[k2] Poor USB audio after cal
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Re: [k2] Poor USB audio after cal
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Damon,
The procedure in the manual is written for the "average" filter (of which very few exist), so I highly recommend you use the procedure documented on my website www.w3fpr.com dealing with K2 Dial Calibration instead of the procedure in the manual. The entire procedure involves 3 steps - first adjusting C22 using the N6KR method which needs no tools if you have perfect pitch, but those without it can use Spectrogram or a similar computer application to tune WWV "right on". After setting C22, run CAL PLL followed by CAL FIL. The article has several links to supporting information should you need it. BTW - I am working on a Technical Note document that may be placed on the Elecraft website in the future dealing with exactly this same information - stay tuned, but in the meantime, use the information on my website. Once calibrated, the K2 will not "drift" because the settings are stored in digital form and are not dependent on any oscillator other that the PLL reference. I know that many K2s that I have worked on have retained their calibration information for several years. If you have trouble with the CAL PLL or CAL FIL routines not storing data into EEPROM, that is a separate problem and must be resolved before you attempt the calibration and filter alignment procedures. 73, Don W3FPR On 7/24/2011 7:05 PM, KC5CQW wrote: > About twice a year I like to run through the cal's on my K2. > Today, I was unable to store the BFO adjustments to eeprom and I noticed > that the USB audio sounds muddy. > Almost like the RF pot was turned down and the 2k audio filter active. The > RTTY (USB) mode also sounds like this. > LSB and CW are quite loud and clear with a more believable S-Meter response. > > I was following the C22 cal Application Note procedure. > The last few times I did this, the K2 "cal'ed" to within 10Hz of WWV. > Before starting the cal today, it was 70Hz off. It is now within 30Hz post > cal. > The difference between TP1 and TP2 is negligible (limited by 10Hz DAC). > My beat dial Freq. is/was 10.000.02 LSB (at this point when I triple checked > the C22 cal) > > I used a soundcard program to "watch" the 10MHz WWV 500Hz and 600Hz tones > while adjusting the BFO settings. > Once it comes back to OPT1 from FIL4 the audio tones are back at their > starting points and not were I set them. The BFO value did seem to save > however. In LSB, the S-Meter showed S-3 (as did my other HF rig), on USB the > meter was a solid S-9. > The volume was not as loud and had more bass. > > I have a feeling this is just a matter of me forgetting a simple step but I > can honestly say that I have followed the procedure word for word. I even > double checked with the main K2 manual just to be sure. > > 73, Damon > 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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Re: [k2] Poor USB audio after cal
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Damon,
Well, I certainly hope your flux cleaning efforts have not created problems. It often does create leakage paths that can cause problems. Solder flux by itself is non-conductive, and is best left alone - but when combined with many flux cleaning ?solvents?, conductive paths can be created that will cause insurmountable problems. I have seen attempts at removing flux which resulted in complete failure for the kit. Conductive paths can be created under connectors, under ICs and any other component. If you want to be safe, *do* *not* attempt to remove solder flux. If it gets really nasty in one area after several re-work attempts, you can remove the excess flux from that area with alcohol applied sparingly with a Q-tip and dried immediately. Use of a solder with a mildly reactive flux will leave almost no flux residue - Kester 285 is one of that type. Kester no-clean solder is another that works well. Save the Kester 44 with its Highly Reactive flux for antenna projects and wires that have developed some oxidation over time - it leaves a lot of flux residue, but cleans nicely - that kind of cleaning is not necessary on new boards and new components. Yes, I know that Elecraft "recommends" Kester 44 (among others), but only because it is OK to use (provided you do not try to remove the flux residue). IMHO, it is not the best choice for new construction. 73, Don W3FPR On 7/24/2011 10:14 PM, KC5CQW wrote: > TNX for the info. > I'll go over your method in detail tomorrow. > I have a hunch it may be due to the R1 SSB balancing pot. > Dummy me forgot to mention that I disassembled the k2 a few months ago to > clean all of the old flux off. > Perhaps the pot has some residue or wasn't setup right to begin with... > > Now that the K2 has settled in, I may go and do a 100% verification on all > adjustable points for max efficiency. (My 12m/10m output is much lower then > expected. 4-5W max). > > 73, Damon > > -- > View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/k2-Poor-USB-audio-after-cal-tp6616641p6616940.html > Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.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 > 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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In reply to this post by KC5CQW
I guess you know that it is NOT recommended to try and remove the flux from the boards after construction... if you don't get every bit of it off after you dissolve it with whatever solvent you're using, you'll end up with a severely contaminated board and future problems with it. If you have used quality solder as recommended by Elecraft, there should be no reason to apply extra flux during construction nor any reason that you would need to clean the board after soldering.
Just my $0.02 de AJ4TF |
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In reply to this post by Don Wilhelm-4
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Re: [k2] Poor USB audio after cal
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In reply to this post by KC5CQW
Damon,
You say ... "Once it comes back to OPT1 from FIL4 the audio tones are back at their starting points and not were I set them. The BFO value did seem to save however." Did you have the freq-counter cable plugged into TP2 at the time? If you overlook that, you won't be able to save your BFO changes. HTH, Alan Alan D. Wilcox, W3DVX (K2-5373, K3-40) 570-321-1516 http://WilcoxEngineering.com http://eBookEditor.net https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/28062?ref=awilcox Williamsport, PA 17701 On 7/24/11 7:05 PM, KC5CQW wrote: > About twice a year I like to run through the cal's on my K2. > Today, I was unable to store the BFO adjustments to eeprom and I noticed > that the USB audio sounds muddy. > Almost like the RF pot was turned down and the 2k audio filter active. The > RTTY (USB) mode also sounds like this. > LSB and CW are quite loud and clear with a more believable S-Meter response. > > I was following the C22 cal Application Note procedure. > The last few times I did this, the K2 "cal'ed" to within 10Hz of WWV. > Before starting the cal today, it was 70Hz off. It is now within 30Hz post > cal. > The difference between TP1 and TP2 is negligible (limited by 10Hz DAC). > My beat dial Freq. is/was 10.000.02 LSB (at this point when I triple checked > the C22 cal) > > I used a soundcard program to "watch" the 10MHz WWV 500Hz and 600Hz tones > while adjusting the BFO settings. > Once it comes back to OPT1 from FIL4 the audio tones are back at their > starting points and not were I set them. The BFO value did seem to save > however. In LSB, the S-Meter showed S-3 (as did my other HF rig), on USB the > meter was a solid S-9. > The volume was not as loud and had more bass. > > I have a feeling this is just a matter of me forgetting a simple step but I > can honestly say that I have followed the procedure word for word. I even > double checked with the main K2 manual just to be sure. > > 73, Damon > > 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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That is really easy to do. I did and went through a couple weeks of
consternation before I got all the manual and postings about it in my thick head. Thank you very much, I had successfully repressed all memory of that episode :>) 73, Guy. On Mon, Jul 25, 2011 at 1:39 PM, Alan D. Wilcox <[hidden email]> wrote: > Did you have the freq-counter cable plugged into TP2 at the time? If you > overlook that, you won't be able to save your BFO changes. > > HTH, Alan ______________________________________________________________ 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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Re: [k2] Poor USB audio after cal
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Damon,
I will not comment on the MAC/PC situation, but the injection of the Signalink USB may be suspect. I am not a MAC user, so I cannot comment intelligently. I gave up on Apple after the Apple II because of the proprietary nature of the software - either you bought Apple software at an inflated price or you did not have the function. So I settled on the PC software that was available both in open source and purchased for much less than Apple wanted for the same function. What I *can* say about Apple software is that it works and is intuitive from the user's perspective, and all that is not bad. BTW, Windows is going the same route as Apple IMHO, so the "upgrade" to Win XP for me may be Ubuntu - goodbye to some of my favorite applications until I find Linux equivalents. Such is life with computers. 73, Don W3FPR On 7/25/2011 8:58 PM, KC5CQW wrote: > Problem solved. > It turned out to be a computer/software problem. > I had to use a PC (yuk) with a direct patch cord instead of my Mac G5 with > Signalink USB. > All is well again. > > 73, Damon > ______________________________________________________________ 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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In reply to this post by KC5CQW
Cleaning a board in a clean room does not ensure it is free of ionic contamination.
Did you use an aqueous cleaner? If so then that is likely to be a problem for you, as the pots and trimmer caps are probably not designed for an aqueous cleaning process. |
Re: [k2] Poor USB audio after cal
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In reply to this post by Don Wilhelm-4
Don,
As an Apple/PC/Linux user (and former PC-only person), let me clarify a bit ... I switched to Apple because the hardware AND software are robust and not given to blue screens or the likes. Linux offered robust software (same Unix thinking that's in Apple OS), but few applications that I needed. Now I use Apple Mac Pro, 14 GB memory, and Mac OS-X with mostly Mac application software. It's solid and runs 24-7. I run Parallels http://parallels.com as an application, and that provides for hosting virtual machines, or VMs. One VM I run is Windows 7, and that allows me to run all the Windows apps I want that aren't available on Apple ... GSDR, many amateur apps, etc. Another VM I run is Win-XP for the apps that won't play on Win-7. Also have SUSE on yet another VM. When I have multiple VMs running, they're all visible on my LAN as distinct computers for file transfer. Nicer yet, Parallels implements the clipboard so I can copy and paste from one VM to the other directly. Eg, I can copy text from NotePad and paste it directly into any Apple app. You CAN have your cake and eat it too. Cheers, Alan Alan D. Wilcox, W3DVX (K2-5373, K3-40) 570-321-1516 http://WilcoxEngineering.com http://eBookEditor.net https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/28062?ref=awilcox Williamsport, PA 17701 On 7/25/11 9:20 PM, Don Wilhelm wrote: > Damon, > > I will not comment on the MAC/PC situation, but the injection of the > Signalink USB may be suspect. > > I am not a MAC user, so I cannot comment intelligently. I gave up on > Apple after the Apple II because of the proprietary nature of the > software - either you bought Apple software at an inflated price or you > did not have the function. So I settled on the PC software that was > available both in open source and purchased for much less than Apple > wanted for the same function. What I *can* say about Apple software is > that it works and is intuitive from the user's perspective, and all that > is not bad. > > BTW, Windows is going the same route as Apple IMHO, so the "upgrade" to > Win XP for me may be Ubuntu - goodbye to some of my favorite > applications until I find Linux equivalents. Such is life with computers. > > 73, > Don W3FPR > > On 7/25/2011 8:58 PM, KC5CQW wrote: >> Problem solved. >> It turned out to be a computer/software problem. >> I had to use a PC (yuk) with a direct patch cord instead of my Mac G5 with >> Signalink USB. >> All is well again. >> >> 73, Damon >> > ______________________________________________________________ > 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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