[Elecraft] K2/100 Flat topping on 30m?

[kc4kgu@ENTERZONE.NET]

On Thu, 31 Oct 2002, Eric Swartz WA6HHQ - Elecraft wrote:

> Hi John,
> 
> We just checked several K2/100s here and several at one of our Builders for
> Hire's QTH and do not see any SSB flat topping at 100w on 30M. Its possible
> that your K2 or KPA100 30M LPF is rolling off too quickly, which would
> require excessive drive and current drain from the K2 or KPA100. This could
> happen if there was an extra turn on one of the LPF toroids or if there was
> a wrong capacitor value (or bad cap) in the LPF.

OK.  I'll take a look and make sure everything is kosher.  Gary just had
the rig a couple months ago and with exception of opening the thing up to
install the new firmware for the FT KAT100 and then going through just now
to carefully do a CAL FIL using the new Spectrogram, there hasn't been
anything done to the rig.  It has been operated of course but, no mods,
etc.

> 
> Also, are you making these tests with the compressor off?
> 

No.  The compressor was on.  I just tested with the compressor off and
while not as extreme (compressor obviously works) it still flat tops.

> If you can't find an obvious source for your problem, lets have you send it
> at our cost to Gary ( support@elecraft.com ) and we will dig into it and get
> it resolved. (We love mysteries :*) 
> 
> We will also post here on the Elecraft list what we find.

And man do I seem to be good at breaking...er...finding things. >;-)

I hope we can figure out what may be causing this without having to resort
to a cross country trip for the rig.  Note: I'm not the only person
exhibiting this.  I didn't even know my rig did it until I looked at 30m
SSB because someone else had posted a question to the list regarding it.

Anyway, thanks.  As always, Elecraft is tops!

73 de John - KC4KGU
K2/100 #2490