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Update: K3 Hard of Hearing

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John Unger-3

Update: K3 Hard of Hearing

Wow, guys, thank you all for the suggestions of things to check, but still
no joy...

Here's your suggestions that I have checked:
voltage - 13.6
RX ANT not on
I uploaded a couple of old config files - not change
Turning RF GAIN fully CCW puts SWR meter at full scale
My other K3 hears FB on all the antennas
This K3 doesn't have an ATU
Switching an antenna in and out makes no apparent difference in received
signals
No change in BP filters; they have been working fine for long time.

I do operate SO2R. The last time radio was working OK was during the NAQP
CW contest where I was running 100W. I have operated KW amps in the past on
each radio without any front end problems (but there's always the first
time, right?).

Thanks again for the help

73 - John, W4AU
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Grant Youngman-2

Re: Update: K3 Hard of Hearing

I once spent the better part of a day wondering why my K3 was deaf. Discovered that every receiver in the shack was also deaf. Finally found that a surge protector in the antenna chain was bad — and that happened because every receiver in the shack was also deaf.

Yes, maybe you may have a K3 issue. But you need a firm way to make sure that you’re actually getting signal to the receiver input.

Grant NQ5T

> On Jan 21, 2020, at 2:41 PM, John Unger <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> Wow, guys, thank you all for the suggestions of things to check, but still
> no joy...
>
> Here's your suggestions that I have checked:
> voltage - 13.6
> RX ANT not on
> I uploaded a couple of old config files - not change
> Turning RF GAIN fully CCW puts SWR meter at full scale
> My other K3 hears FB on all the antennas
> This K3 doesn't have an ATU
> Switching an antenna in and out makes no apparent difference in received
> signals
> No change in BP filters; they have been working fine for long time.
>
> I do operate SO2R. The last time radio was working OK was during the NAQP
> CW contest where I was running 100W. I have operated KW amps in the past on
> each radio without any front end problems (but there's always the first
> time, right?).
>
> Thanks again for the help
>
> 73 - John, W4AU
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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
> Message delivered to [hidden email]

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Jim Brown-10

Re: Update: K3 Hard of Hearing

On 1/21/2020 12:43 PM, Grant Youngman wrote:
> I once spent the better part of a day wondering why my K3 was deaf. Discovered that every receiver in the shack was also deaf. Finally found that a surge protector in the antenna chain was bad

I've also had that happen here -- a blown GDT in a protector will
typically be a short circuit, so you'll see high VSWR on transmit.

Another common issue in my station is relay contacts in my system of
antenna switching -- I'll sometimes need to transmit to "wet" the
contacts so that they pass the RX signal.

73, Jim K9YC
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Martin Sole-3

Re: Update: K3 Hard of Hearing

In reply to this post by John Unger-3

Is the transmit working okay?

Don’t recall if you mentioned before.

My early K3 suffered 0.1uf capacitor failure causing loss of injection which affected both tx and rx. Another cap failure caused loss of tx only due to shorted switching voltage. Both were on the RefOsc board.

Sent from my iPhone

> On 22 Jan 2020, at 02:42, John Unger <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> Wow, guys, thank you all for the suggestions of things to check, but still
> no joy...
>
> Here's your suggestions that I have checked:
> voltage - 13.6
> RX ANT not on
> I uploaded a couple of old config files - not change
> Turning RF GAIN fully CCW puts SWR meter at full scale
> My other K3 hears FB on all the antennas
> This K3 doesn't have an ATU
> Switching an antenna in and out makes no apparent difference in received
> signals
> No change in BP filters; they have been working fine for long time.
>
> I do operate SO2R. The last time radio was working OK was during the NAQP
> CW contest where I was running 100W. I have operated KW amps in the past on
> each radio without any front end problems (but there's always the first
> time, right?).
>
> Thanks again for the help
>
> 73 - John, W4AU
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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
> Message delivered to [hidden email]

John Unger-3

Re: Update: K3 Hard of Hearing

Transmit works fine, Martin.

On Tue, Jan 21, 2020 at 7:46 PM Martin Sole <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Is the transmit working okay?
>
> Don’t recall if you mentioned before.
>
> My early K3 suffered 0.1uf capacitor failure causing loss of injection
> which affected both tx and rx. Another cap failure caused loss of tx only
> due to shorted switching voltage. Both were on the RefOsc board.
>
>
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> > On 22 Jan 2020, at 02:42, John Unger <[hidden email]> wrote:
> >
> > Wow, guys, thank you all for the suggestions of things to check, but
> still
> > no joy...
> >
> > Here's your suggestions that I have checked:
> > voltage - 13.6
> > RX ANT not on
> > I uploaded a couple of old config files - not change
> > Turning RF GAIN fully CCW puts SWR meter at full scale
> > My other K3 hears FB on all the antennas
> > This K3 doesn't have an ATU
> > Switching an antenna in and out makes no apparent difference in received
> > signals
> > No change in BP filters; they have been working fine for long time.
> >
> > I do operate SO2R. The last time radio was working OK was during the NAQP
> > CW contest where I was running 100W. I have operated KW amps in the past
> on
> > each radio without any front end problems (but there's always the first
> > time, right?).
> >
> > Thanks again for the help
> >
> > 73 - John, W4AU
> > ______________________________________________________________
> > 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
> > Message delivered to [hidden email]
>

Martin Sole-3

Re: Update: K3 Hard of Hearing

I guess if the transmit is working fine (into an antenna) it rules out
pretty much anything in the common path.

Do you have the KXV3 Tvtr and Rx in/out module? If the switching around
it is bad you can jumper the BNC connectors. Or try injecting a known
level into the Rx in port.

If you have exhausted all the usual likely candidates I would be tempted
to look at the RX switched bias, make sure it is the correct voltage.

What serial number is the radio?

Martin, HS0ZED

On 22/01/2020 04:02, John Unger wrote:

> Transmit works fine, Martin.
>
> On Tue, Jan 21, 2020 at 7:46 PM Martin Sole <[hidden email]
> <mailto:[hidden email]>> wrote:
>
> Is the transmit working okay?
>
> Don’t recall if you mentioned before.
>
> My early K3 suffered 0.1uf capacitor failure causing loss of
> injection which affected both tx and rx. Another cap failure
> caused loss of tx only due to shorted switching voltage. Both were
> on the RefOsc board.
>
>
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> > On 22 Jan 2020, at 02:42, John Unger <[hidden email]
> <mailto:[hidden email]>> wrote:
> >
> > Wow, guys, thank you all for the suggestions of things to
> check, but still
> > no joy...
> >
> > Here's your suggestions that I have checked:
> > voltage - 13.6
> > RX ANT not on
> > I uploaded a couple of old config files - not change
> > Turning RF GAIN fully CCW puts SWR meter at full scale
> > My other K3 hears FB on all the antennas
> > This K3 doesn't have an ATU
> > Switching an antenna in and out makes no apparent difference in
> received
> > signals
> > No change in BP filters; they have been working fine for long time.
> >
> > I do operate SO2R. The last time radio was working OK was during
> the NAQP
> > CW contest where I was running 100W. I have operated KW amps in
> the past on
> > each radio without any front end problems (but there's always
> the first
> > time, right?).
> >
> > Thanks again for the help
> >
> > 73 - John, W4AU
> > ______________________________________________________________
> > Elecraft mailing list
> > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> > Post: mailto:[hidden email]
> <mailto:[hidden email]>
> >
> > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> > Message delivered to [hidden email] <mailto:[hidden email]>
>

Elecraft mailing list

Re: Update: K3 Hard of Hearing

In reply to this post by John Unger-3

John;

It sounds like it is time to call tech support to see if they can help. They are pretty good at figuring out what happened and how to fix it.
Trying the second K3 in its place, and it works fine, tells me that you may have an issue in the front end. But they will know better.
Good luck getting it working properly!

73!
Jack, W6FB

> On Jan 21, 2020, at 5:02 PM, John Unger <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> Transmit works fine, Martin.
>
> On Tue, Jan 21, 2020 at 7:46 PM Martin Sole <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
>> Is the transmit working okay?
>>
>> Don’t recall if you mentioned before.
>>
>> My early K3 suffered 0.1uf capacitor failure causing loss of injection
>> which affected both tx and rx. Another cap failure caused loss of tx only
>> due to shorted switching voltage. Both were on the RefOsc board.
>>
>>
>>
>> Sent from my iPhone
>>
>>> On 22 Jan 2020, at 02:42, John Unger <[hidden email]> wrote:
>>>
>>> Wow, guys, thank you all for the suggestions of things to check, but
>> still
>>> no joy...
>>>
>>> Here's your suggestions that I have checked:
>>> voltage - 13.6
>>> RX ANT not on
>>> I uploaded a couple of old config files - not change
>>> Turning RF GAIN fully CCW puts SWR meter at full scale
>>> My other K3 hears FB on all the antennas
>>> This K3 doesn't have an ATU
>>> Switching an antenna in and out makes no apparent difference in received
>>> signals
>>> No change in BP filters; they have been working fine for long time.
>>>
>>> I do operate SO2R. The last time radio was working OK was during the NAQP
>>> CW contest where I was running 100W. I have operated KW amps in the past
>> on
>>> each radio without any front end problems (but there's always the first
>>> time, right?).
>>>
>>> Thanks again for the help
>>>
>>> 73 - John, W4AU
>>> ______________________________________________________________
>>> 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
>>> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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
> Message delivered to [hidden email]

Nr4c

Re: Update: K3 Hard of Hearing

I think that time was several days ago!

Sent from my iPhone
...nr4c. bill

> On Jan 22, 2020, at 1:36 AM, Jack Brindle via Elecraft <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> John;
>
> It sounds like it is time to call tech support to see if they can help. They are pretty good at figuring out what happened and how to fix it.
> Trying the second K3 in its place, and it works fine, tells me that you may have an issue in the front end. But they will know better.
> Good luck getting it working properly!
>
> 73!
> Jack, W6FB
>
>
>> On Jan 21, 2020, at 5:02 PM, John Unger <[hidden email]> wrote:
>>
>> Transmit works fine, Martin.
>>
>>> On Tue, Jan 21, 2020 at 7:46 PM Martin Sole <[hidden email]> wrote:
>>>
>>> Is the transmit working okay?
>>>
>>> Don’t recall if you mentioned before.
>>>
>>> My early K3 suffered 0.1uf capacitor failure causing loss of injection
>>> which affected both tx and rx. Another cap failure caused loss of tx only
>>> due to shorted switching voltage. Both were on the RefOsc board.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>
>>>> On 22 Jan 2020, at 02:42, John Unger <[hidden email]> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Wow, guys, thank you all for the suggestions of things to check, but
>>> still
>>>> no joy...
>>>>
>>>> Here's your suggestions that I have checked:
>>>> voltage - 13.6
>>>> RX ANT not on
>>>> I uploaded a couple of old config files - not change
>>>> Turning RF GAIN fully CCW puts SWR meter at full scale
>>>> My other K3 hears FB on all the antennas
>>>> This K3 doesn't have an ATU
>>>> Switching an antenna in and out makes no apparent difference in received
>>>> signals
>>>> No change in BP filters; they have been working fine for long time.
>>>>
>>>> I do operate SO2R. The last time radio was working OK was during the NAQP
>>>> CW contest where I was running 100W. I have operated KW amps in the past
>>> on
>>>> each radio without any front end problems (but there's always the first
>>>> time, right?).
>>>>
>>>> Thanks again for the help
>>>>
>>>> 73 - John, W4AU
>>>> ______________________________________________________________
>>>> 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
>>>> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>>>
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> 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
>> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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
> Message delivered to [hidden email]