[Elecraft] K3 firmware and AGC question

Tue Apr 28 15:46:41 EDT 2009

Yep, best stuff I ever "stole" from my wife! :-)

73 de Terry KK6T

K3 #2965 (still in kit form)

Andreas Junge wrote:
> Allan,
>
> What's your address? I have some extra black rubber "lace" that you can put
> under your K3. It made all the difference for me. This stuff is supposed to
> go into the cupboard or into kitchen drawers.
>
> Andreas, N6NU  
>
>   
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net 
>> [mailto:elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Allan Taylor
>> Sent: Tuesday, April 28, 2009 12:06 PM
>> To: n5ge at n5ge.com
>> Cc: Elecraft
>> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 firmware and AGC question
>>
>> Tom, et al.
>>
>> Boy, does THAT make a difference... Yup, AF GAIN was set on 
>> LO. Now things are about right at 10 o'clock w/o NR and 11 
>> o'clock with NR.
>>
>> (Now the Aptos gang needs to implement the same configuration 
>> option on the K2...)
>>
>> I guess the fact that I haven't taken the time to really 
>> familiarize myself with the K3 is showing. I figured out how 
>> to change B/W and centering of filters, set power level, 
>> interface with computer for logging and key an amp. Then off 
>> to enjoying the new radio.
>> I bought a Kenwood mike to use with it, but have yet to plug it in.
>>
>> Biggest unresolved problem so far:  the K3 is too light. 
>> Slides back when I put in the headphone plug!
>>
>> Oh, I like the NR on the K3. Level one is at least as good as 
>> on the OmniVI. I seldom drop down to really narrow 
>> bandwidths, preferring about 800 to 1000 Hz B/W. I have yet 
>> to use it in a contest, though. (Used the OmniVI for SS last fall)
>>
>>
>> Thanks, guys
>>
>> K7GT
>>
>> On Tue, Apr 28, 2009 at 9:47 AM, Radio Amateur N5GE 
>> <n5ge at n5ge.com> wrote:
>>     
>>> On Tue, 28 Apr 2009 08:52:52 -0700, Allan Taylor <k7gt.cw at gmail.com>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>> Allan,
>>>
>>> When you have the sub RX and Main RX both turned on there will be a 
>>> 3dB reduction in signal strength (and Volume) due to the 
>>>       
>> combiner that 
>>     
>>> combines the two signals.  This is normal and can't be avoided.
>>>
>>> As the other folks told you they may have set your volume level to 
>>> low.  Hold the Menu button till you are in CONFIG mode, 
>>>       
>> turn the VFO B 
>>     
>>> knob till you see AF GAIN, then turn the A VFO Knob till 
>>>       
>> you see HI in 
>>     
>>> the display.
>>>
>>> NR does seem to reduce the volume a bit, but when you get a 
>>>       
>> signal it 
>>     
>>> will be above the noise unless it is very weak.
>>>
>>>
>>>       
>>>> I recently had my K3 (S/N 740) updated at the factory with the 2nd 
>>>> receiver and other relevant mods. It has firmware 2.78 
>>>>         
>> installed and 
>>     
>>>> the rig was received back from Aptos about two weeks ago. Since 
>>>> receiving it, I have noticed that the Audio gain needs to 
>>>>         
>> be cranked 
>>     
>>>> up more than before. The rig never had gobs of rx audio, but I am 
>>>> finding it at 2 or 3 o'clock most of the time. I was on 30m 
>>>>         
>> with the 
>>     
>>>> bandwidth set to about 1.0 kHz and using NR. As a test, I shut down 
>>>> the AGC and it seems to have plenty of rx audio then (but 
>>>>         
>> of course NO 
>>     
>>>> protection...). Turn on NR substantially drops rx audio including 
>>>> signals...
>>>> Even without NR, it seems a bit weak.  I am not a young buck and 
>>>> hearing is somewhat addled, but no hearing aids yet!
>>>>         
>>> Alan I am 64 and have hearing loss and wear hearing aides, 
>>>       
>> but did not 
>>     
>>> know I needed them until I went for a hearing test and 
>>>       
>> found that my 
>>     
>>> hearing was very poor at several frequencies.
>>>
>>> On the day I got my hearing aides it was raining lightly.  When I 
>>> realized I could hear the rain hitting the dry leave on the ground 
>>> again I almost wept.  Normally I'm not very much of a wimp, 
>>>       
>> but that 
>>     
>>> event was a wonderful experience.
>>>
>>> Have your hearing tested and get some good digital hearing aides if 
>>> you find you need them, but not from the cut rate places that 
>>> advertise in the paper and on TV.
>>>
>>> I'm not selling anything.  If you want more information about my 
>>> experience with them I'll be glad to tell you more.
>>>
>>> Enjoy your K3
>>>
>>>
>>>       
>>>> Has anyone noticed changes in rx audio with either 
>>>>         
>> installation of the 
>>     
>>>> 2nd rx or somewhat updated firmware? If I upgrade to the latest and 
>>>> greatest (3.11??) what should the AGC settings be for 
>>>>         
>> general use? I 
>>     
>>>> know there were lengthy discussions here regarding AGC 
>>>>         
>> parameters, but 
>>     
>>>> didn't pay much attention when they came by. Is there a summary 
>>>> page/wiki somewhere??
>>>>         
>>> Tom, N5GE
>>> K3 #806, K3 #1055
>>> XV144, XV432
>>> W1 and other small kits.
>>> http://www.n5ge.com
>>>
>>>
>>>       
>>
>> -- 
>> 73     Allan    K7GT
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>>     
>
>
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