Possible problem with K3 at very low power

[Stewart Bryant]

Hi

I have noticed something strange with my K3 and am wondering whether it
is a bug, a feature or operator error.

I am using the K3 to send WSPR at 0.2W, band hopping but on almost
continuously on one band or another.

The driving program is WSTJ-X in WSPR2 mode with scheduling enabled.

Whilst it always works OK to start with and I get reports, I notice that
after it has run for a few 10s of minutes I get no reports. It is as if
there is no o/p from the K3.

If on the other hand I run at 2W and put a 10dB attenuator on the output
socket, it all seems to work as expected for as long as I run it.

So is this a known problem with the K3, a broken K3 or have I made a
mistake somewhere?

Thanks

Stewart/G3YSX

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[Don Wilhelm-4]

Stewart,

I can't answer about any power problems with the K3 set to 0.2 watts.
But I do need to ask whether you are indicating 4 bars with the 5th bar
flickering on the ALC meter.
Failure to drive the audio sufficiently to achieve that indication on
the ALC meter is frequently the cause of poor power control when using
data modes.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 2/12/2016 10:52 AM, Stewart Bryant wrote:

> Hi
>
> I have noticed something strange with my K3 and am wondering whether
> it is a bug, a feature or operator error.
>
> I am using the K3 to send WSPR at 0.2W, band hopping but on almost
> continuously on one band or another.
>
> The driving program is WSTJ-X in WSPR2 mode with scheduling enabled.
>
> Whilst it always works OK to start with and I get reports, I notice
> that after it has run for a few 10s of minutes I get no reports. It is
> as if there is no o/p from the K3.
>
> If on the other hand I run at 2W and put a 10dB attenuator on the
> output socket, it all seems to work as expected for as long as I run it.
>
> So is this a known problem with the K3, a broken K3 or have I made a
> mistake somewhere?
>
> Thanks
>
> Stewart/G3YSX
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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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