Re: Setting Mic Gain to ALC Problem Solution

[Elecraft mailing list]

A week or so ago I posted a problem I was experiencing with my K3;  in SSB
mode, I couldn't "crank down" on Mic gain to get the last ALC bar to  
flicker. I had either seven bars (Mic setting 3 or above) or none! The bars were  
solid...no flicker anywhere. On-the-air checks detected nothing wrong with
my  audio or signal...but I had 7 solid ALC bars! I was using a CM-500,
plugged into  the rear panel (rP.H bIAS selected).
 
 
Elecraft support  suggested that to set Mic gain properly  that I first set
CMP to zero, reset TX Eq settings, then set the Mic gain. I  tried that and
still had the failure.

I tried several other things: latest firmware upgrade,  re-installing a
known "good" configuration file, trying another mike (older  lightweight Heil
with DX element), reseated the KIO3 boards several times to  assure a good
contact, and even a borrowed mike that I plugged into the front  panel (FP.H
bIAS selected) -- all produced the same results, seven solid ALC  bars or
none!
 
Support re-iterated that I try re-loading a known good  configuration file.
I did that again and it
still failed. Then I thought back to his suggestion about setting  the Mic
gain properly; this time, instead of resetting the settings manually as  I'd
done before, I hit the CLR button instead, and the settings were reset.
THAT  WORKED! I was now able to adjust the setting so I would get the last bar
to  flicker. I could also see, if I was careful enough, the ALC reading
increase  from zero to seven bars, something it wouldn't do before.
 
I've increased CMP back to the way I liked it but haven't played  with the
TX Eq yet...gun shy!
 
I thought I'd pass this along, right or wrong, just in case it  helps
somebody in the future.
 
73, Bert N4CW
 
 
 
 
 
 
______________________________________________________________
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]