[Elecraft] K3 #3674 needs EE Init after each power OFF/ON

[Poul Erik Karlshøj (PKA)]

Wonder if anyone else has seen this odd K3 behaviour and may be able to help me solving the following problem.
 
K3 with ATU and KPA
K3 loaded with most recent firmware (MCU 4.12, FPF 1.13, DSP1 2.60).
I have repeated the firmware download a couple of times, but it did not solve the problem described below.
 
Every time the K3 is powered ON (using the K3 pwr switch)  it comes up in unexpected state where
- the LCD indicator TX is blinking (as if TX is in test mode)
- the TX LED lights red when keying (CW)
- there is no sidetone when keying
- the power indicates 0 and there is no output (verified on sep. RX)
 
Restoring saved K3 config. doesn't help. But..
When leaving the K3 powered ON but just idling for a long time, it can be keyed again. After 15 mins it still is in the "strange state" but after 30 mins it is normal again.
 
Whenever it is in this state with blinking LCD TX indicator it can be recovered performing the EE INIT (Manual p.65), upon which the TX led stops blinking and the K3 can be keyed again. It just needs the proper saved K3 config file - and it's a tedious way to start-up the rig ;-)
 
OZ4UN
Poul-Erik