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KX2 TX "Sticks On" in FT8?

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MaverickNH

KX2 TX "Sticks On" in FT8?

While running FT8 on my KX2/KXPA100, the TX red LED will sometimes stay on
and the FT8 waterfall shows blank (like when TXing). ALC is stuck on 1 Bar
when I've got it set 4-5 Bars. If I click Tune in WSJT-X once or twice I see
the 4-5 Bars ALC and then all returns to normal.

Is TX being "Stuck On" my KX2 or WSJT-X acting up? Using Win 10 and a
Soundblaster Play! 3 USB audio adaptor.

Bret/N4SRN

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Stephan Forth

Re: KX2 TX "Sticks On" in FT8?

Hi

I had the same problem. I turned down the volume slider on the computer a little and the LED went out and the KX2 was in receive mode again.
I don't know why. Vox was turned off.

73 Stephan, DF6PA

Using Raspberry and MiniProSC Audio adapter. PTT handled by CAT control.

> MaverickNH <[hidden email]> hat am 9. August 2019 um 13:32 geschrieben:
>
>
> While running FT8 on my KX2/KXPA100, the TX red LED will sometimes stay on
> and the FT8 waterfall shows blank (like when TXing). ALC is stuck on 1 Bar
> when I've got it set 4-5 Bars. If I click Tune in WSJT-X once or twice I see
> the 4-5 Bars ALC and then all returns to normal.
>
> Is TX being "Stuck On" my KX2 or WSJT-X acting up? Using Win 10 and a
> Soundblaster Play! 3 USB audio adaptor.
>
> Bret/N4SRN
>
>
>
> --
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Jim Rhodes-3

Re: KX2 TX "Sticks On" in FT8?

This was one of the problems I was having. Mostly on 40. I ended up putting
3 turns of the transmit audio line through a random snap on ferrite I
happened to have in the bag. The hangup stopped and alc settled down to a
stable value instead of jumping around.

Jim Rhodes
K0XU

On Fri, Aug 9, 2019, 07:02 Stephan Forth <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Hi
>
> I had the same problem. I turned down the volume slider on the computer a
> little and the LED went out and the KX2 was in receive mode again.
> I don't know why. Vox was turned off.
>
> 73 Stephan, DF6PA
>
> Using Raspberry and MiniProSC Audio adapter. PTT handled by CAT control.
>
> > MaverickNH <[hidden email]> hat am 9. August 2019 um 13:32
> geschrieben:
> >
> >
> > While running FT8 on my KX2/KXPA100, the TX red LED will sometimes stay
> on
> > and the FT8 waterfall shows blank (like when TXing). ALC is stuck on 1
> Bar
> > when I've got it set 4-5 Bars. If I click Tune in WSJT-X once or twice I
> see
> > the 4-5 Bars ALC and then all returns to normal.
> >
> > Is TX being "Stuck On" my KX2 or WSJT-X acting up? Using Win 10 and a
> > Soundblaster Play! 3 USB audio adaptor.
> >
> > Bret/N4SRN
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > Sent from: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/
> > ______________________________________________________________
> > Elecraft mailing list
> > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
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> > Post: mailto:[hidden email]
> >
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MaverickNH

Re: KX2 TX "Sticks On" in FT8?

I've got 2 Mix31 ferrite beads with 4 winds each on my SOTAbeams Bandhopper
40/30/20 coax feed, another before the coax feeds the KXPA100 and another
just before the KX2 - as well as ferrites on power cords and audio/CAT
cables connecting the rig. If that's not enough - ouch!

BRET/N4SRN

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Jim Rhodes-3

Re: KX2 TX "Sticks On" in FT8?

The problem here just came about on this temporary lication (temporary work
area), I have not had the problem before. There is not much space in the
yard area at the little apartment that I am living in for the summer. And I
just had this random bead laying in the bag with other odds and ends. I am
glad it was there though as it has kept me on the air.

Jim Rhodes
K0XU

On Fri, Aug 9, 2019, 07:22 MaverickNH <[hidden email]> wrote:

> I've got 2 Mix31 ferrite beads with 4 winds each on my SOTAbeams Bandhopper
> 40/30/20 coax feed, another before the coax feeds the KXPA100 and another
> just before the KX2 - as well as ferrites on power cords and audio/CAT
> cables connecting the rig. If that's not enough - ouch!
>
> BRET/N4SRN
>
>
>
> --
> Sent from: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/
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Keith N6JPA

Re: KX2 TX "Sticks On" in FT8?

In reply to this post by MaverickNH

On Fri, 9 Aug 2019 04:32:26 -0700 (MST), you wrote:

>ALC is stuck on 1 Bar

Read this document discussing ALC use with FT-8 and elecraft radios.

<https://www.g4ifb.com/FT8_Hinson_tips_for_HF_DXers.pdf>
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Don Wilhelm

Re: KX2 TX "Sticks On" in FT8?

In reply to this post by MaverickNH

Bret,

That sounds like noise, hum or buzz is getting into the audio cable
between your soundcard and the KX2. Try to find a metal connection on
you soundcard and run a heavy guage wire between that point and the
chassis of the KX2. Run another between the soundcard and the computer.
Often that bonding will help by routing the noise along the bonding
wire instead of the shield of the audio cable.

Also check for the possibility of RF feedback - if it works OK with a
dummy load, the apply RF common mode chokes to the coax.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 8/9/2019 7:32 AM, MaverickNH wrote:
> While running FT8 on my KX2/KXPA100, the TX red LED will sometimes stay on
> and the FT8 waterfall shows blank (like when TXing). ALC is stuck on 1 Bar
> when I've got it set 4-5 Bars. If I click Tune in WSJT-X once or twice I see
> the 4-5 Bars ALC and then all returns to normal.
>
> Is TX being "Stuck On" my KX2 or WSJT-X acting up? Using Win 10 and a
> Soundblaster Play! 3 USB audio adaptor.
>
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Bob McGraw - K4TAX

Re: KX2 TX "Sticks On" in FT8?

In reply to this post by Keith N6JPA

From my take, the radio is in transmit mode, the ALC is showing 1 bar
and stuck in transmit. This to me says there is noise coming out of the
computer, even though WSJT-X is given the receive command.   Somewhere
in this post I read that the OP reducing the computer slider eliminated
the issue.   This again says there is / was noise coming out of the
computer causing the VOX in the interface, not the radio as the VOX was
off, to be tripped by the computer noise.

There are multiple places where the audio level from the computer to the
radio can and must be adjusted correctly. From experience, none of the
level adjustments should be at or near maximum and same for the minimum
audio level adjustments. Strive for a mid range value of all
adjustments.    The PWR slider on the WSJT-X screen is one of the 3 or 4
audio level adjustments.

As to Elecraft ALC, it is clearly different in behavior and indication
with regard to "other" radios. Do Not apply "other" radio methods for
the Elecraft radios. For Elecraft radios, the ALC indicator, to
which the first 4 bars are actually AUDIO LEVEL indication, thus are not
indicating ALC action. The ALC takes place at or after the 5th bar.
For that reason, one should adjust the audio levels such that there are
4 bars on solid and the 5th bar flickering on and off. With the 5th bar
flickering, set the power output using the PWR control on the radio {not
on WSJT-X} and do not adjust any audio level.

In the case of the K3S and maybe other radios, I find when using the
TUNE function from WSJT-X of 1500 Hz there seems to be a beat between
the tone and the display scan rate. This produces a wildly fluctuation
in level appearance. Change the TUNE tone to some value slightly higher
or lower and the issue will be resolved.

For further reading, go to http://www.w3fpr.com/

and scroll on the left side down to: Setup Elecraft Radios for Data Modes.

That link is:    http://www.w3fpr.com/Data_setup.htm

73

Bob, K4TAX

On 8/9/2019 9:27 AM, Keith N6JPA wrote:
> On Fri, 9 Aug 2019 04:32:26 -0700 (MST), you wrote:
>
>> ALC is stuck on 1 Bar
>
> Read this document discussing ALC use with FT-8 and elecraft radios.
>
> <https://www.g4ifb.com/FT8_Hinson_tips_for_HF_DXers.pdf>
> ______________________________________________________________
>

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MaverickNH

Re: KX2 TX "Sticks On" in FT8?

In reply to this post by MaverickNH

While I had quite a few Mix31 beads on antenna coax and the various other
power, CAT and audio cables connecting my rig, it seems adding a few more
helped. I think it was a ferrite bead on the special cable set that connects
the KXPA100 and KX2 that did the trick. RF leaking in somehow!

While my base shack is all bonded to my AC panel ground, I'm running
"portable" with KX2/KPA100 on my deck and portable antennas in my back yard
while we're renovating. So I don't have a good bonding/ground configuration.
Virtually none!

BRET/N4SRN

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Jim Brown-10

Re: KX2 TX "Sticks On" in FT8?

On 8/9/2019 8:47 AM, MaverickNH wrote:
> While I had quite a few Mix31 beads on antenna coax and the various other
> power, CAT and audio cables connecting my rig, it seems adding a few more
> helped. I think it was a ferrite bead on the special cable set that connects
> the KXPA100 and KX2 that did the trick. RF leaking in somehow!
Mix #31 is useful on the HF bands ONLY if multiple turns are wound
through the core. Only passing the cable through a bead is useful only
on 2M. Study k9yc.com/RFI-Ham.pdf and http://k9yc.com/2018Cookbook.pdf
> While my base shack is all bonded to my AC panel ground, I'm running
> "portable" with KX2/KPA100 on my deck and portable antennas in my back yard
> while we're renovating. So I don't have a good bonding/ground configuration.
> Virtually none!

Every chassis in an interconnected system must be bonded together, even
if there is no connection to the earth. How are you powering the
KX2/KPA100? Battery? AC power supply and extension cord?

What is your antenna? Is it some form of end-fed wire, vertical or
random orientation? If so, you need some form of counterpoise to carry
the antenna's return current. If you don't provide one, return current
will flow on the coax to the radio and the other equipment connected to
it, where it can cause mischief. And you need a common mode choke at the
feedpoint (the far end of the coax) as described in the two links above.

73, Jim K9YC

>
> BRET/N4SRN
>
>
>
> --
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MaverickNH

Re: KX2 TX "Sticks On" in FT8?

In reply to this post by Don Wilhelm

Hi Don,

No metal on those USD Audio Adaptors, unfortunately. I tried some Audio
Isolator Transformers but those just gave PTT ERR on my KX2.

I see some USB and Ethernet Laptop Ground devices that the EMF-sensitive
people seem to use - I don't know if they work at all.

https://www.electrahealth.com/Ethernet-grounding-adapter-kit_p_129.html

https://www.electrahealth.com/Premium-USB-Grounding-Adapter-for-Laptops-and-Other-Devices_p_159.html

BRET/N4SRN

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Don Wilhelm

Re: KX2 TX "Sticks On" in FT8?

Bret,

There is no way that Audio Isolation transformers (by themselves) could
produce an ERR PTT unless you have VOX turned ON and the transformers
are making the hum worse.

ERR PTT means that there is a key (or PTT) closure during the power on
sequence. Look for the source.

I assume you have set PTT via CAT Command (or something similar) and
have turned off VOX in the KX2.

Hanging in transmit can be caused by using two sources to turn on
transmit. Make sure there is nothing plugged into the KEY jack and the
KXPD2 paddles are not closed - turn VOX to OFF and use PTT via CAT
Command from the software for the most reliable PTT operation.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 8/9/2019 4:25 PM, MaverickNH wrote:

> Hi Don,
>
> No metal on those USD Audio Adaptors, unfortunately. I tried some Audio
> Isolator Transformers but those just gave PTT ERR on my KX2.
>
> I see some USB and Ethernet Laptop Ground devices that the EMF-sensitive
> people seem to use - I don't know if they work at all.
>
> https://www.electrahealth.com/Ethernet-grounding-adapter-kit_p_129.html
>
> https://www.electrahealth.com/Premium-USB-Grounding-Adapter-for-Laptops-and-Other-Devices_p_159.html

Timothy Elwell

Re: KX2 TX "Sticks On" in FT8?

In reply to this post by MaverickNH

I apologize if this isn't applicable here. I don't have the KX2, so this
may be useless. However, I had the same issue going on with FT8 and
other digital modes with my KX3 (basically, anything the computer keyed.
Mic keying worked correctly, however). Nothing seemed to fix it, even
changing between computers, different sets of Elecraft cables, etc. With
the KX3, I opened it up and pulled both ends of the ribbon cable between
the top and bottom halves of the radio. When put back together,
everything worked like I champ. I can't say why it worked, but it fixed
my problem. Again, I don't know if the KX2 has this open half design
like the KX3 since I don't have one. But, I thought I would throw this
out in case it does.

Tim
KG1GEM

On 8/9/19 6:32 AM, MaverickNH wrote:

> While running FT8 on my KX2/KXPA100, the TX red LED will sometimes stay on
> and the FT8 waterfall shows blank (like when TXing). ALC is stuck on 1 Bar
> when I've got it set 4-5 Bars. If I click Tune in WSJT-X once or twice I see
> the 4-5 Bars ALC and then all returns to normal.
>
> Is TX being "Stuck On" my KX2 or WSJT-X acting up? Using Win 10 and a
> Soundblaster Play! 3 USB audio adaptor.
>
> Bret/N4SRN
>
>
>
> --
> Sent from: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/
> ______________________________________________________________
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--
Tim
KG1GEM
Flower Mound, TX
Denton County SkyWarn Spotter

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