[Elecraft] K3 Repair - ALC Setting

[Don Wilhelm]

Jim.

I might add that your PSK "problem" of working above 1000 Hz on the 
waterfall may be a result of setting the K3 power high an using the 
audio input level to control the power.

While that is the best for most of the transceivers in the marketplace, 
it is NOT the way to operate a K2 or K3.  The reason is that the K2 and 
K3 control power differently than most transceivers.  I have been 
stressing this point, and it seems to fall on deaf ears.

Set the audio input to the proper level - for the K2 that is to increase 
the audio until 1 ALC bar shows, and then back off until nonoe ar 
showing, and for the K3, adjust until you have 4 to 5 bars on the ALC 
display.

After doing that, set the power output desired and just operate.  There 
will be no 'fiddling' needed to adjust the audio level, and if there are 
slight variations in the transmit filter gain across the passband, they 
will be smoothed out by the K2/3 power control mechanism.`

Yes, this is different from the classical advice for data modes that is 
prevalent in cyberspace, but then most rigs do not control power outpt 
levels like the K2 and K3, so that advice may be valid for the YaKenIcom 
bunch, it is not good advice for the Elecraft transceivers.  Read the 
Elecraft K3 manual and believe it (except that the max ALC meter in data 
modes should be 5 instead of 7).
Your reward will be easier operation on DATA modes and better power 
control and IMD (unless you operate with "all controls (including power) 
to the right").

73,
Don W3FPR

Jim Miller KG0KP wrote:
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Don Wilhelm" <w3fpr at embarqmail.com>
>
> snip
>   
>> The "ALC" meter on the K3 is not completely an indication of ALC - the
>> first 4 bars act more like a VU meter to tell you the audio level.  The
>> 5th bar indicates the start of ALC action.
>>
>> 73,
>> Don W3FPR
>>     
>
> I may be reading something into part of what you say, straighten me out.
>
> Is the ALC setting at 4-5 bars the "norm" for any mode other than "PSK"? 
> Should it be 4-5 for SSB and other modes as well???
>
> Thanks es 73, de Jim KG0KP 
>
>
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