Page Two (of the story):
Over the last couple days I have completed modification to my
low-power Down East Microwave (DEMI) transverter for use with the
KX3. Early tests had been using my K3 for Tx drive on 28-MHz.
One issue I hit was being unable to transmit above 29.700 MHz with
the K3, so I was concerned if The KX3 had a similar restriction
(none). I set up XV1 in menu to operate with IF=28-MHz converting to
144-MHz. I first encountered XV1=NO which was locked. Press-Hold
the KHZ button unlocks the use of XVn. But then I found I had no RF
output on 28-MHz when selecting a transverter channel (programmed
with the Freq. Memory Editor). I discovered that XV1 PWR was locked
at 0.1w which also unlocks with Press-Hold KHZ for three seconds.
I could see RF output on 28-MHz (into my Bird43 power meter with
load) when selecting memory for any 2m channel. I measured the
output witn my counter to verify it was actually on 28-MHz.
So imagine my dismay when testing the KX3 connected to my transverter
produced NO RF whatsoever on 2m. I had a probe for my Freq. counter
lying across the open chassis of the transverter and it even picked
up the 116-MHz LO when in receive...but not a "whif" of 144-MHz RF
(note the LO is running only 50mw and was picked up by the counter).
A few more unsuccessful attempts and I decided to try running the KX3
on ten meters at 28-MHz directly; it drives the transverter
fine. I'm guessing something still remains to fully activate the
transverter mode in the KX3!
I went back into Freq. Memory Editor and changed all my memory
frequencies from 144.xxx to 28.xxx. The transverter is functional
when driven from ten meters by the KX3.
I was pleased to get full output from the 13w RA13H1317M RF module
installed in my transverter with only 0.5w drive on 28-MHz. I set up
the KX3+DEMI 144-28 for a net I host on Saturday mornings on 2m. It
worked well except in receive. Tonight I troubleshot the transverter
RX ckts and found the BNC to coax connection had a cold solder
junction. I tweaked-in the Rx adjustable caps in the transverter
with the weak signal from my XG3 (-107 dBm) on both 144.200 and 147.270 MHz.
ON air test was good on a repeater 80-mi distant using as little as
5w output on 2m into a 17-foot collinear vertical base antenna (9dB
gain). The repeater is low power (5w) located at 4400 feet above sea
level on a mountain NW of Anchorage.
So I am still in a quandary how to get the transverter mode (XVn)
working on the KX3?
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