[Elecraft] cw 'clicking' ??

[Jim Brown]

On Wed, 5 May 2010 16:27:16 -0700 (PDT), callen1155 wrote:

>Is this 'clicking' normal and is there a solution to eliminate it?

Chuck,

Clicks can be caused by the transmitter, but they can also be produced in 
your receiver if it is being overloaded. Several suggestions. First, make 
sure your Noise Blanker isn't turned on. Noise Blankers can CAUSE key clicks. 
Second, if you still hear clicks, leave your noise blanker off, and work on 
finding and eliminating the overload condition. Turn off your preamp, and see 
if the clicks go away. Sometimes a preamp can overload and cause the clicks 
in your radio (or overload the radio itself). If you still hear clicks, leave 
the preamp off and turn on the ATTEN in the K3. And if you STILL hear clicks, 
remove the antenna and stick a short piece of wire in the K3 antenna input. 

If none of that makes the clicks go away (and his signal is still strong), 
let him know he's causing bad clicks and making 6M unusable at your QTH. Both 
the FCC Rules and the spirit of ham radio require that he get rid of HIS 
clicks, even if that means turning off his transmitter. He is NOT responsible 
if your rig is creating the clicks because it's overloaded. But again, in the 
spirit of ham radio, he should do something with his beacon to make life on 
6M viable for you. 

73,

Jim Brown K9YC