[Elecraft] Firing up K3 SN 2051 -Help

[Randy Cook]

I got some time last weekend, and a bit this week, and s/n 2051 is  
alive.  Assembly was relatively easy, and 98% of the manual is spot - 
on, so I am very satisfied.  The firmware download worked on my Mac  
the first time and MacloggerDX connected immediately after I set the  
correct baud rate in the K3 and hooked up a cheap eBay USB to serial  
cable.

I do have an issue, and would ask the group for help. I will call  
Elecraft again on Monday, but hopefully it is minor and I can resolve  
tomorrow.

All tests went well. I walked though all the settings in Config and  
Menu. When I did the initial Transmitter Gain test with 5 watts, the  
'dummy load' I made turned out to have a lot of reactance.    After a  
quick call to Elecraft, I made a new load, tested it on a simple  
antenna analyzer, (MJF 239) and it was 50.4 ohms/no reactance across  
the ham bands. I then re-did the Transmitter Gain at 5 watts, and got  
1.0-1 across all bands.

So far so good.  I used a Yaseu MD-100 mic into the rear mic input,  
set the appropriate menu (rear input, no bias, mic low). I am now  
doing the Transmitter Setup on page 26.  I configured the xtal via the  
K3 utility.  OK.

I cannot transmit audio.   The Voice Monitoring setup works, and I can  
adjust the MON function and hear audio in the speaker and the  
headphones, so the Mic works. When I go to Mic Gain and Compression  
Settings,  I cannot get any CMP or ALC indications on my meter.   If I  
transmit, the TX light is on, the resistors get a bit warm, but  
nothing indicated on the SW or RF meter and nothing on CMP or ALC  
meters.  It is if the modulation doesn't work.  I tested it on 40m  
LSB. Nothing.

Any ideas?

73


Randy Cook
k6crc at arrl.net