[Elecraft] [K2] - Very Low Output on 160m

[Don Wilhelm]

Ken,

While 160 meter receive may seem good, the bandpass filter may still 
have a problem.
I would first try to isolate the problem - turn the manual to appendix E 
page 14 - set the transmit power for 5 watts and check the RF voltages 
with your RF Probe at the points listed (Transmit Mixer, Buffer, 
Bandpass Filter, T-R Switch) on both 80 and 160 meters.

If you find the RF voltages equal to or higher than the expected value 
(and they may be much higher when there is little or no power output), 
then the tested stage is working.  At the first point in the list where 
the RF voltage drops substantially below the expected value, that is the 
output of the failing stage.

Try to identify the stage giving trouble and we can likely help further.

73,
Don W3FPR


Ken Alexander wrote:
> Last weekend I put up a wire antenna consisting of approx 120 feet of wire in some trees connected to an SGC 237 auto tuner.  Ground for the moment consists of two 30 ft wires lying on the grass (this weekend's project).
>
> The antenna works very well on all bands and for the first time I was able to try using 160m.  When I hit Tune on the K2 the needle on my wattmeter barely moves and the K2 display says "P 0.2" no matter what the setting of the POWER control is.
>
> Thinking it might be the antenna I switched to a dummy load and tried again.  This time the wattmeter needle indicated approx 0.5 watts and the K2 display indicated "P 0.5" at every POWER control setting.
>
> Receive on 160 is very good.
>
> 80m works fine on transmit and receive. I get a good 14 to 15 watts out on 80.  I know 80 and 160 share some components so I thought I'd check.  I'm wondering if I should do the 160 Meter Alignment in the Operating Manual, but how likely is it that L3 and L4 could be adjusted to give good output on 80m and zip on 160m?
>
> Any ideas would be gratefully received.
>
> Thanks and 73,
>
> Ken Alexander
> VE3HLS
>   
>