VFO problem

classic Classic list List threaded Threaded
15 messages Options
Reply | Threaded
Open this post in threaded view
|

VFO problem

Bill Turner-2
My K3 has developed a problem with the VFO. It is, of course, just
barely out of warranty.  :-)

When I turn the VFO knob very slowly, the frequency display follows
normally, but when I turn it a little faster, the frequency display
freezes and intermittently  unfreezes but immediately freezes again as
long as I'm turning the knob rapidly. Behavior is the same regardless
of what VFO speed I have chosen.

Any ideas?

Bill W6WRT
______________________________________________________________
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]
Reply | Threaded
Open this post in threaded view
|

Re: VFO problem

Bill Turner-2
------------ ORIGINAL MESSAGE ------------(may be snipped)

On Fri, 13 Feb 2015 23:55:13 -0600, Dave wrote:

>
>Sounds to me that you have something grabbing big chunks of CPU time.
>What all is plugged into the K3? Clear everything out. See if that
>helps. If so, then replug things until the behavior returns.
>
>73 de dave
>ab9ca/4
>

REPLY:

Even with the computer turned off and the P3 also off, the problem is
still there. In fact it is getting worse. I tried it just now and even
when turning the VFO knob slowly, the frequency display is mostly
frozen, just moving a little intermittently.

There is nothing else connected to the K3.

Bill W6WRT
______________________________________________________________
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]
Reply | Threaded
Open this post in threaded view
|

Re: VFO problem

Phil Wheeler-2
An encoder problem?

Phil W7OX

On 2/14/15 12:53 AM, Bill Turner wrote:

> ------------ ORIGINAL MESSAGE ------------(may be snipped)
>
> On Fri, 13 Feb 2015 23:55:13 -0600, Dave wrote:
>
>> Sounds to me that you have something grabbing big chunks of CPU time.
>> What all is plugged into the K3? Clear everything out. See if that
>> helps. If so, then replug things until the behavior returns.
>>
>> 73 de dave
>> ab9ca/4
>>
> REPLY:
>
> Even with the computer turned off and the P3 also off, the problem is
> still there. In fact it is getting worse. I tried it just now and even
> when turning the VFO knob slowly, the frequency display is mostly
> frozen, just moving a little intermittently.
>
> There is nothing else connected to the K3.
>
> Bill W6WRT

______________________________________________________________
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]
Reply | Threaded
Open this post in threaded view
|

Re: VFO problem

Matt Zilmer-3
I would suggest it's worth the time to swap the VFO A and VFO B
encoder boards.  It could be the encoder itself or its contacts to the
front panel board, either of them.

If you take this course, you might want to check the encoder board
contacts on each of them, and also take a look at the contacts on the
front panel board.  There may be some corrosion, dust, etc. on the
contacts.

73,
matt
W6NIA

On Sat, 14 Feb 2015 07:49:20 -0800, you wrote:

>An encoder problem?
>
>Phil W7OX
>
>On 2/14/15 12:53 AM, Bill Turner wrote:
>> ------------ ORIGINAL MESSAGE ------------(may be snipped)
>>
>> On Fri, 13 Feb 2015 23:55:13 -0600, Dave wrote:
>>
>>> Sounds to me that you have something grabbing big chunks of CPU time.
>>> What all is plugged into the K3? Clear everything out. See if that
>>> helps. If so, then replug things until the behavior returns.
>>>
>>> 73 de dave
>>> ab9ca/4
>>>
>> REPLY:
>>
>> Even with the computer turned off and the P3 also off, the problem is
>> still there. In fact it is getting worse. I tried it just now and even
>> when turning the VFO knob slowly, the frequency display is mostly
>> frozen, just moving a little intermittently.
>>
>> There is nothing else connected to the K3.
>>
>> Bill W6WRT
>
>______________________________________________________________
>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]
Matt Zilmer, W6NIA
--
"Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will
spend the first four sharpening the axe." -A. Lincoln
______________________________________________________________
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]
Reply | Threaded
Open this post in threaded view
|

Re: VFO problem

Bill Turner-2
I think you are on to something, Matt.  On a hunch, I performed a
"percussive reset" as NASA calls it. I lifted the front on the K3
about an inch and dropped it. The problem went away for now. When it
comes back, I will do as you suggest.

Many thanks to all who replied.

Bill W6WRT


------------ ORIGINAL MESSAGE ------------(may be snipped)

On Sat, 14 Feb 2015 08:27:01 -0800, you wrote:

>I would suggest it's worth the time to swap the VFO A and VFO B
>encoder boards.  It could be the encoder itself or its contacts to the
>front panel board, either of them.
>
>If you take this course, you might want to check the encoder board
>contacts on each of them, and also take a look at the contacts on the
>front panel board.  There may be some corrosion, dust, etc. on the
>contacts.
>
>73,
>matt
>W6NIA
______________________________________________________________
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]
Reply | Threaded
Open this post in threaded view
|

Re: VFO problem

Matt Zilmer-3
Percussive resets are well-known for finding a general problem area.
They don't localize it, but it's a start.

Good luck with this.  An encoder board "SOL" problem happened to me
about five years ago, and I followed the same advice I gave you (which
came from someone else).  :}

73,
matt
W6NIA

On Sat, 14 Feb 2015 09:18:10 -0800, you wrote:

>I think you are on to something, Matt.  On a hunch, I performed a
>"percussive reset" as NASA calls it. I lifted the front on the K3
>about an inch and dropped it. The problem went away for now. When it
>comes back, I will do as you suggest.
>
>Many thanks to all who replied.
>
>Bill W6WRT
>
>
>------------ ORIGINAL MESSAGE ------------(may be snipped)
>
>On Sat, 14 Feb 2015 08:27:01 -0800, you wrote:
>
>>I would suggest it's worth the time to swap the VFO A and VFO B
>>encoder boards.  It could be the encoder itself or its contacts to the
>>front panel board, either of them.
>>
>>If you take this course, you might want to check the encoder board
>>contacts on each of them, and also take a look at the contacts on the
>>front panel board.  There may be some corrosion, dust, etc. on the
>>contacts.
>>
>>73,
>>matt
>>W6NIA
>______________________________________________________________
>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]
Matt Zilmer, W6NIA
--
"Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will
spend the first four sharpening the axe." -A. Lincoln
______________________________________________________________
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]
Reply | Threaded
Open this post in threaded view
|

Re: VFO problem

David Christ
In reply to this post by Bill Turner-2
This was a standard technique used by TV repairmen back in the days of tube consoles and house calls.  For intermittent problems one waited until the owner left the room then lifted up one side about 6 inches and let it drop.  Usually either fixed the problem or caused a hard fault that could be troubleshot.  Now the owner just buys a new TV.

David K0LUM


On Feb 14, 2015, at 11:18 AM, Bill Turner <[hidden email]> wrote:

> I think you are on to something, Matt.  On a hunch, I performed a
> "percussive reset" as NASA calls it. I lifted the front on the K3
> about an inch and dropped it. The problem went away for now. When it
> comes back, I will do as you suggest.
>
> Many thanks to all who replied.
>
> Bill W6WRT
>
>
> ------------ ORIGINAL MESSAGE ------------(may be snipped)
>
> On Sat, 14 Feb 2015 08:27:01 -0800, you wrote:
>
>> I would suggest it's worth the time to swap the VFO A and VFO B
>> encoder boards.  It could be the encoder itself or its contacts to the
>> front panel board, either of them.
>>
>> If you take this course, you might want to check the encoder board
>> contacts on each of them, and also take a look at the contacts on the
>> front panel board.  There may be some corrosion, dust, etc. on the
>> contacts.
>>
>> 73,
>> matt
>> W6NIA
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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]
Reply | Threaded
Open this post in threaded view
|

Re: VFO problem

Ross Primrose
My grandfather (Ex K4GF, SK) was a TV repairman during the tube TV era.  
The most common fault requiring a house call was the housewife not
plugging the TV back in after she unplugged it to vacuum....

73, Ross N4RP

On 2/14/2015 12:29 PM, David Christ wrote:

> This was a standard technique used by TV repairmen back in the days of tube consoles and house calls.  For intermittent problems one waited until the owner left the room then lifted up one side about 6 inches and let it drop.  Usually either fixed the problem or caused a hard fault that could be troubleshot.  Now the owner just buys a new TV.
>
> David K0LUM
>
>
> On Feb 14, 2015, at 11:18 AM, Bill Turner <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
>> I think you are on to something, Matt.  On a hunch, I performed a
>> "percussive reset" as NASA calls it. I lifted the front on the K3
>> about an inch and dropped it. The problem went away for now. When it
>> comes back, I will do as you suggest.
>>
>> Many thanks to all who replied.
>>
>> Bill W6WRT
>>
>>
>> ------------ ORIGINAL MESSAGE ------------(may be snipped)
>>
>> On Sat, 14 Feb 2015 08:27:01 -0800, you wrote:
>>
>>> I would suggest it's worth the time to swap the VFO A and VFO B
>>> encoder boards.  It could be the encoder itself or its contacts to the
>>> front panel board, either of them.
>>>
>>> If you take this course, you might want to check the encoder board
>>> contacts on each of them, and also take a look at the contacts on the
>>> front panel board.  There may be some corrosion, dust, etc. on the
>>> contacts.
>>>
>>> 73,
>>> matt
>>> W6NIA
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> 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]


--
FCC Section 97.313(a) “At all times, an amateur station must use the minimum transmitter power necessary to carry out the desired communications.”

______________________________________________________________
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]
Reply | Threaded
Open this post in threaded view
|

Re: VFO problem

wb6rse1
The charge was $100.
“$100?” the TV owner questioned. “All you did was plug it in.”
Repairman: “That was $5. The other $95 was for knowing what to do.”

73 - Steve WB6RSE

> On Feb 14, 2015, at 9:34 AM, Ross Primrose <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> My grandfather (Ex K4GF, SK) was a TV repairman during the tube TV era.  The most common fault requiring a house call was the housewife not plugging the TV back in after she unplugged it to vacuum....
>
______________________________________________________________
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]
Reply | Threaded
Open this post in threaded view
|

Re: VFO problem

Gary Smith-2
In reply to this post by Ross Primrose
My father, W1BML used to repair TVs and radios after his work was
over back in the 50's in PA, he was the go to guy back then to have
electronics repaired (was W8QXF & then W3QXF when the area changed).

I remember going with him on a house call and the unplugged TV was
the problem. He wouldn't charge her & told me on the way home it was
good PR & why that was worth more than the money that house call
would be. He never lacked for business.

73,  Gary  KA1J

> My grandfather (Ex K4GF, SK) was a TV repairman during the tube TV era.  
> The most common fault requiring a house call was the housewife not
> plugging the TV back in after she unplugged it to vacuum....
>
> 73, Ross N4RP
>
> On 2/14/2015 12:29 PM, David Christ wrote:
> > This was a standard technique used by TV repairmen back in the days of tube consoles and house calls.  For intermittent problems one waited until the owner left the room then lifted up one side about 6 inches and let it drop.  Usually either fixed the problem or caused a hard fault that could be troubleshot.  Now the owner just buys a new TV.
> >
> > David K0LUM
> >
> >
> > On Feb 14, 2015, at 11:18 AM, Bill Turner <[hidden email]> wrote:
> >
> >> I think you are on to something, Matt.  On a hunch, I performed a
> >> "percussive reset" as NASA calls it. I lifted the front on the K3
> >> about an inch and dropped it. The problem went away for now. When it
> >> comes back, I will do as you suggest.
> >>
> >> Many thanks to all who replied.
> >>
> >> Bill W6WRT
> >>
> >>
> >> ------------ ORIGINAL MESSAGE ------------(may be snipped)
> >>
> >> On Sat, 14 Feb 2015 08:27:01 -0800, you wrote:
> >>
> >>> I would suggest it's worth the time to swap the VFO A and VFO B
> >>> encoder boards.  It could be the encoder itself or its contacts to the
> >>> front panel board, either of them.
> >>>
> >>> If you take this course, you might want to check the encoder board
> >>> contacts on each of them, and also take a look at the contacts on the
> >>> front panel board.  There may be some corrosion, dust, etc. on the
> >>> contacts.
> >>>
> >>> 73,
> >>> matt
> >>> W6NIA
> >> ______________________________________________________________
> >> 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]
>
>
> --
> FCC Section 97.313(a) "At all times, an amateur station must use the minimum transmitter power necessary to carry out the desired communications."
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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]
>




---
This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software.
http://www.avast.com

______________________________________________________________
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]
Reply | Threaded
Open this post in threaded view
|

Re: VFO problem

Edward R Cole
In reply to this post by Bill Turner-2
Reminds me of a similar service call for a TV satellite system that
"totally would not work".  I was not smart enough to suggest looking
at the ac cord so I drove the 120-miles and of course first thing I
checked was power..."and the ac cord was unplugged".  Boy were my
customers embarrassed.  They offered to pay my service call but I
could not do that.  We settled for gas money ($1.50/gal back then).

Rules for troubleshooting: what are the symptoms (what is not
working), check power inputs; check configurations (settings);
look-feel-sniff; measure for required output - then get out the
manual/schematic/tools.  An "old" tech once advised me that most
problems were simple ones - so do not go off looking for complicated
one's before doing simple tests.  (that drop test works)  Use of
freeze-spray does the same thing.  So does wiggling and probing.

73, Ed - KL7UW

Date: Sat, 14 Feb 2015 12:34:04 -0500
From: Ross Primrose <[hidden email]>
Cc: Elecraft <[hidden email]>
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] VFO problem
Message-ID: <[hidden email]>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252; format=flowed

My grandfather (Ex K4GF, SK) was a TV repairman during the tube TV era.
The most common fault requiring a house call was the housewife not
plugging the TV back in after she unplugged it to vacuum....

73, Ross N4RP



73, Ed - KL7UW
http://www.kl7uw.com
     "Kits made by KL7UW"
Dubus Mag business:
     [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]
Reply | Threaded
Open this post in threaded view
|

Re: VFO problem

Nick Kemp
Ed - KL7UW  Wrote:  "Rules for troubleshooting: what are the symptoms
(what is not working), check power inputs; check configurations
(settings); look-feel-sniff; measure for required output - then get out
the manual/schematic/tools. An "old" tech once advised me that most
problems were simple ones - so do not go off looking for complicated
one's before doing simple tests. (that drop test works) Use of
freeze-spray does the same thing. So does wiggling and probing."

AND ... one of the best tools for PC's and other devices is to cycle
power.  It is amazing the troubles that can be solved by realigning the
bits :-)

Nick
N1KMP
______________________________________________________________
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]
Reply | Threaded
Open this post in threaded view
|

Re: VFO problem

Bill Turner-2
In reply to this post by Edward R Cole
------------ ORIGINAL MESSAGE ------------(may be snipped)

On Sat, 14 Feb 2015 13:05:45 -0900, you wrote:

>
>Rules for troubleshooting: what are the symptoms (what is not
>working), check power inputs; check configurations (settings);
>look-feel-sniff; measure for required output - then get out the
>manual/schematic/tools.  An "old" tech once advised me that most
>problems were simple ones - so do not go off looking for complicated
>one's before doing simple tests.  (that drop test works)  Use of
>freeze-spray does the same thing.  So does wiggling and probing.

REPLY:

The best TV tech I ever knew (and I knew a lot) gave me the best
advice I ever got about troubleshooting:  "Forget your meters and
generators and stuff. The best troubleshooting tools you have are you
own two eyes."  

There were times I did not follow his advice, to my regret. I would
waste time with scope and meter and when I finally found the problem,
it was obvious if I had just looked carefully first.

Joe Tolemeo was his name, probably RIP now, but the best ever.

Thanks, Joe.

Bill W6WRT
______________________________________________________________
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]
Reply | Threaded
Open this post in threaded view
|

Re: VFO problem

David Christ
In reply to this post by Nick Kemp
’Tis true that doing a reset can cause a problem to go away and is often the only way out — but a reset should not be the first remedy tried.  When I was part of a network group responsible for a nationwide data/voice network we had a co-worker that drove us nuts.  His solution to any problem was to immediately go around and rest everything.  Kept us from collecting information about device status when the fault occurred.  Maybe got things up again but did nothing for preventing the next fault.  So before you push that reset, gather what information you can to help determine the root cause.

David K0LUM


On Feb 14, 2015, at 4:19 PM, Nick Kemp <[hidden email]> wrote:

> AND ... one of the best tools for PC's and other devices is to cycle power.  It is amazing the troubles that can be solved by realigning the bits :-)
>
> Nick
> N1KMP

______________________________________________________________
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]
Reply | Threaded
Open this post in threaded view
|

Re: VFO problem

Alan Bloom
In reply to this post by Ross Primrose
On 02/14/2015 09:34 AM, Ross Primrose wrote:
> My grandfather (Ex K4GF, SK) was a TV repairman during the tube TV
> era.  The most common fault requiring a house call was the housewife
> not plugging the TV back in after she unplugged it to vacuum....

A friend's father was a service technician for Fridgedaire many years
ago.  When a customer would call in complaining that, for example, his
washing machine didn't work, the tech would suggest that he unplug the
line cord, rotate it 180 degrees, and then plug it back in again.  More
often than not the customer would report that that fixed it.

Sometimes tech support requires a knowledge of human psychology. :=)

Alan N1AL

______________________________________________________________
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]