[Elecraft] K3: 6 meters and power output fluctuation

[James Sarte]

Please disregard; just had a look at the manual and max output on 6 meters
is 70-85W depending on frequency.  I assume then that the radio is
automatically dropping down to a safe output power rather than cooking at
100W.  Guess I should have checked the manual first!  My bad!

73,
James K2QI
On Fri, Nov 5, 2010 at 9:01 PM, James Sarte <k2qi.nyc at gmail.com> wrote:

> Hello Elecrafters,
>
> The recent SSB output power bug in FW 4.17 had me checking my K3 in all
> bands.  Fortunately, the fix was quick to come with Lyle's modified beta
> v4.18.  Sometimes I wonder if the boys at Aptos ever sleep.  Anyway, after
> loading the revised firmware and performing a TX calibration, I went ahead
> and checked output again on all bands.  The K3 was connected to an MFJ-250
> Versaload that was previously checked with an analyzer.  The anomaly appears
> to only affect 6 meters (52.0 MHz). In this instance, SWR is flat at 1.0:1.
> By pressing the TUNE button, I start at 5 watts and proceed up to 100 watts
> by turning the front panel power knob.  After reaching the 100 watt mark,
> the power output reading on the K3 drops from 100 to 86 or 87 - usually
> within a second or two of reaching the 100 watt level.  I can sit here and
> replicate this all day.  What's interesting to note however is that the
> power output on the external meter doesn't seem to drop in conjunction with
> what's displayed on the K3's LCD.  I cannot verify for sure however as my
> digital SWR meter is kaput.  I'm relying on an older analog meter for this
> test.
>
> Can anyone replicate this condition with their K3 on 6 meters?  It seems
> like a bug in the K3's output power reading rather than a physical fold-back
> on power.  It also doesn't matter if the ATU is active or bypassed.
>
> --
> 73 de James K2QI
> President UNARC/4U1UN
>
>


-- 
73 de James K2QI
President UNARC/4U1UN