[Elecraft] K3s in the Field & Beta 3.10

[Steve Ellington]

Yesterday I changed PTT-KEY to OFF- DTR so Logger32 would be able to key via 
RS232. Worked great however this morning, with the K3 turned on, I booted 
the PC. During boot, the K3 emitted about 3 sidetone beeps. Later when I 
tried to key the K3 via direct paddles I got zero power out. Turning the PWR 
knob revealed that Power had been reduced to the zero setting. I turned up 
the PWR via the knob and all was well. I guess this proves the importance of 
first booting the PC then turning on the K3.

Steve Ellington
N4LQ at carolina.rr.com
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ed K1EP" <k1ep.list at gmail.com>
To: "Gary, VE1RGB" <garybartlett at accesswave.ca>; "'Elecraft Reflector'" 
<elecraft at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Thursday, April 16, 2009 10:53 AM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3s in the Field & Beta 3.10


> Although a good addition for safety and I certainly appreciate the
> addition, it still doesn't prevent the "computer reboot and key the
> radio" problem.  This could happen quite often at a FD if the
> computers are not running on UPSs.  Therefore, as you say, there is
> no substitute for common sense and operating discipline.  Common
> sense being: Do not leave your K3 or any other radio unattended with
> VOX/QSK enabled and connected to a computer keying circuit.
>
> At 4/16/2009 10:36 AM, Gary, VE1RGB wrote:
>>For those of you who plan on taking the K3 to Field Day or to similar
>>portable station events, I highly recommend that you take advantage of one
>>of Wayne's latest options in Beta 3.10 - VOX defaults to OFF upon K3 rig
>>turn-on.  That will eliminate the problem we encountered at the Halifax 
>>ARC
>>at FD 2008 where, while one team was putting the CW station HF antenna
>>together, another team was working on the radio/computer logging end of 
>>the
>>RF transmission path.  Someone who was unfamiliar with the K3 innocently
>>booted up a computer attached to #095 which had just been turned ON with 
>>VOX
>>still on from previous use.  The guys at the antenna end were not 
>>impressed
>>when the K3 - with no-one touching it or the paddles - started 
>>transmitting
>>pulses at full power. No-one was hurt and no equipment was damaged and we
>>did not cook our MFJ antenna analyzer, but the potential was there for 
>>sure.
>>
>>Anyone who has gone through a FD exercise will understand that the normal
>>operating discipline that we all maintain in our own fixed stations, where
>>of course none of us would ever allow this to happen (!), sometimes breaks
>>down.
>>
>>             Thanks, Elecraft, for fixing this safety issue.
>>             73,
>>
>>             Gary, VE1RGB
>
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