[Elecraft] K3 and linear amp

[Roger Marrotte]

If Elecraft could add a menu item that allows the user to select from a list
of delay times, including the current value set as a default, then everyone
would be happy and not have to make hardware changes to their amps and those
with faster amps won't have to do a thing.  I for one am not blaming
Elecraft for the deficiencies of my amp, but am just asking if they could
modify the firmware in the K3 to allow me and others to select from various
delay times.  So far there's been no response from Elecraft concerning this
subject after a few days of discussion on this list.  We don't even know if
they could easily make the modification in the firmware.  If they decide to
respond to this issue and say they won't or can't do it then I'll be glad to
look for a hardware modification to my amp.

73,
Roger W1EM

-----Original Message-----
From: Brendan Minish
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 and linear amp


On Fri, 2008-03-21 at 18:33 -0700, hank k8dd wrote:

> The problem with Elecraft rigs switching Ameritron amps has existed 
> with the K2/100 and, so it appears, now with the K3/100.

I think the problem is not elecraft rigs but amplifiers that have
unreasonably slow switching times.
10msec or longer is unreasonably slow and I think it's 'unreasonable' to
blame the manufacturer of the radio because the amp manufacturer saved a few
bucks and used a cheap, slow relay instead of a proper RF relay. 

None of my Icoms give me the ability to alter the key delay for slow
amplifiers either.

The correct approach is to mod the amp to improve matters. the other option
is to use the PTT input with a footswitch to take care of RX/TX changeover  

 
73
Brendan EI6IZ