[Elecraft] K3: Storing PWR level in memories

[Mike Penkas]

I have decided to throw in my 2 cents on the subject.
I run a PW-1 solid state amp with the K3.  
I have been doing the Beta ALC mods and testing with 
my amp and the K3.  I have been doing adjustments and 
have reached a fairly happy medium with the firmware and 
hardware mods.  However----
I feel that with my SS amp, Quadras, THP's and others, all that
is really needed is a maximum power output setting, preferably by
band, for the K3.  I would like to be able to set these band
power outputs for a maximum needed to drive my amp 
to its rated limits.  You WOULD NOT be able to easily reset
the upper output limits but could lower the output at will 
with the panel power adjustment. 
Perhaps a matrix such as used with the Transmit and Receive
equalizers would work. 
Everyone is not going to use this function but it would be 
critically important to hams using some types of transverters
without attenuators and as mentioned to owners of very 
expensive and sometimes very unforgiving Solid State amps. 
ALC would still be used but you would still have the 
crowbar type of overdrive protection. 
          Mike WA8EBM 
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jerry.Van" <jerry.van at sbcglobal.net>
To: <elecraft at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Monday, June 09, 2008 3:14 PM
Subject: [Elecraft] K3: Storing PWR level in memories


>I hate to add one more request to the firmware enhancements list that 
> Elecraft is diligently working on but here goes.
> 
> Many were anxiously awaiting the PWR SET>Per Band menu item which has 
> now been implemented in the current firmware.  Especially anxious were 
> those that are driving SS amplifiers.  While this is a welcome addition 
> I don't think it is enough to protect amps, especially the SS amps.
> 
> Many times I find myself sometimes using the full 100 watts out of the 
> K3 and other times driving an amp which may require considerably less 
> power out of the K3 and doing this on all bands that I normally use. 
> There is still a danger in driving an amp even with the Power Per Band 
> option.  It may be a few minutes later or several days later when I 
> decide to go back to a band that I had last set my power level to 100 
> watts.  If during this time I decide to crank up the amp I may not 
> realize that the K3 is now set to 100 watts in that there is no visual 
> indication unless I turn or tap the PWR control.  Now I transmit with 
> the amp inline and suffer the potential consequences.  Yes, all of us 
> should be more careful but with what seems to be expanded usage of the 
> general purpose, quick, and per band memories perhaps there is an easy 
> solution.
> 
> Might it be a good idea to allow the storage and then recall of the 
> power level in those memories on a per band basis?  Personally I would 
> like to store a power level appropriate for driving my amp on each band. 
> So when I select a particular band via a memory recall I can be 
> absolutely assured that it is at a specific and known level each and 
> every time that I use one of the memories.  If my intention is to run 
> the full 100 watts than I will need to crank the PWR control.  Better 
> doing that than risk damage to an amp.  The current PWR SET>Per Band 
> would remain intact.
> 
> Comments?
> 
> Jerry  N8BM
> 
> 
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