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KX3 digital modes problem

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Jim Fitzpatrick

KX3 digital modes problem

I recently purchased a KX3. I have made several hundred CW QSOs with it in
the past several months. One of the main reasons for getting it is that I
enjoy operating QRP while traveling and camping. I like to operate JT-65 HF
with minimal power just to see what I can work.

I have run into 2 problems with this radio. The first is I cannot get any
power out when attempting to operate either JT-65 or RTTY (AFSK). The
second is that I have been having problems with battery operation.

The details on the first problem are as follows. When portable I operate
using either a SignaLink USB sound card interface or a WestMountainRadio
Nomic interface. I have been using these for several years with JT-65 and
AFSK RTTY. I have used both of them with four different radios and have made
thousands of QSOs without problems. The radios are a K-3, IC-7000, IC-706
and a Flex 1500. Attempting to operate digitally with the KX3 results in the
PTT working with either interface, but no power output from the KX3. I am
using commercial cables from the interfaces to the KX3. I have tried it with
2 different computers, both of which work fine with the other radios. I
strongly doubt that the problem is with either the computers or either of
the interfaces, they all work fine with my K3. I have read the manual 416
times to try to figure out what I may be doing wrong, but can find nothing
in there that I am not doing correctly regarding menu settings,
gain/compression controls, etc. I do not have a microphone that works with
the KX3 so I cannot see if there is power out in SSB mode. I have tried it
in both standard SSB mode and in Data mode (DataA). I have fiddled with the
mic gain, the sound card output, and anything else I can think of. I am
wondering if there is some secret menu setting I should be using or if there
is actually a problem with the radio. I'm obviously hoping it is something
simple and obvious that I am overlooking.

The other problem has been operating with batteries. Using fully charged
brand new NiMH batteries the radio simply turns itself off after I turn it
on. I have the BAT MIN set at 8.4V. I measure the battery charge at about
11V. This should be enough to keep it running, but it doesn't even after I
have enabled all the power saving measures suggested in the manual. Loading
it up with 8 brand new Duracell AA batteries gives me 12.2V, and it seems to
work fine just as it should. AUTO OFF is set to infinite.

I'd appreciate any constructive ideas.

Thanks.

Jim

WI9WI

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W4JBB

Re: KX3 digital modes problem

Jim,

What does your ALC look like when transmitting? It should show four bars
ALC with the fifth flickering.

73,
Joel - W4JBB

On 12/31/13, 3:00 PM, Jim Fitzpatrick wrote:

> I recently purchased a KX3. I have made several hundred CW QSOs with it in
> the past several months. One of the main reasons for getting it is that I
> enjoy operating QRP while traveling and camping. I like to operate JT-65 HF
> with minimal power just to see what I can work.
>
>
>
> I have run into 2 problems with this radio. The first is I cannot get any
> power out when attempting to operate either JT-65 or RTTY (AFSK). The
> second is that I have been having problems with battery operation.
>
>
>
> The details on the first problem are as follows. When portable I operate
> using either a SignaLink USB sound card interface or a WestMountainRadio
> Nomic interface. I have been using these for several years with JT-65 and
> AFSK RTTY. I have used both of them with four different radios and have made
> thousands of QSOs without problems. The radios are a K-3, IC-7000, IC-706
> and a Flex 1500. Attempting to operate digitally with the KX3 results in the
> PTT working with either interface, but no power output from the KX3. I am
> using commercial cables from the interfaces to the KX3. I have tried it with
> 2 different computers, both of which work fine with the other radios. I
> strongly doubt that the problem is with either the computers or either of
> the interfaces, they all work fine with my K3. I have read the manual 416
> times to try to figure out what I may be doing wrong, but can find nothing
> in there that I am not doing correctly regarding menu settings,
> gain/compression controls, etc. I do not have a microphone that works with
> the KX3 so I cannot see if there is power out in SSB mode. I have tried it
> in both standard SSB mode and in Data mode (DataA). I have fiddled with the
> mic gain, the sound card output, and anything else I can think of. I am
> wondering if there is some secret menu setting I should be using or if there
> is actually a problem with the radio. I'm obviously hoping it is something
> simple and obvious that I am overlooking.
>
>
>
> The other problem has been operating with batteries. Using fully charged
> brand new NiMH batteries the radio simply turns itself off after I turn it
> on. I have the BAT MIN set at 8.4V. I measure the battery charge at about
> 11V. This should be enough to keep it running, but it doesn't even after I
> have enabled all the power saving measures suggested in the manual. Loading
> it up with 8 brand new Duracell AA batteries gives me 12.2V, and it seems to
> work fine just as it should. AUTO OFF is set to infinite.
>
>
>
> I'd appreciate any constructive ideas.
>
>
>
> Thanks.
>
>
>
> Jim
>
> WI9WI
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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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KE6BB

Re: KX3 digital modes problem

In reply to this post by Jim Fitzpatrick

Re: "Using fully charged brand new NiMH batteries the radio simply turns itself off after I turn it
on."

Several possibilities here. First be sure the battery connector is fully engaging the pins on the circuit board (reference Figure 8 of the KXBC3 Installation and Operation Instructions). Mine wasn't fully engaged and would occasionally become intermittent.

Second, be sure the cells are good. Take them out and measure their individual voltages. They should be within about 0.1v of each other; also, any cells that are below 1.0v should be replaced. While a faulty cell may be flagged by the KXBC3 charger during charging, it is possible that one of them discharges very quickly after charging is complete.

Are your cells relatively new and all of the same type? I was given an old set of 2500mah Ray-O-Vac NiMH cells, and they would discharge while sitting in the KX3 (or on the shelf for that matter) over a few days time causing the same symptoms you are seeing. Any of the modern "Low Self Discharge" NiMH cells should not exhibit this behavior, and will remain charged for a long period of time

Mark
KE6BB

From: Jim Fitzpatrick<[hidden email]>
Sent: ‎Tue, ‎Dec‎ ‎31‎, ‎2013 at ‎1‎:‎01‎ ‎PM
To: <[hidden email]>
Subject: [Elecraft] KX3 digital modes problem

I recently purchased a KX3. I have made several hundred CW QSOs with it in
the past several months.
...
The other problem has been operating with batteries. Using fully charged
brand new NiMH batteries the radio simply turns itself off after I turn it
on. I have the BAT MIN set at 8.4V. I measure the battery charge at about
11V. This should be enough to keep it running, but it doesn't even after I
have enabled all the power saving measures suggested in the manual. Loading
it up with 8 brand new Duracell AA batteries gives me 12.2V, and it seems to
work fine just as it should. AUTO OFF is set to infinite.

I'd appreciate any constructive ideas.

Thanks.

Jim

WI9WI

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Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
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Don Wilhelm-4

Re: KX3 digital modes problem

In reply to this post by Jim Fitzpatrick

Jim,

It is unfortunate that you do not have a microphone that works with the
KX3. Right now, you do not know whether you have a KX3 problem or a
problem with the interface output levels or with the cables. Do you have
any other audio sources that you can drive into the KX3 microphone jack
as a test?

Yes, I understand that the interface(s) work with other rigs, but the
question remains - is it providing the proper audio to the KX3? You
should be able to drive the ALC indicator up to 4 bars with the audio
from the interface. If that does not happen, then you will have to
discover the cause - it could be improper cables, a fault in the cables,
or it could be a KX3 problem. There are just too many variables at this
point to say where the problem may be.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 12/31/2013 4:00 PM, Jim Fitzpatrick wrote:

Chip Stratton

Re: KX3 digital modes problem

In reply to this post by Jim Fitzpatrick

I had a similar problem with the Signalink keying my KX3. I don't do a lot
of digital work so forgot about it. More recently I bought and built the
4S-Link from the 4SQRP group. Using this and my laptop's soundcard
everything works perfectly. The 4S-Link keys the KX3 reliably and provides
isolation.

Chip
Ae5ka
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