Strange behavior when tuning around with SUB receiver LINKED

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Strange behavior when tuning around with SUB receiver LINKED

K2QI

Dear group,

 

Someone please explain to me what’s happening with my K3.  I have both main receiver and sub receiver linked.  This way, I can tune the sub receiver with the main VFO knob.  However, there’s something weird going on when I cross some sort of band edge.

 

For example, if both VFO A and VFO B are set to 6.020.00 and I tune down the band using the main VFO knob, as soon as VFO B reaches 5.997.00 the readout in VFO A will jump almost 900KHz down to 5.030.1.  When tuning back up the band, when VFO B reaches 6.017.0, the reading in VFO A will jump almost 900KHz again to 6.959.0  Sometimes the difference can be 500KHz or 900KHz.  When this happens, I also hear a clicking noise in the K3, and I’m assuming it’s a relay switching.

 

I’ve seen this behavior while tuning up and down, which leads me to think that the K3 is hitting band edges and adjusting, but the strange thing is, the frequency between VFO A and VFO B do not stay the same.

 

Also, and possibly another more concerning issue is that when the sub receiver is on, and I’m tuning anywhere from 4.9 to 5.9MHz, there is a loud motorboat or zipper noise that is heard through the speaker, and is affected by spinning either VFO A or VFO B knob.  The noise stops if you don’t turn any VFO.  Turn any VFO knob though, and the motorboat zipper noise resumes.  If you turn off the sub receiver and spin any VFO knob, this “zipper-like” or motorboat noise almost goes away.  It is still there, but now very faint and can barely be heard over the static. 

 

73,

James KC2UEE


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Re: Strange behavior when tuning around with SUB receiver LINKED

K2QI
Another thing I noticed that when near the 5Mhz band, other knobs like the filter knobs will also induce this motorboat noise when turned.  Any suggestions on how to fix?

73,
James KC2UEE

Also, and possibly another more concerning issue is that when the sub
receiver is on, and I'm tuning anywhere from 4.9 to 5.9MHz, there is a loud
motorboat or zipper noise that is heard through the speaker, and is affected
by spinning either VFO A or VFO B knob.  The noise stops if you don't turn
any VFO.  Turn any VFO knob though, and the motorboat zipper noise resumes.
If you turn off the sub receiver and spin any VFO knob, this "zipper-like"
or motorboat noise almost goes away.  It is still there, but now very faint
and can barely be heard over the static.  

 

73,

James KC2UEE
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Re: Strange behavior when tuning around with SUB receiver LINKED

Matt Zilmer
In reply to this post by K2QI
James,

What rev of firmware are you using?  I went through test on all of
them I could with the subreceiver, which I didn't install until 2.72
was current.  I can't duplicate your results with 2.82.  It may not be
a firmware-related issue (or issues).

In the first problem statement, it sounds like you have the VFO's
linked.  Are you also in DIVRSTY or not?

As I understand it, the spectrum covered is carved up into band
sections, each allowing the VCO control voltage to traverse a good
part of its control range.  Very few (if any?) of these breaks is
within a ham band.  The behavior you described at 5997 could be tied
to the down-tune break at that freq.  The up-tune break is 5 KHz or so
higher.  You might want to see if you can repeat this tuning up as
well.  I can't duplicate this problem here with 2.82.  If there is a
real bug here in the FW rev you're using, it *ought* to affect tuning
in both directions.

For your second problem statement, the following may apply.  There is
a chirp radar between 5184 and 5212 KHz (approx).  The chirp goes
through the passband pretty quickly, maybe within 150-200 mS and the
rep rate is a little under one second.  It's a wideband signal, and
you may be hearing it as a zipper-like noise.  You didn't say whether
or not you heard it as a repeated or continuous signal, so I can't be
sure this is what you're describing.

73,
matt zilmer, W6NIA

On Sun, 22 Feb 2009 16:40:24 -0500, you wrote:

>Dear group,
>
>
>
>Someone please explain to me what's happening with my K3.  I have both main
>receiver and sub receiver linked.  This way, I can tune the sub receiver
>with the main VFO knob.  However, there's something weird going on when I
>cross some sort of band edge.
>
>
>
>For example, if both VFO A and VFO B are set to 6.020.00 and I tune down the
>band using the main VFO knob, as soon as VFO B reaches 5.997.00 the readout
>in VFO A will jump almost 900KHz down to 5.030.1.  When tuning back up the
>band, when VFO B reaches 6.017.0, the reading in VFO A will jump almost
>900KHz again to 6.959.0  Sometimes the difference can be 500KHz or 900KHz.
>When this happens, I also hear a clicking noise in the K3, and I'm assuming
>it's a relay switching.
>
>
>
>I've seen this behavior while tuning up and down, which leads me to think
>that the K3 is hitting band edges and adjusting, but the strange thing is,
>the frequency between VFO A and VFO B do not stay the same.
>
>
>
>Also, and possibly another more concerning issue is that when the sub
>receiver is on, and I'm tuning anywhere from 4.9 to 5.9MHz, there is a loud
>motorboat or zipper noise that is heard through the speaker, and is affected
>by spinning either VFO A or VFO B knob.  The noise stops if you don't turn
>any VFO.  Turn any VFO knob though, and the motorboat zipper noise resumes.
>If you turn off the sub receiver and spin any VFO knob, this "zipper-like"
>or motorboat noise almost goes away.  It is still there, but now very faint
>and can barely be heard over the static.  
>
>
>
>73,
>
>James KC2UEE
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Re: Strange behavior when tuning around with SUB receiver LINKED

Pete Connors F5VNB
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Re: Strange behavior when tuning around with SUB receiverLINKED

K2QI
In reply to this post by Matt Zilmer
Hi Matt,

The "zipper" or "motorboat noise" occurs when tuning around 4.9-5.5 MHz or
4900-5500 KHz.  It is most noticeable when the sub receiver is turned on,
the sub volume is up, and tuning steps are set to fine.  The noise ONLY
occurs when I turn a VFO knob or filter knob.  If I do not touch any knob,
the noise does not occur.  It does not matter if VFO A or VFO B knob is
used, or whether or not they are linked.

So think of it like this: when I am in that band area, if I continuously
turn a VFO knob, I will hear the motorboat noise until I stop turning the
knob.

If I pass that particular frequency area, the noise disappears completely.  

Also, I am using beta firmware 2.82.  When I am tuning around with the sub
receiver's VFO linked to the main, if I encounter a band edge, I hear a
relay click and then the difference between both frequency counters can be
anywhere from 500-900 KHz apart.  In order to get them to match, I have to
press A/B then A > B to duplicate the frequency.

73,
James KC2UEE



-----Original Message-----
From: Matt Zilmer [mailto:[hidden email]]
Sent: Sunday, February 22, 2009 5:54 PM
To: James Sarte
Cc: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Strange behavior when tuning around with SUB
receiverLINKED

James,

What rev of firmware are you using?  I went through test on all of
them I could with the subreceiver, which I didn't install until 2.72
was current.  I can't duplicate your results with 2.82.  It may not be
a firmware-related issue (or issues).

In the first problem statement, it sounds like you have the VFO's
linked.  Are you also in DIVRSTY or not?

As I understand it, the spectrum covered is carved up into band
sections, each allowing the VCO control voltage to traverse a good
part of its control range.  Very few (if any?) of these breaks is
within a ham band.  The behavior you described at 5997 could be tied
to the down-tune break at that freq.  The up-tune break is 5 KHz or so
higher.  You might want to see if you can repeat this tuning up as
well.  I can't duplicate this problem here with 2.82.  If there is a
real bug here in the FW rev you're using, it *ought* to affect tuning
in both directions.

For your second problem statement, the following may apply.  There is
a chirp radar between 5184 and 5212 KHz (approx).  The chirp goes
through the passband pretty quickly, maybe within 150-200 mS and the
rep rate is a little under one second.  It's a wideband signal, and
you may be hearing it as a zipper-like noise.  You didn't say whether
or not you heard it as a repeated or continuous signal, so I can't be
sure this is what you're describing.

73,
matt zilmer, W6NIA


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Re: Strange behavior when tuning around with SUB receiverLINKED

K2QI
Here is a link to a video I made showing the problem.  You will need VLC to view the file as it was shot using a webcam on a linux laptop and I did not have a converter.

http://jamespaulsarte.com/temp/k3.ogv

Please advise!!!  I hope that there's nothing wrong with my K3.

73,
James KC2UEE
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Re: Strange behavior when tuning around with SUB receiver LINKED

N2TK
In reply to this post by K2QI
I had to try it.
 
Both VFO's set at 6.000.000 and LINKED.
Turned VFO A slightly lower to 5.999.999. VFO B followed exactly. Could also turn VFO higher in frequency and VFO B still tracked okay.
If I went down farther and tuned very slowly both VFO's tracked.
If I went below 6.000.00 and tuned quickly VFO A would jump to 5.371.500 (or whatever freq is setup on the 60M position). VFO would continue to follow VFO A as if VFO A did not jump in frequency.
If I then quickly turned VFO A up, it would jump to 6.000.000 and both VFO's would track again.
 
After doing this several times the VFO's would not track exactly. That was weird. Went back to the Ham bands and everything is fine again.
That is enough of that for me. Back to the Ham bands.
 
73,
N2TK, Tony


From: [hidden email] [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of James Sarte
Sent: Sunday, February 22, 2009 4:40 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: [Elecraft] Strange behavior when tuning around with SUB receiver LINKED

Dear group,

 

Someone please explain to me what’s happening with my K3.  I have both main receiver and sub receiver linked.  This way, I can tune the sub receiver with the main VFO knob.  However, there’s something weird going on when I cross some sort of band edge.

 

For example, if both VFO A and VFO B are set to 6.020.00 and I tune down the band using the main VFO knob, as soon as VFO B reaches 5.997.00 the readout in VFO A will jump almost 900KHz down to 5.030.1.  When tuning back up the band, when VFO B reaches 6.017.0, the reading in VFO A will jump almost 900KHz again to 6.959.0  Sometimes the difference can be 500KHz or 900KHz.  When this happens, I also hear a clicking noise in the K3, and I’m assuming it’s a relay switching.

 

I’ve seen this behavior while tuning up and down, which leads me to think that the K3 is hitting band edges and adjusting, but the strange thing is, the frequency between VFO A and VFO B do not stay the same.

 

Also, and possibly another more concerning issue is that when the sub receiver is on, and I’m tuning anywhere from 4.9 to 5.9MHz, there is a loud motorboat or zipper noise that is heard through the speaker, and is affected by spinning either VFO A or VFO B knob.  The noise stops if you don’t turn any VFO.  Turn any VFO knob though, and the motorboat zipper noise resumes.  If you turn off the sub receiver and spin any VFO knob, this “zipper-like” or motorboat noise almost goes away.  It is still there, but now very faint and can barely be heard over the static. 

 

73,

James KC2UEE


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