My KX2 may be sick

[Paul Smith]

Last night after working a couple SKCC guys on 3550 my KX2 just shut down and said on the display err key. I could not get it to do anything so I sent the configure file to it. It seemed to be ok but shut down again a few minutes later. It has done the same thing twice this morning. A cheep led volt meter reads that the power supply drops to 13.6 volts while transmitting. What the heck do I need to look for or is my radio number 855  wanting a roadtrip to the home factory?

Thanks in advance de Paul N0NBD


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[Don Wilhelm]

Paul,

An ERR KEY message normally only occurs on power up, and indicates that
a key contact is closed or a PTT switch is closed.

I suggest that you remove all cables from the KX2 except for the antenna
and power and see if the message is still present.
If it is gone, then plug each cable in until it occurs.  When you find
the offending cable, test it and repair it.

In most cases, there is nothing wrong with the transceiver, but the
problem is with external cables.  It would not be good to send it to
Elecraft for repair only to find a report of No Trouble Found and an
invoice for $99 plus shipping.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 9/25/2018 9:46 AM, Paul Smith wrote:
> Last night after working a couple SKCC guys on 3550 my KX2 just shut down and said on the display err key. I could not get it to do anything so I sent the configure file to it. It seemed to be ok but shut down again a few minutes later. It has done the same thing twice this morning. A cheep led volt meter reads that the power supply drops to 13.6 volts while transmitting. What the heck do I need to look for or is my radio number 855  wanting a roadtrip to the home factory?
>
> Thanks in advance de Paul N0NBD
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[Paul Smith]

Thanks guys for the words on my KX2. I was watching the volt meter I have on the power supply. It dropped to 13V when I keyed the rig then shot up to 13.9 and sat rock solid. I changed power supplys and all is well now. The little radio seems to be happy again. And Thanks Don for the advice on NOT sending the rig in. I will check my cables as well,   tnx all de N0NBD Paul Smith

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[Dave New, N8SBE]

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[Paul Smith]

Thanks Dave, I have the KXPD2 paddle but do not use it much as I am a straight key guy or bug.

Thanks

de Paul N0NBD


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________________________________
From: Dave New, N8SBE <[hidden email]>
Sent: Wednesday, September 26, 2018 8:43 PM
To: Paul Smith; [hidden email]
Subject: RE: [Elecraft] My KX2 may be sick

Paul,

Check your KXPD3 keyer paddle.  It turns out that early versions had screw heads that were a bit too long that stuck out the back side of the paddle housing, causing a short to the chassis, if the heads bit through the black paint.

I have one of these, and it worked fine until the screw head on one side managed to work itself through the paint, then suddenly I was getting ERR KEY on power up.  Elecraft service has shorter screws to fix the issue.  I just put a small patch of black tape on the bare metal chip location under the paddle housing, and all is OK.  Some day I may ask for the modified screws (or paddle, if it has to be replaced as a unit).  Fixing the chip in the black housing is another matter entirely.  Shame it happened on a practically brand new radio.

73, hope that helps,

-- Dave, N8SBE
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] My KX2 may be sick
From: Paul Smith <[hidden email]<mailto:[hidden email]>>
Date: Tue, September 25, 2018 1:49 pm
To: "[hidden email]<mailto:[hidden email]>" <[hidden email]<mailto:[hidden email]>>

Thanks guys for the words on my KX2. I was watching the volt meter I have on the power supply. It dropped to 13V when I keyed the rig then shot up to 13.9 and sat rock solid. I changed power supplys and all is well now. The little radio seems to be happy again. And Thanks Don for the advice on NOT sending the rig in. I will check my cables as well, tnx all de N0NBD Paul Smith

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