[Elecraft] K3 deaf when narrow filter engaged

Sat Jul 9 01:59:42 EDT 2011

EE INIT solves problems if the factory init didn't take.  I've only
heard of that once (my K3, one of the first kits).  Elecraft has the
assembly and factory handling procedures down to a hard-coded science
by now, so it should not happen at all.

Having the ref osc off by a whole bunch, for example 1 KHz, would
definitely give weird results.  Normally the ref osc calibration is
pretty close - 5 to 6Hz at the outside - from what I know of it.  I've
helped a few kit builders go through the paces and never seen cal
errors start out that high.

The gain and S-meter calibrations should go smoothly now that you're
past the important "radio really works" setup.

Enjoy your first K3 weekend!  I still remember mine - CQ WW SSB using
my first K3 incarnation - a K3/10.  Seven new countries under really
un-stellar conditions....

You're welcome.

73,
matt W6NIA

On Sat, 09 Jul 2011 00:44:33 -0400, you wrote:

>Problem solved -- I think....
>
>I ended up doing a factory reset (power-up while pressing/holding Shift knob
>in until power up completed), EE INIT. And I just read through the rest of
>your note and now see that's what you suggested!
>
>I then went through the entire setup process.
>
>What I did differently this time was during the reference oscillator
>calibration, I found that much less of an adjustment was needed than what I
>did before.  In fact it was fine as-is.  I'm not sure what prompted me to
>adjust the oscillator before (I used WWV as an on-air reference), but this
>time around, everything came out fine.
>
>I suspect my incorrect reference oscillator adjustment explains why all
>three filters appeared to have incorrect offsets.
>
>Now the only remaining problem is getting the rig to show S9 with a 50 uV
>source.  The adjustment range doesn't go far enough to produce S9 on the
>display. I put a new battery in the XG2 signal source, same problem.  I'm
>not too concerned about this one -- only mildly annoyed.  This is a very
>minor problem compared to what I *thought* was wrong with my filters!
>
>Thanks for your detailed response -- appreciated.
>
>--Andrew, NV1B
>
>
>
>On Sat, Jul 9, 2011 at 12:33 AM, Matt Zilmer <mzilmer at verizon.net> wrote:
>
>> The chances of that are negligible.  You should send your original
>> email and all follow-ups to k3support at elecraft.com.
>>
>> I have heard of a lot of strange K3 symptoms, but this one is beyond
>> the pale.  It sounds like one of the pre- or post-roofing filter
>> components is somehow shifting the resonance, and looking at the
>> schematic I just don't see how that's possible unless there is a
>> bypass-value in place of a regular cap.  Conventional SMT assembly -
>> that would not happen.
>>
>> I'm no expert, but this probably is not some trouble that can be shot
>> over email.  One of the Elecraft gang can help you narrow it down, but
>> it should probably be done interactively over the phone or Skype or
>> whatever.
>>
>> You *may* be able to avoid the additional hassle by running the EE
>> INIT procedure on your K3 and starting over.  This will only work if
>> there isn't some defect in the hardware, but that is so unlikely that
>> running EE INIT is your best bet.  See p66 of the Owner's Manual (rev
>> D7), or use Adobe to search for "Parameter Initialization".  If you
>> dorked a setting, then EE INIT will solve that problem and put your K3
>> into its factory default settings.
>>
>> Good Luck.  No matter what you can or can't get done in short order,
>> Elecraft will assist you with any problem.
>>
>> 73,
>>
>> matt W6NIA
>> K3 #24
>>
>> ==
>>
>>
>> On Fri, 08 Jul 2011 23:40:40 -0400, you wrote:
>>
>> >Filter placements are correct, and no empty slots are enabled -- I've done
>> >the setup both ways: manually via CONFIG on the K3 itself, and via the K3
>> >utility.  Done it many times now.
>> >
>> >Here's the odd part:
>> >
>> >If I change the frequency offsets in the K3 (via CONFIG menu), I can dial
>> >across the range of value offsets and peak a signal almost to the point at
>> >which things sound like they're operating properly.  Same thing happens
>> for
>> >3 of my filters -- the 2.7k, 400 Hz and 200 Hz.  In all cases the
>> specified
>> >offset is not the one value that gives the strongest signal.  Using the
>> >specified offsets, it seems like the signal is not properly centered in
>> the
>> >passband.
>> >
>> >What are the chances all three of my filters have the wrong offsets?
>> > Possible but doubtful.
>> >
>> >Is there some other setting on the K3 that I may have inadvertently
>> tweaked
>> >during calibration that would have thrown off all filters?
>> >
>> >I'm stumped.
>> >
>> >--Andrew, NV1B
>> >..
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >On Fri, Jul 8, 2011 at 9:35 PM, Guy Olinger K2AV <olinger at bellsouth.net
>> >wrote:
>> >
>> >> The most likely cause of your problem is that the filter placements as
>> >> viewed in the K3 utility and as actually installed on the main board
>> >> do not actually match.  Next is that you have left an empty slot
>> >> ENABLED in the K3 utility.  After that, a filter not plugged all the
>> >> way in or defective.
>> >>
>> >> 73, Guy.
>> >>
>> >> On Fri, Jul 8, 2011 at 8:06 PM, Andrew Moore <andrew.nv1b at gmail.com>
>> >> wrote:
>> >> > New K3 with 3 filters:
>> >> >
>> >> > FL1 - empty
>> >> > FL2 - 2700 Hz
>> >> > FL3 - empty
>> >> > FL4 - 400 Hz
>> >> > FL5 - 200 Hz
>> >> >
>> >> > FL2,4,5 enabled, offsets and bandwidths entered, and filters plugged
>> into
>> >> > right slots (FL1 can remain empty right?)
>> >> >
>> >> > When I turn the bandwidth encoder CCW, everything's fine until I hit
>> 400
>> >> Hz.
>> >> >  At 450, I hear signal. At 400, when FL4 kicks in, receiver goes quiet
>> >> from
>> >> > then on.
>> >> >
>> >> > Ideas?
>> >> >
>> >> > Also - RF calibration - I'm using an XG2 to feed the K3 a 50 uV
>> signal.
>> >>  The
>> >> > K3 hears it at about S5 max, not even close to S9.  Followed the
>> >> calibration
>> >> > instructions.
>> >> >
>> >> > --Andrew, NV1B
>> >> > ..
>> >> > ______________________________________________________________
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