[Elecraft] RE: More Audio OUTPUT please: The ongoing saga...

Tue Sep 24 23:39:00 2002

I too have low audio. (1st time I have weighed in on the issue).

Thanks and 73!
Jim W7RY
K2-#2740

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bruce Thompson" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Cc: <[email protected]>; <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, September 13, 2002 7:39 PM
Subject: [Elecraft] RE: More Audio OUTPUT please: The ongoing saga...

> I have had a big problem with my audio output.  (I made were several
> posts about 6 weeks ago.)  I am trying to use the K2 mobile and the SSB
> audio was not high enough to use it in this application.  (CW is OK) Too
> much road, wind, air conditioner,background noise.  I've spent quite a
> bit of time on this issue.  I now have a way to use it in the truck with
> the RF and AF gains on full blast with the preamp on with an external
> speaker about 2 feet from my head:
> 
> Removed C180 in the 2nd xtal filter section.
> 
> Rewound T7 for 20:5 rather than 13:3 turns ratio.  The newer units
> should already be at 20:5.
> 
> Replaced R1 with a 33k resistor, from its original 51k.  This is because
> the voltage on the 8 volt regulator was 8.4 volts, not 8.0.  According
> to Elecraft, this was reducing the RF gain.  Changing out the resistor
> gave it a little more gain.  Note that it is relatively easy to measure
> the regulator voltage with the top cover off so it should be simple to
> check.
> 
> The rig/ant combination does work.  Antenna is a Stealth II screwdriver
> with the 4" coil and a 4 foot whip.  Good signal reports and some DX.
> 
> There was one more suggestion to replace one of the resistors in the
> preamp stage to get a little more gain but can't seem to find it in my
> notes right now.   I have not done that yet.
> 
> I also think the antenna has a lot to do with the signal level and thus
> the available audio level but I haven't experimented with it too much.
> (Have a 2 element Fluid Motion portable beam on order) I also agree with
> the comments of Mike AD5IU with the only one exception being my K2 is
> one of the earlier units and it does exhibit the audio (should rename it
> gain) problem.  
> 
> Tom (N0SS) and Gary, I am more than willing to help out finding the
> problem.  I have been on a long business trip so I have been away from
> the rig/test equipment for a while.  I have been considering buying
> another SSB board to see if the newer board/crystals make a difference
> or if there is something wrong with my board somehow.  I get to build
> something else and I'm sure I could sell a completed board for about the
> cost of the kit.  That might be better than trying pull components on my
> current board.  I might end up with nothing!  Tom and Gary, let me know
> how I can help out.  If you want me to ship you my SSB board, K2, etc.
> let me know and we can work something out.
> 
> On a side note, after my last "low audio" set of posts, I received a lot
> of private email saying something to the effect of, "I also have low
> audio.  Please let me know what you find out..."   I personally think
> there is something going on here that is more than a single instance.  I
> had to go through the "you built it wrong", "you aligned it wrong", "you
> connected it wrong","you're using it wrong" ,"you listened to too much
> rock music"...    No, it's not built wrong.  No, I have never had a
> problem with badl toroid leads.  No, the alignment is just fine (via
> Tom's noise source and spectrogram), Yes, I am using an external
> speaker.  Yes, I have the preamp on, etc.  No, I didn't listen to too
> much rock music.  (I grew up in Iowa and rock music didn't get to my
> home town until the late 80's.)  It is encouraging to see Tom and Gary
> looking to see if there is a bigger issue here and I want to support
> that effort.
> 
> Bruce "Not an unhappy customer, I use it all the time, just want to be
> able to hear"  KG0SH
> 
> K2 SN 549 all options including the KPA100 except the 160m option.  
> 
> 
> 
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