
>>>> vertical.
>>>>
>>>> As far as I can tell, the radio seems to transmit. I can see the
>>>> power meter moving and the SWR meter moving. The ATU seems to be able
>>>> to find acceptable settings on most of the bands with the vertical.
>>>> But I can't hear them. You can't work them if you can't hear them,
>>>> right?
>>>>
>>>> This is a desperate plea for help. Is it the radio or me? Please
>>>> have pity on the n00b and walk me through my first HF contact.
>>>>
>>>> --Vernon N7OH
>>>> ______________________________________________________________
>>>> Elecraft mailing list
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>>>> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>>>>
>>>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>>>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>>>
>>> --
>>> FCC Section 97.313(a) “At all times, an amateur station must use the
>>> minimum transmitter power necessary to carry out the desired
>>> communications.”
>>>
>>> ______________________________________________________________
>>> 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
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>>
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>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> ______________________________________________________________
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>
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AC7AC

Re: K3 not recieving

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AC7AC

Re: K3 not recieving

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