K3S Initial setup calibration problem
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Newly assembled working great so far.
At the Owners Manual Calibration Procedures pg 52 (Fred Cady book Elecraft K3S and P3 referred me to Owners Manual for some Calibrations after going through Configuring the K3S pg 26...) Wattmeter: Both CONFIG:TUN PWR and PWR SET to NOR (KPA3A not installed yet, all covers on. Low-Power (5 W) W mtr calibration On 20 meter band at 14.050 On a 1kw Cantenna 50 ohm dummy load (ch'd w/ Ohm meter) Set power to 5.0 watts on K3S with Pwr knob Go to CONFIG WMTR LP showing Press TUNE (hear signal on Omni D) but does not register on ext W Mtr and cannot vary output with VFO A knob (which is the instructed 'Parameter' adjustment knob I assume?) Ext W Mtr is working ok with Omni D output I must be missing something? Setting? Thanks, Tom NB5Q ______________________________________________________________ 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] |
Re: K3S Initial setup calibration problem
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Tom,
Have you checked that external wattmeter at 5 watts? Many wattmeters when on the 200 watt range may not show any significant output until you get to 10 or 20 watts. Use the 20 watt range on the wattmeter - and do not really trust it at the 5 watt level. The diodes in many wattmeters are a potential problem and may not register anything unless the power is 10 watts and above. The exception is QRP wattmeters with op amps and compensating diodes. If you have access to a 'scope with a 10X probe, that is more accurate. Set the scope to read the RF voltage and connect it across the dummy load. If your dummy load does not allow access to the coax center conductor, use a Tee adapter to access the center conductor. The RF peak to peak voltage for 5 watts is 44.7 volts. Bottom line - do not trust your instruments (wattmeter in this case) until it is proven trustworthy at the power level involved. 73, Don W3FPR On 12/16/2017 6:20 PM, Tom Norris wrote: > Newly assembled working great so far. > At the Owners Manual Calibration Procedures pg 52 (Fred Cady book Elecraft > K3S and P3 referred me to Owners Manual for some Calibrations after going > through Configuring the K3S pg 26...) > Wattmeter: > Both CONFIG:TUN PWR and PWR SET to NOR (KPA3A not installed yet, all covers > on. > Low-Power (5 W) W mtr calibration > On 20 meter band at 14.050 > On a 1kw Cantenna 50 ohm dummy load (ch'd w/ Ohm meter) > Set power to 5.0 watts on K3S with Pwr knob > Go to CONFIG WMTR LP showing > Press TUNE (hear signal on Omni D) but does not register on ext W Mtr and > cannot vary output with VFO A knob (which is the instructed 'Parameter' > adjustment knob I assume?) > Ext W Mtr is working ok with Omni D output 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] |
Re: K3S Initial setup calibration problem
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I just assembled a new K3S. Covers are on but KPA3 not yet installed.
The installation manual mentions that there may be error messages initially, but there were none. The first issue is that there is no RF being detected on RX, all bands, although I can hear the usual background hiss which does not increase with an antenna connected. I also noticed that the KAT3A was not being detected, despite being configured as installed. This meant that I could not select Ant 1 or 2. I firstly forced a power-up reset to ensure there was no firmware corruption. I then used the K3S utility to load the latest firmware and went on to perform config and calibration. When it came to setting up Xtal filters there was something odd happening. I only have the 2.7KHz filter installed at present in position FL3, intending to install the CW and FM filters from my K3 later. The config showed that position FL1 had a 2.7KHz filter installed, but no offset (5 pole filter). I set the config correctly for FL3 position and zeroed FL1, but the utility complained about having no filter in FL1, so I reconfigured FL1 position as having a 2.7KHz filter installed. I left the FL3 position still configured. Lo and behold the ATU is now recognised and I can select Ant 1 or Ant 2, but still no RX. It also fails the 5W calibration. I haven't been back through the instructions yet (it's bedtime here!) but I presume that there must be an actual physical filter installed in FL1 position and this may be the cause of my issues?? 73, Alan. G4GNX ______________________________________________________________ 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] |
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Hi Alan,
I am also a new K3S owner/assembler. I had the same symptoms after powering up the K3S the first time, no errors (that later resolved itself and I received the KPA3A alert after clearing with Display button and power cycling several times during Filter Configuration - have 2.8kHz, FM & 400hz). I have also been puzzled by not hearing any signals at this point on any band, just the noise. However, during the troubleshooting of the Wattmeter calibration I listened and transmitted with an old Ten Tec Omni D, I did hear the Omni transmit on the K3S receive and visa versa while transmitting during the K3S Wattmeter Calibration. Get a good night's rest and we will press on later! Tom NB5Q -- Sent from: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/ ______________________________________________________________ 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] |
Re: K3S Initial setup calibration problem
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Hi Tom.
Ya can't always cure stupid (me of course, not you)! :-) On waking today, it occurred to me that I had not enabled FL3 for RX and TX!!! Obviously I'd configured FL3 filter parameters, but totally forgot the rest. I've now removed all of the config and enabling for FL1 until I install a filter in that position. The first obvious thing after enabling FL3 was that even without an antenna connected, the receiver sprang to life and I'm quite happily listening to 5/9+20 signals on 40 metres (with an antenna connected of course). The 5W calibration worked like a dream and the ATU is now responding correctly. I am now a happy bunny and am happy to have learned something. Now to fit the KPA3A....... I hope your issues are as easy to fix. 73, Alan. G4GNX -----Original Message----- From: TKNorris Sent: Sunday, December 17, 2017 4:58 AM To: [hidden email] Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3S Initial setup calibration problem Hi Alan, I am also a new K3S owner/assembler. I had the same symptoms after powering up the K3S the first time, no errors (that later resolved itself and I received the KPA3A alert after clearing with Display button and power cycling several times during Filter Configuration - have 2.8kHz, FM & 400hz). I have also been puzzled by not hearing any signals at this point on any band, just the noise. However, during the troubleshooting of the Wattmeter calibration I listened and transmitted with an old Ten Tec Omni D, I did hear the Omni transmit on the K3S receive and visa versa while transmitting during the K3S Wattmeter Calibration. Get a good night's rest and we will press on later! Tom NB5Q -- Sent from: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/ ______________________________________________________________ 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] ______________________________________________________________ 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] |
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In reply to this post by Don Wilhelm
Hi Alan,
That's good news! Glad you went for a walk and had a revelation, I think I need a little longer walk perhaps! I'm still having problems but gathering good data for help I hope. I have enabled my modules and filters but still no received broadcast, WWV time signal or Ham traffic. Hence I have not done the Reference Oscillator Calibration and not able to do the Wattmeter adjustment although I do get a 14.050 Mhz 15mv RF signal (and a 7.050 Mhz signal at 60mv-only a 20 Mhz 'scope) at the proper respective frequencies when TUNE is pressed but VFO A has no effect on the output signal according to the oscilloscope. Am emailing [hidden email] and hope they find, as you say, that they can cure my 'Stupid' :-) I'm confused as to getting these messages on the Elecraft Reflector, I hope this one makes it. 73, Tom NB5Q On Sat, Dec 16, 2017 at 6:56 PM, Don Wilhelm <[hidden email]> wrote: > Tom, > > The K3 wattmeter calibration is different than the K3 Utility TX gain > calibration. > > Do the wattmeter calibration as indicated in the manual, and then you can > do the TX Gain calibration from K3 Utility. > > 73, > Don W3FPR > > On 12/16/2017 8:33 PM, Tom Norris wrote: > >> OK on the scope frequency response, I will use that info when I look at >> that tomorrow (too late now, in the house with XYL) Just C >> urious >> >> if the K3 Utility Transmitter Gain >> Calibration >> (pg >> 52) >> rel >> ies >> on the K3 power >> watt >> meter reading responding correctly (after manual Wattmeter >> calibration on pg 52). Could this explain the failure of the K3 Utility >> Transmitter Gain Calibration try earlier. >> >> Thanks, Tom NB5Q >> >> On Dec 16, 2017 5:55 PM, "Don Wilhelm" <[hidden email] <mailto: >> [hidden email]>> wrote: >> >> Tom, >> >> If your 'scope is rated at 20 MHz, that is the 3dB point for the >> vertical amplifier. It will show only 1/2 of the actual amplitude >> at 20 MHz. Use a frequency that is 1/3 or less of the 'scope >> rating to get an accurate vertical voltage response - i.e. use 7 >> MHz or below. >> >> I trust a 100MHz scope only to 30MHz for correct vertical >> amplitude, and the 10X probes must be rated for 100 MHz and above >> for that situation to be accurate. A 1X probe or a piece of coax >> used as a probe may not produce an accurate indication of the RF >> voltage. >> >> 73, >> Don W3FPR >> >> On 12/16/2017 7:38 PM, Tom Norris wrote: >> >> Thanks Don, I will look at the signal with a 20 Mhz scope and >> see what the voltage is during xmt. Since I did not see any >> K3S display change while making adjustment with VFO A knob or >> hear any signal increase in the Omni D I was thinking I'm not >> affecting the power adjustment of the K3S. >> Thanks, Tom NB5Q >> >> On Dec 16, 2017 5:29 PM, "Don Wilhelm" <[hidden email] >> <mailto:[hidden email]> <mailto:[hidden email] >> >> <mailto:[hidden email]>>> wrote: >> >> Tom, >> >> Have you checked that external wattmeter at 5 watts? >> Many wattmeters when on the 200 watt range may not show any >> significant output until you get to 10 or 20 watts. >> >> Use the 20 watt range on the wattmeter - and do not really >> trust >> it at the 5 watt level. The diodes in many wattmeters are a >> potential problem and may not register anything unless the >> power >> is 10 watts and above. The exception is QRP wattmeters with op >> amps and compensating diodes. >> >> If you have access to a 'scope with a 10X probe, that is more >> accurate. >> Set the scope to read the RF voltage and connect it across the >> dummy load. If your dummy load does not allow access to >> the coax >> center conductor, use a Tee adapter to access the center >> conductor. >> The RF peak to peak voltage for 5 watts is 44.7 volts. >> >> Bottom line - do not trust your instruments (wattmeter in this >> case) until it is proven trustworthy at the power level >> involved. >> >> 73, >> Don W3FPR >> >> >> On 12/16/2017 6:20 PM, Tom Norris wrote: >> >> Newly assembled working great so far. >> At the Owners Manual Calibration Procedures pg 52 >> (Fred Cady >> book Elecraft >> K3S and P3 referred me to Owners Manual for some >> Calibrations >> after going >> through Configuring the K3S pg 26...) >> Wattmeter: >> Both CONFIG:TUN PWR and PWR SET to NOR (KPA3A not >> installed >> yet, all covers >> on. >> Low-Power (5 W) W mtr calibration >> On 20 meter band at 14.050 >> On a 1kw Cantenna 50 ohm dummy load (ch'd w/ Ohm meter) >> Set power to 5.0 watts on K3S with Pwr knob >> Go to CONFIG WMTR LP showing >> Press TUNE (hear signal on Omni D) but does not >> register on >> ext W Mtr and >> cannot vary output with VFO A knob (which is the >> instructed >> 'Parameter' >> adjustment knob I assume?) >> Ext W Mtr is working ok with Omni D output >> >> >> >> > 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] |
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