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Re: [Amps] K3 spike problem

To: "Joe Subich, W4TV" <lists@subich.com>, <amps@contesting.com>
Subject: Re: [Amps] K3 spike problem
From: "Carl" <km1h@jeremy.mv.com>
Date: Thu, 16 Aug 2012 12:44:27 -0400
List-post: <amps@contesting.com">mailto:amps@contesting.com>
After trying a couple of borrowed K3's Ive not had a spike problem using my 
PS but they are not a radio I would want to be stuck with. I use headphones 
for SSB and CW and the audio quality is among the most distorted and tiring 
of any rig Ive ever owned except maybe a stock Drake R4-C.

Carl
KM1H


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Joe Subich, W4TV" <lists@subich.com>
To: <amps@contesting.com>
Sent: Thursday, August 16, 2012 8:59 AM
Subject: Re: [Amps] K3 spike problem


>
>> So the factory cannot produce a radio which anybody, anywhere can
>> buy and take out of the box and get on the air straight away. The
>> owner has to fix it first! . . . . After spending all those thousands
>> of Dollars.
>
> No, that's not what I said.  If Charlie is using a power supply with
> significantly higher (or lower) voltage than used by the Elecraft
> factory when the transceiver was built and calibrated, the gain of the
> IPA and final amplifier will be different from the value calibrated at
> the factory.
>
> In addition, if Charlie is using external ALC (he does not say) and
> has the K3's power control set too high, he will see the spike due
> to ALC time constants *in the amplifier*.
>
> The issue is in the user's ability to read and follow the manual *not*
> in the design or production of the transceiver.
>
> 73,
>
>    ... Joe, W4TV
>
>
> On 8/16/2012 8:49 AM, Alek Petkovic wrote:
>> Ha ha. I've heard it all now.
>>
>> So the factory cannot produce a radio which anybody, anywhere can buy
>> and take out of the box and get on the air straight away. The owner has
>> to fix it first!  . . . . After spending all those thousands of Dollars.
>>
>> I rest my case.
>>
>> 73, Alek. VK6APK
>>
>>
>> On 16/08/2012 8:33 PM, Joe Subich, W4TV wrote:
>>>> It is not his fault. It is a problem that came from the factory.
>>>> Accept it as fact.
>>> Bull roar!  The problem is that he is not operating the radio under
>>> the same conditions as it was when calibrated at the factory and he
>>> has not performed the TX Gain alignment procedure *as documented*
>>> *in the K3 Owner's Manual*.
>>>
>>> Charlie is slandering the radio for a design problem that does not
>>> exist simply because he can not read and follow the Owner's Manual.
>>>
>>> There is *nothing "factual"* about his report.
>>>
>>> 73,
>>>
>>>       ... Joe, W4TV
>>>
>>>
>>> On 8/16/2012 5:16 AM, Alek Petkovic wrote:
>>>> Why are you all trying to tell Charles that the K3 has no overshoot 
>>>> when
>>>> he has told you that it does? He has described the exact conditions
>>>> under which it does it and he has stated that the radio is factory
>>>> assembled and therefore, factory tested and aligned. As such, the
>>>> owner/operator should not have to perform further calibration or 
>>>> alignment.
>>>>
>>>> His radio DOES suffer from some form of overshoot, so please don't tell
>>>> him that it doesn't. He knows what he is seeing with his particular
>>>> radio and the cause is not something that he has or has not done. It is
>>>> not his fault. It is a problem that came from the factory. Accept it as
>>>> fact.
>>>>
>>>> 73, Alek
>>>> VK6APK
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On 16/08/2012 2:41 PM, Robert Mccormack wrote:
>>>>> Hi all,
>>>>>
>>>>> Message: 6
>>>>> Date: Wed, 15 Aug 2012 17:01:26 -0700
>>>>> From: "Jim W7RY" <jimw7ry@gmail.com>
>>>>> Subject: Re: [Amps] 87a will tell you, too
>>>>> To: <amps@contesting.com>
>>>>> Message-ID: <65BE1EFA07494CE1B0CE2D8ED1508E57@JimsLaptop>
>>>>> Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="utf-8";
>>>>>         reply-type=original
>>>>>
>>>>> I can get "over shoot" or a full-power brief spike of RF is the K3. 
>>>>> The
>>>>> rig is set for, say, 40 watts output and on its first key down, voice 
>>>>> or CW,
>>>>> it jumps to 100 watts for a very brief moment and strangely does not 
>>>>> repeat
>>>>> this spike as that one
>>>>>      key-down session continues, but repeats again after a
>>>>> longer stand-by period.   This is a common and very well known problem 
>>>>> with
>>>>> the K3, but not often discussed due to the powerful love people have 
>>>>> for
>>>>> their K3 radios.  The factory has acknowledeged it but has also denied 
>>>>> it..
>>>>> Facts in my shack.
>>>>>
>>>>> Charles Harpole
>>>>>
>>>>> Now I know why I don?t own a K3!  This would be unacceptable!
>>>>>
>>>>> 73
>>>>> Jim W7RY
>>>>>
>>>>> Hi Charles and Jim,
>>>>>
>>>>> Facts in my shack:-
>>>>>
>>>>> I have two K3s in my shack plus two more brought by guest ops at ZM1A 
>>>>> multi-op contest station from time to time.
>>>>> None of those K3s have ever exhibited the 'overshoot' problem 
>>>>> described.
>>>>>
>>>>> Our amps include hb gg and gk, Drake L4B and Tokyo HP 1kw, Icom 
>>>>> IC-2KL.
>>>>>
>>>>> Never had any problem with "overshoot".
>>>>>
>>>>> RTFM,
>>>>>      especially pages 49 and 50 in the K3 Owner's manual.
>>>>>
>>>>> We would never consider use of "external ALC" - it's more trouble than 
>>>>> it's worth
>>>>>
>>>>> Read Joe W4TV's post if you doubt my comments.
>>>>>
>>>>> 73,
>>>>> Ken, ZL1AIH (hosting ZM1A Multi-op in CW contests)
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> Amps mailing list
>>>>> Amps@contesting.com
>>>>> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/amps
>>>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Amps mailing list
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>>> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/amps
>>>
>>
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