KPA500: birdies on 6m from LCD backlight

[Joe Hall]

Just got a KPA500 kit a couple of weeks ago (S/N 2380).  Upon installing it
in my system I immediately noticed sharp spikes about every 9.5 kHz (only on
6m) in my panadapter.  These spikes are "audible" on my K3 and appear
whenever the KPA500 is on, whether in standby or operate.  Nothing at all
noted on any band other than 6m.  

A google search of the mailing list archives revealed a couple mentions of
the KPA500's LCD backlight.  So, I went in and adjusted the LCD brightness.
Dropping the brightness to "DAY" (which seems to turn the backlight totally
off) completely clears up the spikes on 6m, any setting other than "DAY" and
it's there - I can switch back and forth and watch the spikes appear and
disappear.

My email to elecraft support resulted in a response of "turn off the
backlight."  With no backlight the KPA500 display is unreadable in my shack.

This is a relatively minor issue for me given that I rarely operate on 6m,
but I'm anal enough that I'd prefer to solve rather than accommodate the
problem.  

Anyone else seen this and/or have any ideas about how to deal with it, other
than turning off the backlight?

Thanks,
Joe / WB1M



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[mcduffie]

> This is a relatively minor issue for me given that I rarely operate on 6m,
> but I'm anal enough that I'd prefer to solve rather than accommodate the
> problem.  

Joe, this WILL be a problem for me, since almost all of my activity of late is
6m MS, and the amp is almost always used.  I've noticed plenty of birdies, but
never thought to try to trace them.  Since I have no "bandscope", I can only
check them one at a time, and will do so now that you have brought it up.

Thanks for the heads up.  Like you, I can not do without the light.

Wayne?

Gary
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[k6dgw]

Rarely get on 6m but tried mine and the only birdies I see on my P3 are
the permanent ones from the wireless company's gear at the top of my
tower.  LCD brightness = 8, no change turning KPA500 on/off.

There have been various postings in the past about stray signals
ultimately traced to bad connectors, chassis connections unbonded, and
bad cables.  You might poke around a little in those departments.  I can
see the LCD with backlight off but room lights on, however it's really dim.

73,

Fred K6DGW
- Northern California Contest Club
- CU in the 50th Running of the Cal QSO Party 3-4 Oct 2015
- www.cqp.org

On 2/26/2015 11:47 AM, Joe Hall wrote:
> Just got a KPA500 kit a couple of weeks ago (S/N 2380).  Upon installing it
> in my system I immediately noticed sharp spikes about every 9.5 kHz (only on
> 6m) in my panadapter.

> Anyone else seen this and/or have any ideas about how to deal with it, other
> than turning off the backlight?
>
> Thanks,
> Joe / WB1M

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[Phil Wheeler-2]

No such problem here, at all, Jim. I wonder if you
have a cabling issue?

Phil W7OX

On 2/26/15 11:47 AM, Joe Hall wrote:

> Just got a KPA500 kit a couple of weeks ago (S/N 2380).  Upon installing it
> in my system I immediately noticed sharp spikes about every 9.5 kHz (only on
> 6m) in my panadapter.  These spikes are "audible" on my K3 and appear
> whenever the KPA500 is on, whether in standby or operate.  Nothing at all
> noted on any band other than 6m.
>
> A google search of the mailing list archives revealed a couple mentions of
> the KPA500's LCD backlight.  So, I went in and adjusted the LCD brightness.
> Dropping the brightness to "DAY" (which seems to turn the backlight totally
> off) completely clears up the spikes on 6m, any setting other than "DAY" and
> it's there - I can switch back and forth and watch the spikes appear and
> disappear.
>
> My email to elecraft support resulted in a response of "turn off the
> backlight."  With no backlight the KPA500 display is unreadable in my shack.
>
> This is a relatively minor issue for me given that I rarely operate on 6m,
> but I'm anal enough that I'd prefer to solve rather than accommodate the
> problem.
>
> Anyone else seen this and/or have any ideas about how to deal with it, other
> than turning off the backlight?
>
> Thanks,
> Joe / WB1M
>

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[Jim Sheldon]

I have a few birdies on 6, but after reading your post Jim, I checked
them out against the KPA500 and so far I can't find any that I can
attribute to the amplifier.  I marked down all the ones I could hear
with the amplifier on and the LCD as bright as it will go.  I then shut
the amp off and just to be sure, I disconnected power from it
completely.  All the birdies originally noted were still there and none
changed when I turned the amp back on.

I'd check all the cabling connections internal and external to the amp
and see if you don't have one that's not completely seated causing a
"Pin-1" problem.

Jim - W0EB

------ Original Message ------
From: "Phil Wheeler" <[hidden email]>
To: [hidden email]
Sent: 2/26/2015 2:33:13 PM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KPA500: birdies on 6m from LCD backlight

>No such problem here, at all, Jim. I wonder if you have a cabling
>issue?
>
>Phil W7OX
>
>On 2/26/15 11:47 AM, Joe Hall wrote:
>>Just got a KPA500 kit a couple of weeks ago (S/N 2380). Upon
>>installing it
>>in my system I immediately noticed sharp spikes about every 9.5 kHz
>>(only on
>>6m) in my panadapter. These spikes are "audible" on my K3 and appear
>>whenever the KPA500 is on, whether in standby or operate. Nothing at
>>all
>>noted on any band other than 6m.
>>
>>A google search of the mailing list archives revealed a couple
>>mentions of
>>the KPA500's LCD backlight. So, I went in and adjusted the LCD
>>brightness.
>>Dropping the brightness to "DAY" (which seems to turn the backlight
>>totally
>>off) completely clears up the spikes on 6m, any setting other than
>>"DAY" and
>>it's there - I can switch back and forth and watch the spikes appear
>>and
>>disappear.
>>
>>My email to elecraft support resulted in a response of "turn off the
>>backlight." With no backlight the KPA500 display is unreadable in my
>>shack.
>>
>>This is a relatively minor issue for me given that I rarely operate on
>>6m,
>>but I'm anal enough that I'd prefer to solve rather than accommodate
>>the
>>problem.
>>
>>Anyone else seen this and/or have any ideas about how to deal with it,
>>other
>>than turning off the backlight?
>>
>>Thanks,
>>Joe / WB1M
>>
>
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[Elecraft mailing list]

I'm glad you brought this up
I was planning on getting the KPA500 and I also have a darker shackbut I like working 6 meters so this would be an issue for me.




      From: Joe Hall <[hidden email]>
 To: [hidden email]
 Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2015 2:47 PM
 Subject: [Elecraft] KPA500: birdies on 6m from LCD backlight
   
Just got a KPA500 kit a couple of weeks ago (S/N 2380).  Upon installing it
in my system I immediately noticed sharp spikes about every 9.5 kHz (only on
6m) in my panadapter.  These spikes are "audible" on my K3 and appear
whenever the KPA500 is on, whether in standby or operate.  Nothing at all
noted on any band other than 6m. 

A google search of the mailing list archives revealed a couple mentions of
the KPA500's LCD backlight.  So, I went in and adjusted the LCD brightness.
Dropping the brightness to "DAY" (which seems to turn the backlight totally
off) completely clears up the spikes on 6m, any setting other than "DAY" and
it's there - I can switch back and forth and watch the spikes appear and
disappear.

My email to elecraft support resulted in a response of "turn off the
backlight."  With no backlight the KPA500 display is unreadable in my shack.

This is a relatively minor issue for me given that I rarely operate on 6m,
but I'm anal enough that I'd prefer to solve rather than accommodate the
problem. 

Anyone else seen this and/or have any ideas about how to deal with it, other
than turning off the backlight?

Thanks,
Joe / WB1M



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[KD7PY]

his is my post of Nov, 15 2011:

This is what I found as the source of the birdie's in the amp.

with the LCD BRT set anywhere from 1 to 8 the birdies are there.
with the LCD BRT set to DAY the birds are gone..

I have been working all day with Dale @ Elecraft with this and just sent him a e-mail of what I found.
Dale has been very involved in this trying to track this down..
 
now we need  to see just what kind of fix we can come up with..

I can't Thank Dale and crew enough for the support they have put into this, as it appears everyone got envolved.

Thanks Again Dale @ crew..

Elecraft sent me a new Front board , as it is due to a bad filter cap on the display driver

Ed    K7WIA

[WB4SON]

I have an older KPA500.  I just scanned the entire 6 meter band and
couldn't find the birdies you were referring to.  I tried all the
brightness levels for the LCD and never noticed anything either on the P3
or in the K3.

That made me think of a problem I was having with my P3 a long time ago.
The coax that shipped with the unit (interconnection between the K3 and P3)
was defective and was letting all sorts of signals into the P3.  I replaced
that with a high quality coax cable and the issue went away.

Is it possible that might by the problem?

73, Bob, WB4SON
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[Scott Manthe-2]

Which Elecraft support person gave you this response? I've never heard
of anyone at Elecraft have that kind of attitude when addressing a
customer concern.

73,
Scott, N9AA


On 2/26/15 2:47 PM, Joe Hall wrote:

> My email to elecraft support resulted in a response of "turn off the
> backlight."  With no backlight the KPA500 display is unreadable in my shack.
>
> This is a relatively minor issue for me given that I rarely operate on 6m,
> but I'm anal enough that I'd prefer to solve rather than accommodate the
> problem.
>
> Anyone else seen this and/or have any ideas about how to deal with it, other
> than turning off the backlight?
>
> Thanks,
> Joe / WB1M
>
>
>
>

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[KD7PY]

the birdies are about 16kc apart, the same freq as the display driver,
Elecraft should know about this, see my above post. after the new board was installed there are NO BIRDIES

someone there needs to get up dated on this as a VK also had this problem and it was corrected..

Ed  K7WIA  ex K7WIA

[Don Wilhelm-4]

I can understand his being asked to turn off the backlight as a test or
as a temporary workaround, but not as a permanent cure.  Perhaps there
was a 'glitch' in the communications channels.

BTW - the last email from the originator indicated that it has been
traced to a bad filter capacitor, so all those who were beginning to
think this was 'normal behavior' can rest easy - it was only a problem
with one KPA500.  As attributed to by several other posts saying that
others did not find any 6 meter responses originating from their KPA500,
I would say it is not a widespread problem.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 2/26/2015 4:06 PM, Scott Manthe wrote:
> Which Elecraft support person gave you this response? I've never heard
> of anyone at Elecraft have that kind of attitude when addressing a
> customer concern.
>
> 73,
> Scott, N9AA

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[Roger Marrotte-3]

Hi Joe,

I have KPA500 S/N 2381.  Mine was a kit also.  I just checked out 6 meters
and can hear no birdies that seem to coming from the amp.  I hear just a
couple that are there with or without the LCD backlight on.  Same results
with the amp off or on.

Roger, W1EM

-----Original Message-----
From: Elecraft [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Joe
Hall
Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2015 2:48 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: [Elecraft] KPA500: birdies on 6m from LCD backlight

Just got a KPA500 kit a couple of weeks ago (S/N 2380).  Upon installing it
in my system I immediately noticed sharp spikes about every 9.5 kHz (only on
6m) in my panadapter.  These spikes are "audible" on my K3 and appear
whenever the KPA500 is on, whether in standby or operate.  Nothing at all
noted on any band other than 6m.  

A google search of the mailing list archives revealed a couple mentions of
the KPA500's LCD backlight.  So, I went in and adjusted the LCD brightness.
Dropping the brightness to "DAY" (which seems to turn the backlight totally
off) completely clears up the spikes on 6m, any setting other than "DAY" and
it's there - I can switch back and forth and watch the spikes appear and
disappear.

My email to elecraft support resulted in a response of "turn off the
backlight."  With no backlight the KPA500 display is unreadable in my shack.

This is a relatively minor issue for me given that I rarely operate on 6m,
but I'm anal enough that I'd prefer to solve rather than accommodate the
problem.  

Anyone else seen this and/or have any ideas about how to deal with it, other
than turning off the backlight?

Thanks,
Joe / WB1M



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[mcduffie]

On Thu, 26 Feb 2015 13:15:09 -0700, [hidden email] wrote:

>
> > This is a relatively minor issue for me given that I rarely operate on 6m,
> > but I'm anal enough that I'd prefer to solve rather than accommodate the
> > problem.  
>
> Joe, this WILL be a problem for me, since almost all of my activity of late is
> 6m MS, and the amp is almost always used.  I've noticed plenty of birdies, but
> never thought to try to trace them.  Since I have no "bandscope", I can only
> check them one at a time, and will do so now that you have brought it up.
>
> Thanks for the heads up.  Like you, I can not do without the light.

No evidence of it here.  I checked the bottom 500KHz from 50.000 up and every
birdie I have stayed when the display light was turned off.  If you can offer
specific frequencies to check, I'd be glad to do it.

Gary
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[Elecraft mailing list]

Thank you



      From: Don Wilhelm <[hidden email]>
 To: [hidden email]
 Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2015 4:27 PM
 Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KPA500: birdies on 6m from LCD backlight
   
I can understand his being asked to turn off the backlight as a test or
as a temporary workaround, but not as a permanent cure.  Perhaps there
was a 'glitch' in the communications channels.

BTW - the last email from the originator indicated that it has been
traced to a bad filter capacitor, so all those who were beginning to
think this was 'normal behavior' can rest easy - it was only a problem
with one KPA500.  As attributed to by several other posts saying that
others did not find any 6 meter responses originating from their KPA500,
I would say it is not a widespread problem.

73,
Don W3FPR



On 2/26/2015 4:06 PM, Scott Manthe wrote:
> Which Elecraft support person gave you this response? I've never heard
> of anyone at Elecraft have that kind of attitude when addressing a
> customer concern.
>
> 73,
> Scott, N9AA

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[KD7PY]

his is my post of Nov, 15 2011:

This is what I found as the source of the birdie's in the amp.

with the LCD BRT set anywhere from 1 to 8 the birdies are there.
with the LCD BRT set to DAY the birds are gone..

I have been working all day with Dale @ Elecraft with this and just sent him
a e-mail of what I found.
Dale has been very involved in this trying to track this down..
 
now we need  to see just what kind of fix we can come up with..

I can't Thank Dale and crew enough for the support they have put into this,
as it appears everyone got envolved.

Thanks Again Dale @ crew..

Elecraft sent me a new Front board , as it is due to a bad filter cap on the
display driver

Ed    K7WIA



--
Sent from: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/
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