[Elecraft] [K3] Betaware 3.06 Problem

[Steve Ellington]

Welcome to the damaged ear club Larry.  There are certain combinations of 
glitches that can cause these outburst as I can testify to this and haven't 
quiet gotten over it yet. If I were you, I would unplug that speaker and 
reload the firmware. Once you are sure it's ok, hook the speaker back up and 
enjoy.
Steve Ellington N4LQ
N4LQ at carolina.rr.com
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "North Pole" <w8ccy at charter.net>
To: <elecraft at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Monday, April 13, 2009 3:12 PM
Subject: [Elecraft] [K3] Betaware 3.06 Problem


> Recently put K3 #2773 on the air with firmware revision earlier than the 
> current 2.78 official release.  Though I have a lot to learn yet,  I am 
> quite pleased with the many unique performance features of the K3.  Thanks 
> to reading many posts on agc settings used by other folks I was happily 
> finding the settings that work for me.
>
> Last night I decided to try my first firmware upgrade and load the newest 
> betaware revision 3.06.  Having a little trouble finding the 3.06 I first 
> downloaded, successfully, firmware 2.78.  I listened to the receiver 
> briefly and all was fine.  However, I wanted to try the soft decay and 
> longer hold, slower agc settings featured in the 3.03 release.
>
> I figured 3.06 was the latest and successfully loaded it to my K3. 
> Unfortunately, when the transceiver returned to normal operation it 
> produced the most god awful piercing, deafening, howl in my sounds sweet 
> spkr  it scared me. hi!  The K3 display locked up with s meter lcd bars 
> fully lighted to 60 over 9 and no way to turn rig off, change bands or 
> modes.  Removing the 14 volt power supply was the only remedy but then the 
> rig came on the same as it went off but waiting 3 to 4 minutes or more 
> would gradually return to normal ssb receive.
>
> When I tried to change modes or filters it would do the same screeching 
> howl and lock up.   I don't have any hearing capacity to spare but that 
> howl was excruciating even when I knew it was coming!!
>
> Thankfully,  I was able (though not easily)  to reload firmware rev 2.78 
> and my K3 is operating like it should with no apparent damage other than 
> my eardrums.
>
> I am really gun shy now about trying 3.06 again and may not do any 
> updating until a revision is officially released.  My nature is that of a 
> tinkerer and experimenter so I hate to give up that option.
>
> Can anyone shed any light on what might have happened?  Or has this 
> happened to anyone else?  I am anxious to hear from the reflector members 
> that might have a clue.  Thanks for reading. Larry - W8CCY
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