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KX3 ATU not working

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Aaron K5ATG

KX3 ATU not working

For some reason, I could not reply to the mail list.

The ATU on my KX3 is not tuning. When I hit the tune button I hear the
relays and the display shows an SWR of 25.4-1
Here is what I have done so far.
Under the menu, the ATU MD is set to Auto
I hooked the KX3 to a dummy load with a good piece of coax and it still
showed SWR of 25.4-1.
I opened the KX3 up, removed the batteries, removed the 2-meter
transverter, and removed the ATU. The cable from J1 to the BNC was well
connected at both ends. Upon inspection, I could find no loose cables or
parts in the rest of the KX3.
I reassembled everything and I am still getting an SWR of 25.4-1 with the
dummy load.
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Grant Youngman-2

Re: KX3 ATU not working

It sounds like you need to contact Elecraft support …

Grant NQ5T
K3 #2091 KX3 #8342

> On Aug 13, 2019, at 6:42 PM, Aaron <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> For some reason, I could not reply to the mail list.
>
> The ATU on my KX3 is not tuning. When I hit the tune button I hear the
> relays and the display shows an SWR of 25.4-1
> Here is what I have done so far.
> Under the menu, the ATU MD is set to Auto
> I hooked the KX3 to a dummy load with a good piece of coax and it still
> showed SWR of 25.4-1.
> I opened the KX3 up, removed the batteries, removed the 2-meter
> transverter, and removed the ATU. The cable from J1 to the BNC was well
> connected at both ends. Upon inspection, I could find no loose cables or
> parts in the rest of the KX3.
> I reassembled everything and I am still getting an SWR of 25.4-1 with the
> dummy load.

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Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
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Elecraft mailing list

Re: KX3 ATU not working

In reply to this post by Aaron K5ATG

The only time I have seen this SWR on my KX3 is when the internal batteries (eneloop) were partially discharged and the voltage was 8.5 vdc (tuning caused the voltage to drop to 8.2 vdc). I noticed this when testing beta firmware for Elecraft to assess ATU behavior using different voltages Have you tried connecting your KX3 to an external power supply that delivers 13.4 vdc and at least 2a? If this does not address the issue contact Elecraft support.

73 Howard WX7HS

> On Aug 13, 2019, at 15:44, Aaron <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> For some reason, I could not reply to the mail list.
>
> The ATU on my KX3 is not tuning. When I hit the tune button I hear the
> relays and the display shows an SWR of 25.4-1
> Here is what I have done so far.
> Under the menu, the ATU MD is set to Auto
> I hooked the KX3 to a dummy load with a good piece of coax and it still
> showed SWR of 25.4-1.
> I opened the KX3 up, removed the batteries, removed the 2-meter
> transverter, and removed the ATU. The cable from J1 to the BNC was well
> connected at both ends. Upon inspection, I could find no loose cables or
> parts in the rest of the KX3.
> I reassembled everything and I am still getting an SWR of 25.4-1 with the
> dummy load.
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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]

Don Wilhelm

Re: KX3 ATU not working

In reply to this post by Aaron K5ATG

Aaron,

Your tests leave a couple questions - I could assume, but I would rather
not - unsaid things often reveal problems.

Are you powering the KX3 from an external supply having at least a 13.8
volt output?

After you connected the dummy load, did you do an ATU TUNE?

Is there any chance you could have had a static surge on the antenna
coax that could have zapped the wattmeter diodes?

Email [hidden email] to see if they can give you some points to
measure.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 8/13/2019 6:42 PM, Aaron wrote:

> For some reason, I could not reply to the mail list.
>
> The ATU on my KX3 is not tuning. When I hit the tune button I hear the
> relays and the display shows an SWR of 25.4-1
> Here is what I have done so far.
> Under the menu, the ATU MD is set to Auto
> I hooked the KX3 to a dummy load with a good piece of coax and it still
> showed SWR of 25.4-1.
> I opened the KX3 up, removed the batteries, removed the 2-meter
> transverter, and removed the ATU. The cable from J1 to the BNC was well
> connected at both ends. Upon inspection, I could find no loose cables or
> parts in the rest of the KX3.
> I reassembled everything and I am still getting an SWR of 25.4-1 with the
> dummy load.

Nr4c

Re: KX3 ATU not working

In reply to this post by Grant Youngman-2

An SWR of 25.4:1 is usual indicator of Mo Antenna connected.

Sent from my iPhone
...nr4c. bill

> On Aug 13, 2019, at 7:09 PM, Grant Youngman <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> It sounds like you need to contact Elecraft support …
>
> Grant NQ5T
> K3 #2091 KX3 #8342
>
>> On Aug 13, 2019, at 6:42 PM, Aaron <[hidden email]> wrote:
>>
>> For some reason, I could not reply to the mail list.
>>
>> The ATU on my KX3 is not tuning. When I hit the tune button I hear the
>> relays and the display shows an SWR of 25.4-1
>> Here is what I have done so far.
>> Under the menu, the ATU MD is set to Auto
>> I hooked the KX3 to a dummy load with a good piece of coax and it still
>> showed SWR of 25.4-1.
>> I opened the KX3 up, removed the batteries, removed the 2-meter
>> transverter, and removed the ATU. The cable from J1 to the BNC was well
>> connected at both ends. Upon inspection, I could find no loose cables or
>> parts in the rest of the KX3.
>> I reassembled everything and I am still getting an SWR of 25.4-1 with the
>> dummy load.
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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]

Jay Rutherford-3

Re: KX3 ATU not working

Hi Folks,

In his posts here and in two or three that I have had with him off line, I think Aaron needs to have a chat with Elecraft support, as Grant suggested. He has taken all the steps suggested (and just now suggested again), with no joy. Maybe the KX3 needs to take a trip to CA.

73 Jay K3BH

On Tue, Aug 13, 2019, at 22:41, Nr4c wrote:

> An SWR of 25.4:1 is usual indicator of Mo Antenna connected.
>
> Sent from my iPhone
> ...nr4c. bill
>
>
> > On Aug 13, 2019, at 7:09 PM, Grant Youngman <[hidden email]> wrote:
> >
> > It sounds like you need to contact Elecraft support …
> >
> > Grant NQ5T
> > K3 #2091 KX3 #8342
> >
> >> On Aug 13, 2019, at 6:42 PM, Aaron <[hidden email]> wrote:
> >>
> >> For some reason, I could not reply to the mail list.
> >>
> >> The ATU on my KX3 is not tuning. When I hit the tune button I hear the
> >> relays and the display shows an SWR of 25.4-1
> >> Here is what I have done so far.
> >> Under the menu, the ATU MD is set to Auto
> >> I hooked the KX3 to a dummy load with a good piece of coax and it still
> >> showed SWR of 25.4-1.
> >> I opened the KX3 up, removed the batteries, removed the 2-meter
> >> transverter, and removed the ATU. The cable from J1 to the BNC was well
> >> connected at both ends. Upon inspection, I could find no loose cables or
> >> parts in the rest of the KX3.
> >> I reassembled everything and I am still getting an SWR of 25.4-1 with the
> >> dummy load.
> >
> > ______________________________________________________________
> > 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]