[Elecraft] 2nd RX Installed

[David Yarnes]

Hi All,

I tried to live without the 2nd RX, but it bugged me too 
much.  Having a 2nd RX in my Orion II (even though it's not 
a great 2nd RX) spoiled me--particularly in contests.  So, I 
bit the bullet.

I spent all of yesterday afternoon installing the 2nd RX, 
and the KXV3 option.  Fortunately, I noted that the KXV3 
needs to go in first, else you have to pull the KRX3 back 
out!  It still took me a lot longer overall than I 
anticipated, but I'm slow as mollasses.

Everything seemed to go together just as advertised.  I was 
pretty nervous though, when installing the KRX3 inside the 
K3.  I wasn't 100% sure I had everything lined up right on 
the "Sub-In" and "Sub-Out" boards, but I guess I did!

By the time I finished, after a break for dinner and a TV 
program we always watch, it was getting to be a tad late.  I 
connected the K3 to my PS and antennas, and proceeded with 
the configuration/calibration process.  That seemed to go 
O.K. too, but when I then tried to listen to the sub RX by 
hitting the "sub" key, the display said "No Sub".  I thought 
that was strange, since it had allowed me to set up the 
filters for the sub RX and do the calibration.  After a 
short case of "Tourettes", I decided it was late, and I 
would see where I screwed up in the morning.  Power off!

This morning, when I turned the K3 on, the sub RX came 
alive--well, sort of!  It was there, but there wasn't any 
volume.  Sounded almost like no antenna!  I had not re-done 
the most recent firware download (beta version), so I 
thought I better do that first.  All I lacked was the 2nd RX 
DSP, and Voila!  2nd RX alive and well!  Well, that makes 
sense you dummy!

The hardest part of the KRX3 assembly seemed to be getting 
those cables to seat properly in their respective 
connectors.  Some went in just fine, but others were a 
struggle for some reason.  Also, as I mentioned earlier, 
making sure (?) the assembled KRX3 unit matched up with the 
connectors isn't easy at all to see.

Installing the KXV3 was fairly simple except for clipping 
jumpers W1 and W2.  They are flush against a multi-pin 
female connector, and I couldn't get even my smallest pair 
of dykes squeezed in there to do the job.  I finally was 
able to do it by using a pliar type toenail clipper with a 
pointed and slightly curved nose.  Those may go into my 
toolbox!

Life is good!

Dave W7AQK