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Trouble with Auto-Spot (K3)

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w2eck

Trouble with Auto-Spot (K3)

Have recently noticed that the Auto-Spot feature on my K3 is not working as well as it used to. With CWT on, if I manually tune the signal, to get a blinking bar to show in the CW/Data Tuning Aid area of the S-Meter area, and then Tap SPOT, it drives the signal off the tuning bar, whereas it used to bring it to the center and zero beat it. I am using filter settings between 200-400. I have THR set at 2. Any ideas on what I can do to correct this?

73 Paul kc2nyu
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k6mkf

Re: Trouble with Auto-Spot (K3)

I have seen this behavior as well, but only when the signal was very low
level. The vast majority of CW signals 'Spot' just fine for me. I'm
running the latest production firmware.

- 73 de Mike, K6MKF, W6NAG, NCDXC, Conway Reef 2012, K3-P3 Addict, Maui

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email]
[mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of paul ecker
Sent: Tuesday, March 12, 2013 7:15 AM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: [Elecraft] Trouble with Auto-Spot (K3)

Have recently noticed that the Auto-Spot feature on my K3 is not working as
well as it used to. With CWT on, if I manually tune the signal, to get a
blinking bar to show in the CW/Data Tuning Aid area of the S-Meter area, and
then Tap SPOT, it drives the signal off the tuning bar, whereas it used to
bring it to the center and zero beat it. I am using filter settings between
200-400. I have THR set at 2. Any ideas on what I can do to correct this?

73 Paul kc2nyu
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KE8G

Re: Trouble with Auto-Spot (K3)

In reply to this post by w2eck

Hi Paul,
Just curious, what firmware version are you using? Is it the newest one?
There was a problem a while back, but the latest version(s) have fixed that.

73 de Jim - KE8G

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email]
[mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of paul ecker
Sent: Tuesday, March 12, 2013 10:15 AM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: [Elecraft] Trouble with Auto-Spot (K3)

Have recently noticed that the Auto-Spot feature on my K3 is not working as
well as it used to. With CWT on, if I manually tune the signal, to get a
blinking bar to show in the CW/Data Tuning Aid area of the S-Meter area, and
then Tap SPOT, it drives the signal off the tuning bar, whereas it used to
bring it to the center and zero beat it. I am using filter settings between
200-400. I have THR set at 2. Any ideas on what I can do to correct this?

73 Paul kc2nyu
______________________________________________________________
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Phil Hystad-3

Re: Trouble with Auto-Spot (K3)

I had the same problem the other day. Instead of driving the signal to the center of CWT it was shifted way off the signal. I noticed that my VFO was on course tune so I switched to fine tune and now the SPOT feature worked just fine. It seems that the VFO must be in fine tuning mode for this to work but I don't remember this always being the case. I can't say for sure but I think I have used SPOT with CWT on both fine and course tuning and it always worked. Well, at least I think it was that way. My guess is maybe something changed in the recent update.

73, phil, K7PEH

On Mar 12, 2013, at 8:03 AM, Jim - KE8G <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Hi Paul,
> Just curious, what firmware version are you using? Is it the newest one?
> There was a problem a while back, but the latest version(s) have fixed that.
>
> 73 de Jim - KE8G
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: [hidden email]
> [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of paul ecker
> Sent: Tuesday, March 12, 2013 10:15 AM
> To: [hidden email]
> Subject: [Elecraft] Trouble with Auto-Spot (K3)
>
> Have recently noticed that the Auto-Spot feature on my K3 is not working as
> well as it used to. With CWT on, if I manually tune the signal, to get a
> blinking bar to show in the CW/Data Tuning Aid area of the S-Meter area, and
> then Tap SPOT, it drives the signal off the tuning bar, whereas it used to
> bring it to the center and zero beat it. I am using filter settings between
> 200-400. I have THR set at 2. Any ideas on what I can do to correct this?
>
> 73 Paul kc2nyu
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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

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Mike K2MK

Re: Trouble with Auto-Spot (K3)

Hi Phil,

I have version 4.60 firmware and I used Auto Spot extensively in the ARRL DX contest last month. Perhaps 500 times and it worked every time. It is my favorite K3 feature. I didn't have the finest tuning engaged. I had two digits after the decimal point showing. Perhaps Auto Spot's effectiveness is influenced by the CWT threshold setting. Mine is set to THR=2. You can see this setting by holding the CWT button and you can change it by turning VFO-A.

73,
Mike K2MK

Phil Hystad-3 wrote

I had the same problem the other day. Instead of driving the signal to the center of CWT it was shifted way off the signal. I noticed that my VFO was on course tune so I switched to fine tune and now the SPOT feature worked just fine. It seems that the VFO must be in fine tuning mode for this to work but I don't remember this always being the case. I can't say for sure but I think I have used SPOT with CWT on both fine and course tuning and it always worked. Well, at least I think it was that way. My guess is maybe something changed in the recent update.

73, phil, K7PEH

Phil Hystad-3

Re: Trouble with Auto-Spot (K3)

Mike,

I have version 4.60 firmware and I also use Auto Spot all the time. But,
when I discovered this problem, after some experimenting around like with
THR and some other things, I finally tried the VFO fine tuning, before it was
on course tuning. By fine tuning I mean TWO digits to the right of the
decimal point and course tuning is ONE digit to the right of the decimal
point. I hardly ever use the finest tuning of 3 digits to the right.

By the way, my THR is also 2 but I experimented with a variety of levels
when I had this problem. I would test it again right now but I need to
get my breakfast and then head off to work.

73, phil, K7PEH

On Mar 13, 2013, at 6:16 AM, Mike K2MK <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Hi Phil,
>
> I have version 4.60 firmware and I used Auto Spot extensively in the ARRL DX
> contest last month. Perhaps 500 times and it worked every time. It is my
> favorite K3 feature. I didn't have the finest tuning engaged. I had two
> digits after the decimal point showing. Perhaps Auto Spot's effectiveness is
> influenced by the CWT threshold setting. Mine is set to THR=2. You can see
> this setting by holding the CWT button and you can change it by turning
> VFO-A.
>
> 73,
> Mike K2MK
>
>
> Phil Hystad-3 wrote
>> I had the same problem the other day. Instead of driving the signal to
>> the center of CWT it was shifted way off the signal. I noticed that my
>> VFO was on course tune so I switched to fine tune and now the SPOT feature
>> worked just fine. It seems that the VFO must be in fine tuning mode for
>> this to work but I don't remember this always being the case. I can't say
>> for sure but I think I have used SPOT with CWT on both fine and course
>> tuning and it always worked. Well, at least I think it was that way. My
>> guess is maybe something changed in the recent update.
>>
>> 73, phil, K7PEH
>
>
>
>
>
> --
> View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/Trouble-with-Auto-Spot-K3-tp7571164p7571221.html
> Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
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>
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w2eck

Re: Trouble with Auto-Spot (K3)

In reply to this post by Phil Hystad-3

Phil - I tried your suggestion of using VFO fine tuning and that does seem to help. I do not see the signal being driven off as I had previously. Will keep experimenting with. Thanks for the suggestion,

73 Paul kc2nyu

Phil Hystad Wed, 13 Mar 2013 07:23:02 -0700
Mike, I have version 4.60 firmware and I also use Auto Spot all the time. But,
when I discovered this problem, after some experimenting around like with
THR and some other things, I finally tried the VFO fine tuning, before it was
on course tuning. By fine tuning I mean TWO digits to the right of the
decimal point and course tuning is ONE digit to the right of the decimal
point. I hardly ever use the finest tuning of 3 digits to the right.
By the way, my THR is also 2 but I experimented with a variety of levels
when I had this problem. I would test it again right now but I need to
get my breakfast and then head off to work. 73, phil, K7PEH

>________________________________
> From: Phil Hystad <[hidden email]>
>To: Jim - KE8G <[hidden email]>
>Cc: 'paul ecker' <[hidden email]>; [hidden email]
>Sent: Tuesday, March 12, 2013 9:15 PM
>Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Trouble with Auto-Spot (K3)
>
>I had the same problem the other day. Instead of driving the signal to the center of CWT it was shifted way off the signal. I noticed that my VFO was on course tune so I switched to fine tune and now the SPOT feature worked just fine. It seems that the VFO must be in fine tuning mode for this to work but I don't remember this always being the case. I can't say for sure but I think I have used SPOT with CWT on both fine and course tuning and it always worked. Well, at least I think it was that way. My guess is maybe something changed in the recent update.
>
>73, phil, K7PEH
>
>
>On Mar 12, 2013, at 8:03 AM, Jim - KE8G <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
>> Hi Paul,
>> Just curious, what firmware version are you using? Is it the newest one?
>> There was a problem a while back, but the latest version(s) have fixed that.
>>
>> 73 de Jim - KE8G
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: [hidden email]
>> [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of paul ecker
>> Sent: Tuesday, March 12, 2013 10:15 AM
>> To: [hidden email]
>> Subject: [Elecraft] Trouble with Auto-Spot (K3)
>>
>> Have recently noticed that the Auto-Spot feature on my K3 is not working as
>> well as it used to. With CWT on, if I manually tune the signal, to get a
>> blinking bar to show in the CW/Data Tuning Aid area of the S-Meter area, and
>> then Tap SPOT, it drives the signal off the tuning bar, whereas it used to
>> bring it to the center and zero beat it. I am using filter settings between
>> 200-400. I have THR set at 2. Any ideas on what I can do to correct this?
>>
>> 73 Paul kc2nyu
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> 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
>>
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> 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
>
>
>
>

Mike K2MK

Re: Trouble with Auto-Spot (K3)

Hi Paul,

Just a follow up to the problem you reported. I was experimenting today and experienced the same problem you mentioned when I had the VFO tuning set to coarse (one digit after the decimal point). If it was set to fine (2 digits) or very fine (3 digits) it worked perfectly. In fact, even if the signal is perfectly centered in coarse tuning, pressing auto spot chased the VFO off frequency.

I did notice something interesting, however. When in fine or very fine tuning pressing auto spot causes 3 digits to the right of the decimal to briefly appear. That suggests to me that even when only 2 digits are showing pressing auto spot momentarily engages higher resolution for spotting. When in coarse mode with only one digit showing pressing auto spot does not cause 3 or even 2 digits to momentarily appear. Perhaps the programmers might be able to improve the auto spot function in coarse tuning if interest warrants a change.

From a personal point of view I was not able to manually tune CW signals in coarse mode (one digit showing). Even with the assistance of my P3 I found it far to difficult for my unsteady hands to accomplish the task.

73,
Mike K2MK

KC2NYU wrote

Phil - I tried your suggestion of using VFO fine tuning and that does seem to help. I do not see the signal being driven off as I had previously. Will keep experimenting with. Thanks for the suggestion,

73 Paul kc2nyu

Phil Hystad Wed, 13 Mar 2013 07:23:02 -0700
Mike, I have version 4.60 firmware and I also use Auto Spot all the time. But,
when I discovered this problem, after some experimenting around like with
THR and some other things, I finally tried the VFO fine tuning, before it was
on course tuning. By fine tuning I mean TWO digits to the right of the
decimal point and course tuning is ONE digit to the right of the decimal
point. I hardly ever use the finest tuning of 3 digits to the right.
By the way, my THR is also 2 but I experimented with a variety of levels
when I had this problem. I would test it again right now but I need to
get my breakfast and then head off to work. 73, phil, K7PEH