[Elecraft] New Output Power Issue

[Ian Kahn - Ham]

Ron,

With all due respect, this 40-watt power loss is noted in a watt meter 
connected directly to the ANT1 output on my K3, and then directly to a 
300-watt dummy load.  There is nothing else in between to cause a power 
drop.  Where else would you recommend I look for the source of my 
problem, if not in the transceiver itself?

40 watts may only be about 1/3 of an S-unit, but that isn't the point.  
The point is that my rig is not performing as it should. I would like to 
fix the issue, in the most cost- and time-effective manner possible.  If 
there are tests I can run to help isolate the problem, I'm open to 
suggestions.

Thank you.

--Ian

Ian Kahn, KM4IK
Roswell, GA  EM74ua
km4ik.ian at gmail.com
K3 #281, P3 #688
HRD v5.x/6.0 Test Team

On 12/22/2012 6:13 PM, Ron D'Eau Claire wrote:
> And you'll likely find the cause of your "low signal strength" is somewhere
> else, since 60 watts is only 2 dB - about 1/3 of an S-unit - below 100
> watts.
>
> That difference is not usually detectable on HF given normal variations in
> propagation that go on constantly.
>
> 73 Ron AC7AC
>
> -----Original Message-----
>
>
> Have you run "Calibrate Transmitter Gain"  using the K3 Utility from
> Elecraft? Just follow the instructions carefully and it's very simple and
> fast. There are two levels to run, 5 and 50 watts if I remember correctly.
> You will get a report at the end and can watch the progress on you K3
> display.
>
>
>   
> God Bless & 73!
> Jack - WE5ST
>
>
> ________________________________
>   From: Ian Kahn <km4ik.ian at gmail.com>
> To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
> Sent: Saturday, December 22, 2012 3:25 PM
> Subject: [Elecraft] New Output Power Issue
>   
> All,
>
> Lately I've been receiving sporadic reports of low signal strength on my K3,
> s/n 288.  So, today I put a meter on it and ran an FSK signal at 100 watts
> into a dummy load.  To my amazing surprise, the meter only read about
> 60 watts out.  I just upgraded last night to the latest firmware version
> (MCU 4.60, FPF 1.15, DSP 2.80),  What should I begin looking at or adjusting
> to find the source of this issue?  Any and all assistance is greatly
> appreciated.
>
> Thanks, 73, and Merry Christmas.
>
> -- Ian
> Ian Kahn, KM4IK
> Roswell, GA  EM74ua
> km4ik.ian at gmail.com
> K3 #281, P3 #688
> HRD v5.x/6.0 Test Team
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