Elecraft

K3 problem

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Jim Leder (Hotmail)

K3 problem

Just got back from visiting a friend who has an older K3. After fussing around with RS232 cables, we finally got the firmware updated, it was quite old. But, BEFORE we did the update we knew we had the problem (reason we did the update). So, the update had no bearing on what is wrong
Problem is the VFO B knob has NO effect on anything. He can’t run split by using it even though he is able to do A>B ok. To change the B frequency, he needs to do A/B , change it, then A/B back again. Doing the split will allow it to transmit what’s in B, he just can’t change it with the VFO B control.
Related to this is the inability to enter the config menu and scroll through the options.

Net is the VFO B control does nothing.

I suspect something to do with the alternate VFO encoder or one of it’s connections.

Opinions? Seems to me a visit back to the mothership.

Thanks.

Jim Leder … K8CXM

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Iain MacDonnell - N6ML-2

Re: K3 problem

On Thu, Oct 24, 2019 at 1:20 PM Jim Leder <[hidden email]> wrote:

>
> Just got back from visiting a friend who has an older K3. After fussing around with RS232 cables, we finally got the firmware updated, it was quite old. But, BEFORE we did the update we knew we had the problem (reason we did the update). So, the update had no bearing on what is wrong
> Problem is the VFO B knob has NO effect on anything. He can’t run split by using it even though he is able to do A>B ok. To change the B frequency, he needs to do A/B , change it, then A/B back again. Doing the split will allow it to transmit what’s in B, he just can’t change it with the VFO B control.
> Related to this is the inability to enter the config menu and scroll through the options.
>
> Net is the VFO B control does nothing.
>
> I suspect something to do with the alternate VFO encoder or one of it’s connections.
>
> Opinions? Seems to me a visit back to the mothership.

... or try to diagnose and fix it yourself. The VFO A and B encoders
are the same, so you could swap them to determine if it's the encoder
that's bad or something else....

73,

~iain / N6ML
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Nr4c

Re: K3 problem

In reply to this post by Jim Leder (Hotmail)

If there is a sub-receiver check if the VFOs are linked.

Sent from my iPhone
...nr4c. bill

> On Oct 24, 2019, at 4:20 PM, Jim Leder <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> Just got back from visiting a friend who has an older K3. After fussing around with RS232 cables, we finally got the firmware updated, it was quite old. But, BEFORE we did the update we knew we had the problem (reason we did the update). So, the update had no bearing on what is wrong
> Problem is the VFO B knob has NO effect on anything. He can’t run split by using it even though he is able to do A>B ok. To change the B frequency, he needs to do A/B , change it, then A/B back again. Doing the split will allow it to transmit what’s in B, he just can’t change it with the VFO B control.
> Related to this is the inability to enter the config menu and scroll through the options.
>
> Net is the VFO B control does nothing.
>
> I suspect something to do with the alternate VFO encoder or one of it’s connections.
>
> Opinions? Seems to me a visit back to the mothership.
>
> Thanks.
>
> Jim Leder … K8CXM
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
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> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
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Jim Leder (Hotmail)

K3 problem

In reply to this post by Jim Leder (Hotmail)

This is a follow up on the VFO B control problem with a friend’s older K3.

Thanks to all the ideas and suggestions! I do agree that it is likely the infamous K3 connector problem. As I mentioned, the K3 is an older unit. The ham who it belongs to is 78 with bad eyes, and shaky hands. I’m 74 with bad eyes and shaky hands. Neither of us feels qualified to tear into it for what hopefully is the main issue. It could still be a bad encoder.
Since he needs a few other things done with the unit, he made the decision to send it back to Elecraft and have qualified techs perform the repair. Painful and costly but necessary.
When we did the hard reset, we hoped it would solve the B control problem. Well, it didn’t. Now we can’t even scroll through the CONFIG menus to put everything back as he had it.

Doesn’t matter. It needs to go home.

Thanks again for the valued suggestions!!

73 …

Jim Leder … K8CXM

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engineercm

Re: K3 problem

Jim,

In my view, that is a very wise decision. I'm 77 yrs of age ("seasoned
citizen") with shaky hands. After observing just how small the SMD
components are when trying to install the K-pod mod for powering via its
data cable, I realized my 6 year old K3 with an annoying problem (PWR
control mushy) needed to be sent home (aka The SPA).

What I hadn't expected was that they would also bring the radio up to the
latest specs by installing gold pins, installing the latest firmware (which
I thought I had done), repairing a LPA problem I didn't know I had, and
performing all of the calibrations (my POWER reading was significantly off,
they said). Yes, it was a little expensive ($400), but well worth it, and
my K3 will now serve me well for many years to come. You will not be
disappointed.

On Sat, Oct 26, 2019 at 9:35 AM Jim Leder <[hidden email]> wrote:

> This is a follow up on the VFO B control problem with a friend’s older K3.
>
> Thanks to all the ideas and suggestions! I do agree that it is likely the
> infamous K3 connector problem. As I mentioned, the K3 is an older unit. The
> ham who it belongs to is 78 with bad eyes, and shaky hands. I’m 74 with bad
> eyes and shaky hands. Neither of us feels qualified to tear into it for
> what hopefully is the main issue. It could still be a bad encoder.
> Since he needs a few other things done with the unit, he made the decision
> to send it back to Elecraft and have qualified techs perform the repair.
> Painful and costly but necessary.
> When we did the hard reset, we hoped it would solve the B control problem.
> Well, it didn’t. Now we can’t even scroll through the CONFIG menus to put
> everything back as he had it.
>
> Doesn’t matter. It needs to go home.
>
> Thanks again for the valued suggestions!!
>
> 73 …
>
> Jim Leder … K8CXM
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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]
>

George Thornton

Re: K3 problem

I want to echo my appreciation of Elecraft repair service.

I had my K3 in a few years ago after it malfunctioned during field use.

They also went through it and made all sorts of additions and calibrations.

Really well worth the moderate cost and inconvenience.

The unit continues to perform flawlessly.

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email] <[hidden email]> On Behalf Of Clark Macaulay
Sent: Saturday, October 26, 2019 8:03 AM
To: Jim Leder <[hidden email]>
Cc: Elecraft <[hidden email]>
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 problem

Jim,

In my view, that is a very wise decision. I'm 77 yrs of age ("seasoned
citizen") with shaky hands. After observing just how small the SMD components are when trying to install the K-pod mod for powering via its data cable, I realized my 6 year old K3 with an annoying problem (PWR control mushy) needed to be sent home (aka The SPA).

What I hadn't expected was that they would also bring the radio up to the latest specs by installing gold pins, installing the latest firmware (which I thought I had done), repairing a LPA problem I didn't know I had, and performing all of the calibrations (my POWER reading was significantly off, they said). Yes, it was a little expensive ($400), but well worth it, and my K3 will now serve me well for many years to come. You will not be disappointed.

On Sat, Oct 26, 2019 at 9:35 AM Jim Leder <[hidden email]> wrote:

> This is a follow up on the VFO B control problem with a friend’s older K3.
>
> Thanks to all the ideas and suggestions! I do agree that it is likely
> the infamous K3 connector problem. As I mentioned, the K3 is an older
> unit. The ham who it belongs to is 78 with bad eyes, and shaky hands.
> I’m 74 with bad eyes and shaky hands. Neither of us feels qualified to
> tear into it for what hopefully is the main issue. It could still be a bad encoder.
> Since he needs a few other things done with the unit, he made the
> decision to send it back to Elecraft and have qualified techs perform the repair.
> Painful and costly but necessary.
> When we did the hard reset, we hoped it would solve the B control problem.
> Well, it didn’t. Now we can’t even scroll through the CONFIG menus to
> put everything back as he had it.
>
> Doesn’t matter. It needs to go home.
>
> Thanks again for the valued suggestions!!
>
> 73 …
>
> Jim Leder … K8CXM
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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]
>

--
73,

Clark, WU4B
QRPARCI #10815
SKCC #3892
NAQCC #5055
CWOPS #1869
Collins Collectors #AC90-12432
Southeastern DX Club <http://www.sedxc.org> North Georgia QRP Club <http://www.nogaqrp.org>

*"It is vain to do with more what can be done with less."* *Attributed to *William of Occam (1288 AD - 1348 AD) ______________________________________________________________
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Grant Youngman-2

Re: K3 problem

And if you don’t have a good condition original shipping container for the K3/S (or P3), it’s worth the small cost and wait to order a new one with the internal foam supports from Elecraft. The shipping containers are available on the spare parts menu.

Grant NQ5T

> On Oct 26, 2019, at 12:36 PM, George Thornton <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> I want to echo my appreciation of Elecraft repair service.
>
> I had my K3 in a few years ago after it malfunctioned during field use.
>
> They also went through it and made all sorts of additions and calibrations.
>
> Really well worth the moderate cost and inconvenience.
>
> The unit continues to perform flawlessly.
>

engineercm

Re: K3 problem

And, if you don't buy one of the new cartons/inserts, you'll get one when
they ship it back to you!

On Sat, Oct 26, 2019 at 12:47 PM Grant Youngman <[hidden email]>
wrote:

> And if you don’t have a good condition original shipping container for the
> K3/S (or P3), it’s worth the small cost and wait to order a new one with
> the internal foam supports from Elecraft. The shipping containers are
> available on the spare parts menu.
>
> Grant NQ5T
>
> > On Oct 26, 2019, at 12:36 PM, George Thornton <
> [hidden email]> wrote:
> >
> > I want to echo my appreciation of Elecraft repair service.
> >
> > I had my K3 in a few years ago after it malfunctioned during field use.
> >
> > They also went through it and made all sorts of additions and
> calibrations.
> >
> > Really well worth the moderate cost and inconvenience.
> >
> > The unit continues to perform flawlessly.
> >
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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]