[Elecraft] K3 - RX Problem after latest firmware update

[Bruce Bowman]

Hi Doug-

Quite a ways behind you at #136. I don't know if they've worked the 
insulator into production or if it's a do-it-if-it-needs-it kind of fix.

Bruce, NM5B


> Hi,
> Which serial #?  I have #22 and had the same problem.  I took it to
> Aptos and it seems to be fixed.
>
> 73, doug
>
>   From: "Bruce Bowman" <nm5b at rabbit-rabbit.org>
>   Date: Mon, 10 Mar 2008 14:16:26 -0600
>
>   Hi Stewart-
>
>   Like you, I had a problem with my K3 going dead. Unlike you, I 
> bought a
>   factory-built unit. I did that because I wanted to know it was 
> working
>   properly from the start. That turned out to be one of those things 
> that
>   sounds like a good idea but doesn't withstand close scrutiny.
>
>   What I saw initially was an occasional error message (ERR PL1) when
>   switching to another band, then the audio would decay to nothing 
> over a
>   2 second period. Sometimes I could get it to recover by chnaging 
> bands,
>   sometimes not.
>
>   Since it was factory built, they had me return my K3. They found the
>   TCXO3-1 oscillator was grounding occasionally. The oscillator would
>   continue to operate, but grounding it (the case? some component? 
> dunno)
>   caused the frequency to be pulled about 20 KHz and the receiver 
> would
>   die. They replaced the oscillator (probably unnecessary), added an
>   insulator and re-ran VCO calibration. It's been rock-solid ever 
> since.
>
>   Bruce, NM5B
>   Santa Fe, NM
>
>   ----- Original Message ----- 
>   From: "Stewart Baker" <stewart at baker.nildram.co.uk>
>   To: "AB7R" <ab7r at cablespeed.com>; "Elecraft Reflector"
>   <elecraft at mailman.qth.net>
>   Sent: Monday, March 10, 2008 5:33 AM
>   Subject: RE: [Elecraft] K3 - RX Problem after latest firmware update
>
>
>   Greg,
>   Have re-installed V1.75 & V1.57 again, no change.
>
>   Here is a sequence which you might like to try:-
>
>   POWER
>   80m LSB 3780
>   NORM
>   LO CUT=0.15
>   SAV ALT1
>   NORM
>   TX ON/OFF
>   ALT1
>   TX ON/OFF
>   Receive may be dead at this point
>
>   If not continue with
>   Select USB
>   ALT1
>   TX ON/OFF
>   Receive dead
>
>   Switching bands, modes or NORM always restores receiver.
>
>   I do (from my point of view) hope that I am not the only one with
>   this funny..
>
>   73
>   Stewart G3RXQ
>
>   On Sun, 9 Mar 2008 12:30:15 -0700, AB7R wrote:
>   > Stewart,
>   >
>   > Try installing the new firmware again.  I just tried to recreate
>   your report
>   > and the radio performs as expected...no problem with RX after a
>   transmit
>   > with ALT1 set to 0.15 on the LO side.
>   >
>   > 73
>   > Greg
>   > AB7R
>   >
>   >
>   > -----Original Message-----
>   > From: elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net
>   > [mailto:elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net]On Behalf Of Stewart
>   Baker
>   > Sent: Sunday, March 09, 2008 11:32 AM
>   > To: Elecraft Reflector
>   > Subject: [Elecraft] K3 - RX Problem after latest firmware update
>   >
>   >
>   > I am not sure if there is an obscure problem after the latest
>   MCU
>   > and DSP update. Maybe others could check and see if it happens
>   to
>   > them ?
>   >
>   > Any band on SSB if I have the DSP set to ALT1 with the Low Cut
>   set
>   > at 0.15 Hz , then after going onto transmit the receiver appears
>   > to be dead. If I set the DSP to NORM by pressing the knob the
>   > receiver suddenly bursts into life...
>   > This happens whether there is any transmit audio or RF out.
>   >
>   > 73
>   > Stewart G3RXQ
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