[Elecraft] SSB Problems: What did I do this time??? Problems with low transmit. Also, a couple of other questions.

[Edward Ringel]

Hi All,

 

Well, after some struggle and work I got K2/100 #3548 on the air a few
weeks ago. I have been using the K2 as my primary radio, putting my Icom
746 aside at least for the time being. I operate primarily SSB, using
the K2/100 at pretty much full power of 100 watts, running into a
Carolina Windom. That antenna has served me very, very well with the
746, permitting global listening and contacts.

 

However, with the K2/100 I had noticed that a couple of things were
happening. People at the other end of the conversation couldn't
understand me, and my signal was not nearly as strong as that from the
746, despite my wattmeter saying the RF output was equivalent. Also, if
FL1 was set to OP1 as it is supposed to, and I used filter setting FL1,
audio was the pits. After fiddling around a bit, taking the DSP in and
out, checking and resetting the BFO, fussing with filters, etc I got the
evaluation copy of Spectrogram and ran a frequency spectrum analysis on
my received signal, white noise, DSP bypassed on various settings for
FL1, in particular OP1. What I found was that the receive signal on OP1
was a full 30dB lower than any other filter configuration that used the
original filters in the "base" K2. Yuk!

 

So, I tried centering the frequency response differently by changing the
BFO, etc. No joy.

 

I took the SSB board out of the K2 and did a careful if limited
inspection of the board. T1 and T2 are in full contact with the pads,
both toroids are fine, no shorts to ground in the filter section (done
using a DMM). Visual inspection shows no bridges, etc.

 

Any suggestions?

 

Also a couple of easier questions:

 

If I wanted to take the DSP board out, what connectors do I need to
jumper get audio again?

 

 

I have a Super Antennas portable Yagi, which is actually a very nice
antenna. What is consensus on various portable/collapsible masts that
can hold that guy? It is much bigger and heavier than a commercial
buddipole.

 

73's

 

Ed

AA1WZ



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