[Elecraft] [K3] Problems abound

[Don Wilhelm]

Shane,

I believe the "- -" display means that the KAT3 is not being properly 
recognized as being installed.  That fact alone may complicate the 
results of your other observations.

You may not be able to TUNE the dummy load to 1:1 SWR - the tuning 
mechanism may quit tuning if the SWR is below 1.3 or 1.2 (although it 
usually will tune to 1.0).  If you want TO ASSURE 1:1 results, you will 
have to bypass the KAT3 rather than TUNing intp the dummy load.

If your TX Gain calibration data is not being remembered, that is a 
different problem, and should be addressed to K3support at elecraft.com.  
It does seem that is your problem source.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 10/17/2011 5:56 PM, Shane DeSeranno wrote:
> Hello everyone,
>
> I’m a newer K3 owner and I’m loving the heck out of the device, but recently I noticed a strange problem.  It started behaving as though my MIC wasn’t working correctly.
>
> [All tests from this point out will be into a DUMMY LOAD that is rated up to 300W.]
>
> I would notice that if I used 100W and tried to send, the power draw was never more than 4 amps, and the RF display wouldn’t go above 5 or 10W.  After some troubleshooting, I ‘recalibrated’ the TX gain, and this fixed it... until I leave and come back later.  Then I’m required to recalibrate the TX gain.  I know this isn’t the expected behavior, so I suspect something is amiss.
>
> Another problem that has cropped up at the same time (and is likely related) is my ATU inability to tune correctly.  I should be able to “tune” the dummy load 1:1 on all bands (except maybe 10m and 6m), but when I try to tune, I hear the relays click, but after a short wait the K3 beeps and displays “- -“.  I’m guessing this is because the TX gain calibration is wacky and thus the ATU ability to read the SWR might be out of whack.
>
> All this said, I’m really stumped and was hoping for suggestions and ideas?  I have tried reloading settings from when my device was first brought online, but that didn’t have any effect.
>
> Thanks,
> Shane - KF7EFG
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