Posted by
Don Wilhelm-4 on
Feb 21, 2010; 9:42pm
URL: http://elecraft.85.s1.nabble.com/Calibrating-the-Oscillator-and-Other-Start-Up-Questions-for-K3-tp4608623p4608881.html
Steve,
See in-line answers below.
73,
Don W3FPR
KC2VNI wrote:
> Here are some questions:
>
> 1) I put the factory filter 2.7kHZ with offset of -0.82 in slot 3 and I do
> not have any other filters installed at this time. I put the filter there in
> case I want to add other filters later on. I set up the filter for bandwidth
> of 2.7 assuming that 2.7 is given in units KHZ. Is this correct? Also, I
> turned everything else for filters 1,2,4, and 5 off. Let me know if there's
> something I'm missing. Some additional questions:
>
> a) I set the receive filter enables to filter 3 in my case for all modes
> USB, LSB, CW, etc.
>
> b) What filter loss compensation should be used
>
> c) I set the transmit filter selection to filter 3
>
*** You did it correctly ***
> 2) Testing output with dummy load for transmitter gain: I used an MFJ load
> and tied it to antenna input 1. I believe that I performed the test per the
> instructions but the load did not feel very warm at 5W. Is this normal?
>
*** You did not say which MFJ Dummy Load you used, but it is likely
rated for greater than 100 watts, and it will not get very warm at 5
watts - in fact it may not be noticeable without a precision temperature
probe. ***
> 3) Reference Osillator Calibration: This seems to be the tricky 1. I have
> the standard 5PPM oscillator. I do not have a frequency counter. So this
> leaves me with Method 2 on page 50 of the operations manual. Now, in order
> to zero-beat this, I would assume that I need to attach my antenna to the
> radio. Here are questions:
>
> a) Is my assumption correct about attaching the antenna to the radio?
>
*** Yes, you need to attach an antenna to the K3 ***
> b) What other parameters need to be adjusted (and what would good suggested
> values be) BEFORE I attach the antenna to the radio? I am not only referring
> to "set-up" parameters but other items that would interfere with my
> operating the radio.
>
*** This answer should be "none" unless you have some special
requirements. If you are hearing signals from the radio now, all is OK. ***
> c) Should I place the K3 antenna tuner on when performing an oscillator
> calibration? I would assume so to make the antenna match the transceiver
>
*** It depends on your antenna. If you can hear signals with the KAT3
set to BYPASS, then use it that way. You will have to transmit to make
the KAT3 tune, so try to save that until later ***
> d) What should I use as a "strong broadcast station" at 10,15,or 20MHz? Does
> anybody have a suggested frequency I should use? Would one of the signal
> beacons used for propagation studies be a good referece? For what it's
> worth, I am in the Southern NJ area and all I have been using is my local
> repeater on 2M so I have NO idea as to what is or what is not a good
> frequency to use.
>
*** If you can, use WWV at 5, 10, 15 MHz or 20 MHz. You will achieve
greater accuracy at the higher frequencies, but propagation conditions
may not allow you to hear a good signal on 15 or 20 MHz at this time -
10 MHz (sometimes 15 MHz) is usually good on the East Coast. WWV is a
National Standards station which broadcasts standard frequency and time
information. Be certain you zero-beat (Match the tone with the K3
sidetone) with the carrier and not one of the transmitted tones. There
are silent periods when no tone is transmitted, so listen for a while if
you are not familiar with the WWV format. *** Note: If you have web
access, Google for "WWV format" and you will find information about when
and at what frequency the tones are transmitted.
> e) Would I be better off purchasing the XG2 mini project in lieu of trying
> to do oscillator calibration form a strong broadcast station for a reference
> oscillator? OR would I be better off shipping the radio back to Elecraft and
> having them do an oscillator calibration in the factory?
>
*** The XG2 is not a frequency standard - it is however an oscillator
with a calibrated output level which is convenient for calibrating the
S-meter. ***
> f) I had purchased the 100W power amp. It looks like I have to perform the
> transmitter gain calibraiton again and there is a calibration of a
> temperature sensor as well. Does the temperature sensor unit require
> calibration equipment on my part? Do I have to use the latest firmware from
> the website to make this work?
>
*** The firmware that was shipped with your K3 will be fine for all the
calibration steps. You will likely want to update the firmware to gain
the added functionality of the latest. Look at the Firmware Release
Notes for the specifics. ***
> I realize I've asked alot of questions here. Any help would be appreciated.
>
> 73,
>
> Steve de KC2VNI
>
>
>
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