[Elecraft] [P3] screen freeze.

[Bruce Beford]

Hi Larry. My comments in-line, below:

Larry, K2GN wrote:
> Well, it's still doing the freeze.
> I have found it in the "freeze" state 4 times while I'm not operating,
> This remains a big mystery. 

Indeed. If it is locking up while you are not operating (i.e. transmitting)
then that rules out an RF-induced problem. Has the PC been connected/on, or
has it locked up without the PC connected?

> I've also had it freeze up while Txing  3 times.  Obviously RF.

Maybe. Since you stated above that it has happened when not TX, maybe not an
RFI issue. Maybe coincidence.

> Conditions:
> P3 on left side of K3, powered off the K3.
> Using supplied cables. 
> FW - 00.32    K3 FW - 04.05

I am running the same setup here, except I updated to beta P3 FW 0.33
yesterday. I have never had a lockup.

> My plan of attack is:
> 1. power P3 from external supply.

A good next step, in case you have an intermittent problem with the DC out
system on the K3.

> 2. put ferrites on the K3/P3 cables.  All the other cables already have
them.

If it happens without TXing, I don't see how this may help, but who can say?

> 3. If the condition is still there, move P3 to right of K3.

This sounds like voodoo to me 8-)

4. If the condition is still there, PUNT!!! (Any ideas??)

You may possibly have a problem on the main board of the P3. Perhaps there
is a problem with the DC-DC converters, and either your 5V or 3.3v is
dropping out, causing the MPU to lock-up. I would suggest running the P3
completely disconnected from anything but DC power. Just let it idle, with
baseline noise being displayed. If it happens again, you can be pretty sure
the fault is internal to the P3.

GL,
Bruce N1RX
K3 s/n 559 P3 s/n 97