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New KX2 No Transmit

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George King

New KX2 No Transmit

I just received my KX2 and really like it. I have the ATU and battery
installed. Receive works fine, but I cannot transmit. When I press PTT
I get several beeps and in some cases the radio shuts off. Sometimes I
get a Hi CUR message. Here is some data:

7.213 MHz, Voltage 11.7, Power set at 8 watts. When I press ATU
to tune the tuner works hard and displays 25.4 - 1 while trying to tune
and never changes. Is this telling me the SWR is 25.4:1? The antenna
SWR checked at the BNC connector on the antenna at the radio with an MFJ
259B is 1.3:1

7.285 MHz, Voltage 11.7, Power 8 watts, SWR checked with MFJ 259B is
2.0:1. Same result when I press ATU.

When I bypass the ATU I still get the same result except that I do not
see the 25.4 - 1 display.

Also, same result on all other bands. I installed the side panels
before I tried to transmit. I thought maybe I had a bad antenna
connection. A check with an ohm meter shows a good connection between
the BNC connector and the antenna connection on the ATU board.

I checked the connector from the ATU to the RF board and it seems to be
mated properly. I tried transmitting into a 50 ohm dummy load with the
same result. I made a jumper cable with a BNC connect on it and
connected it to the ATU bypassing the installed BNC connector - same result.

SN is 463, just installed firmware 2.66. Did not try to transmit before
upgrading to 2.66 or installing the side panels. Seems to me I have a
bad antenna connection somewhere. Does this make sense?

Any help will be appreciated.

George King W5AGK

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Matt Zilmer-3

Re: New KX2 No Transmit

Hi George,

You should check the two RF cables to make sure they're seated. There is
one cable from the ATU to the RF board (two-pin connector at the RF
board), and another from the BNC socket to the ATU. Both of these need
to be seated in order for the KX2 to work. The 25.4:1 SWR indication
usually means the BNC to ATU cable isn't seated, but I would check both.

73!
Matt W6NIA

On 07/03/2016 09:51 AM, George King wrote:

> I just received my KX2 and really like it. I have the ATU and battery
> installed. Receive works fine, but I cannot transmit. When I press
> PTT I get several beeps and in some cases the radio shuts off.
> Sometimes I get a Hi CUR message. Here is some data:
>
> 7.213 MHz, Voltage 11.7, Power set at 8 watts. When I press ATU
> to tune the tuner works hard and displays 25.4 - 1 while trying to
> tune and never changes. Is this telling me the SWR is 25.4:1? The
> antenna SWR checked at the BNC connector on the antenna at the radio
> with an MFJ 259B is 1.3:1
>
> 7.285 MHz, Voltage 11.7, Power 8 watts, SWR checked with MFJ 259B
> is 2.0:1. Same result when I press ATU.
>
> When I bypass the ATU I still get the same result except that I do not
> see the 25.4 - 1 display.
>
> Also, same result on all other bands. I installed the side panels
> before I tried to transmit. I thought maybe I had a bad antenna
> connection. A check with an ohm meter shows a good connection between
> the BNC connector and the antenna connection on the ATU board.
>
> I checked the connector from the ATU to the RF board and it seems to
> be mated properly. I tried transmitting into a 50 ohm dummy load with
> the same result. I made a jumper cable with a BNC connect on it and
> connected it to the ATU bypassing the installed BNC connector - same
> result.
>
> SN is 463, just installed firmware 2.66. Did not try to transmit
> before upgrading to 2.66 or installing the side panels. Seems to me I
> have a bad antenna connection somewhere. Does this make sense?
>
> Any help will be appreciated.
>
> George King W5AGK
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
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> Message delivered to [hidden email]

--
"Always store beer in a dark place." -- R. Heinlein

Matt Zilmer, W6NIA
[Voignier]

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Guy Olinger K2AV

Re: New KX2 No Transmit

In reply to this post by George King

May not apply in your case, but male BNC connectors can sometimes have
the center pin retracted a bit. This can cause the connection to just
barely fail in some female connectors and not in others.

PROVE that external connections are not the problem before tearing
apart the rig or sending it back to Elecraft.

25:1 SWR means no connection on center pin somewhere very close.

73, Guy K2AV

On Sun, Jul 3, 2016 at 12:51 PM, George King <[hidden email]> wrote:

> I just received my KX2 and really like it. I have the ATU and battery
> installed. Receive works fine, but I cannot transmit. When I press PTT I
> get several beeps and in some cases the radio shuts off. Sometimes I get a
> Hi CUR message. Here is some data:
>
> 7.213 MHz, Voltage 11.7, Power set at 8 watts. When I press ATU to
> tune the tuner works hard and displays 25.4 - 1 while trying to tune and
> never changes. Is this telling me the SWR is 25.4:1? The antenna SWR
> checked at the BNC connector on the antenna at the radio with an MFJ 259B is
> 1.3:1
>
> 7.285 MHz, Voltage 11.7, Power 8 watts, SWR checked with MFJ 259B is
> 2.0:1. Same result when I press ATU.
>
> When I bypass the ATU I still get the same result except that I do not see
> the 25.4 - 1 display.
>
> Also, same result on all other bands. I installed the side panels before I
> tried to transmit. I thought maybe I had a bad antenna connection. A check
> with an ohm meter shows a good connection between the BNC connector and the
> antenna connection on the ATU board.
>
> I checked the connector from the ATU to the RF board and it seems to be
> mated properly. I tried transmitting into a 50 ohm dummy load with the same
> result. I made a jumper cable with a BNC connect on it and connected it to
> the ATU bypassing the installed BNC connector - same result.
>
> SN is 463, just installed firmware 2.66. Did not try to transmit before
> upgrading to 2.66 or installing the side panels. Seems to me I have a bad
> antenna connection somewhere. Does this make sense?
>
> Any help will be appreciated.
>
> George King W5AGK
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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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Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

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George King

Re: New KX2 No Transmit

Thanks Guy,

I checked my connector and in fact tried two other coax leads - all with
the same result.

73, George W5AGK

On 7/3/2016 1:05 PM, Guy Olinger K2AV wrote:

> May not apply in your case, but male BNC connectors can sometimes have
> the center pin retracted a bit. This can cause the connection to just
> barely fail in some female connectors and not in others.
>
> PROVE that external connections are not the problem before tearing
> apart the rig or sending it back to Elecraft.
>
> 25:1 SWR means no connection on center pin somewhere very close.
>
> 73, Guy K2AV
>
> On Sun, Jul 3, 2016 at 12:51 PM, George King <[hidden email]> wrote:
>> I just received my KX2 and really like it. I have the ATU and battery
>> installed. Receive works fine, but I cannot transmit. When I press PTT I
>> get several beeps and in some cases the radio shuts off. Sometimes I get a
>> Hi CUR message. Here is some data:
>>
>> 7.213 MHz, Voltage 11.7, Power set at 8 watts. When I press ATU to
>> tune the tuner works hard and displays 25.4 - 1 while trying to tune and
>> never changes. Is this telling me the SWR is 25.4:1? The antenna SWR
>> checked at the BNC connector on the antenna at the radio with an MFJ 259B is
>> 1.3:1
>>
>> 7.285 MHz, Voltage 11.7, Power 8 watts, SWR checked with MFJ 259B is
>> 2.0:1. Same result when I press ATU.
>>
>> When I bypass the ATU I still get the same result except that I do not see
>> the 25.4 - 1 display.
>>
>> Also, same result on all other bands. I installed the side panels before I
>> tried to transmit. I thought maybe I had a bad antenna connection. A check
>> with an ohm meter shows a good connection between the BNC connector and the
>> antenna connection on the ATU board.
>>
>> I checked the connector from the ATU to the RF board and it seems to be
>> mated properly. I tried transmitting into a 50 ohm dummy load with the same
>> result. I made a jumper cable with a BNC connect on it and connected it to
>> the ATU bypassing the installed BNC connector - same result.
>>
>> SN is 463, just installed firmware 2.66. Did not try to transmit before
>> upgrading to 2.66 or installing the side panels. Seems to me I have a bad
>> antenna connection somewhere. Does this make sense?
>>
>> Any help will be appreciated.
>>
>> George King W5AGK
>>
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> 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]

George King

Re: New KX2 No Transmit

In reply to this post by Matt Zilmer-3

Thanks Matt,

I did check both connectors and they are both seated.

73, George W5AGK

On 7/3/2016 11:56 AM, Matt Zilmer wrote:

> Hi George,
>
> You should check the two RF cables to make sure they're seated. There
> is one cable from the ATU to the RF board (two-pin connector at the RF
> board), and another from the BNC socket to the ATU. Both of these need
> to be seated in order for the KX2 to work. The 25.4:1 SWR indication
> usually means the BNC to ATU cable isn't seated, but I would check both.
>
> 73!
> Matt W6NIA
>
>
> On 07/03/2016 09:51 AM, George King wrote:
>> I just received my KX2 and really like it. I have the ATU and
>> battery installed. Receive works fine, but I cannot transmit. When
>> I press PTT I get several beeps and in some cases the radio shuts
>> off. Sometimes I get a Hi CUR message. Here is some data:
>>
>> 7.213 MHz, Voltage 11.7, Power set at 8 watts. When I press
>> ATU to tune the tuner works hard and displays 25.4 - 1 while trying
>> to tune and never changes. Is this telling me the SWR is 25.4:1? The
>> antenna SWR checked at the BNC connector on the antenna at the radio
>> with an MFJ 259B is 1.3:1
>>
>> 7.285 MHz, Voltage 11.7, Power 8 watts, SWR checked with MFJ 259B
>> is 2.0:1. Same result when I press ATU.
>>
>> When I bypass the ATU I still get the same result except that I do
>> not see the 25.4 - 1 display.
>>
>> Also, same result on all other bands. I installed the side panels
>> before I tried to transmit. I thought maybe I had a bad antenna
>> connection. A check with an ohm meter shows a good connection
>> between the BNC connector and the antenna connection on the ATU board.
>>
>> I checked the connector from the ATU to the RF board and it seems to
>> be mated properly. I tried transmitting into a 50 ohm dummy load
>> with the same result. I made a jumper cable with a BNC connect on it
>> and connected it to the ATU bypassing the installed BNC connector -
>> same result.
>>
>> SN is 463, just installed firmware 2.66. Did not try to transmit
>> before upgrading to 2.66 or installing the side panels. Seems to me
>> I have a bad antenna connection somewhere. Does this make sense?
>>
>> Any help will be appreciated.
>>
>> George King W5AGK
>>
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> 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]
>

Guy Olinger K2AV

Re: New KX2 No Transmit

It just sounds, walks and talks like a BNC problem.

Try a small guage wire about 10 foot long directly inserted into the
center pin connector, and retry. See if the SWR comes down to some
degree, if you hear anything on RX. If so, then for whatever reason,
the cable BNC pin is not making contact with the jack's center pin
receptacle.

See if there is a burr on the outside of the BNC jack barrel that
prevents being able to shove the BNC all the way home.

Is the twist motion at the end of hooking up reasonably easy? It
shouldn't be hard if it's shoved all the way home.

See if the center pin receptacle in the BNC jack seems "spread apart".
There have been poor quality BNC plugs with oversized pins which
spread apart the center pin receptacles in BNC jacks and cause
problems later.

Hardware is not always good. I once had to deal with a Type F
connector that lacked threads to grab the threads on the jack's
barrel.

The BNC jack can be bad, or a cold solder joint to the circuit board,
etc, etc. It just sounds like BNC problems.

You wouldn't be using 75 ohm BNC plugs would you? I remember something
about 75 ohm BNC hardware causing problems.

73, Guy K2AV

On Sun, Jul 3, 2016 at 3:06 PM, George King <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Thanks Matt,
>
> I did check both connectors and they are both seated.
>
> 73, George W5AGK
>
>
> On 7/3/2016 11:56 AM, Matt Zilmer wrote:
>>
>> Hi George,
>>
>> You should check the two RF cables to make sure they're seated. There is
>> one cable from the ATU to the RF board (two-pin connector at the RF board),
>> and another from the BNC socket to the ATU. Both of these need to be seated
>> in order for the KX2 to work. The 25.4:1 SWR indication usually means the
>> BNC to ATU cable isn't seated, but I would check both.
>>
>> 73!
>> Matt W6NIA
>>
>>
>> On 07/03/2016 09:51 AM, George King wrote:
>>>
>>> I just received my KX2 and really like it. I have the ATU and battery
>>> installed. Receive works fine, but I cannot transmit. When I press PTT I
>>> get several beeps and in some cases the radio shuts off. Sometimes I get a
>>> Hi CUR message. Here is some data:
>>>
>>> 7.213 MHz, Voltage 11.7, Power set at 8 watts. When I press ATU to
>>> tune the tuner works hard and displays 25.4 - 1 while trying to tune and
>>> never changes. Is this telling me the SWR is 25.4:1? The antenna SWR
>>> checked at the BNC connector on the antenna at the radio with an MFJ 259B is
>>> 1.3:1
>>>
>>> 7.285 MHz, Voltage 11.7, Power 8 watts, SWR checked with MFJ 259B is
>>> 2.0:1. Same result when I press ATU.
>>>
>>> When I bypass the ATU I still get the same result except that I do not
>>> see the 25.4 - 1 display.
>>>
>>> Also, same result on all other bands. I installed the side panels before
>>> I tried to transmit. I thought maybe I had a bad antenna connection. A
>>> check with an ohm meter shows a good connection between the BNC connector
>>> and the antenna connection on the ATU board.
>>>
>>> I checked the connector from the ATU to the RF board and it seems to be
>>> mated properly. I tried transmitting into a 50 ohm dummy load with the same
>>> result. I made a jumper cable with a BNC connect on it and connected it to
>>> the ATU bypassing the installed BNC connector - same result.
>>>
>>> SN is 463, just installed firmware 2.66. Did not try to transmit before
>>> upgrading to 2.66 or installing the side panels. Seems to me I have a bad
>>> antenna connection somewhere. Does this make sense?
>>>
>>> Any help will be appreciated.
>>>
>>> George King W5AGK
>>>
>>> ______________________________________________________________
>>> 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]

George King

Re: New KX2 No Transmit

Hi Guy,

Small wire in center pin connector - no change. No burr on the
connector. Connection feels normal - not too hard or too easy. Center
pin receptacle not spread. 50 ohm connector.

I did make a test lead with a BNC female connector on one end and the 2
pin Molex on the other and hooked the antenna up through this test lead
- same problem.

Thanks for trying to help. It's got to be an antenna connection problem
somewhere. Receive is good - good audio.

73, George W5AGK

On 7/3/2016 2:28 PM, Guy Olinger K2AV wrote:

> It just sounds, walks and talks like a BNC problem.
>
> Try a small guage wire about 10 foot long directly inserted into the
> center pin connector, and retry. See if the SWR comes down to some
> degree, if you hear anything on RX. If so, then for whatever reason,
> the cable BNC pin is not making contact with the jack's center pin
> receptacle.
>
> See if there is a burr on the outside of the BNC jack barrel that
> prevents being able to shove the BNC all the way home.
>
> Is the twist motion at the end of hooking up reasonably easy? It
> shouldn't be hard if it's shoved all the way home.
>
> See if the center pin receptacle in the BNC jack seems "spread apart".
> There have been poor quality BNC plugs with oversized pins which
> spread apart the center pin receptacles in BNC jacks and cause
> problems later.
>
> Hardware is not always good. I once had to deal with a Type F
> connector that lacked threads to grab the threads on the jack's
> barrel.
>
> The BNC jack can be bad, or a cold solder joint to the circuit board,
> etc, etc. It just sounds like BNC problems.
>
> You wouldn't be using 75 ohm BNC plugs would you? I remember something
> about 75 ohm BNC hardware causing problems.
>
> 73, Guy K2AV
>
> On Sun, Jul 3, 2016 at 3:06 PM, George King <[hidden email]> wrote:
>> Thanks Matt,
>>
>> I did check both connectors and they are both seated.
>>
>> 73, George W5AGK
>>
>>
>> On 7/3/2016 11:56 AM, Matt Zilmer wrote:
>>> Hi George,
>>>
>>> You should check the two RF cables to make sure they're seated. There is
>>> one cable from the ATU to the RF board (two-pin connector at the RF board),
>>> and another from the BNC socket to the ATU. Both of these need to be seated
>>> in order for the KX2 to work. The 25.4:1 SWR indication usually means the
>>> BNC to ATU cable isn't seated, but I would check both.
>>>
>>> 73!
>>> Matt W6NIA
>>>
>>>
>>> On 07/03/2016 09:51 AM, George King wrote:
>>>> I just received my KX2 and really like it. I have the ATU and battery
>>>> installed. Receive works fine, but I cannot transmit. When I press PTT I
>>>> get several beeps and in some cases the radio shuts off. Sometimes I get a
>>>> Hi CUR message. Here is some data:
>>>>
>>>> 7.213 MHz, Voltage 11.7, Power set at 8 watts. When I press ATU to
>>>> tune the tuner works hard and displays 25.4 - 1 while trying to tune and
>>>> never changes. Is this telling me the SWR is 25.4:1? The antenna SWR
>>>> checked at the BNC connector on the antenna at the radio with an MFJ 259B is
>>>> 1.3:1
>>>>
>>>> 7.285 MHz, Voltage 11.7, Power 8 watts, SWR checked with MFJ 259B is
>>>> 2.0:1. Same result when I press ATU.
>>>>
>>>> When I bypass the ATU I still get the same result except that I do not
>>>> see the 25.4 - 1 display.
>>>>
>>>> Also, same result on all other bands. I installed the side panels before
>>>> I tried to transmit. I thought maybe I had a bad antenna connection. A
>>>> check with an ohm meter shows a good connection between the BNC connector
>>>> and the antenna connection on the ATU board.
>>>>
>>>> I checked the connector from the ATU to the RF board and it seems to be
>>>> mated properly. I tried transmitting into a 50 ohm dummy load with the same
>>>> result. I made a jumper cable with a BNC connect on it and connected it to
>>>> the ATU bypassing the installed BNC connector - same result.
>>>>
>>>> SN is 463, just installed firmware 2.66. Did not try to transmit before
>>>> upgrading to 2.66 or installing the side panels. Seems to me I have a bad
>>>> antenna connection somewhere. Does this make sense?
>>>>
>>>> Any help will be appreciated.
>>>>
>>>> George King W5AGK
>>>>
>>>> ______________________________________________________________
>>>> 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]