[Elecraft] Progressive Problem......

Ron D'Eau Claire rondec at easystreet.com
Thu Dec 14 11:37:20 EST 2006


It does sound like a software/firmware problem except that the firmware
isn't changing on its own, so something else associated with it is. 

First I'd pull the control board and  inspect it very carefully with a
powerful magnifier - especially the MCU socket and associated connections -
for missed solder joints that may now be becoming intermittent as oxidation
accumulates. 

Ron AC7AC

-----Original Message-----
Board Members,

K2 Serial Number 3479 needs help.   Over the past couple of months an odd 
little quirk developed.  When turned on the rig would do one of two 
things...... after about 10-20 seconds the rig would jump from filter 
setting SF1 to SF4.  This would happen by itself after being turned on and 
started to warm up.  Occasionally - it did not happen in the first 10-20 
seconds BUT it would happen when I would touch the volume control or power 
control or rf gain control or any of the push button on the front panel.  So

either way it would (by itself or with me adjusting one of the control) it 
would move from SF1 setting to the SF4 setting.  It had done this for about 
a two months.

I let it go because I figured it was just a odd thing that developed with 
the rig.

NOW the rig is doing this and I have lost control of the power output.  On 
10 meters with the power output the display reads 1 thru 100 watts out but 
in reality with a meter in line the output is only 5 watts or 100 watts 
depending if I am in the low power (10 watts) or in the high power (100 
watt) section of the power adjustment control.  There is nothing in between.

It gives 5 watts or 100 watts - depending only on if the dial is in the high

or low setting section.  No control even though the K2 display is showing 
various settings different than 5 watts or 100 watts.

Further ... On 20 40 and 80 meters during my initial test the output was 
only 20 watts.  Today  I checked it and 20 is showing 100 watts out with no 
control and on 40 it is showing 125 watts out on an inline meter with the K2

display showing 25 watts out.  So the actual forward power is way off from 
the display and there is no control forward power on the K2.

And the receive of the K2 is affected by the power adjustment knob.  In the 
high power section of the power knob the receive and noise floor drops a 
couple of s units from the low power section of the power knob adjustment. 
It seems to be much more sensitive in the low power setting than the high 
power setting.

Prior to this rig number 3479 was a perfectly functioning radio.


To me - this is sounding like a software problem but I honestly do not know 
were to begin.  Any ideas or anyone who may have had similar problems 
offering suggestions on some direction would sure be appreciated.


Thanks

Paul K8QT
Serial Number 3479 



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