KX3 Issues

[Bill Frantz]

I was working the in the NE QSO Party and found that 3 buttons
on my KX3 stopped working. I get no response from the MSG, PRE,
and ATTN keys when I either press or hold them. I know the MSG
and PRE keys were working earlier today when I set up a voice
message to send my call sign.

I haven't opened the case or anything similar. The buttons still
fail when I disconnect all the external cables and run the radio
on the internal batteries. I've only been pushing buttons and
controlling the radio from my Mac.

I do have some issues also on the PX3, but I don't think they
are related. (Saved for another email.)

Any ideas of what I should look at? (I'm in NH and don't have a
full set of tools. Just a multimeter and some small screwdrivers etc.)

73 Bill AE6JV

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Bill Frantz        | Concurrency is hard. 12 out  | Periwinkle
[phone]      | 10 programmers get it wrong. | 16345
Englewood Ave
www.pwpconsult.com |                - Jeff Frantz | Los Gatos,
CA 95032

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[Petr, OK1RP/M0SIS]

Bill,

I have exactly the same issue on my old KX3 for last few days.

I got the hint from VK5CP on groups.io to check that the ribbon connectors
are seated properly as he had the same fault and it resolved this issue.

I am going to do it also today evening after coming back from work.

Let me know if it helped please.

73



-----
73 - Petr, OK1RP
"Apple & Elecraft freak"
B:http://ok1rp.blogspot.com
MeWe: https://bit.ly/2HGPoDx
MeWe: https://bit.ly/2FmwvDt
--
Sent from: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/
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[Bill Frantz]

Thanks. I unplugged and replugged the ribbon cable and the
buttons started working again.

73 Bill AE6JV

On 5/5/19 at 7:37 PM, [hidden email] (Walter Underwood) wrote:

>I would open it up and reseat the ribbon cable connectors. If
>that doesn’t work, I’d save a config, EEINIT, and reload
>the config.
>
>I’ve had weird button behavior issues fixed by each of those.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bill Frantz        | Government is not reason, it is not
eloquence, it is force; like
408-356-8506       | a fire, a troublesome servant and a fearful
master. Never for a
www.pwpconsult.com | moment should it be left to irresponsible
action. Geo Washington

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[Elecraft mailing list]

Good morning reflector peeps…

As a new operator and a relatively new owner of a new-to-me KX3, this was a good thing to read. No, I do not have problems with any of the buttons of my KX3. But, that little radio goes a lot of places with me and this will be something I remember should the need arise.

Thanks and 73 de AG7TX...

David Thompson, AG7TX
Jack of All Trades
Master of None
[hidden email]

> On May 6, 2019, at 05:33, Bill Frantz <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> Thanks. I unplugged and replugged the ribbon cable and the buttons started working again.
>
> 73 Bill AE6JV
>
> On 5/5/19 at 7:37 PM, [hidden email] (Walter Underwood) wrote:
>
>> I would open it up and reseat the ribbon cable connectors. If that doesn’t work, I’d save a config, EEINIT, and reload the config.
>>
>> I’ve had weird button behavior issues fixed by each of those.
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Bill Frantz        | Government is not reason, it is not eloquence, it is force; like
> 408-356-8506       | a fire, a troublesome servant and a fearful master. Never for a
> www.pwpconsult.com | moment should it be left to irresponsible action. Geo Washington
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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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[Bill Frantz]

I should note that the ribbon cable was not loose. It was fully
inserted when I pulled it out and pushed it back in and things
started working.

73 Bill AE6JV

On 5/6/19 at 7:46 AM, [hidden email] (David Thompson
via Elecraft) wrote:

>Good morning reflector peeps…
>
>As a new operator and a relatively new owner of a new-to-me
>KX3, this was a good thing to read. No, I do not have problems
>with any of the buttons of my KX3. But, that little radio goes
>a lot of places with me and this will be something I remember
>should the need arise.
>
>Thanks and 73 de AG7TX...
>
>David Thompson, AG7TX
>Jack of All Trades
>Master of None
>[hidden email]
>
>
>
>
>>On May 6, 2019, at 05:33, Bill Frantz <[hidden email]> wrote:
>>
>>Thanks. I unplugged and replugged the ribbon cable and the buttons started
>working again.
>>
>>73 Bill AE6JV
>>
>>On 5/5/19 at 7:37 PM, [hidden email] (Walter Underwood) wrote:
>>
>>> I would open it up and reseat the ribbon cable connectors. If that
>doesn’t work, I’d save a config, EEINIT, and reload the config.
>>>   I’ve had weird button behavior issues fixed by each of those.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bill Frantz        | Re: Hardware Management Modes: | Periwinkle
[phone]      | If there's a mode, there's a   | 16345
Englewood Ave
www.pwpconsult.com | failure mode. - Jerry Leichter | Los Gatos,
CA 95032

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[Petr, OK1RP/M0SIS]

Hi all,

some time ago also I reported that the MSG, PRE and ATTN buttons on my KX3
stopped working. I used them as I stored messages into bank 1 and 2 and few
times I used to recall the mems but after some time the buttons stopped to
response. No responding anymore > ON/OFF did not helped. Rest of buttons
tested and works well.

I solved it with the same procedure which I recommended in this thread...
thanks to Chris, VK5CP.
 
The ribbon cable had to be re-seated. As I have clean pressed air available
with several bars presure and -83deg C dew-point I also cleaned the
connectors on the ribbon cable before installing it back. It helped >
problem solved.

Be sure that the ribbon cable is oriented with the long tab toward the
speaker and all pins are engaged when you will put it back to your radio.

If you have the similar sympthoms then try it first before more complicated
actions. It is easy and can help in few minutes.




-----
73 - Petr, OK1RP
"Apple & Elecraft freak"
B:http://ok1rp.blogspot.com
MeWe: https://bit.ly/2HGPoDx
MeWe: https://bit.ly/2FmwvDt
--
Sent from: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/
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[Petr, OK1RP/M0SIS]

Hi Paul,

yes of course.

1. Remove all cables and use some ESD protection (at least discharge themself to grounding point)

2. Unscrew four main thumb screws and open the KX3 carefully

3. In the middle you will find flat (like PC) flex cable (we say ribbon cable) conecting both sides together

4. Even although it seems that on both sides the flex cable is seating well in > remove it carefully on both sides. You will have two parts of KX3 > still connected together with battery cable (if installed as shown on Page 41, Fig. 62 of manual) + the flex cable on the table. If the battery opt. is not installed then you will have two separated KX3 parts + ribbon cable on the table. See the page 40, 41 of the manual here: https://ftp.elecraft.com/KX3/Manuals%20Downloads/E740164%20KX3%20Kit%20Assembly%20Manual.pdf

5. Clean the pins in PCB with isopropylalcohol and blow out dust residues in connectors on the flex cable  

6. Re-seat/instal the flex cable back to KX3 carefully. Be sure that the ribbon cable is oriented with the long tab toward the speaker and all pins are engaged when you will put it back to your radio. See Fig.61 on Page 41 of the manual here: https://ftp.elecraft.com/KX3/Manuals%20Downloads/E740164%20KX3%20Kit%20Assembly%20Manual.pdf

7. Check again that flex cable seats well fully engaged and there is nothing forgoten inside of KX3.

8. Close the top and bottom covers of your KX3 carefully and secure them with thumb screws.
CAUTION: As you close the covers ensure that the flex cable folds into the space next to the CP board connector as shown. Do not allow it to fold toward the battery holders. If the flex cable resists pushing into the space next to the CP board connector, use your finger to gently crease it along the edge of the connector as shown in Figure 61 of the manual.

9. Turn on KX3 and enjoy all buttons functioning again... :)

Hope it helps.
73 - Petr, OK1RP


On Wed, May 22, 2019, at 6:50 PM, Paul Gacek wrote:
> Petr
>
> I took a tumble coming off a SOTA peak this weekend doing a rather
> precarious summersault via my pack which had my KX3 in it.
>
> It now has failed in exactly the same way you described.
>
> Can you possibly re-share the fix as I’ll try it before sending the KX3
> (which has seen so many peaks and foreign countries) back to Elecraft.
>
> Paul
> M0SNA/W6PNG
> www.nomadic.blog
>
> > On May 22, 2019, at 10:02 AM, Petr, OK1RP/M0SIS <[e-mail]> wrote:
> >
> > Hi all,
> >
> > some time ago also I reported that the MSG, PRE and ATTN buttons on my KX3
> > stopped working. I used them as I stored messages into bank 1 and 2 and few
> > times I used to recall the mems but after some time the buttons stopped to
> > response. No responding anymore > ON/OFF did not helped. Rest of buttons
> > tested and works well.
> >
> > I solved it with the same procedure which I recommended in this thread...
> > thanks to Chris, VK5CP.
> >
> > The ribbon cable had to be re-seated. As I have clean pressed air available
> > with several bars presure and -83deg C dew-point I also cleaned the
> > connectors on the ribbon cable before installing it back. It helped >
> > problem solved.
> >
> > Be sure that the ribbon cable is oriented with the long tab toward the
> > speaker and all pins are engaged when you will put it back to your radio.
> >
> > If you have the similar sympthoms then try it first before more complicated
> > actions. It is easy and can help in few minutes.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > -----
> > 73 - Petr, OK1RP
> > "Apple & Elecraft freak"
> > B:http://ok1rp.blogspot.com
> > MeWe: https://bit.ly/2HGPoDx
> > MeWe: https://bit.ly/2FmwvDt
> > --
> > 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:[e-mail]
> >
> > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>
>

--
73 - Petr, OK1RP
--
B: http://goo.gl/Fd2JhJ
MeWe: https://bit.ly/2HGPoDx
MeWe: https://bit.ly/2FmwvDt
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[Petr, OK1RP/M0SIS]

Hi all,

some people asked me for re-sharing the complete manual for button issue
solution.

I compiled it over here:
https://ok1rp.blogspot.com/2019/05/no-response-from-msg-pre-and-attn-keys.html

...if someone likes.





-----
73 - Petr, OK1RP
"Apple & Elecraft freak"
B:http://ok1rp.blogspot.com
MeWe: https://bit.ly/2HGPoDx
MeWe: https://bit.ly/2FmwvDt
--
Sent from: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/
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[hbjr]

Nice write-up!

Hank
K4HYJ
K3S, P3, KX3

----- Original Message -----
From: Petr, OK1RP/M0SIS ([hidden email])
Date: 05/28/19 10:02
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KX3 Issues

Hi all,

some people asked me for re-sharing the complete manual for button issue
solution.

I compiled it over here:
https://ok1rp.blogspot.com/2019/05/no-response-from-msg-pre-and-attn-keys.html

...if someone likes.





-----
73 - Petr, OK1RP
"Apple & Elecraft freak"
B:http://ok1rp.blogspot.com
MeWe: https://bit.ly/2HGPoDx
MeWe: https://bit.ly/2FmwvDt
--
Sent from: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/
______________________________________________________________
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[Petr, OK1RP/M0SIS]

Thanks Hank.
The .pdf format document is available too upon email request.




-----
73 - Petr, OK1RP
"Apple & Elecraft freak"
B:http://ok1rp.blogspot.com
MeWe: https://bit.ly/2HGPoDx
MeWe: https://bit.ly/2FmwvDt
--
Sent from: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/
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