[Elecraft] K3 with birdie at 3.580.61

[Mario Lorenz]

Hi
>> I notice a birdie at 3580.61 and wondered if this is normal or just my K3
>> needing something adjusted.de gary, kd9sv
> 
> Same here, my birdie shows S3 with antenna disconnected, so the equivalent
> of about one microvolt if it was a signal at the antenna terminals. You need
> a quiet band to hear this level. My 80M band is never that quiet.
> 
> Just tuning around a bit with antenna disconnected and found these potential
> additional birdies. Definitely not an exhaustive search...Most are not
> audible over band noise with an antenna connected.

I have seen several more/different ones, with up to S4 on the S-Meter. I
have been able to reduce them to S1..S2 by improving the contact of the
crystal oscillator (do you have the regular or the 1ppm one ?) and
rerouting the TMP cables.

I would be interested in your experiences re

a) if these birdies are on the SubRX as well if you have one (for me,
they are not, except a very select few which then are S0/barely audible).
(the initial response from support at elecraft was that some birdies were
normal)
b) if you see any difference if you touch the TCXO
c) if the K3 was a kit or a factory unit

Some more experiments are forthcomming but I didnt have the time in
the past days to do them...


Mario, DL5MLO