[Elecraft] Long Term Reliability: K2 5 year anniversary

[Jerry]

I have been operating CW mobile for years and have experienced many
problems.  It sounds to me like your problem is with RF getting into the
engine controls.  I can give you a few simple tests to perform that may
help.  

Test 1
Remove the DC power that powers up the K2 from the car battery, and install
a temporary stand alone battery that is isolated from the car DC power and
ground line.  Next install a dummy load on the K2. If you don't have a dummy
load, you can also run 75 to 100 feet of coax to an external tuned antenna.
Now try transmitting and see if the problem goes away.  


Test 2
Next, replace only the dummy load with the car's antenna and transmit again.


Test 3
Power Up the K2 using your cars normal DC power connections and transmit
into the dummy load or external antenna.

These tests may give you some insite into the problem.

Let me know what you find out.

How is the K2 powered up.  Are you running DC power both positive and
negative leads directly from the car battery to the K2?  Any other method
can cause problems.  Have you installed a separate ground wire from the K2
to the engine block?   I also use ferite beeds on the coax line.   How is
the coax routed to the antenna?

I hope this Helps!

I will bet that you will get other suggestions from the reflector and I am
looking forward to reading them.

73's Jerry KC4YDP

K24U Software   http://www.kc4ydp.com

-----Original Message-----
From: elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of W B Reese
Sent: Saturday, May 22, 2004 10:49 AM
To: Elecraft at mailman.qth.net
Cc: JohnK1JD
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Long Term Reliability: K2 5 year anniversary

Dear John,

Perhaps you can help me.  My K2/100/KAT100 S/N 0838 has been mounted very 
nicely at considerable expense in my Miata.  It works like a charm except 
for one problem.  When I have a key down and the vehicle suffers a 
vibration, there is an intermit in the transmitted signal.  It is of 
sufficient duration that others cannot copy what I send.  So long as there 
is no vibration, there is no problem.  Whatever it is, it is unique to the 
transmitter, the receiver and side tone experience no problem.  Of course 
that's where I checked first.  I thought my key had come loose or perhaps 
the power connection or the antenna.  But it is none of these.  When I send 
in the car, the side tone is solid and has no intermits.  Also, receive is 
solid too.  If the antenna was loose, I would hear breaking up on 
receive.  If the key was loose I would hear breaking up on the 
sidetone.  If the power connection was bad the rig would be blinking on and 
off.

Due to this fault I have been unable to enjoy mobile CW on my K2.  Do you 
have any advice for me?

Thanks,

TR WB6TMY
http://www.radions.net/spamfltr.htm

At 07:26 AM 5/22/2004 -0400, you wrote:
>#139 has spent time on the road running mobile CW, working portable 
>operations from lighthouses, in many states while on business or vacation, 
>and in Europe (DL/OE/I). It has seen some rough handling.
>73,  John  K1JD

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