K3 strange rx noise

[Martin-2]

Elecrafters, i had a strange noise on 80m ssb last night and the night
before.  When tuning up the band, the noise set in at exactly 3.686.000
like someone had flipped a switch.
It went away at -say- 3.692.xxx, i can't remember exactly.
When tuning in the opposite direction, it set in 1 or 2 khz below the
frequency where it stopped when tuning upwards, and went away when
tuning below 3.686.000, again like with the flip of a switch. I could
repeat that several times.
It sounded like a totally overloaded frontend.
Like the bandfilter was bypassed. Like the whole 80m-band was received
in that small portion of the band. I heard cw, ssb, harsh noise, all
over this small frequency range, even on a single frequency, no matter
where i tuned.
It imediatelly went away when i switched ON the sub-rx, and IT STAYED
AWAY when i switched the sub-rx OFF again. All back to normal,  with
some stations ragchewing in that portion of the band.
This is the best i can describe it with my limited knowledge of the
english language.
I could not get the K3 to do it again. It seems like the K3 was stuck in
a weird condition. Firmware is latest, but it also happened with the
earlier firmware.

Martin


--

73, DM4iM
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[Joe Wheeler]

Martin,
I experienced a similar problem two weeks ago in the WAE RTTY contest.  My K3 is s/n 3035 with sub receiver and I was running 3.57 firmware at the time with N1MM contest software thru a microHAM micro Keyer II.

The only difference is my problem was in another band section on 80 meters: 3.586 to slightly above 3600...the upper 3/4 of the RTTY section.  Your description of the problem is very good and I would only add that there seemed to be a complete loss of sensitivity of existing signals in that band section.  I know because I checked on another receiver and that section of the band was full of RTTY signals I could not hear on the K3.  What I did hear on the K3 was very similar to what you described.

Since I was in the middle of a contest, I did not spend any time trouble shooting nor do I remember all the settings.  This is the only time I have had the problem and I have not been able to duplicate it again.

I agree, very weird.

Joe K4HMB

DM4iM wrote

Elecrafters, i had a strange noise on 80m ssb last night and the night
before.  When tuning up the band, the noise set in at exactly 3.686.000
like someone had flipped a switch.
It went away at -say- 3.692.xxx, i can't remember exactly.
When tuning in the opposite direction, it set in 1 or 2 khz below the
frequency where it stopped when tuning upwards, and went away when
tuning below 3.686.000, again like with the flip of a switch. I could
repeat that several times.
It sounded like a totally overloaded frontend.
Like the bandfilter was bypassed. Like the whole 80m-band was received
in that small portion of the band. I heard cw, ssb, harsh noise, all
over this small frequency range, even on a single frequency, no matter
where i tuned.
It imediatelly went away when i switched ON the sub-rx, and IT STAYED
AWAY when i switched the sub-rx OFF again. All back to normal,  with
some stations ragchewing in that portion of the band.
This is the best i can describe it with my limited knowledge of the
english language.
I could not get the K3 to do it again. It seems like the K3 was stuck in
a weird condition. Firmware is latest, but it also happened with the
earlier firmware.

Martin


--

73, DM4iM
______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[e-mail]

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