KPA3 Fails Calibration
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Hello all,
Just installed the KPA3 100 watt PA into my K3. While running through the TX Gain Calibration program in the K3 Utility I received an error. Did the 5 watt cal no problem, but when it was doing the 50 MHz calibrate the K3 shut off and displayed the error below in the K3 Utility window. Thinking this an aberration, I attempted 3 more times, each time the K3 shuts off during the 50 MHZ cal period. I used my nifty Elecraft W1 power meter to measure RF, on all bands 50+ watts, the 5/6 LEDs on the W1 were present on all bands, including 50 MHZ, as the K3 Utility runs the RF test on the 50 MHz, the K3 shuts off. I just upgraded to the new firmware before adding the KPA3, not sure if this is related to that or not. Suggestions? ERROR MESSAGE FROM K3 UTILITY FOLLOWS at 24.930 MHz Calibrating at 29.000 MHz Calibrating at 52.000 MHz StartTune: Unexpected response '' to 'TQ;'. State 139 StopTune: Unexpected response '' to 'TQ;'. State 77 RestoreKAT3: Unexpected response '' to 'MP;'. State 224 RestorePower: Unexpected response '' to 'PC;'. State 87 Cordially, Bruce J. Howes ______________________________________________________________ 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 |
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Good suggestion Greg!
Tried in manually, same issue. Think it is a power supply problem, RF may be getting into my power supply, shutting it off. Manually I get up to 50 watts, then the K3 shuts down, fine on the other bands, so not a a current draw issue. I'll need to lash up a battery for additional testing, but wager that is it. Will report back to the group. Cordially, Bruce J. Howes On Jan 23, 2011, at 2:31 PM, Greg wrote: > Bruce. Try it manually and see if it works. > > > > On Sun, Jan 23, 2011 at 11:13 AM, Bruce W1UJR <[hidden email]> wrote: > Hello all, > > Just installed the KPA3 100 watt PA into my K3. > While running through the TX Gain Calibration program in the K3 Utility I received an error. > > Did the 5 watt cal no problem, but when it was doing the 50 MHz calibrate the K3 shut off > and displayed the error below in the K3 Utility window. > > Thinking this an aberration, I attempted 3 more times, each time the K3 shuts off during > the 50 MHZ cal period. > > I used my nifty Elecraft W1 power meter to measure RF, on all bands 50+ watts, the 5/6 LEDs on the W1 > were present on all bands, including 50 MHZ, as the K3 Utility runs the RF test on the 50 MHz, > the K3 shuts off. > > I just upgraded to the new firmware before adding the KPA3, not sure if this is related to that > or not. > > Suggestions? > > ERROR MESSAGE FROM K3 UTILITY FOLLOWS > > at 24.930 MHz > Calibrating at 29.000 MHz > Calibrating at 52.000 MHz > StartTune: Unexpected response '' to 'TQ;'. State 139 > StopTune: Unexpected response '' to 'TQ;'. State 77 > RestoreKAT3: Unexpected response '' to 'MP;'. State 224 > RestorePower: Unexpected response '' to 'PC;'. State 87 > > > > Cordially, > Bruce J. Howes > > > > > > > ______________________________________________________________ > 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 |
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In reply to this post by Bruce W1UJR
I think the K3 Utility's messages are a consequence of the K3 shutting off
unexpectedly. When the tune button is pressed (simulated by a serial port command), it's followed with a "TQ;" command, which is sent to verify that the transmitter is on. The K3 has turned off, so it can't respond to TQ; That's the "StartTune: Unexpected response" message. If any error is detected during calibration, the K3 Utility attempts to restore the K3 to the state it was in before calibration started. The K3 Utility sent a command to start the transmitter, so it tries hard to shut off the transmitter. It loops about 10 times on an RX; / TQ; query to verify that the transmitter shut off. No response was received to the TQ; command in any of 10 attempts. That's the "StopTune: Unexpected response to TQ;" message. Finally the K3 Utility attempts to restore everything it changed in preparation for calibration. It attempted to restore the KAT3 to its original setting (BYPASS is used for calibration) and to restore the 50 MHz power setting, which had been changed to 50 watts for calibration. Both of those restore attempts failed, hence the last couple of messages. 73 de Dick, K6KR -----Original Message----- From: [hidden email] [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Bruce W1UJR Sent: Sunday, January 23, 2011 11:13 AM To: [hidden email] Subject: [Elecraft] KPA3 Fails Calibration Hello all, Just installed the KPA3 100 watt PA into my K3. While running through the TX Gain Calibration program in the K3 Utility I received an error. Did the 5 watt cal no problem, but when it was doing the 50 MHz calibrate the K3 shut off and displayed the error below in the K3 Utility window. Thinking this an aberration, I attempted 3 more times, each time the K3 shuts off during the 50 MHZ cal period. I used my nifty Elecraft W1 power meter to measure RF, on all bands 50+ watts, the 5/6 LEDs on the W1 were present on all bands, including 50 MHZ, as the K3 Utility runs the RF test on the 50 MHz, the K3 shuts off. I just upgraded to the new firmware before adding the KPA3, not sure if this is related to that or not. Suggestions? ERROR MESSAGE FROM K3 UTILITY FOLLOWS at 24.930 MHz Calibrating at 29.000 MHz Calibrating at 52.000 MHz StartTune: Unexpected response '' to 'TQ;'. State 139 StopTune: Unexpected response '' to 'TQ;'. State 77 RestoreKAT3: Unexpected response '' to 'MP;'. State 224 RestorePower: Unexpected response '' to 'PC;'. State 87 Cordially, Bruce J. Howes ______________________________________________________________ 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 |
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In reply to this post by Bruce W1UJR
Hi Bruce,
You ARE connecting the rig to a dummy load for the calibration and not to an antenna, right? (Just checking the obvious first, no offense intended.) 73 -- Joe KB8AP On Jan 23, 2011, at 11:39 AM, Bruce James Howes wrote: > Good suggestion Greg! > > Tried in manually, same issue. > > Think it is a power supply problem, RF may be getting into my power supply, shutting it off. > Manually I get up to 50 watts, then the K3 shuts down, fine on the other bands, so not a a current draw issue. > I'll need to lash up a battery for additional testing, but wager that is it. > > Will report back to the group. > > > Cordially, > Bruce J. Howes > > > > > > > On Jan 23, 2011, at 2:31 PM, Greg wrote: > >> Bruce. Try it manually and see if it works. >> >> >> >> On Sun, Jan 23, 2011 at 11:13 AM, Bruce W1UJR <[hidden email]> wrote: >> Hello all, >> >> Just installed the KPA3 100 watt PA into my K3. >> While running through the TX Gain Calibration program in the K3 Utility I received an error. >> >> Did the 5 watt cal no problem, but when it was doing the 50 MHz calibrate the K3 shut off >> and displayed the error below in the K3 Utility window. >> >> Thinking this an aberration, I attempted 3 more times, each time the K3 shuts off during >> the 50 MHZ cal period. >> >> I used my nifty Elecraft W1 power meter to measure RF, on all bands 50+ watts, the 5/6 LEDs on the W1 >> were present on all bands, including 50 MHZ, as the K3 Utility runs the RF test on the 50 MHz, >> the K3 shuts off. >> >> I just upgraded to the new firmware before adding the KPA3, not sure if this is related to that >> or not. >> >> Suggestions? >> >> ERROR MESSAGE FROM K3 UTILITY FOLLOWS >> >> at 24.930 MHz >> Calibrating at 29.000 MHz >> Calibrating at 52.000 MHz >> StartTune: Unexpected response '' to 'TQ;'. State 139 >> StopTune: Unexpected response '' to 'TQ;'. State 77 >> RestoreKAT3: Unexpected response '' to 'MP;'. State 224 >> RestorePower: Unexpected response '' to 'PC;'. State 87 >> >> >> >> Cordially, >> Bruce J. Howes >> >> >> >> >> >> >> ______________________________________________________________ >> 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 ______________________________________________________________ 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 |
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Think I found the problem.
Yes, running on a dummy load. Not the K3 Utility software, does the same with the update. Seems to be a power supply issue, why it bothers so on 50 MHz I am not sure, but I also got it to do it on the 75 meter band once, think the overload protection in the supply is just triggering. I'm charging up a battery now for the real test, will know tomorrow. Rig worked just fine, ran the New England AM QRP this afternoon on 3.880 MHz - 3:00PM EST, just fine. Thanks for the help and suggestions. Cordially, Bruce J. Howes W1UJR www.W1UJR.net On Jan 23, 2011, at 4:00 PM, Joe Planisky wrote: > Hi Bruce, > > You ARE connecting the rig to a dummy load for the calibration and not to an antenna, right? (Just checking the obvious first, no offense intended.) > > 73 > -- > Joe KB8AP > > > > On Jan 23, 2011, at 11:39 AM, Bruce James Howes wrote: > >> Good suggestion Greg! >> >> Tried in manually, same issue. >> >> Think it is a power supply problem, RF may be getting into my power supply, shutting it off. >> Manually I get up to 50 watts, then the K3 shuts down, fine on the other bands, so not a a current draw issue. >> I'll need to lash up a battery for additional testing, but wager that is it. >> >> Will report back to the group. >> >> >> Cordially, >> Bruce J. Howes >> >> >> >> >> >> >> On Jan 23, 2011, at 2:31 PM, Greg wrote: >> >>> Bruce. Try it manually and see if it works. >>> >>> >>> >>> On Sun, Jan 23, 2011 at 11:13 AM, Bruce W1UJR <[hidden email]> wrote: >>> Hello all, >>> >>> Just installed the KPA3 100 watt PA into my K3. >>> While running through the TX Gain Calibration program in the K3 Utility I received an error. >>> >>> Did the 5 watt cal no problem, but when it was doing the 50 MHz calibrate the K3 shut off >>> and displayed the error below in the K3 Utility window. >>> >>> Thinking this an aberration, I attempted 3 more times, each time the K3 shuts off during >>> the 50 MHZ cal period. >>> >>> I used my nifty Elecraft W1 power meter to measure RF, on all bands 50+ watts, the 5/6 LEDs on the W1 >>> were present on all bands, including 50 MHZ, as the K3 Utility runs the RF test on the 50 MHz, >>> the K3 shuts off. >>> >>> I just upgraded to the new firmware before adding the KPA3, not sure if this is related to that >>> or not. >>> >>> Suggestions? >>> >>> ERROR MESSAGE FROM K3 UTILITY FOLLOWS >>> >>> at 24.930 MHz >>> Calibrating at 29.000 MHz >>> Calibrating at 52.000 MHz >>> StartTune: Unexpected response '' to 'TQ;'. State 139 >>> StopTune: Unexpected response '' to 'TQ;'. State 77 >>> RestoreKAT3: Unexpected response '' to 'MP;'. State 224 >>> RestorePower: Unexpected response '' to 'PC;'. State 87 >>> >>> >>> >>> Cordially, >>> Bruce J. Howes >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> ______________________________________________________________ >>> 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 > ______________________________________________________________ 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 |
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Confirmed the problem, the K3 is working just fine now, the issue appears to be my power supply.
For some reason it cuts off when the K3 power level gets near on the 6 meter band. Sorry to sound the alert, had just installed the KPA3 unit and did not occur to me to suspect the power supply as the unit ran calibration on the other bands very well. When it faulted the one time on 75 meter I began to suspect RF getting into the power supply protection circuits. Ran on the battery last night, into a dummy load, solid 100 + watts on every band, with no problem. It's all good! Cordially, Bruce J. Howes W1UJR www.W1UJR.net On Jan 23, 2011, at 7:55 PM, Bruce James Howes wrote: > Think I found the problem. > > Yes, running on a dummy load. > > Not the K3 Utility software, does the same with the update. > > Seems to be a power supply issue, why it bothers so on 50 MHz > I am not sure, but I also got it to do it on the 75 meter band once, > think the overload protection in the supply is just triggering. > > I'm charging up a battery now for the real test, will know > tomorrow. > > Rig worked just fine, ran the New England AM QRP this > afternoon on 3.880 MHz - 3:00PM EST, just fine. > > Thanks for the help and suggestions. > > > Cordially, > Bruce J. Howes W1UJR > www.W1UJR.net > > > > On Jan 23, 2011, at 4:00 PM, Joe Planisky wrote: > >> Hi Bruce, >> >> You ARE connecting the rig to a dummy load for the calibration and not to an antenna, right? (Just checking the obvious first, no offense intended.) >> >> 73 >> -- >> Joe KB8AP >> >> >> >> On Jan 23, 2011, at 11:39 AM, Bruce James Howes wrote: >> >>> Good suggestion Greg! >>> >>> Tried in manually, same issue. >>> >>> Think it is a power supply problem, RF may be getting into my power supply, shutting it off. >>> Manually I get up to 50 watts, then the K3 shuts down, fine on the other bands, so not a a current draw issue. >>> I'll need to lash up a battery for additional testing, but wager that is it. >>> >>> Will report back to the group. >>> >>> >>> Cordially, >>> Bruce J. Howes >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> On Jan 23, 2011, at 2:31 PM, Greg wrote: >>> >>>> Bruce. Try it manually and see if it works. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> On Sun, Jan 23, 2011 at 11:13 AM, Bruce W1UJR <[hidden email]> wrote: >>>> Hello all, >>>> >>>> Just installed the KPA3 100 watt PA into my K3. >>>> While running through the TX Gain Calibration program in the K3 Utility I received an error. >>>> >>>> Did the 5 watt cal no problem, but when it was doing the 50 MHz calibrate the K3 shut off >>>> and displayed the error below in the K3 Utility window. >>>> >>>> Thinking this an aberration, I attempted 3 more times, each time the K3 shuts off during >>>> the 50 MHZ cal period. >>>> >>>> I used my nifty Elecraft W1 power meter to measure RF, on all bands 50+ watts, the 5/6 LEDs on the W1 >>>> were present on all bands, including 50 MHZ, as the K3 Utility runs the RF test on the 50 MHz, >>>> the K3 shuts off. >>>> >>>> I just upgraded to the new firmware before adding the KPA3, not sure if this is related to that >>>> or not. >>>> >>>> Suggestions? >>>> >>>> ERROR MESSAGE FROM K3 UTILITY FOLLOWS >>>> >>>> at 24.930 MHz >>>> Calibrating at 29.000 MHz >>>> Calibrating at 52.000 MHz >>>> StartTune: Unexpected response '' to 'TQ;'. State 139 >>>> StopTune: Unexpected response '' to 'TQ;'. State 77 >>>> RestoreKAT3: Unexpected response '' to 'MP;'. State 224 >>>> RestorePower: Unexpected response '' to 'PC;'. State 87 >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Cordially, >>>> Bruce J. Howes >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> ______________________________________________________________ >>>> 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 >> > ______________________________________________________________ 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 |
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