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factory built k3/100/F

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Scott McDowell-3

factory built k3/100/F

Hello
Has anyone besides me recieved a factory built k3/100/F that had no, (like in zero),
output in the ssb mode. Or am I just the lucky one. I worked on it for a while with
support on the telephone, then they told me to send it back to the factory.
That sounds like someone at the factory isn't doing the testing that should be done
on the new rigs before they are shipped.
Scott
n5sm
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Eric Swartz - WA6HHQ

Re: factory built k3/100/F

Administrator

Hi Scott,

100% of our factory assembled K3s are tested on SSB with a mic before
they ship. They can not pass final test any other way. Our final test
tech is -very- careful.

We also test all of our FPs and DSPs this way prior to their being used
in assembled radios or kits.

What kind of mic are you using?

73, Eric WA6HHQ

On 4/20/2011 10:03 AM, Scott McDowell wrote:
> Hello
> Has anyone besides me recieved a factory built k3/100/F that had no, (like in zero),
> output in the ssb mode. Or am I just the lucky one. I worked on it for a while with
> support on the telephone, then they told me to send it back to the factory.
> That sounds like someone at the factory isn't doing the testing that should be done
> on the new rigs before they are shipped.
> Scott
> n5sm
>
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David Gilbert

Re: factory built k3/100/F

In reply to this post by Scott McDowell-3

That's kind of a premature question isn't it?

Looking forward to your future post identifying what the problem turns
out to be ....

Dave AB7E

On 4/20/2011 10:03 AM, Scott McDowell wrote:
> Hello
> Has anyone besides me recieved a factory built k3/100/F that had no, (like in zero),
> output in the ssb mode. Or am I just the lucky one. I worked on it for a while with
> support on the telephone, then they told me to send it back to the factory.
> That sounds like someone at the factory isn't doing the testing that should be done
> on the new rigs before they are shipped.
> Scott
> n5sm
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n7ws

Re: factory built k3/100/F

In reply to this post by Scott McDowell-3

Not necessarily. He said he worked with factory support on the telephone before they said to ship it back. I've found them to be quite helpful and knowledgeable. Eric asked earlier what kind of microphone he was using. That was my first thought, like no bias on an electret, but if this wasn't already determined by tech support then there should be some corrective action taken.

I recently had a friend come to my shack with a brand new K3 that didn't transmit at all, although it received perfectly. He thought that perhaps he hadn't loaded the firmware correctly. I loaded it and we then compared his to mine, parameter by parameter and found nothing wrong, except that it still failed to transmit, of course. It was a weekend so calling for help wasn't an option.

He did later and it was finally determined that the KREF3 board was bad. Failures happen.

--- On Wed, 4/20/11, David Gilbert <[hidden email]> wrote:

>
> That's kind of a premature question isn't it?
>
> Looking forward to your future post identifying what the
> problem turns
> out to be ....
>
> Dave AB7E
>
>
>
> On 4/20/2011 10:03 AM, Scott McDowell wrote:
> > Hello
> > Has anyone besides me recieved a factory built
> k3/100/F that had no, (like in zero),
> > output in the ssb mode. Or am I just the lucky one. I
> worked on it for a while with
> > support on the telephone, then they told me to send it
> back to the factory.
> > That sounds like someone at the factory isn't doing
> the testing that should be done
> > on the new rigs before they are shipped.
> > Scott
> > n5sm

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David Gilbert

Re: factory built k3/100/F

Certainly mistakes happen ... I'm just saying that I think it's
premature to accuse Elecraft of not bothering to check the rig before it
was shipped. It could be a board that went bad or a connector that
became unseated or whatever.

Dave AB7E

On 4/20/2011 12:32 PM, Wes Stewart wrote:

> Not necessarily. He said he worked with factory support on the telephone before they said to ship it back. I've found them to be quite helpful and knowledgeable. Eric asked earlier what kind of microphone he was using. That was my first thought, like no bias on an electret, but if this wasn't already determined by tech support then there should be some corrective action taken.
>
> I recently had a friend come to my shack with a brand new K3 that didn't transmit at all, although it received perfectly. He thought that perhaps he hadn't loaded the firmware correctly. I loaded it and we then compared his to mine, parameter by parameter and found nothing wrong, except that it still failed to transmit, of course. It was a weekend so calling for help wasn't an option.
>
> He did later and it was finally determined that the KREF3 board was bad. Failures happen.
>
> --- On Wed, 4/20/11, David Gilbert<[hidden email]> wrote:
>
>> That's kind of a premature question isn't it?
>>
>> Looking forward to your future post identifying what the
>> problem turns
>> out to be ....
>>
>> Dave AB7E
>>
>>
>>
>> On 4/20/2011 10:03 AM, Scott McDowell wrote:
>>> Hello
>>> Has anyone besides me recieved a factory built
>> k3/100/F that had no, (like in zero),
>>> output in the ssb mode. Or am I just the lucky one. I
>> worked on it for a while with
>>> support on the telephone, then they told me to send it
>> back to the factory.
>>> That sounds like someone at the factory isn't doing
>> the testing that should be done
>>> on the new rigs before they are shipped.
>>> Scott
>>> n5sm

Gary Gregory

Re: factory built k3/100/F

G'Day,

I would like to have a dollar for every time I assembled a multi board
controller, took it to the site for installation only to find a fault on
startup.

The equipment was made by a Dallas, TX company renowned for superior
performance and quality in their equipment and exported worldwide, used by
governments and private corporations alike.

Murphy (no offence to the Irish) has a nasty habit of turning up on a job
site just when you don't need him to be there...:-)

There is an Aussie slang word we use daily that covers this but I won't
subject you to it..:-)

I am positive Elecraft will sort the issue out quickly once they have it
back on the bench.

73's
Gary

On 21 April 2011 06:45, David Gilbert <[hidden email]> wrote:

>
> Certainly mistakes happen ... I'm just saying that I think it's
> premature to accuse Elecraft of not bothering to check the rig before it
> was shipped. It could be a board that went bad or a connector that
> became unseated or whatever.
>
> Dave AB7E
>
>
>
> On 4/20/2011 12:32 PM, Wes Stewart wrote:
> > Not necessarily. He said he worked with factory support on the telephone
> before they said to ship it back. I've found them to be quite helpful and
> knowledgeable. Eric asked earlier what kind of microphone he was using. That
> was my first thought, like no bias on an electret, but if this wasn't
> already determined by tech support then there should be some corrective
> action taken.
> >
> > I recently had a friend come to my shack with a brand new K3 that didn't
> transmit at all, although it received perfectly. He thought that perhaps he
> hadn't loaded the firmware correctly. I loaded it and we then compared his
> to mine, parameter by parameter and found nothing wrong, except that it
> still failed to transmit, of course. It was a weekend so calling for help
> wasn't an option.
> >
> > He did later and it was finally determined that the KREF3 board was bad.
> Failures happen.
> >
> > --- On Wed, 4/20/11, David Gilbert<[hidden email]> wrote:
> >
> >> That's kind of a premature question isn't it?
> >>
> >> Looking forward to your future post identifying what the
> >> problem turns
> >> out to be ....
> >>
> >> Dave AB7E
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> On 4/20/2011 10:03 AM, Scott McDowell wrote:
> >>> Hello
> >>> Has anyone besides me recieved a factory built
> >> k3/100/F that had no, (like in zero),
> >>> output in the ssb mode. Or am I just the lucky one. I
> >> worked on it for a while with
> >>> support on the telephone, then they told me to send it
> >> back to the factory.
> >>> That sounds like someone at the factory isn't doing
> >> the testing that should be done
> >>> on the new rigs before they are shipped.
> >>> Scott
> >>> n5sm
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
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> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
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> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>

--

VK4FD - Motorhome Mobile
Elecraft Equipment
K3 #679, KPA-500 #018
Living the dream!!!
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Eric Swartz - WA6HHQ

Re: factory built k3/100/F

Administrator

In reply to this post by n7ws

this K3 is already back at the factory. In this case it turned out that
the bias menu item was not turned on at the customer end.

73, Eric WA6HHQ
----

On 4/20/2011 12:32 PM, Wes Stewart wrote:
> Not necessarily. He said he worked with factory support on the telephone before they said to ship it back. I've found them to be quite helpful and knowledgeable. Eric asked earlier what kind of microphone he was using. That was my first thought, like no bias on an electret, but if this wasn't already determined by tech support then there should be some corrective action taken.
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Gary Gregory

Re: factory built k3/100/F

Oops!
Gary

On 21 April 2011 07:21, Eric Swartz - WA6HHQ, Elecraft <[hidden email]>wrote:

> this K3 is already back at the factory. In this case it turned out that
> the bias menu item was not turned on at the customer end.
>
> 73, Eric WA6HHQ
> ----
>
> On 4/20/2011 12:32 PM, Wes Stewart wrote:
> > Not necessarily. He said he worked with factory support on the telephone
> before they said to ship it back. I've found them to be quite helpful and
> knowledgeable. Eric asked earlier what kind of microphone he was using. That
> was my first thought, like no bias on an electret, but if this wasn't
> already determined by tech support then there should be some corrective
> action taken.
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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
>

Bill K9YEQ

Re: factory built k3/100/F

In reply to this post by Scott McDowell-3

Mine worked perfectly,

73,
Bill
K9YEQ

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email]
[mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Scott McDowell
Sent: Wednesday, April 20, 2011 12:03 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: [Elecraft] factory built k3/100/F

Hello
Has anyone besides me recieved a factory built k3/100/F that had no, (like
in zero), output in the ssb mode. Or am I just the lucky one. I worked on it
for a while with support on the telephone, then they told me to send it back
to the factory.
That sounds like someone at the factory isn't doing the testing that should
be done on the new rigs before they are shipped.
Scott
n5sm
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Eric Swartz - WA6HHQ

Re: factory built k3/100/F

Administrator

In reply to this post by Gary Gregory

If an assembled K3 leaves the factory and they have also ordered a MH2
mic, we now turn on the mic bias for them.

In this case the customer had an MH2 from a previous Elecraft rig and we
were not aware of it.

73, Eric WA6HHQ
----

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george fritkin

Re: factory built k3/100/F

Elecraft quality standards are so high, when one gets a product from the company, you should assume you are the problem not Elecraft, if it does not work.
Hats off to USA quality implemented to perfection
George, W6GF

--- On Wed, 4/20/11, Eric Swartz - WA6HHQ, Elecraft <[hidden email]> wrote:

From: Eric Swartz - WA6HHQ, Elecraft <[hidden email]>
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] factory built k3/100/F
To: "Gary Gregory" <[hidden email]>
Cc:
Date: Wednesday, April 20, 2011, 3:41 PM

If an assembled K3 leaves the factory and they have also ordered a MH2
mic, we now turn on the mic bias for them.

In this case the customer had an MH2 from a previous Elecraft rig and we
were not aware of it.

73, Eric WA6HHQ
----

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Mike WA8BXN

Re: factory built k3/100/F

I wonder if it would be practical to set up a database of volunteers willing
to help new owners get past elusive (to the new owners) problems. I am
thinking about people that could help other hams near them. There are many
things that a new owner could easily be overlooking that someone with some
experience with the rig could spot.

Another thing that might be useful to do is have an extended troubleshooting
area on the Elecraft website. Include it in the most common problems solved
by contacting Elecraft support. I see K2 troubleshooting tips, perhaps for
each product there should be an easy to find area listing common problems
that people have asked about.

73 - Mike WA8BXN

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w0mu

Re: factory built k3/100/F

In this case, I believe that Eric or Wayne mentioned the bias setting.
I am not sure how that could be missed on the phone unless the end user
didn't understand what was being asked of him.

In the end the radio is fine and everyone is a happy camper.

On 4/20/2011 7:48 PM, Mike WA8BXN wrote:

> I wonder if it would be practical to set up a database of volunteers willing
> to help new owners get past elusive (to the new owners) problems. I am
> thinking about people that could help other hams near them. There are many
> things that a new owner could easily be overlooking that someone with some
> experience with the rig could spot.
>
> Another thing that might be useful to do is have an extended troubleshooting
> area on the Elecraft website. Include it in the most common problems solved
> by contacting Elecraft support. I see K2 troubleshooting tips, perhaps for
> each product there should be an easy to find area listing common problems
> that people have asked about.
>
> 73 - Mike WA8BXN
>
>
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
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w0mu

Re: factory built k3/100/F

In reply to this post by Mike WA8BXN

What they need to do is put in ip networking and the techs could then
"dial" into the radio and see exactly what was going on.....

On 4/20/2011 7:48 PM, Mike WA8BXN wrote:

Don Wilhelm-4

Re: factory built k3/100/F

In this case, even that may not have helped. The tech would have to
know which microphone was being used, and apparently that information
was lacking when it was discussed with the tech.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 4/20/2011 9:56 PM, Mike Fatchett W0MU wrote:
> What they need to do is put in ip networking and the techs could then
> "dial" into the radio and see exactly what was going on.....
>
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Chris W7CTH

Re: factory built k3/100/F

In reply to this post by Scott McDowell-3

It's funny what can happen just in shipping.
I had a friend build me a repeater with a controller and shipped it to me. When I got it I had to reprogram the controller.

I know not the same as a K3, But things happen.
Best of luck and your love it when you get it back.
Chris W7CTH

P.S Elecraft the best ever for support.
73's
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