Low audio K3?
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I have 2 K3's which I use in a contest station I have, use for remoting
that station (35 miles from home), or the occasional mobile state qso party. I typically use Heil headsets, but picked up a Yamaha after hearing K9YC speak so glowingly about the unit. I have always noticed the low level audio, but the remote sight is so naturally quiet, that it hasn't been a big problem. Typically, in cw mode, both gains are almost wide open. But not so bad in SSB, which led me to believe it was something in the set up. I have played with this some, but not a lot of improvement. The Yamaha is much less of a problem. Last weekend I did a mobile in the Wisconsin QSO party using one of the rigs, and it was somewhat of a nightmare! I ran both gains wide open 100% of the time, and still had lots of problems hearing weaker stations. I made over 700 q's (all CW) in the 7 hour contest but it was a struggle. I was in a new Subaru Outback which is very quiet, but there is still considerable wind and road noise to deal with. I was kicking myself for not bringing the Yamaha along. Interestingly, another competitive station in the contest was using a K3 and reports the same problem. He was also using a Heil. I fully realize my best and least expensive, option might be to sell both Heils and buy another Yamaha or two, but I know that most of the stations in my contest club (Minnesota Wireless Assn) are using Heils and can't believe that there isn't something I'm missing here. Comments or suggestions would be very welcome and appreciated. 73 John, N0IJ ______________________________________________________________ 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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That sounds very wrong to me, John. I have a K3
and a KX3 and audio is ample, on speaker and in earphones (including an old Heil ProSet). AF is at around 10 and never past 12 on either rig. No problems here -- and I have a known hearing deficit: Totally deaf in one ear for close to 50 years and the "good" one is fading with age so I miss conversations in rooms and such if I'm not careful. Last Sat I woke up with no hearing in my "good" ear; fortunately it was wax, removed at the ER, or I'd have become a PSK31 (etc) only operator! I've not tried any Elecraft mobile (my car has an FT-857 wired into it). 73, Phil w7ox On 3/11/14, 6:41 AM, [hidden email] wrote: > I have 2 K3's which I use in a contest station I have, use for remoting > that station (35 miles from home), or the occasional mobile state qso party. > I typically use Heil headsets, but picked up a Yamaha after hearing K9YC > speak so glowingly about the unit. I have always noticed the low level > audio, but the remote sight is so naturally quiet, that it hasn't been a big > problem. Typically, in cw mode, both gains are almost wide open. But not so > bad in SSB, which led me to believe it was something in the set up. I have > played with this some, but not a lot of improvement. The Yamaha is much > less of a problem. Last weekend I did a mobile in the Wisconsin QSO party > using one of the rigs, and it was somewhat of a nightmare! I ran both gains > wide open 100% of the time, and still had lots of problems hearing weaker > stations. I made over 700 q's (all CW) in the 7 hour contest but it was a > struggle. I was in a new Subaru Outback which is very quiet, but there is > still considerable wind and road noise to deal with. I was kicking myself > for not bringing the Yamaha along. Interestingly, another competitive > station in the contest was using a K3 and reports the same problem. He was also > using a Heil. I fully realize my best and least expensive, option might > be to sell both Heils and buy another Yamaha or two, but I know that most of > the stations in my contest club (Minnesota Wireless Assn) are using Heils > and can't believe that there isn't something I'm missing here. Comments or > suggestions would be very welcome and appreciated. > > 73 > John, N0IJ > ______________________________________________________________ > 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 |
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John,
Are you sure you have the Heil plugged into the Mic and headset plugs? If you set the K3 in the config menu to Headphones + speaker do you hear audio as you would expect? I was thinking you may have connected to Line In and Line out perhaps? I don't have a Heil headset (to rich for my budget) so not sure if BIAS is required also. Be interested to know the outcome 73 Gary On 12 March 2014 00:47, Phil Wheeler <[hidden email]> wrote: > That sounds very wrong to me, John. I have a K3 and a KX3 and audio is > ample, on speaker and in earphones (including an old Heil ProSet). AF is at > around 10 and never past 12 on either rig. > > No problems here -- and I have a known hearing deficit: Totally deaf in > one ear for close to 50 years and the "good" one is fading with age so I > miss conversations in rooms and such if I'm not careful. Last Sat I woke up > with no hearing in my "good" ear; fortunately it was wax, removed at the > ER, or I'd have become a PSK31 (etc) only operator! > > I've not tried any Elecraft mobile (my car has an FT-857 wired into it). > > 73, Phil w7ox > > On 3/11/14, 6:41 AM, [hidden email] wrote: > >> I have 2 K3's which I use in a contest station I have, use for remoting >> that station (35 miles from home), or the occasional mobile state qso >> party. >> I typically use Heil headsets, but picked up a Yamaha after hearing K9YC >> speak so glowingly about the unit. I have always noticed the low level >> audio, but the remote sight is so naturally quiet, that it hasn't been a >> big >> problem. Typically, in cw mode, both gains are almost wide open. But >> not so >> bad in SSB, which led me to believe it was something in the set up. I >> have >> played with this some, but not a lot of improvement. The Yamaha is much >> less of a problem. Last weekend I did a mobile in the Wisconsin QSO >> party >> using one of the rigs, and it was somewhat of a nightmare! I ran both >> gains >> wide open 100% of the time, and still had lots of problems hearing weaker >> stations. I made over 700 q's (all CW) in the 7 hour contest but it was >> a >> struggle. I was in a new Subaru Outback which is very quiet, but there is >> still considerable wind and road noise to deal with. I was kicking >> myself >> for not bringing the Yamaha along. Interestingly, another competitive >> station in the contest was using a K3 and reports the same problem. He >> was also >> using a Heil. I fully realize my best and least expensive, option might >> be to sell both Heils and buy another Yamaha or two, but I know that >> most of >> the stations in my contest club (Minnesota Wireless Assn) are using Heils >> and can't believe that there isn't something I'm missing here. Comments >> or >> suggestions would be very welcome and appreciated. >> 73 >> John, N0IJ >> ______________________________________________________________ >> 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 > -- *Gary - VK1ZZ, K3NHLSkype: Gary.VK1ZZhttp://www.qsl.net/vk1zz <http://www.qsl.net/vk1zz>Motorhome Portable* *"Grumpy's House"* *Elecraft K3KPA500FTKAT500FT* ______________________________________________________________ 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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In reply to this post by JBaumgarte
John,
You may have another issue but I thought I'd post what I'm doing. First I did have a low RX audio issue. When I touched some buttons RX audio would come up. That turned out to be a PL-259 not tight enough at least so far. Second, if I use a heavy dose of NR, the volume sucks similar to what you describe. What worked for me was to move Phones to external speaker. You may need to provide an external volume control for headphones but maybe not if you use phones only and not PHONES + SPK. My gaming headset has a inline volume control. I have a splitter on the EXT SPK and use PHONES + SPK. DISCLAIMER: care must be exercised when doing anything related to the audio amp circuit (EXT SPK). I always power off when plugging/unplugging. 73 Mike R RIP- Mr 500. STP's Andy Granatelli from racing fans everywhere. ______________________________________________________________ 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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In reply to this post by JBaumgarte
Hi John,
I purchased the Heil Proset (sold by Elecraft) when I bought my K3 several years ago. The audio level was inadequate for my deteriorating ears. I then purchased the Yamaha CM500 headset and quickly sold the Proset on eBay. I've never looked back. There is a substantial increase in audio level with the CM500. Plus you can buy two CM500s (with change to spare) for the price of one Proset. 73, Mike K2MK
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In reply to this post by JBaumgarte
CONFIG:AF GAIN has a HI/ LO option. HI is default but it's worth a check.
Brian, K0DTJ ______________________________________________________________ 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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In reply to this post by JBaumgarte
John,
There must be something wrong with your Heil headset or connection or possibly a setting within the K3. I have the Heil Proset and it provides all the volume I need. I'm sitting here listening to a VU on 20M CW right now and I have the AF gain at 7 o'clock. If I increase it to even 9 o'clock on the dial I get blasted out. I use mine with two K3s and both are the same. I tried the Yamaha a while back and immediately sold it. I much prefer the fit and finish of the Heil. To each his own. I have plenty of mic gain and AF gain here. Do you have the K3 AF Gain setting set to High? 73, Dave, N4QS -----Original Message----- From: [hidden email] [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of [hidden email] Sent: Tuesday, March 11, 2014 8:41 AM To: [hidden email] Subject: [Elecraft] Low audio K3? I have 2 K3's which I use in a contest station I have, use for remoting that station (35 miles from home), or the occasional mobile state qso party. I typically use Heil headsets, but picked up a Yamaha after hearing K9YC speak so glowingly about the unit. I have always noticed the low level audio, but the remote sight is so naturally quiet, that it hasn't been a big problem. Typically, in cw mode, both gains are almost wide open. But not so bad in SSB, which led me to believe it was something in the set up. I have played with this some, but not a lot of improvement. The Yamaha is much less of a problem. Last weekend I did a mobile in the Wisconsin QSO party using one of the rigs, and it was somewhat of a nightmare! I ran both gains wide open 100% of the time, and still had lots of problems hearing weaker stations. I made over 700 q's (all CW) in the 7 hour contest but it was a struggle. I was in a new Subaru Outback which is very quiet, but there is still considerable wind and road noise to deal with. I was kicking myself for not bringing the Yamaha along. Interestingly, another competitive station in the contest was using a K3 and reports the same problem. He was also using a Heil. I fully realize my best and least expensive, option might be to sell both Heils and buy another Yamaha or two, but I know that most of the stations in my contest club (Minnesota Wireless Assn) are using Heils and can't believe that there isn't something I'm missing here. Comments or suggestions would be very welcome and appreciated. 73 John, N0IJ ______________________________________________________________ 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 |
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In reply to this post by JBaumgarte
Hi John,
Check the CONFIG > AF GAIN setting. It suspect yours may be set to LO. If so, set it to HI. 73, Dale WA8SRA > I have 2 K3's which I use in a contest station I have, use for remoting > that station (35 miles from home), or the occasional mobile state qso > party. > I typically use Heil headsets, but picked up a Yamaha after hearing K9YC > speak so glowingly about the unit. I have always noticed the low level > audio, but the remote sight is so naturally quiet, that it hasn't been a > big > problem. Typically, in cw mode, both gains are almost wide open. But not > so > bad in SSB, which led me to believe it was something in the set up. I > have > played with this some, but not a lot of improvement. The Yamaha is much > less of a problem. Last weekend I did a mobile in the Wisconsin QSO > party > using one of the rigs, and it was somewhat of a nightmare! I ran both > gains > wide open 100% of the time, and still had lots of problems hearing weaker > stations. I made over 700 q's (all CW) in the 7 hour contest but it was > a > struggle. I was in a new Subaru Outback which is very quiet, but there is > still considerable wind and road noise to deal with. I was kicking > myself > for not bringing the Yamaha along. Interestingly, another competitive > station in the contest was using a K3 and reports the same problem. He > was also > using a Heil. I fully realize my best and least expensive, option might > be to sell both Heils and buy another Yamaha or two, but I know that most > of > the stations in my contest club (Minnesota Wireless Assn) are using Heils > and can't believe that there isn't something I'm missing here. Comments > or > suggestions would be very welcome and appreciated. > > 73 > John, N0IJ > ______________________________________________________________ > 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 |
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