SN# 1037 on the Air

[Ed Gray W0SD]

Ordered January 19, 2008, Shipped USPS June 5th 4pm CA time arrived June
7th, Saturday afternoon 2 pm in SD, amazing! It was a kit and I got the
2.7 khz, 1.8 khz 8 pole, 500 hz 5 pole and 200 hz 5 pole. I got the KXV3
interface, KAT3, KPA3.

It went together in 8.5 hours to the 10 watts level. My XYL Edith W0OE
helped read the manual so we had two opinions on what something meant
which helped.  I would say that saved at least an hour. It will take
less than a hour to build, install and calibrate the 100 watt PA.  I
have everything but the General Coverage module and 1 ppm Osc. of course
the KRX3 is back ordered and the DVR is in the future.  I would say 10
hours with just one person is about as fast as you can do it and not
cause yourself problems.  Two six hour sessions would be more relaxing.
If you have eyesight problems, etc. of course it will take longer.

I would definitely say to sort the hardware.  If you are in a hurry like
I was there really is not much of a need to count the screws, nuts and
that sort of thing as they send extra anyway.  Use your ruler a lot but
with things sorted like with like IMHO you are ready to go.  Do check
off all the modules so you are familiar with them as there are a lot
more things to put together than I think you would imagine.  Only place
where I got caught with a mistake was Page 24  mid way down it says
Coaxial TMP cable fits between the KXV3 and the KIO3 boards.

Later in reality I found out what you really need to do with the cable
is put it through the notch in the main circuit board along the edge to
reach the other side of the board as it plugs in on the bottom.  Make a
note in your manual here.  I had to tear out a couple of modules and
route the TMP cable correctly and re-install.  That IMHO was the only
thing that was not clear to me.  A few steps later is became clear but
it wasted a little time.  My congratulations on a fine manual and
construction.

I had zero trouble with the mic connector and the front panel so maybe
they are making the hole bigger.  I cheated and put the front on with
out tearing things loose.  If you do this be sure you look at all angles
at least three times and shove it together very slowly, evenly and
carefully as you have to be sure all the pins are lined up with the
connectors.  It likely is smarter to do what the manual says but I know
others have mentioned doing what I did.  If you do what I did "DO NOT
FORCE".  If in doubt at all take it apart like the manual says.

I had a problem with the Reference Oscillator zero beating with WWV.  I
though I got it the first night but I later found I did not.  I think
part of it is that since I don't have the General Coverage Module WWV is
not real strong and I have lots of good antennas but as advertised
without the General Coverage modules signals outside the ham bands are
going to be down.

Here is a tip.  The reference oscillator operates at 49.380 so look
right around that frequency for the zero beat.  Mine was 49.379900  I
did not have it correct and my frequency calibration was off on the
various WWV frequencies and my 200 hz 5 pole filter even with 8 db of
compensation you could barely hear signals.  Support replied in 30
minutes via e-mail suggesting going between USB and LSB rather than
using CW to zero beat as it is confusing as most of the time WWV is
sending a tone. The best time is at announcement time when the tone is
gone. I was also told to download the DSP table.  In my case the file
was called dtbl0008.hex.  Normally it is my understanding you should not
have to download this but given what I learned I would use the latest
downloading utility and download all the new files.  Go to advanced mode
and check download DTBL.  From what I read this table is not changed
often but on the other hand nothing is hurt be reloading it all each
time.  If I find out more I will see if I can clarify.  If the DSP table
  is not correct it will mess things up.

I would not call the zero beat easy and for me with WWV not being real
strong CW was best.  Once you think you have it I would say to go to
each WWV frequency and on the voice announcement if they sound tuned in
and then switch Sidebands and if there is no change and you get them at
2.5, 5.0, 10.0 and 15.0 and WWV sounds good on both sidebands I would
say you have it correct.  When I get my Motorola service monitor back
which is loaned out I will check it for a second test.  Anyway with the
DSP table download and getting zero beat with WWV the 200 hz filter has
plenty of gain now.

One other thing that happened.  With all the messing trying to get the
Reference Oscillator calibrated I accidentally held the mode button down
for a half second on "TEST" and did not realize it.  Today I could not
get any power out of the radio and I had power yesterday.  This was the
cause and once I discovered it I had power back.  If the TX on the
display is blinking it means you are in "TEST" mode.  I realize this is
old hat to those of you that have had the radio awhile but there is a
lot to absorb in a short time and I missed this at first glance.  I have
read the manual a couple of times while waiting for the radio which I
highly advise.

The ALT as part of the mode switch switches from USB to LSB if the
default for a band is USB or vice versa.  You also can get CW-R with
holding down the mode switch.

Everything else so far seems real intuitive!

Don't be put off by the kit.  It saves significant money,  you will get
your radio faster by about 2 weeks it seems to me and you will be a
whole lot more familiar with it and you will have a lot of confidence
you can keep it running with help from support because when they tell
you things you will very, very likely understand what they are
suggesting you do.

One thing I read today that I missed.  It is suggested by some for dual
diversity with the sub receiver that you should have the same filters in
both receivers.

The radio sets on the bench "ROCK SOLID" when pushing the buttons or
tuning.  The labels I can read without glasses and there is room for my
fingers and the buttons are very intuitive.

The K3 should be ready to go for our Six Meter DX-Pedition to St. Bart
for 10 days from June 26 through July 6th.  I think we will have the
operation of it mastered by then so we can use the power this fine radio
has.

The radio is so light, what a joy to move around and operate.

Ed W0SD
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