[Elecraft] Orange Screen of Death

[David Inger]

Today, while very casually operating WPX looking for new DXCC countries, my
K3 went deaf and dumb.  I had just switched bands and push the "Tune" button
to adjust my antenna tuner.  The radio started emitting a series of high
pitched beeps (obviously the transmit output for tuning).  I could not get
it out of the Tune mode.  I had to push the power button to turn the radio
off.  When I turned the radio back on, the LED's on the knobs next to the
VFO cycled on for a second, then went off;  the display was totally blank
except for the orange background color.  No controls functioned and there
was absolutely no audio output.  I could not turn the radio off except by
turning off the external power supply.  I tried to restart the radio several
times with no success.  I let the K3 cool down for an hour to see if it was
heat related; no luck.

 

Has anyone else experienced this or have any ideas what might be happening?
In the meantime I am getting my shipping boxes readied for a trip to Dr.
Elecraft.

 

73 de K6SBA

David in Santa Barbara, CA

K3 #565

KPA500 #197

P3 #something-or-other