[Elecraft] Let me try again...RTTY and K3

[Iain MacDonnell - N6ML]

On Tue, Dec 29, 2009 at 11:29 PM, Lee Buller <k0wa at swbell.net> wrote:
>
>
> OK...  let me try again....
>
> I have a K3 with V.3.63.  I am getting ready for ARRL RTTY RU.  I have a SignalLink USB device coupled to the LINE IN and LINE OUT of the K3.  In AFSK A mode the MIC is at LINE 40.  This has been working since I got the rig.  Everything is fine but I have found this one issue that is different from what I have observed before.
>
> I do not run a lot of RTTY in the summer and fall.  So, in the interim, I have updated the K3 to version 3.63
>
> Prior to that event...when I was on AFSK RTTY (and I am using AFSK A) I could control the drive of the K3 and see the results on the ALC meter.  I could drive to one bar...two bars...three bars...etc.
>
> When I added 3.63 to the K3 and started working RTTY....nothing else has changed...i noticed that the ALC meter no longer works as stated above.  I can get three bars....and that is it.  The three bars are either on solid, or I can turn down the drive and the three bars start to flicker.  Then I can turn it down, and the three bars are totally gone.  I still have output with the three bars "gone."  The power output is right at 100 watts when the three bars are flickering.
>
> This is different that what it was before.  Is this the NEW norm....or is there something amiss?  is this a bug?  Is this what you see?  I can work stations without and issue.  But, I want  to make sure I am adjusted correctly.

I usually use FSK for RTTY, but I switched to AFSK to test this - I
can get anwhere from 7 down to 3 bars on the ALC meter, by adjusting
either the MIC control on the K3, or the output level of the
SoundBlaster card feeding it. When I reduce below the 3-bar level, it
goes to no bars in one jump. It's about right (5 bars) with line-in on
the K3 at 10, and the level on the sound card about half-way. I'm
running 3.68.

I don't have a SignaLink, but wonder if perhaps it's setup to drive a
mic level radio input?

    ~Iain / N6ML