KX3: no ALC bars on transmit

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KX3: no ALC bars on transmit

Michael Rudolph
All,

 

I have my KX3 connected to a computer and am running FLdigi.  For psk31, I
set the KX3 to VOX, and the mode to DATA-A.  When I send characters from the
FLdigi, I see no bars in the ALC display.  What could be wrong?

 

Michael N3IRT

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Re: KX3: no ALC bars on transmit

Matt Zilmer-3
Not enough audio from the computer, not enough Mic Gain?  Wrong sound
card selected in Fldigi?

73,
matt
W6NIA

On Mon, 13 Jul 2015 21:20:02 -0400, you wrote:

>All,
>
>
>
>I have my KX3 connected to a computer and am running FLdigi.  For psk31, I
>set the KX3 to VOX, and the mode to DATA-A.  When I send characters from the
>FLdigi, I see no bars in the ALC display.  What could be wrong?
>
>
>
>Michael N3IRT
>
>______________________________________________________________
>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]
Matt Zilmer, W6NIA
--
"Always store beer in a dark place."  -R. Heinlein

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Re: KX3: no ALC bars on transmit

Don Wilhelm-4
In reply to this post by Michael Rudolph
Michael,

There is no one answer.  Does your KX3 operate in voice modes when using
the microphone?  If so, there is not a likely problem with the KX3.
Investigate your computer sound card levels to assure that you have
adequate audio levels going to the KX3.  You should drive the ALC meter
on the KX3 to at least 4 bars with the 5th bar flickering. Those first 4
bars are to used as an indicator of the audio drive level.
Ignore the web advice for other transceivers which tell you to control
the power level with the audio input level - that will not work well
with the KX3.  Adjust the audio (using the soundcard controls in the
computer and the KX3 mic level) to achieve 4 to 5 bars on the ALC meter
and adjust the power level using the power knob.

If you have questions about whether the computer soundcard is producing
audio, remove the cable from the KX3 mic input and plug it into one of
those audio amplifiers intended for use with iPOD or other devices -- do
you hear the PSK31 tones being sent.  If not, look to your computer and
soundcard settings until you can control that audio output.  Because the
computer/soundcard combinations can be so varied and computer/soundcard
related, no single answer can be provided.  If you can give specific
computer and soundcard information, perhaps someone with a similar setup
can help you.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 7/13/2015 9:20 PM, Michael Rudolph wrote:
> All,
>
>  
>
> I have my KX3 connected to a computer and am running FLdigi.  For psk31, I
> set the KX3 to VOX, and the mode to DATA-A.  When I send characters from the
> FLdigi, I see no bars in the ALC display.  What could be wrong?
>

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Re: KX3: no ALC bars on transmit

Bob N3MNT
If using an external sound card, make sure the sound card is plugged into the computer before you start Fldigi.  Some programs will not recognize the sound card ( in I/O selection menu) unless they are present ( plugged in and on) when the program starts.
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Re: KX3: no ALC bars on transmit

David Orman
In reply to this post by Michael Rudolph
In addition to not enough output, too much output can do the same thing. It
took me a long time after switching laptops to figure out I had my output
too _high_ and that was causing no ALC bars to display. Since you're using
fldigi, I suggest the following:

1) Hookup headphones/speakers to your output. Hit 'tune' in fldigi, make
sure you're getting output.
2) Turn 'tune' off in fldigi. Turn your output volume all the way down.
Connect your radio. Set mic gain to 20.
3) Hit 'tune' in fldigi again, and slowly turn up the volume on your
computer until you start to see ALC bars appear.

Hope this helps,
David

On Mon, Jul 13, 2015 at 8:20 PM, Michael Rudolph <[hidden email]>
wrote:

> All,
>
>
>
> I have my KX3 connected to a computer and am running FLdigi.  For psk31, I
> set the KX3 to VOX, and the mode to DATA-A.  When I send characters from
> the
> FLdigi, I see no bars in the ALC display.  What could be wrong?
>
>
>
> Michael N3IRT
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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]
>
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