PTT stuck? Error?

[David Beckwith]

A quick question.  I have a Heil Proset headset into the front of the K3.  
Sometimes when I fire up my ACOM 1000 amp I experience the following problem. I
am running the K3 PTT relay thru an LP-100 and then into the amp, with a Palstar
tuner on the output side from the amp.  SWR is about 1.2 or 1.3.  I use a PTT
switch and it seems to "stick" open.  I am transmitting and when I release the
switch it doesn't immediately stop TX. Depending on the power out this may be
followed by an error message (which I forgot to record) that requires restarting
the K3.  This only happens when the amp is turned on.  Ideas?

Thanks and 73

Dave K6CGE
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[Don Wilhelm-4]

  Dave,

Put a balun on your antenna.

Seriously, that is likely being caused by "RF in the shack", and the
only cure is to work on your antenna system to minimize it.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 11/24/2010 9:08 PM, david beckwith wrote:

> A quick question.  I have a Heil Proset headset into the front of the K3.
> Sometimes when I fire up my ACOM 1000 amp I experience the following problem. I
> am running the K3 PTT relay thru an LP-100 and then into the amp, with a Palstar
> tuner on the output side from the amp.  SWR is about 1.2 or 1.3.  I use a PTT
> switch and it seems to "stick" open.  I am transmitting and when I release the
> switch it doesn't immediately stop TX. Depending on the power out this may be
> followed by an error message (which I forgot to record) that requires restarting
> the K3.  This only happens when the amp is turned on.  Ideas?
>
> Thanks and 73
>
> Dave K6CGE
>

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[David Cutter]

I had the same problem with a long earth lead.

David
G3UNA

----- Original Message -----
From: "Don Wilhelm" <[hidden email]>
To: "david beckwith" <[hidden email]>
Cc: <[hidden email]>
Sent: Thursday, November 25, 2010 2:21 AM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] PTT stuck? Error?

>  Dave,
>
> Put a balun on your antenna.
>
> Seriously, that is likely being caused by "RF in the shack", and the
> only cure is to work on your antenna system to minimize it.
>
> 73,
> Don W3FPR
>
> On 11/24/2010 9:08 PM, david beckwith wrote:
>> A quick question.  I have a Heil Proset headset into the front of the K3.
>> Sometimes when I fire up my ACOM 1000 amp I experience the following
>> problem. I
>> am running the K3 PTT relay thru an LP-100 and then into the amp, with a
>> Palstar
>> tuner on the output side from the amp.  SWR is about 1.2 or 1.3.  I use a
>> PTT
>> switch and it seems to "stick" open.  I am transmitting and when I
>> release the
>> switch it doesn't immediately stop TX. Depending on the power out this
>> may be
>> followed by an error message (which I forgot to record) that requires
>> restarting
>> the K3.  This only happens when the amp is turned on.  Ideas?
>>
>> Thanks and 73
>>
>> Dave K6CGE
>>
>

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[vk4tux]

I have seen this issue caused by rf induction (when using an amp) on the
Kusb cable (If you have pc  connected).
A ferrite snap on with the cable wound through the snap-on ferrite as
many times as will stop this issue.
I also fitted a Coilcraft RS-232 filter between the K3 and the cable
DB-9 plug for noise proofing as well.

Adrian ... vk4tux
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[Don Wilhelm-4]

  Adrian,

While that is a "fix", the actual problem is the level of RF in the shack.
If it creates problems such as that, it makes me wonder what other
problems may be created as well.
The antenna balance (and/or use of effective baluns), the proximity of
the antenna to the shack, and rf on the ground conductor will play a
part in the final result.  It may be that one must resort to connecting
a 1/4 wavelength wire to the station ground for each band of interest.  
While that is not the most desirable solution, it can work for those
situations where nothing else works.

The basic problem actually exists at lower power, but does not "do bad
things" until the power is increased.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 11/25/2010 2:49 PM, Adrian wrote:
> I have seen this issue caused by rf induction (when using an amp) on the
> Kusb cable (If you have pc  connected).
> A ferrite snap on with the cable wound through the snap-on ferrite as
> many times as will stop this issue.
> I also fitted a Coilcraft RS-232 filter between the K3 and the cable
> DB-9 plug for noise proofing as well.
>
> Adrian ... vk4tux
>
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