Elecraft

KX3 No meter indication when transmitting digital

Classic

List

Threaded

8 messages Options

Tony Estep

KX3 No meter indication when transmitting digital

I have been operating with FT8 and WSPR lately. Both use an audio-generated
digital signal just like any AFSK mode. I tune up my transmitter to show
4-5 bars on ALC. Everything seems to work at first, but after one or two
transmissions the display shows only one bar on the left and one on the
right -- and if I move the Mic Gain, all bars disappear leaving a blank
display. The transmit light stays on but I can't tell if I'm transmitting
any audio or not. What's going on??

thanks,
Tony KT0NY
______________________________________________________________
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

Bill Frantz

Re: KX3 No meter indication when transmitting digital

If I remember correctly, the KX3 can show zero bars when
overdriven. I's easy to check. Just bring the level up slowly
from zero and check that the ALC rises slowly.

Remember that there are at least 3 AF level controls. The one in
the program, the OS level control, and the knob on the KX3.

I don't know why any of them would change suddenly though.

An external RF power meter or another receiver can check if you
are transmitting.

73 Bill AE6JV

On 3/14/19 at 7:52 PM, [hidden email] (Tony Estep) wrote:

>I have been operating with FT8 and WSPR lately. Both use an audio-generated
>digital signal just like any AFSK mode. I tune up my transmitter to show
>4-5 bars on ALC. Everything seems to work at first, but after one or two
>transmissions the display shows only one bar on the left and one on the
>right -- and if I move the Mic Gain, all bars disappear leaving a blank
>display. The transmit light stays on but I can't tell if I'm transmitting
>any audio or not. What's going on??
>
>thanks,
>Tony KT0NY

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Bill Frantz | Concurrency is hard. 12 out | Periwinkle
(408)356-8506 | 10 programmers get it wrong. | 16345
Englewood Ave
www.pwpconsult.com | - Jeff Frantz | Los Gatos,
CA 95032

______________________________________________________________
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

Bob McGraw - K4TAX

Re: KX3 No meter indication when transmitting digital

If my understanding is correct AFSK is optimized for RTTY where as DATA
A is for other audio digital modes. If operating AFSK then the range or
frequency of the tones are critical, being optimized for the RTTY tones,
unlike DATA A which will cover 200 Hz to 2700 Hz. Sounds like
operating in the incorrect mode for FT-8.

73

Bob, K4TAX

On 3/14/2019 11:59 PM, Bill Frantz wrote:

> If I remember correctly, the KX3 can show zero bars when overdriven.
> I's easy to check. Just bring the level up slowly from zero and check
> that the ALC rises slowly.
>
> Remember that there are at least 3 AF level controls. The one in the
> program, the OS level control, and the knob on the KX3.
>
> I don't know why any of them would change suddenly though.
>
> An external RF power meter or another receiver can check if you are
> transmitting.
>
> 73 Bill AE6JV
>
> On 3/14/19 at 7:52 PM, [hidden email] (Tony Estep) wrote:
>
>> I have been operating with FT8 and WSPR lately. Both use an
>> audio-generated
>> digital signal just like any AFSK mode. I tune up my transmitter to show
>> 4-5 bars on ALC. Everything seems to work at first, but after one or two
>> transmissions the display shows only one bar on the left and one on the
>> right -- and if I move the Mic Gain, all bars disappear leaving a blank
>> display. The transmit light stays on but I can't tell if I'm
>> transmitting
>> any audio or not. What's going on??
>>
>> thanks,
>> Tony KT0NY
>
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------
> Bill Frantz        | Concurrency is hard. 12 out | Periwinkle
> (408)356-8506      | 10 programmers get it wrong. | 16345 Englewood Ave
> www.pwpconsult.com |                - Jeff Frantz | Los Gatos, CA 95032
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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

Don Wilhelm

Re: KX3 No meter indication when transmitting digital

In reply to this post by Tony Estep

Tony,

Check your audio level settings - there are at least 3, the KX3 mic
gain, the soundcard level in your OS and any "Power" slider in your
software application, and if you are using a SignaLink, there is a 4th,
the knob on the SignaLink box. They should all be near a mid-range
setting. If set to a low end or a high end, the resolution between
steps is large - when set to a mid-range position the steps between
adjacent values is much smaller and easier to control.

In WSJT-X, that slider marked POWER is mislabeled, it is just another
audio level control. Set it properly and don't change it. The only
valid power control is the KX3 knob.

Read the document on this subject on my website www.w3fpr.com. Scroll
the left column to the bottom entry and click to see the document.

Also, you should be using DATA A mode, and not AFSK A. AFSK A is
special for use with RTTY.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 3/14/2019 10:52 PM, Tony Estep wrote:
> I have been operating with FT8 and WSPR lately. Both use an audio-generated
> digital signal just like any AFSK mode. I tune up my transmitter to show
> 4-5 bars on ALC. Everything seems to work at first, but after one or two
> transmissions the display shows only one bar on the left and one on the
> right -- and if I move the Mic Gain, all bars disappear leaving a blank
> display. The transmit light stays on but I can't tell if I'm transmitting
> any audio or not. What's going on??
______________________________________________________________
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

Tony Estep

Re: KX3 No meter indication when transmitting digital

On Fri, Mar 15, 2019 at 9:36 AM Don Wilhelm <[hidden email]> wrote:

> ...you should be using DATA A mode, and not AFSK A....
>
==============
Don, thanks for your comments and the info on your website. Thanks also to
the others who replied.

I am not using AFSK A mode. I never should have said anything about AFSK --
I only mentioned it to explain that the WSPR signal comes from the audio
tone generated by the software.

I have verified that I'm getting audio out of the computer and into the KX3
mic jack. The mic bias is set to off. I'm transmitting into a dummy load,
swr = 1. The meter seems to show the right display (SWR 1 bar, power 2
bars), but when I touch the mic gain knob the display goes blank. I can no
longer get the display showing the ALC, no matter what I do.

Despite all this the KX3 does seem to be transmitting correctly at least
part of the time -- but at other times it does not. If I could figure out
what is happening with the ALC display I think I could get everything going
properly. Any more thoughts?

Tony KT0NY

On Fri, Mar 15, 2019 at 10:01 AM Tony Estep <[hidden email]> wrote:

> On Fri, Mar 15, 2019 at 9:36 AM Don Wilhelm <[hidden email]>
> wrote:
>
>> ...you should be using DATA A mode, and not AFSK A....
>>
> ==============
> Yes, I am not using AFSK A mode. I never should have said anything about
> AFSK -- I only mentioned it to explain that the WSPR signal comes from the
> audio tone generated by the software.
>
> Anyway, Don, thanks for your comments and the info on your website. Thanks
> also to the others who replied.
>
> 73,
> Tony KT0NY
>

Don Wilhelm

Re: KX3 No meter indication when transmitting digital

Tony,

Hear closely - the KX3 audio shuts down if there is excessive audio
coming into the mic jack. I suspect that is what is happening.

Start over on the audio level controls with each of them set to
mid-range, and then adjust for 4 bars solid with the 5th bar flashing on
the ALC meter.

Don't forget about the POWER slider in WSJT-X. It is not a power
control at all, it is just another audio level control.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 3/15/2019 11:49 AM, Tony Estep wrote:

> On Fri, Mar 15, 2019 at 9:36 AM Don Wilhelm <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
>> ...you should be using DATA A mode, and not AFSK A....
>>
> ==============
> Don, thanks for your comments and the info on your website. Thanks also to
> the others who replied.
>
> I am not using AFSK A mode. I never should have said anything about AFSK --
> I only mentioned it to explain that the WSPR signal comes from the audio
> tone generated by the software.
>
> I have verified that I'm getting audio out of the computer and into the KX3
> mic jack. The mic bias is set to off. I'm transmitting into a dummy load,
> swr = 1. The meter seems to show the right display (SWR 1 bar, power 2
> bars), but when I touch the mic gain knob the display goes blank. I can no
> longer get the display showing the ALC, no matter what I do.

Tony Estep

Re: KX3 No meter indication when transmitting digital

Well, I've tracked it down. I don't have a fix yet but at least I have
found out something

For whatever reason, the WSJT software stops putting out audio
unexpectedly. It works for a while, then it doesn't. I don't think it's RF
getting back into the computer, because it happens even when transmitting
to a dummy load at a very low power level of 0.1 watt. Perhaps it's some
problem between the software and my audio driver. I'm pretty sure I'll get
it fixed.

Thanks again to everyone who responded.
Tony KT0NY

On Fri, Mar 15, 2019 at 10:58 AM Don Wilhelm <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Tony,
>
> Hear closely - the KX3 audio shuts down if there is excessive audio
> coming into the mic jack. I suspect that is what is happening.
>
> Start over on the audio level controls with each of them set to
> mid-range, and then adjust for 4 bars solid with the 5th bar flashing on
> the ALC meter.
>
> Don't forget about the POWER slider in WSJT-X. It is not a power
> control at all, it is just another audio level control.
>
> 73,
> Don W3FPR
>
> On 3/15/2019 11:49 AM, Tony Estep wrote:
> > On Fri, Mar 15, 2019 at 9:36 AM Don Wilhelm <[hidden email]>
> wrote:
> >
> >> ...you should be using DATA A mode, and not AFSK A....
> >>
> > ==============
> > Don, thanks for your comments and the info on your website. Thanks also
> to
> > the others who replied.
> >
> > I am not using AFSK A mode. I never should have said anything about AFSK
> --
> > I only mentioned it to explain that the WSPR signal comes from the audio
> > tone generated by the software.
> >
> > I have verified that I'm getting audio out of the computer and into the
> KX3
> > mic jack. The mic bias is set to off. I'm transmitting into a dummy load,
> > swr = 1. The meter seems to show the right display (SWR 1 bar, power 2
> > bars), but when I touch the mic gain knob the display goes blank. I can
> no
> > longer get the display showing the ALC, no matter what I do.
>

Nr4c

Re: KX3 No meter indication when transmitting digital

In reply to this post by Tony Estep

Turn the gain down on the computer, waaaaaay down! This will give you more control with the radio controls.

Sent from my iPhone
...nr4c. bill

> On Mar 15, 2019, at 11:49 AM, Tony Estep <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
>> On Fri, Mar 15, 2019 at 9:36 AM Don Wilhelm <[hidden email]> wrote:
>>
>> ...you should be using DATA A mode, and not AFSK A....
>>
> ==============
> Don, thanks for your comments and the info on your website. Thanks also to
> the others who replied.
>
> I am not using AFSK A mode. I never should have said anything about AFSK --
> I only mentioned it to explain that the WSPR signal comes from the audio
> tone generated by the software.
>
> I have verified that I'm getting audio out of the computer and into the KX3
> mic jack. The mic bias is set to off. I'm transmitting into a dummy load,
> swr = 1. The meter seems to show the right display (SWR 1 bar, power 2
> bars), but when I touch the mic gain knob the display goes blank. I can no
> longer get the display showing the ALC, no matter what I do.
>
> Despite all this the KX3 does seem to be transmitting correctly at least
> part of the time -- but at other times it does not. If I could figure out
> what is happening with the ALC display I think I could get everything going
> properly. Any more thoughts?
>
> Tony KT0NY
>
>> On Fri, Mar 15, 2019 at 10:01 AM Tony Estep <[hidden email]> wrote:
>>
>> On Fri, Mar 15, 2019 at 9:36 AM Don Wilhelm <[hidden email]>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> ...you should be using DATA A mode, and not AFSK A....
>>>
>> ==============
>> Yes, I am not using AFSK A mode. I never should have said anything about
>> AFSK -- I only mentioned it to explain that the WSPR signal comes from the
>> audio tone generated by the software.
>>
>> Anyway, Don, thanks for your comments and the info on your website. Thanks
>> also to the others who replied.
>>
>> 73,
>> Tony KT0NY
>>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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