[Elecraft] K3: SSB Audio Stops-Quits-Kaput on 160

[Lee Buller]

Here is the scenario....

NAQP Contest - SSB
100 watts
Heil Headset with HC-4
Using VOX
Connected to the front (not the back)
Only 160 meters
Antenna - Inverted-L with feed point less than 10 feet from the K3
Radials - 20 random length radials in the yard.  City lot
Tuned using a Palstar AT2K
SWR - none (I am tuned)
Station Ground:  8 foot ground rod right below the desk tied to single point

Narrative:  I am calling CQ (of course you do this many times during the course of the contest) and the audio on the K3 stops - quits - nil.  I can shout in the mike, but nada.  K3 is in Xmit mode...using VOX.  No audio output can he heard in the Monitor (headphones) and not meter movement or output occurs.  Stop speaking...VOX drops.  Call CQ again, does not happen this time, but three times later....audio stops on xmit.  Place a choke bead on the Heil Mic adapter, does not help, still quits.  Reduce power to 90 watts.  Still does it.  160 meters is the only band this occurs.  Did not happen on CW during NAQP CW.

RF induced?  This is the only thing I can come up with.  Anyone else seen this or has an idea to fix it - except ideas should not included quit contesting, stay off 160 meters, sell the rig, etc. etc. etc.  :>)

Lee - K0Wa

In our day and age it seems that Common Sense is in short supply.  If you don't have any Common Sense - get some Common Sense and use it.  If you can't find any Common Sense, ask for help from somebody who has some Common Sense.  Is Common Sense divine?
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://mailman.qth.net/pipermail/elecraft/attachments/20090118/8dd05df4/attachment.html