[Elecraft] Need help operating K3 with Yaesu Quadra amplifier

Mon Sep 14 14:07:19 EDT 2009

Jim,
Set the K3 to operate CW in SSB mode first.
Hope this helps
73 Ken K5DNL
------------------------------------------------------

--- On Mon, 9/14/09, jpk5lad at cox.net <jpk5lad at cox.net> wrote:

> From: jpk5lad at cox.net <jpk5lad at cox.net>
> Subject: [Elecraft] Need help operating K3 with Yaesu Quadra amplifier
> To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
> Date: Monday, September 14, 2009, 11:26 AM
> I'm trying to find the correct
> sequence of steps to make 
> sure my new Quadra amplifier is correctly adjusted to my 
> K3.  I have it hooked through the Band-Data1 8-pin cable 
> and the Quadra does change bands correctly as it tracks 
> the K3.  The Quadra also switches to the correctly 
> programmed input and/or output spigots.  All that is
> fine.
> 
> Taken from the Quadra Operating Manual, "Drive power 
> must be at least 50 watts for accurate SWR detection, 
> and 70 to 80 watts for optimum tuner performance."
> 
> The problem is primarily in keying the K3 properly to allow
> 
> the Quadra's antenna tuner to adjust properly.  The 
> Quadra requires 70-80 watts to tune correctly so I need to
> 
> key the K3 with the TUNE button which puts out 5 watts 
> as it's set up. (I realize that I could reset the TUNE
> output 
> to start at a higher rate but surely that's not the best
> way)  
> Otherwise, I must press TUNE, crank the PWR knob from 
> the 5 watts up to 70-80 watts, then press the TUNE button 
> on the Quadra but the amplifier keys for about a second 
> as the tuner starts to tune, then drops out, displaying
> the
> message "ERROR" on the display.  Now I'm back to 5 
> watts on the K3 again so after pressing the K3's TUNE 
> button again I must crank on the PWR knob again (which 
> is about 4 full revolutions).  For as many times as I try
> 
> this, the K3 will not stay keyed up long enough for the 
> Quadra to tune the antenna.  BTW - I don't see any error 
> messages from the K3 during this time.
> 
> Using the same amplifier but with my IC-756PRO as a 
> driver [in RTTY mode at about 70 watts -- with no physical
> 
> connections for band changing]  it reads the 
> frequency/band and automatically changes bands and I 
> can press the Quadra's TUNE button and it tunes up 
> perfectly.  Quickly, painlessly and correctly -- one easy
> operation which takes, at most, about 5 seconds.
> 
> Realizing that all is normal with the Quadra, tuner and 
> antenna I switch the input of the Quadra back to the K3 
> (which changes the PTT, ALC and RF input lines), then I 
> try the K3 TUNE again.  I crank up the PWR knob from 5 
> watts to 70-80 watts, press the Quadra's TUNE button but 
> I see the same thing:  it trys to tune for about a second,
> 
> then drops back with the "ERROR" message.  The K3 just 
> doesn't seem to want to stay in TUNE mode (which is 
> displaying CW) until the amplifier tuner can complete its 
> job. [It's not because it got tuned up properly with the 
> PRO as the Quadra will always reinitiate a tune when so 
> instructed with the TUNE button]  
> 
> I've read everything I can find on hooking up the Quadra, 
> both to the K3 and to other transceivers.  There's LOTS of
> 
> excellent documentation out there and I appreciate all the
> 
> work from those folks.  I'm relatively sure that my
> hookup 
> between the two is fine.
> 
> I guess what I'm asking is -- What are the steps used by 
> other K3/Quadra users to change a band and make sure 
> the Quadra's tuner is properly tuned.   What am I missing
> 
> to keep the K3 transmitting until the Quadra can complete 
> its tune operation?  It's just so easy with the PRO and so
> 
> hard with the K3, but perhaps it's something I'm 
> overlooking or doing incorrectly (<-- major
> possibility)
> 
> BTW - The Quadra will memorize the tuning positions for 
> various frequencies for different antennas so I guess I 
> could let the IC-756PRO to do all the set up but I'm trying
> 
> to wean myself away from the 756PRO and do everything 
> on my K3.  The K3 shines in SO MANY places, it just 
> should be able to be easy here too.
> 
> Also, last week on the 
> YAESUQUADRA at yahoogroups.com,
> a fellow presented 
> a wonderful document listing, for someone else, on the 
> steps to tune up the Quadra to a couple of different
> transceivers.  It looked so neat and I thought it was 
> exactly what I needed.  Unfortunately, it did not work for
> 
> my K3/Quadra combination............. rats!
> 
> Sorry for the long note but is there any hope for me? 
> ....... 
> let me re-phrase that ---- is there any HELP for me?
> 
> Thanks and 73,
> Jim - K5LAD
> 
> 
> 
> -------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> Growing old is like being increasingly
> penalized for a crime you haven't committed.
> -- Anthony Powell
> -----------------------------------------------------------
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> www.hayseed.net/~jpk5lad/
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