KXV3B install - no problems
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I have just completed installing the KXV3B in my K3 s/n 1397. It already
had a KXV3 in it (and a sub receiver which had to be removed and put back) and I am pleased to report that it all went together quite easily. I updated the firmware to the required beta version and the new preamp 2 seems to work perfectly although no signals yet heard on 6/10/12m. I was initially troubled by the pre flashing on the display and thought there was some fault. However, I assume that it is an indicator that Pre 2 is turned on. Please can you remove that feature as I find it mildly irritating. Mine is an early serial number K3 that I built around August/September 2008 and until installing the KXV3B today, I had not even taken the top cover off for several years. It was a pleasant surprise to find the interior of the K3 looking absolutely pristine and dust free, other than for a very light coating on the PA heat sink, which I cleaned off. I also took the opportunity of replacing the battery (the original) although the voltage still showed 2.97 after all that time when I tested it. 73 Barry Simpson VK2BJ ______________________________________________________________ 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] |
Re: KXV3B install - no problems
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Just got my KXV3-B as a replacement of the former KXV3-A. Installing
complete after 1 hour. Removing the back panel makes things much easier btw. But there's an issue. The 1 mW calibration fails. Thats what the Elecraft Utility says: Elecraft K3 Utility Revision 1.13.5.9 OS Version 6.1 Build 7601 Windows 7/Windows Server 2008 R2 K3 MCU revision 05.26. RS-232 speed 38400 bit/s. Starting 1 milliwatt calibration Calibrating at 1.900 MHz Calibration power settled at " 1.800.00;" Elapsed time: 5 seconds Tx Gain calibration failed because transmit power did not reach the expected value 1 milliwatt calibration failed Wait, there's more to come. I made a replacement because my guess was: KXV3-A has a damage. I use my K3 mostly on VHF with transverters, especially on 144 MHz EME. I'm running a Xpol configuration with 4 antennas on 144 EME with two identical transverters, both in phase and locked by a common external LO with 10 MHz GPS control for Hpol and Vpol. HPol RX is fed to the KXV3 XVTR In/Out while Vpol is fed to the AUX RF input. I can listen to both planes simultaneously using diversity receive. But something very strange happens when I compare signals on both planes. I have a 144 MHz beacon nearby (just 25 miles away). That beacon is running 8 W on a Hpol antenna. On my Hpol (main RX via KXV3) input this beacon comes up to S9+35 dB while on Vpol (second RX via AUX) it's endstop (S9 +60dB). The beacon is in the line of sight, there's a lot of RF on my location from this beacon. It's definetely not from the transverters or from mismatched antennas because when I change inputs and connect the Hpol transverter output to the AUX RF it's suddenly S9 +60 dB too. Both main and sub RX are exactly in the same configuration, filters, bandwidth, NB Off, etc.. I checked S/N on KXVR3-A (old board) and AUX few days ago with my HP8664A signal generator. On 28.200 (TVTR IF) I measured: Top values: KXV3-A TVTR IN: -10dBm = S9+25dB AUX IN: -10dBm = S9+60dB (!) KXV3-A TVTR IN: +3dBm = S9+60dB Huge difference of 13dBm Low values: KXV3-A TVTR IN: -134dBm = signal detectable KXV3-A TVTR IN: -140dBm = none AUX IN: -140dBm = signal detectable Again a difference of at least 6dB or more. Now, with the new KXV3-B it's even worse, at least 22 dB difference between the AUX IN and TVTR IN. What the heck is going wrong here? MAIN RX dead? 73 Udo, DK5YA Am 19.06.2015 um 12:04 schrieb Barry Simpson: > I have just completed installing the KXV3B in my K3 s/n 1397. It already > had a KXV3 in it (and a sub receiver which had to be removed and put back) > and I am pleased to report that it all went together quite easily. > > I updated the firmware to the required beta version and the new preamp 2 > seems to work perfectly although no signals yet heard on 6/10/12m. > > I was initially troubled by the pre flashing on the display and thought > there was some fault. However, I assume that it is an indicator that Pre 2 > is turned on. Please can you remove that feature as I find it mildly > irritating. > > Mine is an early serial number K3 that I built around August/September 2008 > and until installing the KXV3B today, I had not even taken the top cover > off for several years. It was a pleasant surprise to find the interior of > the K3 looking absolutely pristine and dust free, other than for a very > light coating on the PA heat sink, which I cleaned off. I also took the > opportunity of replacing the battery (the original) although the voltage > still showed 2.97 after all that time when I tested it. > > > 73 > > Barry Simpson VK2BJ > ______________________________________________________________ > 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] > -- ****************************************** Webs by DK5YA: * http://www.mmmonvhf.de/ [editor]* http://www.vhfdx.de/ [owner] * http://www.palekastro.de/ [owner] * http://www.solweb.de/ [owner] * http://www.spessartwetter.de/ [owner] * ****************************************** ______________________________________________________________ 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] |
Re: KXV3B install - no problems
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In reply to this post by Barry Simpson
I also installed the KXV3B in my K3 s/n 1450 yesterday evening with no problems - other than of my own doing <G>. The K3 has a KRX3 and two of the new synthesizers installed so of course the KRX3 needed to be removed to gain access to the KIO3 and KXV3. In removing and reinstalling the KRX3 one of TMP cables between the KREF3 and one of the synthesizers came lose and I failed to notice it. After buttoning up the K3 and enabling the KVX3B, I had no receive and no TX power output. Removing the top of the rig and resetting the bad cable fixed the problem. While I was at it I also reseated all of the TMP cables to/from the KREF3 and both synthesizers. The KXV3B went in without a hitch - no problems with pin length or board height. I inserted the KXV3B pins all the way into J66 then allowed the board to rotate toward the back panel and adjusted its final height as appropriate to align the mounting bushings with the screw holes and the rear (cover) panel. Preamp 2 appears to be somewhat more sensitive than the PR6/KXV3 that was replaced. A quick test with the XG3 and P3 on six meters shows the -108 dBm signal to be approximately 42 dB above the noise floor which would work out to an MDS of better than -150 dBm in a 500 Hz bandwidth. This compares to approximately -133 dBm with Preamp 1 and -126 dBm with the preamp off. Not shabby in the least. 73, ... Joe, W4TV On 2015-06-19 6:04 AM, Barry Simpson wrote: > I have just completed installing the KXV3B in my K3 s/n 1397. It already > had a KXV3 in it (and a sub receiver which had to be removed and put back) > and I am pleased to report that it all went together quite easily. ______________________________________________________________ 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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So where does one find the KXV3B info/pricing etc. on the Elecraft web site?
I have looked by no luck so far. 73, Mike -----Original Message----- From: Elecraft [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Joe Subich, W4TV Sent: Friday, June 19, 2015 4:43 PM To: [hidden email] Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KXV3B install - no problems I also installed the KXV3B in my K3 s/n 1450 yesterday evening with no problems - other than of my own doing <G>. The K3 has a KRX3 and two of the new synthesizers installed so of course the KRX3 needed to be removed to gain access to the KIO3 and KXV3. In removing and reinstalling the KRX3 one of TMP cables between the KREF3 and one of the synthesizers came lose and I failed to notice it. After buttoning up the K3 and enabling the KVX3B, I had no receive and no TX power output. Removing the top of the rig and resetting the bad cable fixed the problem. While I was at it I also reseated all of the TMP cables to/from the KREF3 and both synthesizers. The KXV3B went in without a hitch - no problems with pin length or board height. I inserted the KXV3B pins all the way into J66 then allowed the board to rotate toward the back panel and adjusted its final height as appropriate to align the mounting bushings with the screw holes and the rear (cover) panel. Preamp 2 appears to be somewhat more sensitive than the PR6/KXV3 that was replaced. A quick test with the XG3 and P3 on six meters shows the -108 dBm signal to be approximately 42 dB above the noise floor which would work out to an MDS of better than -150 dBm in a 500 Hz bandwidth. This compares to approximately -133 dBm with Preamp 1 and -126 dBm with the preamp off. Not shabby in the least. 73, ... Joe, W4TV On 2015-06-19 6:04 AM, Barry Simpson wrote: > I have just completed installing the KXV3B in my K3 s/n 1397. It > already had a KXV3 in it (and a sub receiver which had to be removed > and put back) and I am pleased to report that it all went together quite easily. ______________________________________________________________ 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] |
Re: KXV3B install - no problems
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Not a lot of info..
http://www.elecraft.com/elecraft_prod_list.htm#k3 73, Mike NF4L > On Jun 20, 2015, at 9:11 AM, Mike Sanders <[hidden email]> wrote: > > So where does one find the KXV3B info/pricing etc. on the Elecraft web site? > I have looked by no luck so far. 73, Mike ______________________________________________________________ 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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Look further down the list:
"More K3 and K3S Items KXV3B RX Ant., 2nd Pre-Amp, IF Out and Xverter Interface for earlier K3 radios. 199.95 Note: All K3S Transceivers now include the KXV3B. " 73, Ray /SM5XLP -----Ursprungligt meddelande----- Från: Elecraft [mailto:[hidden email]] För Mike Reublin NF4L Skickat: den 20 juni 2015 15:37 Till: Elecraft List Ämne: Re: [Elecraft] KXV3B install - no problems Not a lot of info.. http://www.elecraft.com/elecraft_prod_list.htm#k3 73, Mike NF4L > On Jun 20, 2015, at 9:11 AM, Mike Sanders <[hidden email]> wrote: > > So where does one find the KXV3B info/pricing etc. on the Elecraft web site? > I have looked by no luck so far. 73, Mike ______________________________________________________________ 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] -- I am using the free version of SPAMfighter. SPAMfighter has removed 10932 of my spam emails to date. Get the free SPAMfighter here: http://www.spamfighter.com/len Do you have a slow PC? Try a Free scan http://www.spamfighter.com/SLOW-PCfighter?cid=sigen ______________________________________________________________ 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] |
Re: KXV3B install - no problems
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Administrator
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In reply to this post by Udo Langenohl - DK5YA
Udo,
I just tested a KXV3B fresh off the production line. Results: 1.0 mW TX GAIN cal completed without error, and the XVTR IN jack is within half a dB of both the RX ANT IN jack and the main antenna jacks (ANT1/ANT2). I suspect that your KXV3B was damaged in transit, etc., but we won't know until we can get a look at it. Meanwhile, please contact the distributor so we can arrange for an immediate replacement. Our apologies for the inconvenience. 73, Wayne N6KR On Jun 19, 2015, at 1:46 PM, Udo Langenohl - DK5YA <[hidden email]> wrote: > Just got my KXV3-B as a replacement of the former KXV3-A. Installing complete after 1 hour. Removing the back panel makes things much easier btw. But there's an issue. The 1 mW calibration fails. Thats what the Elecraft Utility says: > > Elecraft K3 Utility Revision 1.13.5.9 > OS Version 6.1 Build 7601 Windows 7/Windows Server 2008 R2 > K3 MCU revision 05.26. RS-232 speed 38400 bit/s. > Starting 1 milliwatt calibration > Calibrating at 1.900 MHz > Calibration power settled at " 1.800.00;" > Elapsed time: 5 seconds > Tx Gain calibration failed because transmit power did not reach the expected value > 1 milliwatt calibration failed > > Wait, there's more to come. I made a replacement because my guess was: KXV3-A has a damage. > I use my K3 mostly on VHF with transverters, especially on 144 MHz EME. I'm running a Xpol configuration with 4 antennas on 144 EME with two identical transverters, both in phase and locked by a common external LO with 10 MHz GPS control for Hpol and Vpol. > HPol RX is fed to the KXV3 XVTR In/Out while Vpol is fed to the AUX RF input. I can listen to both planes simultaneously using diversity receive. > But something very strange happens when I compare signals on both planes. I have a 144 MHz beacon nearby (just 25 miles away). That beacon is running 8 W on a Hpol antenna. On my Hpol (main RX via KXV3) input this beacon comes up to S9+35 dB while on Vpol (second RX via AUX) it's endstop (S9 +60dB). The beacon is in the line of sight, there's a lot of RF on my location from this beacon. > It's definetely not from the transverters or from mismatched antennas because when I change inputs and connect the Hpol transverter output to the AUX RF it's suddenly S9 +60 dB too. Both main and sub RX are exactly in the same configuration, filters, bandwidth, NB Off, etc.. > I checked S/N on KXVR3-A (old board) and AUX few days ago with my HP8664A signal generator. > On 28.200 (TVTR IF) I measured: > Top values: > KXV3-A TVTR IN: -10dBm = S9+25dB > AUX IN: -10dBm = S9+60dB (!) > KXV3-A TVTR IN: +3dBm = S9+60dB > Huge difference of 13dBm > Low values: > KXV3-A TVTR IN: -134dBm = signal detectable > KXV3-A TVTR IN: -140dBm = none > AUX IN: -140dBm = signal detectable > Again a difference of at least 6dB or more. > > Now, with the new KXV3-B it's even worse, at least 22 dB difference between the AUX IN and TVTR IN. > > What the heck is going wrong here? MAIN RX dead? > > 73 Udo, DK5YA > > > Am 19.06.2015 um 12:04 schrieb Barry Simpson: >> I have just completed installing the KXV3B in my K3 s/n 1397. It already >> had a KXV3 in it (and a sub receiver which had to be removed and put back) >> and I am pleased to report that it all went together quite easily. >> >> I updated the firmware to the required beta version and the new preamp 2 >> seems to work perfectly although no signals yet heard on 6/10/12m. >> >> I was initially troubled by the pre flashing on the display and thought >> there was some fault. However, I assume that it is an indicator that Pre 2 >> is turned on. Please can you remove that feature as I find it mildly >> irritating. >> >> Mine is an early serial number K3 that I built around August/September 2008 >> and until installing the KXV3B today, I had not even taken the top cover >> off for several years. It was a pleasant surprise to find the interior of >> the K3 looking absolutely pristine and dust free, other than for a very >> light coating on the PA heat sink, which I cleaned off. I also took the >> opportunity of replacing the battery (the original) although the voltage >> still showed 2.97 after all that time when I tested it. >> >> >> 73 >> >> Barry Simpson VK2BJ >> ______________________________________________________________ >> 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] >> > > -- > ****************************************** > Webs by DK5YA: * > http://www.mmmonvhf.de/ [editor]* > http://www.vhfdx.de/ [owner] * > http://www.palekastro.de/ [owner] * > http://www.solweb.de/ [owner] * > http://www.spessartwetter.de/ [owner] * > ****************************************** > > ______________________________________________________________ > 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] |
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