[Elecraft] Re: ERR VCO Problem Activity Log >>>Turn on problems
Dick Roth KA1OZ
raroth7 at comcast.net
Wed May 28 19:43:56 EDT 2008
Dick Roth KA1OZ wrote:
> Greg wrote:
>> Try this...
>>
>> Starting with the power OFF. Turn it ON but HOLD the power button for
>> about 10 seconds...till you see MCU LD on the LCD. The LCD will not
>> be lit. This is a forced MCU load state. No using your K3 utility
>> program in advanced mode, load JUST the MCU file by putting a check
>> just in that box, nothing else. Then click on send checked items to K3.
>>
>> After the MCU file loads and the radio resets, then upload the DSP1,
>> FPF and DSP data table files.
>>
>> Standing by....
>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Dick Roth KA1OZ"
>> <raroth7 at comcast.net>
>> To: <k3support at elecraft.com>
>> Sent: Friday, May 09, 2008 7:00 PM
>> Subject: Re: ERR VCO Problem Activity Log
>>
>>
>>> Greg wrote:
>>>> hahahaha... No problem Dick. Good night.
>>>>
>>>> Sounds like you may be OK now. Start using your new rig but let us
>>>> know if the power problem creeps back in.
>>>>
>>>> 73
>>>> Greg
>>>> AB7R
>>>>
>>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Dick Roth KA1OZ"
>>>> <raroth7 at comcast.net>
>>>> To: "Greg" <ab7r at cablespeed.com>
>>>> Cc: <ka1oz at arrl.net>; "Elecraft Reflector" <elecraft at mailman.qth.net>
>>>> Sent: Thursday, May 08, 2008 8:20 PM
>>>> Subject: Re: ERR VCO Problem Activity Log
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> Greg wrote:
>>>>>> Don made a good point. When you assembled the power pole, did you
>>>>>> make sure
>>>>>> when inserting the pins that you heard a distinct click? If not,
>>>>>> they may
>>>>>> not be completly seated. Try pushing them in more to see if they
>>>>>> click.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Greg
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>>> From: Dick Roth KA1OZ [mailto:raroth7 at comcast.net]
>>>>>> Sent: Thursday, May 08, 2008 6:55 PM
>>>>>> To: Greg
>>>>>> Cc: ka1oz at arrl.net; gary at elecraft.com
>>>>>> Subject: Re: ERR VCO Problem Activity Log
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Greg wrote:
>>>>>>> So Dick...what is it doing now? When the VCO CAL went slowly and
>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>> speeding up some toward the end is correct behavior.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Are you hearing normal signals now? Have you done the REF CAL
>>>>>>> and TX Gain
>>>>>>> CAL?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Greg
>>>>>>
>>>>>> {snip}
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I successfully ran the REF CAL and TX Gain last night while the radio
>>>>>> was in its glory. Now if I can only turn it on and off when I want
>>>>>> to...(pardon the whine).
>>>>>>
>>>>>> What else can I do to provide hints of the radio's health?
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> --
>>>>>> 73,
>>>>>> Dick ka1oz
>>>>>> Middleborough, MA
>>>>>>
>>>>>> K3/100(Kit) SN 000859
>>>>>> Titan-DX (to come)
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> I started with DC. APP connectors are firm in their sockets and no
>>>>> wiggling causes outages. When I installed the front panel, I was
>>>>> keenly aware from list traffic that great care had to be taken
>>>>> during this process. I looked at each connecting point of each
>>>>> connector. I've also given the baby "therapeutic taps" to see if
>>>>> anything was loose.
>>>>>
>>>>> If you guys don't mind...its 2317 here and I rise at 0500 to pay
>>>>> the mortgage, so I'll follow up tomorrow.
>>>>>
>>>>> ttfn &
>>>>>
>>>>> --
>>>>> 73,
>>>>> Dick ka1oz
>>>>> Middleborough, MA
>>>>>
>>>>> K3/100(Kit) SN 000859
>>>>> Titan-DX (to come)
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> --
>>>>> No virus found in this incoming message.
>>>>> Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 269.23.10/1421 -
>>>>> Release Date: 5/7/2008 5:23 PM
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>> Well I still have the turn on problem. After I read what I sent you
>>> last, I thought better of taking the front panel connections for
>>> granted, so after I got home from work tonight I removed the front
>>> panel and exercised the various connections and put everything back
>>> together.
>>>
>>> It wouldn't turn on. So I did some random gefinger poken and just as
>>> randomly the radio turned on.
>>>
>>> Let me review what I know about this nuisance:
>>>
>>> 1. When pushing the "Power" button, I hear a small relay click and my
>>> power supply indicates that the rig is drawing about an amp.
>>>
>>> 2. However, no panel leds light and there is nothing on the LCD display.
>>>
>>> 3. No tapping, nudging, or any other "therapeutic" man handling of
>>> any parts appears to improve the situation.
>>>
>>> 4. And then with a random push of the "Power" button...voila, the
>>> radio comes to life.
>>>
>>> 5. I reloaded the firmware code a couple of times at least. I'm
>>> using the KUSB adapter from Elecraft and it is running the latest
>>> driver from Prolific.
>>>
>>> I don't know what else to mention, but I'm afraid to turn the rig off
>>> because I'm afraid I'll never be able to turn it on again!
>>>
>>> ttfn &
>>> --
>>> 73,
>>> Dick ka1oz
>>> Middleborough, MA
>>>
>>> K3/100(Kit) SN 000859
>>> Titan-DX (to come)
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> No virus found in this incoming message.
>>> Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 269.23.14/1425 -
>>> Release Date: 5/9/2008 12:38 PM
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>
> Well, I've been keeping a low profile for the past couple of days for
> fear of waking the poltergeist that kept my K3 from turning on. As of
> two days ago the radio has turned on upon command. I've been afraid of
> jinxing the situation, but I finally did the last of the assembling and
> calibrating. It is now a full fledged 100w K3. I just got notice that
> the antenna mount shipped today. I've been using a long wire to
> retraining my hearing. I tried loading the wire, but my xyl came
> arunnin' to tell me that I'm being received real well on the family TV,
> so I went qrt. With any luck I'll have the vertical mounted this
> weekend or next and try again with low-pass filter installed.
>
> Thanks for everyone's offers of help. This is a great group to be a
> part of.
>
> ttfn &
>
Well it seems that there might be a problem with the front panel. I've
been working with Gary in Support. I've rebuilt the front panel twice
now. I think there is a hardware problem. So I believe that Gary is
going to ship me a new front panel so we can play substitution.
I'll tell you something: stuff breaks. That's why people can make a
living fixing stuff. I am very positively impressed by how Elecraft has
been handling my situation. In the process of figuring out what's going
on, I've had the opportunity to get closer to my K3. Opening and
closing the set was enlightening since it didn't complain that I was
opening and closing. Some stuff loses chassis alignment if you keep the
rig in motion. But the K3 has been keeping itself straight with no racking.
Well, now my new Titan-DX vertical will stand waiting for its partner's
return to duty.
Thanks to everyone who has offered help. This is a great list.
ttfn &
--
73,
Dick ka1oz
Middleborough, MA
K3/100(Kit) SN 000859
Titan-DX
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