[Elecraft] K3 problems during Field Day

[wa9fvp]

I'm not sure what software N2BJ was using but there was a complaint that the
PC
software was doing something to the paddle.

The contest software sends a canned CW message thats stored as text and keys
the
K3 via the straight key input. The CW operator uses the paddle to send other
text.

I'm not sure exactly what was happening, there were 2 conflicting stories,
the
operator claimed the paddle speed was changing.

My K3 was running the beta software version 4.51 and dsp 2.76.


My K3 was on 40 meters CW. The 20 meter operator was using a K2. He
mentioned 
that the K3 was transmitting "birdies" on 20 CW and they thought that it had 
something to do with the switching power supply on the K3 that I provided. 
They switched power supplies with an analog type but it didn't help.

My K3 is back in the shack and fortunatly I can run some test using another
receiver or a spectrum analyzer to check the spectral purity.

Here are the results;


When I transmit on 7.0644 I can receive a birdie on 14.060. The transmit
power
on the K3 is 2 watts into a diapole 400 ohm ladder line and a home brew
match
box. The Icom R8500 receiver is connected to my Hygain TH-11 beam. With 100
watts, the birdie is S5.

With a dead carried it sounds more like a buzzer than a birdie. It almost
sounds
like a bad TV antenna amplifier that transmits a drifting birdy on 6 meters
but
this doesn't drift.

Attached is a screen shot of my Spectrum Analyzer
http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/file/n7558117/K3_TX_Birdies.bmp 


-----
Jack WA9FVP
--
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