[Elecraft] K2/100 problems

[Floyd Sense]

Here's some additional information generated by Tom's comments.  I should
have included this in the original post - sorry.

Item #2:  For the contest, I used the single K2 keying jack for both the
paddle for the internal keyer, and for the CW keying coming from the
computer.  For that arrangement, I connected both keyer paddle inputs to the
key line via 1N4148 diodes as per the K2 manual.  If memory serves me
correctly, 100% of the failures I observed occurred with CW from the
computer.  The PC interface uses optical couplers and the problem is not
observed while keying the other station transceiver.  I'll have to scope the
keying line to make sure the delay is not coming from the interface however.

Item #3:  While contemplating Tom's comments, it occurred to me that I
omitted another key piece of information - at the bottom of the CW bands, my
beam exhibits its highest SWR, around 1.8:1 and on 20 and 15 meters that
results in some automatic reduction in power by the K2.  On 20, the output
is reduced to around 75-80 watts.  It may well be that this in combination
with changing bands often aggravated the problem.  I'll do some testing into
a dummy load to see if that makes any difference.


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tom Hammond" <n0ss@earthlink.net>
To: "Floyd Sense" <sentek@sprintmail.com>
Sent: Monday, November 03, 2003 9:20 AM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K2/100 problems


> Hi Floyd:
>
<<snip>>
> Are you using an external keyer or the K2's internal keyer?
>
<<snip>>
>Item 3 certainly IS, and is NORMAL for the KPA100 (actually, the K2 as
> well) when changing bands, or possibly after having made a significant
> change in the POWER control. This is well documented in threads on the
> reflector.
>
> It SHOULD occur (I believe) ONLY when you've either changed bands or have
> increased the power significantly. And it should not occur once the power
> level has been established... as when you remain on a band, rather than
> having changed bands.
>
> It is possible that the ALC might be effecting the first element of a
> character, but ONLY during that initial period where the ALC is resetting
> itself to the higher requested power level. If you're seeing truncated
> elements AFTER this period, then there's something else going on.
>
> 73,
>
> Tom Hammond   N0SS