Re: Change to KX3 RF board at #2500

[DaveL G3TJP]

Since my query received no response, I kept digging and found some info on
the KX3 Yahoo reflector and together with snippets from those kind souls who
sent emails direct to me, thanks guys, I got a better picture.


 


Seemingly, the changeover was at #2045 and involved a change in the RF board
in response to QST's December 2012 review comments about very slightly lower
dynamic range on 160 and 80 metres.  The modified RF board apparently sorts
that out and there's also a low pass filter added to the BNC antenna
connector that now has a tiny PCB and a toroid attached.


 


I asked about it because I'm assembling a KX3 for a friend and wanted to
know whether the kit had the new or old RF board.  Fortunately, he's well in
time and it sports the new RF board and BNC socket.


 


Apparently, Elecraft will update the KX3 for $49 but it's implied that you
have to send the entire KX3 to them.  That's pretty hard on those outside
the bottom 48 but my buddy's happy because it doesn't affect him.  If his
KX3 had been pre-#2045 and he'd wanted the upgrade, I would have tried to
beg an exchange PCB, rather like the DSP upgrade on the K3, as I have the
confidence to take things apart and the ability to get 'em back together
again (mostly) HI!


 


My thanks as ever to the Elecraft crew who are always willing to go the
extra mile for their customers.


 


73 Dave G3TJP


 

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[Keith Heimbold]

Thanks for sharing this information as I would like to send up my KX3 serial 847 to Elecraft for this modification. I must be living under a rock because this is the first I heard of this mod.

Keith
AK6ZZ

Sent from my iPhone please excuse typos

On Nov 13, 2012, at 8:41 AM, "Dave Lankshear" <[hidden email]> wrote:

>
> Since my query received no response, I kept digging and found some info on
> the KX3 Yahoo reflector and together with snippets from those kind souls who
> sent emails direct to me, thanks guys, I got a better picture.
>
>
>
>
>
> Seemingly, the changeover was at #2045 and involved a change in the RF board
> in response to QST's December 2012 review comments about very slightly lower
> dynamic range on 160 and 80 metres.  The modified RF board apparently sorts
> that out and there's also a low pass filter added to the BNC antenna
> connector that now has a tiny PCB and a toroid attached.
>
>
>
>
>
> I asked about it because I'm assembling a KX3 for a friend and wanted to
> know whether the kit had the new or old RF board.  Fortunately, he's well in
> time and it sports the new RF board and BNC socket.
>
>
>
>
>
> Apparently, Elecraft will update the KX3 for $49 but it's implied that you
> have to send the entire KX3 to them.  That's pretty hard on those outside
> the bottom 48 but my buddy's happy because it doesn't affect him.  If his
> KX3 had been pre-#2045 and he'd wanted the upgrade, I would have tried to
> beg an exchange PCB, rather like the DSP upgrade on the K3, as I have the
> confidence to take things apart and the ability to get 'em back together
> again (mostly) HI!
>
>
>
>
>
> My thanks as ever to the Elecraft crew who are always willing to go the
> extra mile for their customers.
>
>
>
>
>
> 73 Dave G3TJP
>
>
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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

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[Edward R Cole]

So there is an update for $49.  I am wondering if the new RF board
can be shipped for customer installation?  I built SN-0475 as a kit,
so would not see an issue for doing that.

I may be using my KX3 as IF for 630m band using a 3.570 to 0.470 MHz
transverter.  I am mulling over making up a 25w transverter (and
possibly offering it for sale as a partial kit - surface-mount
installed).  Creation of the new ham band below 500-KHz is still in
limbo waiting on NTIA and FCC action.   A recent report from ARRL has
a committee preparing material to submit to the FCC in behalf of
creating a ham band in the new allocation approved by WRC-12.  No
idea on the time-line in this process.

I am currently part of the ARRL 500-KHz Experiment Group running on
WD2XSH.  I use my K3 running in TEST mode on 495-KHz into a 100w
converted NDB transmitter into a 43x122 foot inverted-L.  The K3 will
not tune below 490-KHz thus the need for a transverter to operate the
new allocation.

73, Ed - KL7UW - WD2XSH/45

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[Geoffrey Mackenzie-Kennedy-3]

Dave,

Do you have any information about the size and mix of the toroid core used
in the low pass filter added to the BNC antenna connector?

73,

Geoff
LX2AO


On November 13, 2012 at 5:16 PM, Dave Lankshear wrote:


< snip>

> and there's also a low pass filter added to the BNC antenna
> connector that now has a tiny PCB and a toroid attached.

<snip>

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[DaveL G3TJP]

I can only say it’s about ¼” diameter Geoffrey, Hi!   Sorry I can’t help.

 

73 Dave G3TJP

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[Geoffrey Mackenzie-Kennedy-3]

Thanks Dave.  Actually, knowing the size of the core does help!!

73,

Geoff
LX2AO


On November 13, 2012 at 10:35 PM, Dave Lankshear wrote:

> I can only say it’s about ¼” diameter Geoffrey, Hi!   Sorry I can’t help.




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