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Serial #4019 is on the air, and I have a few questions...

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MeLikeyTacos

Serial #4019 is on the air, and I have a few questions...

Hello everyone,
I ordered a K3/100 Feb. 22, received it yesterday March 8. I've been messing around with it and now have it on the air in a basic fashion, but I have a few questions regarding how to set it up further.

For starters, I got the Proset K2 headset with it. I was under the impression that I could use the microphone/headphone jacks in the rear, but this doesn't seem to be the case. When trying to use the rear jack, even with the mic gain all the way up I can't hear myself in the monitor, and it only outputs around 5W on voice peaks when set at 100W. I've read the manual for both the radio and the headset and am using the settings specified. Also in the manual I saw a reference to changing the voice transmit gain using the CONFIG: TXG VOICE menu setting, but I can't find that setting in the config menu. I eventually gave up and started using the 8-pin adapter for the front mic jack, and now it works, but looks ugly. I would much rather use the rear jack.

Second issue is getting the K3 connected to my Drake L-4B amp, specifically the ALC connection. Since I bought the 6 meter preamp I already have the 15-pin "ACC" connector, and I was going to just attach an ALC lead to that connector. It looks like I need to use pins 15 and 12, correct?

Also with the ALC function, in the manual on page 27 it says "External ALC is set up using the CONFIG:EXT ALC menu entry". However, like with the "CONFIG: TXG VOICE", for the life of me I cannot find that menu entry in either of the menus. Am I missing something or is it simply not there?

So those are my two hiccups so far, otherwise I am really enjoying the radio. And if any of you are also using a Drake L-4B with your K3, I'd love to hear any tips/advice/settings I should be aware of.

Thanks!

Don Wilhelm-4

Re: Serial #4019 is on the air, and I have a few questions...

Did you turn bias on for the rear panel mic jack? It sounds like the
typical "problem" when an electret type mic is used and bias is not applied.

I would strongly suggest using your amp without any ALC connection.
Using external ALC to control the power output only results in
distortion and splatter. The K3 has adequate controls on the output
power to assure that your amplifier stays within its linear range.

73,
Don W3FPR

MeLikeyTacos wrote:

> Hello everyone,
> I ordered a K3/100 Feb. 22, received it yesterday March 8. I've been
> messing around with it and now have it on the air in a basic fashion, but I
> have a few questions regarding how to set it up further.
>
> For starters, I got the Proset K2 headset with it. I was under the
> impression that I could use the microphone/headphone jacks in the rear, but
> this doesn't seem to be the case. When trying to use the rear jack, even
> with the mic gain all the way up I can't hear myself in the monitor, and it
> only outputs around 5W on voice peaks when set at 100W. I've read the
> manual for both the radio and the headset and am using the settings
> specified. Also in the manual I saw a reference to changing the voice
> transmit gain using the CONFIG: TXG VOICE menu setting, but I can't find
> that setting in the config menu. I eventually gave up and started using the
> 8-pin adapter for the front mic jack, and now it works, but looks ugly. I
> would much rather use the rear jack.
>
> Second issue is getting the K3 connected to my Drake L-4B amp, specifically
> the ALC connection. Since I bought the 6 meter preamp I already have the
> 15-pin "ACC" connector, and I was going to just attach an ALC lead to that
> connector. It looks like I need to use pins 15 and 12, correct?
>
> Also with the ALC function, in the manual on page 27 it says "External ALC
> is set up using the CONFIG:EXT ALC menu entry". However, like with the
> "CONFIG: TXG VOICE", for the life of me I cannot find that menu entry in
> either of the menus. Am I missing something or is it simply not there?
>
> So those are my two hiccups so far, otherwise I am really enjoying the
> radio. And if any of you are also using a Drake L-4B with your K3, I'd love
> to hear any tips/advice/settings I should be aware of.
>
>

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MeLikeyTacos

Re: Serial #4019 is on the air, and I have a few questions...

In reply to this post by MeLikeyTacos

Thank you all for the replies. For some reason, I am getting several replies via e-mail which aren't shown on the Nabble interface, not sure if that's normal as I'm still getting used to the mailing list.

Anyway, when using the rear jack, it will only work with bias off, and is pretty quiet. When using the front jack, it will only work with bias on, and sounds normal. I've enabled Tech Mode and tried using the voice gain, but it didn't change anything. I'll keep using the front jack for now.

As for the ALC...typically the ALC function is used to prevent distortion and splatter, why is that the opposite when using the K3?

Re: Serial #4019 is on the air, and I have a few questions...

You have to work at it to get the message on Nabble. The default Reply is only to the sender. You need to select reply to all to send your replay to Nabble.
Willis 'Cookie' Cooke
K5EWJ

________________________________
From: MeLikeyTacos <[hidden email]>
To: [hidden email]
Sent: Tue, March 9, 2010 7:50:58 PM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Serial #4019 is on the air, and I have a few questions...

Thank you all for the replies. For some reason, I am getting several replies
via e-mail which aren't shown on the Nabble interface, not sure if that's
normal as I'm still getting used to the mailing list.

Anyway, when using the rear jack, it will only work with bias off, and is
pretty quiet. When using the front jack, it will only work with bias on,
and sounds normal. I've enabled Tech Mode and tried using the voice gain,
but it didn't change anything. I'll keep using the front jack for now.

As for the ALC...typically the ALC function is used to prevent distortion
and splatter, why is that the opposite when using the K3?
--
View this message in context: http://n2.nabble.com/Serial-4019-is-on-the-air-and-I-have-a-few-questions-tp4705986p4706503.html
Sent from the [K3] mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
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Don Wilhelm-4

Re: Serial #4019 is on the air, and I have a few questions...

In reply to this post by MeLikeyTacos

I don't use Nabble, so I expect others to offer their suggestions on that.
As for the microphone, if it needs bias on the front panel, it will need
bias on the rear panel too - this is a requirement of the microphone,
not the K3. The microphones supplied by Elecraft all require bias to be
turned on, regardless whether the front panel jack or the rear panel
jacks are used.

Internal ALC *inside* a transceiver like the K3 *is* used to reduce
distortion and splatter. However, external ALC is quite different. If
External ALC is ever active, the amplifier is already being driven into
compression and that condition will result in distortion and splatter.

I refer you to the commentary on the Elecraft website Builder's Resource
page - then click on K3 Application Note and Mods link, and then scroll
down to K3 Negative ALC and Ext Band Pull Up Mods. Read the text in
italics.

73,
Don W3FPR

MeLikeyTacos wrote:

> Thank you all for the replies. For some reason, I am getting several replies
> via e-mail which aren't shown on the Nabble interface, not sure if that's
> normal as I'm still getting used to the mailing list.
>
> Anyway, when using the rear jack, it will only work with bias off, and is
> pretty quiet. When using the front jack, it will only work with bias on,
> and sounds normal. I've enabled Tech Mode and tried using the voice gain,
> but it didn't change anything. I'll keep using the front jack for now.
>
> As for the ALC...typically the ALC function is used to prevent distortion
> and splatter, why is that the opposite when using the K3?
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
> No virus found in this incoming message.
> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
> Version: 9.0.733 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/2732 - Release Date: 03/09/10 02:33:00
>
>

Mike Reublin

Re: Serial #4019 is on the air, and I have a few questions...

In reply to this post by MeLikeyTacos

There are two menus in the K3, MAIN and CONFIG, both accessed by
pressing the same button. You can either TAP (a quick down/up) or HOLD
(for a second or two) a button.
If you're not finding the CONFIG menu entries, are you sure you're
turning on the correct menu? When you press the button, does it say
CONFIG or MAIN? You have to hold the button for a second or two for the
CONFIG portion. Then you dial thru the items with the B VFO knob.
They're in alphabetical order.

73, Mike NF4L

MeLikeyTacos wrote:

ON4WIX

Re: Serial #4019 is on the air, and I have a few questions...

Maybe the syntax in the manual is a bit confusing if you're not used to
it...

When the manual says "CONFIG:TXG VOICE", it means that you have to look for
the "TXG VOICE" entry in the "CONFIG" memory.
In the same fashion, "MAIN: LCD BRT" refers to the "LCD BRT" entry in the
"MAIN" menu.

Hope this clears up some of the confusion.

73 and enjoy your new radio!

Glenn ON4WIX
----- Original Message -----
From: "Mike" <[hidden email]>
To: "MeLikeyTacos" <[hidden email]>
Cc: <[hidden email]>
Sent: Wednesday, March 10, 2010 2:03 PM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Serial #4019 is on the air,and I have a few
questions...

> There are two menus in the K3, MAIN and CONFIG, both accessed by
> pressing the same button. You can either TAP (a quick down/up) or HOLD
> (for a second or two) a button.
> If you're not finding the CONFIG menu entries, are you sure you're
> turning on the correct menu? When you press the button, does it say
> CONFIG or MAIN? You have to hold the button for a second or two for the
> CONFIG portion. Then you dial thru the items with the B VFO knob.
> They're in alphabetical order.
>
> 73, Mike NF4L
>
> MeLikeyTacos wrote:
>> Hello everyone,
>> I ordered a K3/100 Feb. 22, received it yesterday March 8. I've been
>> messing around with it and now have it on the air in a basic fashion, but
>> I
>> have a few questions regarding how to set it up further.
>>
>> For starters, I got the Proset K2 headset with it. I was under the
>> impression that I could use the microphone/headphone jacks in the rear,
>> but
>> this doesn't seem to be the case. When trying to use the rear jack, even
>> with the mic gain all the way up I can't hear myself in the monitor, and
>> it
>> only outputs around 5W on voice peaks when set at 100W. I've read the
>> manual for both the radio and the headset and am using the settings
>> specified. Also in the manual I saw a reference to changing the voice
>> transmit gain using the CONFIG: TXG VOICE menu setting, but I can't find
>> that setting in the config menu. I eventually gave up and started using
>> the
>> 8-pin adapter for the front mic jack, and now it works, but looks ugly.
>> I
>> would much rather use the rear jack.
>>
>> Second issue is getting the K3 connected to my Drake L-4B amp,
>> specifically
>> the ALC connection. Since I bought the 6 meter preamp I already have the
>> 15-pin "ACC" connector, and I was going to just attach an ALC lead to
>> that
>> connector. It looks like I need to use pins 15 and 12, correct?
>>
>> Also with the ALC function, in the manual on page 27 it says "External
>> ALC
>> is set up using the CONFIG:EXT ALC menu entry". However, like with the
>> "CONFIG: TXG VOICE", for the life of me I cannot find that menu entry in
>> either of the menus. Am I missing something or is it simply not there?
>>
>> So those are my two hiccups so far, otherwise I am really enjoying the
>> radio. And if any of you are also using a Drake L-4B with your K3, I'd
>> love
>> to hear any tips/advice/settings I should be aware of.
>>
>> Thanks!
>>
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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

MeLikeyTacos

Re: Serial #4019 is on the air, and I have a few questions...

Thanks for all the replies. I've found the menu items I was looking for. I played around with it last night, hooked it up to my amp, and I think I've just about got everything set how I like it. It's a fantastic little radio and I'm still surprised that something like this is a product of the USA! For the money, I really don't think you can get any better from 'Yaesucomwood'.

Now if only the Sun would cooperate. It figures, we've had good spots and activity so far this year...then I buy a new radio, and BAM no activity. I must've jinxed it, haha.