[Elecraft] K3 Hum on Audio...

[Ron D'Eau Claire]

Since it goes away when changing mics, it sounds a lot like a broken
connection in the microphone connector. I used to fix those by the dozens on
shipboard VHF radios, equipped with hand-held mics. The complaint would be
transmitting hum, no audio, or no PTT action, depending upon which wire
broke. 

Usually the break was at the connector, but sometimes it's in the mic,
depending upon which end had the best strain relief. Even found a broken
wire inside the cable on rare occasions. 

73,

Ron AC7AC

-----Original Message-----
Subject: [Elecraft] K3 Hum on Audio...

When the sun rose today and it seems that my K3 decided to put some hum on
my audio.  During a quick SSB contact tonight on 80 meters I was told there
was hum on my audio.  This surprised me because yesterday I was involved in
two different SSB QSOs where I was particularly interested in audio reports
because I had just put the KPA500 on the air and wanted to know how it
sounds.  The audio reports yesterday, two different QSOs, were excellent.
In fact one person wanted to know the rig because he said it sounded
exceptional.

Well, tonight, I get a report of what sounds like (the other guy reported)
60 cycle hum on my audio.  Now, absolutely NOTHING is different from
yesterday, same configuration and all.  So, I am thinking maybe it has
something to do with the KPA500.  So, I put that in Standby and the hum is
still there on the audio.  The mic is the MH2 hand mic plugged into the
front of the K3.

So, I switch to my Yamaha CM500 headset and mic plugged into the rear of the
K3.  No hum on that.  So, the hum seems to do with the MH2 or maybe the
front panel connection or something else.

Does anyone know of what would cause this sudden thing and where I might go
to scope out the problem?  I would be more suspicious if it were some rig
that was new to me, or some mic that was new or something.  But, it is not
new and until now I have always had excellent reports.  Like I said,
yesterday the KPA500 was put on the air for the first time but the reports
were excellent reports on audio, this problem appeared today in fact, about
30 minutes ago.  I turned the rig on at 6:15 PM and had the first QSO where
the hum was reported at 6:25 PM.

73, phil, K7PEH

______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:Elecraft at mailman.qth.net

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html