[Elecraft] K3 not recieving

WILLIS COOKE wrcooke at yahoo.com
Tue Mar 8 17:59:42 EST 2011 

The 43 foot length is the optimum length for low angle radiation on 20 meters 
(5/8 wavelength).  It is also not an even half wave on the other bands so will 
match reasonably well with a proper coupler and a 4:1 unun.  It is a vertical 
equivalent of a G5RV.
 Willis 'Cookie' Cooke 
K5EWJ 




________________________________
From: Mike <nf4l at nf4l.com>
To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
Sent: Tue, March 8, 2011 4:44:33 PM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 not recieving

I've heard quite a few people use balun, when they meant impedence transformer 
or unun.

I heard somewhere (and the tapes have been erased) that the 43' length came 
about 

because it was the most economical length for a manufacturer to cut stock with 
the 

least waste to meet shipping limitations.

73, Mike NF4L

On 3/8/2011 5:29 PM, David Herring wrote:
> Here's a follow-on question to the reflector...
>
> Vernon's set-up brings a question to mind.  He says he's using a 4:1 balun on 
>his vertical.  At first brush that seems counterintuitive, doesn't it?  Isn't a 
>vertical unbalanced?  Certainly the coax is unbalanced.  When you're mating an 
>unbalanced feedline with an unbalanced antenna, wouldn't one be better off using 
>an unun rather than a 4:1 balun?
>
> In further support of my line of questioning, I've read numerous, albeit 
>anecdotal, reports of people being displeased with the performance of their 
>vertical, particularly the untuned ones like Zero-Five for example. But when 
>they add an unun they are then amazed at how the antenna allegedly "sprung to 
>life."
>
> 73,
> Dave  AH6TD
>
> On Mar 8, 2011, at 6:20 AM, Vernon Mauery wrote:
>
>> Yes.  I can see the S-meter go from 3-4 down with static down to
>> nothing with quieter static.  My best guess is that I am not trying
>> the right times at the right places.
>>
>> Thanks to everyone for the help.
>>
>> --Vernon N7OH
>>
>> On Tue, Mar 8, 2011 at 8:12 AM, Ross Primrose N4RP<n4rp at aiko.com>  wrote:
>>> Does the received noise decrease when you disconnect the antenna?
>>>
>>> 73, Ross N4RP
>>>
>>> On 3/8/2011 1:06 AM, Vernon Mauery wrote:
>>>> At the risk of exposing what a n00b I am when it comes to HF, I really
>>>> need some help.  I recently (last month) purchased a K3.  First HF
>>>> radio I have owned.  I got my license 2 years ago and have spent most
>>>> of the time since playing with VHF.  I have been trying to teach
>>>> myself CW and decided that it was time to step into the HF waters.  I
>>>> studied, ogled, and dreamed of my ideal HF transceiver.  I finally
>>>> found the K3 and having looked (at least a cursory glance) at all the
>>>> others, I was sold.  I saved my pennies and purchased.  I also got
>>>> myself a 43' untuned vertical antenna, balun, and radial wires.
>>>>
>>>> My setup: K3/100 has 100 feet of low loss 400 coax out to the 43 foot
>>>> vertical on the hill in my back yard.  It has 8 25 foot radials and a
>>>> 4:1 balun.  The K3 has the KATU3, KPA3, KTCXO3-1, KFL3A-400, and
>>>> default 2.8KHz filters.  I assembled it and did followed the
>>>> calibration instructions as well as I could.  I think I got
>>>> everything, but obviously I missed something.  Or maybe I just need an
>>>> elmer to tell me what to do.
>>>>
>>>> I cannot seem to find any signals that make the S meter go above a 3
>>>> or 4.  I have the RF gain turned up a fair ways (mostly to the top),
>>>> and I can hear static.  As I tune up some of the bands on SSB, I can
>>>> hear a tone that changes higher in pitch as I tune up in frequency.  I
>>>> have tried listening for CW, but I am hearing nothing as I scan
>>>> through the bands.  I had a 10m horizontal dipole taped to my wall for
>>>> a while until I found time to run the coax out to the back yard.  I
>>>> had hoped that since it was resonant on the 10m band, maybe it would
>>>> be able to pick up something, but it was no better (or worse) than my
>>>> vertical.
>>>>
>>>> As far as I can tell, the radio seems to transmit.  I can see the
>>>> power meter moving and the SWR meter moving.  The ATU seems to be able
>>>> to find acceptable settings on most of the bands with the vertical.
>>>> But I can't hear them.  You can't work them if you can't hear them,
>>>> right?
>>>>
>>>> This is a desperate plea for help.  Is it the radio or me?  Please
>>>> have pity on the n00b and walk me through my first HF contact.
>>>>
>>>> --Vernon N7OH
>>>> ______________________________________________________________
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>>>
>>> --
>>> FCC Section 97.313(a) “At all times, an amateur station must use the
>>> minimum transmitter power necessary to carry out the desired
>>> communications.”
>>>
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