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K3 sub receiver no signals

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w0mu

K3 sub receiver no signals

I installed this 2nd receiver quite some time ago. I probably never
checked but i hear background noise in the sub receiver but no signals.
I suspect this is something stupid, can someone point me in a direction.

--
Mike W0MU

W0MU-1 CC Cluster w0mu.net

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w0mu

Re: K3 sub receiver no signals

I have an antenna connected. I suspect that I have mis wired the to the
bnc instead of the main ant. I will have to check the cabling. I can't
believe I never checked this when I built it.

I have KE7X's book and I have tried all the settings.

Mike W0MU

W0MU-1 CC Cluster w0mu.net

On 7/1/2012 9:07 PM, Ron D'Eau Claire wrote:

> Is the antenna connected? Seriously, Mike, there are several menu options
> for where the 2nd rx will get its signals. I'd bet you have an unused input
> selected.
>
> The sub receiver gets its RF input either from the main receiver (sharing
> ANT 1-2 or RX ANT IN), or from its auxiliary antenna input. If you have a
> cable connected to the KRX3 module's AUX input you have the following
> choices in the CONFIG menu under KRX3:
>
> ANT=BNC: Specifies that the KRX3's auxiliary antenna source is the AUX RF
> BNC jack on the rear panel. This requires that the BNC is installed with its
> cable connected KRX3's AUX RF input.
>
> ANT=ATU: Specifies that the KRX3's auxiliary antenna source is the ATU's
> non-transmit antenna (1 or 2).Use this setting only if you connected the
> KRX3's AUX RF input to the KAT3's TMP jack.
>
> 73, Ron AC7AC
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: [hidden email]
> [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of W0MU Mike Fatchett
> Sent: Sunday, July 01, 2012 7:32 PM
> To: Elecraft Reflector
> Subject: [Elecraft] K3 sub receiver no signals
>
> I installed this 2nd receiver quite some time ago. I probably never checked
> but i hear background noise in the sub receiver but no signals.
> I suspect this is something stupid, can someone point me in a direction.
>
> --
> Mike W0MU
>
> W0MU-1 CC Cluster w0mu.net
>
> ______________________________________________________________
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>
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>

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Dick Dievendorff

Re: K3 sub receiver no signals

In reply to this post by w0mu

It's sometimes a matter of selecting the appropriate antenna input.

Dick, K6KR

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email]
[mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of W0MU Mike Fatchett
Sent: Sunday, July 01, 2012 7:32 PM
To: Elecraft Reflector
Subject: [Elecraft] K3 sub receiver no signals

I installed this 2nd receiver quite some time ago. I probably never checked
but i hear background noise in the sub receiver but no signals.
I suspect this is something stupid, can someone point me in a direction.

--
Mike W0MU

W0MU-1 CC Cluster w0mu.net

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Nr4c

Re: K3 sub receiver no signals

In reply to this post by w0mu

Check antenna wiring, and make sure you have selected an antenna for the
SUB.

...bill nr4c

-----Original Message-----
From: W0MU Mike Fatchett [mailto:[hidden email]]
Sent: Sunday, July 01, 2012 10:32 PM
To: Elecraft Reflector
Subject: [Elecraft] K3 sub receiver no signals

I installed this 2nd receiver quite some time ago. I probably never
checked but i hear background noise in the sub receiver but no signals.
I suspect this is something stupid, can someone point me in a direction.

--
Mike W0MU

W0MU-1 CC Cluster w0mu.net

______________________________________________________________
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w0mu

Re: K3 sub receiver no signals

The 2nd receiver was hooked up to the bnc aux connector. I had to
change that. However still no signals. I have tried every combination
of antennas etc.

I suspect maybe there was an issue when I uploaded the new firmware.

Mike W0MU

W0MU-1 CC Cluster w0mu.net

On 7/1/2012 9:33 PM, Bill Conkling wrote:

> Check antenna wiring, and make sure you have selected an antenna for the
> SUB.
>
> ...bill nr4c
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: W0MU Mike Fatchett [mailto:[hidden email]]
> Sent: Sunday, July 01, 2012 10:32 PM
> To: Elecraft Reflector
> Subject: [Elecraft] K3 sub receiver no signals
>
> I installed this 2nd receiver quite some time ago. I probably never
> checked but i hear background noise in the sub receiver but no signals.
> I suspect this is something stupid, can someone point me in a direction.
>

Matt Zilmer

Re: K3 sub receiver no signals

In reply to this post by Nr4c

You're getting a lot suggestions, but one I haven't seen is to check
the internal cabling to and from the KRX3. For example, a missing or
disconnected or incorrectly connected frequency reference cable might
be troublesome...

73,
matt W6NIA

On Sun, 01 Jul 2012 23:33:54 -0400, you wrote:

>Check antenna wiring, and make sure you have selected an antenna for the
>SUB.
>
>...bill nr4c
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: W0MU Mike Fatchett [mailto:[hidden email]]
>Sent: Sunday, July 01, 2012 10:32 PM
>To: Elecraft Reflector
>Subject: [Elecraft] K3 sub receiver no signals
>
>I installed this 2nd receiver quite some time ago. I probably never
>checked but i hear background noise in the sub receiver but no signals.
>I suspect this is something stupid, can someone point me in a direction.

Mike K2MK

Re: K3 sub receiver no signals

In reply to this post by w0mu

Hi Mike,

This question comes up quite often on the reflector and it is usually incorrect antenna selection as others have commented. But there are also several other things that could be amiss. You could have the RF gain for the sub turned down. It's the outer ring on the RF gain knob. Assuming that you are using headphones you should also check to see how you have the audio gain knobs set up. They can be configured so that the outer AF knob is a sub volume control or configured so that it is a left/right balance control. Another thought is that you have the sub RX filters configured incorrectly. You could also have the sub set up in diversity mode. In diversity you'll be listening to VFO A in both ears regardless of what is displayed in VFO B. The tip off is a blinking decimal point (the right decimal point) in the VFO A display.

73,
Mike K2MK

w0mu wrote

I installed this 2nd receiver quite some time ago. I probably never
checked but i hear background noise in the sub receiver but no signals.
I suspect this is something stupid, can someone point me in a direction.

--
Mike W0MU

Cady, Fred

Re: K3 sub receiver no signals

In reply to this post by w0mu

Hi Mike,
Is it dead-dead or do you get audio noise when turning the audio/rf
gain. If it is dead-dead it might be the l-mix-r setting to a-a or
something other than a-b.
Also, if you have SPKRS=2 and are listening with the internal speaker
you get the main audio only.
Hope you find it.
Cheers,
Fred KE7X

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email]
[mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of W0MU Mike
Fatchett
Sent: Sunday, July 01, 2012 10:50 PM
To: Bill Conkling
Cc: 'Elecraft Reflector'
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 sub receiver no signals

The 2nd receiver was hooked up to the bnc aux connector. I had to
change that. However still no signals. I have tried every combination
of antennas etc.

I suspect maybe there was an issue when I uploaded the new firmware.

Mike W0MU

W0MU-1 CC Cluster w0mu.net

On 7/1/2012 9:33 PM, Bill Conkling wrote:

> Check antenna wiring, and make sure you have selected an antenna for
> the SUB.
>
> ...bill nr4c
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: W0MU Mike Fatchett [mailto:[hidden email]]
> Sent: Sunday, July 01, 2012 10:32 PM
> To: Elecraft Reflector
> Subject: [Elecraft] K3 sub receiver no signals
>
> I installed this 2nd receiver quite some time ago. I probably never
> checked but i hear background noise in the sub receiver but no

signals.
> I suspect this is something stupid, can someone point me in a
direction.
>

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Nr4c

Re: K3 sub receiver no signals

In reply to this post by w0mu

I saw that someone else suggested checking all the cabling. Good idea.
Also, press the "A>B" switch twice quickly (should see "A>B ALL" in VFO
B window) to make sure both main and sub are on same freq, filters etc.

Oh, yeah, lyou DID turn ON the Sub-rec'ver. Didn't you?

Let's see, check internal cabling, Antenna, settings. Oh, how is your
RF/AF gain controls set up. I have separate RF gains, but the AF gains
are set up so that the little knob is volume, and the larger one is a
fader. How are your set up?

./...bill nr4c
On Sun, 01 Jul 2012 22:49:36 -0600, W0MU Mike Fatchett wrote:

> The 2nd receiver was hooked up to the bnc aux connector. I had to
> change that. However still no signals. I have tried every
> combination of antennas etc.
>
> I suspect maybe there was an issue when I uploaded the new firmware.
>
>
> Mike W0MU
>
> W0MU-1 CC Cluster w0mu.net
>
> On 7/1/2012 9:33 PM, Bill Conkling wrote:
>> Check antenna wiring, and make sure you have selected an antenna for
>> the
>> SUB.
>>
>> ...bill nr4c
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: W0MU Mike Fatchett [mailto:[hidden email]]
>> Sent: Sunday, July 01, 2012 10:32 PM
>> To: Elecraft Reflector
>> Subject: [Elecraft] K3 sub receiver no signals
>>
>> I installed this 2nd receiver quite some time ago. I probably never
>> checked but i hear background noise in the sub receiver but no
>> signals.
>> I suspect this is something stupid, can someone point me in a
>> direction.
>>

NH7RO

Re: K3 sub receiver no signals

Hi Mike; I had the same problem a number of months ago and it was so frustrating I finally removed the sub rcvr and sent it off to Aptos. The guys there were very helpful as always but it came back with a perfectly clean bill of health as they could find nothing wrong with it.

This was after I had checked and rechecked all of the cabling, configured all the antenna settings about a million times and pulled every last hair out of my head. Oh, yes, all the filter settings were fine from the get-go.

When I reinstalled it after coming back from Elecraft the problem was still there; the sub was still virtually dead as far as the signals were (the audio level was always fine, just sounded like someone had switched in a -20db attenuator everytime I went with the SUB on.

I believe what finally fixed it was a total reloading of the firmware and a recalibration of the VCO (IIRC).

I also set every band's antenna selection regardless of whether or not the band was IN or OUT to MAIN (making sure that it stayed set on MAIN every time I checked the settings).

Finally, just when I was about to throw in the towel, the SUB came back to life! While I'm not 100% sure I do believe it was one of the calibrations I performed (VCO calibtration or DSP utility) that did the trick in the nick of time.

I have been a very happy camper ever since (despite not really knowing what caused the snafu in the first place; it suddenly went deaf while I was operating split and chasing a DX pileup...and oops!) and now I appreciate this little rig more than ever. I'm still scratching my head over it all but unless it happens again I may never really know the hows and whys...

Reminds me of the old saying, "You never miss your signals until your sub-receiver dies!"

Hope you get it going again right away and I suggest redoing ALL the calibrations required when the sub is first installed---that may very well bring it back to life. Best of luck to you (and I know just how you feel).

73, Jeff NH7RO

vtdave

Re: K3 sub receiver no signals

In reply to this post by w0mu

I just finished building the K3 with the sub receiver. All went well until I fired up the rig and found that I was not getting a signal in the sub receiver.. I had white noise but no signal. I checked all the wiring that went from the main board to the sub receiver and all was in place and tight.

I put another antenna on the aux antenna jack and got normal operation from the sub receiver! So now I know the sub works but still no signal using the main antenna. All firmware is updated and initialization went as it should via the op manual.

I called Elecraft with the problem and they said it's most likely that the problem stems from the two sets of pins on the sub module not fully mating with the small sub in and sub out boards that plug into the main board. They said this is a common problem when installing the sub module as the fit it tight (!).

I re-positioned the sub module after monkeying around with the TMP cables and made sure all the pins fully mated with the sub in/out boards. I fired up the rig and my sub receiver worked off the main antenna!

Before you start tearing the sub receiver apart, make sure those two sets of pins mate correctly and you may save your self alot of work and agita!

vtdave

Re: K3 sub receiver no signals

Bruce Hammond

Re: K3 sub receiver no signals

This thread is a bit old, may have been solved. In case it was not, I had a similar problem getting sub Rx to work and it was cockpit error. Try holding A/B button to get BSET, then look in display at what antenna is selected. If different from MAIN ANT or what you want it to be, push ANT button until you get what you want.

73 de KK7EL Bruce