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Question about KRX3 install

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Thomas Schaefer

Question about KRX3 install

Hello,

I have a question about the sub receiver I installed this weekend.

The procedure for the aux antenna states you have two options for an AUX antenna, either put the BNC in the back of the radio OR connect though the KAT3 so the non used antenna port is the AUX.

From reading the book, I presumed this is an optional step. In other words, I can do the BNC jack, connect the KRX3 to the KAT3 or NEITHER.

I choose neither. I hope I got that right.

My question is that when I tell the radio that I am using the KRX3, I select from Not Installed, AUX-BNC or AUX-KAT (paraphrasing). Well, since I did not do either of what I consider optional steps, neither one of those makes sense to select. I selected the KAT option but if the steps are really optional, I would thing the CONFIG options should be ON-NoAUX, AUX-BNC or AUX-KAT.

Can someone clarify if the AUX steps are indeed optional and if so, which KRX3 option should I select in CONFIG.

Thanks,

Tom NY4I

Tom Schaefer
727-437-2771

P.S. Drowning in email? I use SaneBox to instantly clean up my Inbox: http://sanebox.com/t/gdaz7

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Cady, Fred

Re: Question about KRX3 install

Hi Tom,
Here is how I have it figured out:

When you install your Sub receiver you must chose an antenna configuration and then physically connect a TMP cable inside the K3 from the Sub receiver's J92 antenna input to one of two places. First, you can connect the receiver to the K3's ATU, which allows the Sub receiver to either share the same antenna the Main receiver is using (ANT1, ANT 2, or RX ANT IN if a KXV3A is installed). You may also choose to have the Sub receiver use whichever antenna the Main receiver is NOT using (ANT 2 if Main is using ANT1, or vice versa). You must set CONFIG:KRX3 Ant=Atu for this option. This may be your best choice for all around operating with a variety of antennas. Section 5.10.3 shows antenna selections when you make this choice.

The second choice is to connect the receiver to a separate auxiliary RF BNC antenna connector. In this case, the Sub receiver can share an antenna with the Main or it can use a different antenna connected to the AUX RF BNC. Set CONFIG:KRX3 Ant=bnc if you choose this option. This may be your best choice for diversity receiver operation with specialized receive antennas. Section 5.10.4 gives diagrams showing antenna choices for this configuration.
Note: You cannot transmit on the AUX RF BNC.

I think some of the confusion comes from what the K3 displays when you switch the Sub's antenna. When sharing the main antenna, it shows MAIN; when switched to the other choice, it shows AUX but that doesn't necessarily mean the AUX BNC. In this case it depends how you have your Sub receiver connected -- Ant=Atu or Ant=bnc.

Cheers,
Fred KE7X

Author of:
"The Elecraft K3: Design, Configuration and Operation 2nd ed"
"The Elecraft KX3 - Going for the summit"
"The Elecraft KPA500 and KAT500 - the K-Line Dream Station"
Printed, coil bound copies of these are all available at www.elecraft.com
KPA500 and KAT500 Quick Set Up Guide
http://www.ke7x.com/home/k-line-introduction-and-set-up-guide
KAT500 and KXPA500 Tuner Operation
http://www.ke7x.com/home/kat500-and-kxpa100-tuners

"The Elecraft KXPA100, PX3 and 2M/4M Transverters - Assembling the KX3-Line Station" available at www.lulu.com.

("The Elecraft K3S and P3" in preparation)

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Elecraft [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of
> Thomas Schaefer
> Sent: Saturday, June 13, 2015 8:30 AM
> To: [hidden email]
> Subject: [Elecraft] Question about KRX3 install
>
> Hello,
>
> I have a question about the sub receiver I installed this weekend.
>
> The procedure for the aux antenna states you have two options for an
> AUX antenna, either put the BNC in the back of the radio OR connect
> though the KAT3 so the non used antenna port is the AUX.
>
> From reading the book, I presumed this is an optional step. In other
> words, I can do the BNC jack, connect the KRX3 to the KAT3 or NEITHER.
>
> I choose neither. I hope I got that right.
>
> My question is that when I tell the radio that I am using the KRX3, I
> select from Not Installed, AUX-BNC or AUX-KAT (paraphrasing). Well,
> since I did not do either of what I consider optional steps, neither
> one of those makes sense to select. I selected the KAT option but if
> the steps are really optional, I would thing the CONFIG options should
> be ON-NoAUX, AUX-BNC or AUX-KAT.
>
> Can someone clarify if the AUX steps are indeed optional and if so,
> which KRX3 option should I select in CONFIG.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Tom NY4I
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Tom Schaefer
> 727-437-2771
>
> P.S. Drowning in email? I use SaneBox to instantly clean up my Inbox:
> http://sanebox.com/t/gdaz7
>
>
>
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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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Thomas Schaefer

Re: Question about KRX3 install

Thanks Fred.

So If I follow you, I have to pick one of those two options?

I ask as in the installation manual, it states if you do NOT want an AUX input to the KRX3, you can skip the steps. As presented, I did indeed skip those steps but when I arrived at the menu, I thought to myself, “Well, I selected neither option, so which one do I choose”. It sounds like maybe I wanted BNC as I really just want to let the subRX share the main antenna.

Thanks,

Tom Schaefer
727-437-2771

P.S. Drowning in email? I use SaneBox to instantly clean up my Inbox: http://sanebox.com/t/gdaz7

> On Jun 13, 2015, at 11:02 AM, Cady, Fred <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> Hi Tom,
> Here is how I have it figured out:
>
> When you install your Sub receiver you must chose an antenna configuration and then physically connect a TMP cable inside the K3 from the Sub receiver's J92 antenna input to one of two places. First, you can connect the receiver to the K3's ATU, which allows the Sub receiver to either share the same antenna the Main receiver is using (ANT1, ANT 2, or RX ANT IN if a KXV3A is installed). You may also choose to have the Sub receiver use whichever antenna the Main receiver is NOT using (ANT 2 if Main is using ANT1, or vice versa). You must set CONFIG:KRX3 Ant=Atu for this option. This may be your best choice for all around operating with a variety of antennas. Section 5.10.3 shows antenna selections when you make this choice.
>
> The second choice is to connect the receiver to a separate auxiliary RF BNC antenna connector. In this case, the Sub receiver can share an antenna with the Main or it can use a different antenna connected to the AUX RF BNC. Set CONFIG:KRX3 Ant=bnc if you choose this option. This may be your best choice for diversity receiver operation with specialized receive antennas. Section 5.10.4 gives diagrams showing antenna choices for this configuration.
> Note: You cannot transmit on the AUX RF BNC.
>
> I think some of the confusion comes from what the K3 displays when you switch the Sub's antenna. When sharing the main antenna, it shows MAIN; when switched to the other choice, it shows AUX but that doesn't necessarily mean the AUX BNC. In this case it depends how you have your Sub receiver connected -- Ant=Atu or Ant=bnc.
>
> Cheers,
> Fred KE7X
>
> Author of:
> "The Elecraft K3: Design, Configuration and Operation 2nd ed"
> "The Elecraft KX3 - Going for the summit"
> "The Elecraft KPA500 and KAT500 - the K-Line Dream Station"
> Printed, coil bound copies of these are all available at www.elecraft.com
> KPA500 and KAT500 Quick Set Up Guide
> http://www.ke7x.com/home/k-line-introduction-and-set-up-guide
> KAT500 and KXPA500 Tuner Operation
> http://www.ke7x.com/home/kat500-and-kxpa100-tuners
>
> "The Elecraft KXPA100, PX3 and 2M/4M Transverters - Assembling the KX3-Line Station" available at www.lulu.com.
>
> ("The Elecraft K3S and P3" in preparation)
>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Elecraft [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of
>> Thomas Schaefer
>> Sent: Saturday, June 13, 2015 8:30 AM
>> To: [hidden email]
>> Subject: [Elecraft] Question about KRX3 install
>>
>> Hello,
>>
>> I have a question about the sub receiver I installed this weekend.
>>
>> The procedure for the aux antenna states you have two options for an
>> AUX antenna, either put the BNC in the back of the radio OR connect
>> though the KAT3 so the non used antenna port is the AUX.
>>
>> From reading the book, I presumed this is an optional step. In other
>> words, I can do the BNC jack, connect the KRX3 to the KAT3 or NEITHER.
>>
>> I choose neither. I hope I got that right.
>>
>> My question is that when I tell the radio that I am using the KRX3, I
>> select from Not Installed, AUX-BNC or AUX-KAT (paraphrasing). Well,
>> since I did not do either of what I consider optional steps, neither
>> one of those makes sense to select. I selected the KAT option but if
>> the steps are really optional, I would thing the CONFIG options should
>> be ON-NoAUX, AUX-BNC or AUX-KAT.
>>
>> Can someone clarify if the AUX steps are indeed optional and if so,
>> which KRX3 option should I select in CONFIG.
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> Tom NY4I
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Tom Schaefer
>> 727-437-2771
>>
>> P.S. Drowning in email? I use SaneBox to instantly clean up my Inbox:
>> http://sanebox.com/t/gdaz7
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> 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]

Jim Brown-10

Re: Question about KRX3 install

On Sat,6/13/2015 8:31 AM, Thomas Schaefer wrote:
> So If I follow you, I have to pick one of those two options?

For all practical purposes, yes. Which you pick depends on how many
antennas you have and how you plan to use the 2nd RX. If you want to do
diversity RX, you probably want the AUX connector -- that way, you can
feed whatever antenna you want into it without tying up the ANT2 connector.

73, Jim K9YC
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Thomas Schaefer

Re: Question about KRX3 install

I don't mean to be obtuse, but I don’t follow.

The way the book is written is it sounds like I can choose an option. There was a downside described ion the manual to having the AUX though non-used antenna port. I also do not need to use a separate antenna. All I ever want to do is have the Sub RX on the main antenna. I use the sub rx strictly to hear the other side of a pile up.

I am going to check out my other K3 that I received that had the sub RX in it. Let me see what it did.

Thanks,

Tom Schaefer
727-437-2771

P.S. Drowning in email? I use SaneBox to instantly clean up my Inbox: http://sanebox.com/t/gdaz7

> On Jun 13, 2015, at 12:56 PM, Jim Brown <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> On Sat,6/13/2015 8:31 AM, Thomas Schaefer wrote:
>> So If I follow you, I have to pick one of those two options?
>
> For all practical purposes, yes. Which you pick depends on how many antennas you have and how you plan to use the 2nd RX. If you want to do diversity RX, you probably want the AUX connector -- that way, you can feed whatever antenna you want into it without tying up the ANT2 connector.
>
> 73, Jim K9YC
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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]

Don Wilhelm-4

Re: Question about KRX3 install

Tom,

Perhaps I can state things in a different way to help you along.
First, the SubRX can always use the main antenna, but if you do that,
there is a 3 dB coupler in the path, so your receive signal strength
goes down by 3 dB both in the main RX and the SubRX.

The way to avoid the 3 dB loss is to set the subRX to use the AUX
input. If you select AUX on the subRX, then the input will come from
one of two places depending on how you have connected the TMP cable. If
you connect it to the KAT3, the AUX antenna will be the non-transmit
antenna - in other words, if you have 2 antennas (necessary for
Diversity reception) - but both antennas are transmit capable, you can
connect one antenna to the ANT1 jack and the other to the ANT2 jack.
You will transmit on the one selected by the ANT1/2 button, and the
subRX will receive on the other one.

If you have a separate receive only antenna, you would want to connect
the subRX AUX input to the BNC jack - in that case install the BNC and
its cable.

I have set up a couple K3s with both cables installed, but only one
connected to the subRX AUX jack - the other it taped to the top of the
subRX enclosure. If you want to change which one is connected to the
subRX AUX jack, it is a simple matter of removing the top cover and
unplugging one TMP cable and plugging the other one in. If you install
both, I suggest that you get out your label machine and mark which cable
is which.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 6/13/2015 1:11 PM, Thomas Schaefer wrote:
> I don't mean to be obtuse, but I don’t follow.
>
> The way the book is written is it sounds like I can choose an option. There was a downside described ion the manual to having the AUX though non-used antenna port. I also do not need to use a separate antenna. All I ever want to do is have the Sub RX on the main antenna. I use the sub rx strictly to hear the other side of a pile up.
>
> I am going to check out my other K3 that I received that had the sub RX in it. Let me see what it did.
>
>

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Edward R Cole

Re: Question about KRX3 install

In reply to this post by Thomas Schaefer

One combo you did not cover was with KRX3 installed and no KAT3
installed. That is my configuration. I ran input to the KRX3 to the
separate BNC. But the KRX3 menu with ATU selected does not connect
my KRX3 to the main ANT. Essentially I have either "not installed"
or BNC as choice for KRX3.

That suits my use fine. I mainly use the KRX3 to receive the 28-MHz
IF of my dual-receiver 144-28 transverter. Other use might be a
separate low-noise Rx antenna on 600m (someday). I do little HF
operating and single antenna connection is fine (external coax switch
used for antenna selection).

I have an "old" Drake MN-2000 2kW rated manual tuner which handles my
HF uses (do not chase HF-DX or HF-contest).

73, Ed - KL7UW
http://www.kl7uw.com
"Kits made by KL7UW"
Dubus Mag business:
[hidden email]

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Thomas Schaefer

Re: Question about KRX3 install

Thanks.

Well, I figured it out in that based on reading Fred’s book and the email from Fred, I installed the cable from the ATU to the KRX3.

The issue is that the installation makes it seem like BOTH these items are optional (if you only want to run the sub RX off the main antenna and NOT do diversity reception of any sort).

I say that because the manual for the KRX3 install states if you do not want to di wither of the optional antenna steps to skip ahead. That is fine and I have no issue with that.

The challenge is the commands in the radio to enable the KRX3 are not intuitive to me. Maybe it is just me as I tend to be quite literal. I submit there should be config options. One is KRX3A with two options for ON or OFF and the other config item should be Sub RX AUX Ant with choices of NA, KAT3 or BNC. Short of two separate items, if the KRX3 config option was OFF, ON-MAIN, RX-KAT, RX-BNC that would be OK too. That would make it more self-explanatory.

But, all is well, the SubRx and new synths are working, the new DVR is working and the service monitor says it all checks out.

Thanks to all that helped.

Regards,

Tom Schaefer
727-437-2771

P.S. Drowning in email? I use SaneBox to instantly clean up my Inbox: http://sanebox.com/t/gdaz7

> On Jun 14, 2015, at 6:31 PM, Edward R Cole <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> One combo you did not cover was with KRX3 installed and no KAT3 installed. That is my configuration. I ran input to the KRX3 to the separate BNC. But the KRX3 menu with ATU selected does not connect my KRX3 to the main ANT. Essentially I have either "not installed" or BNC as choice for KRX3.
>
> That suits my use fine. I mainly use the KRX3 to receive the 28-MHz IF of my dual-receiver 144-28 transverter. Other use might be a separate low-noise Rx antenna on 600m (someday). I do little HF operating and single antenna connection is fine (external coax switch used for antenna selection).
>
> I have an "old" Drake MN-2000 2kW rated manual tuner which handles my HF uses (do not chase HF-DX or HF-contest).
>
> 73, Ed - KL7UW
> http://www.kl7uw.com
> "Kits made by KL7UW"
> Dubus Mag business:
> [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]