[Elecraft] K3 Couple of issues during CQWW RTTY

[Matt Maguire]

Sorry, I should have been a little clearer -- it seems you are providing insufficient *audio* drive to the K3.

73, Matt VK2ACL



On 02/10/2012, at 5:43 AM, Matt Maguire <vk2acl at gmail.com> wrote:

> For problem 2, it sounds like you are providing insufficient drive to the K3, and this causes "power creep" as the K3 tries to compensate.
> 
> What does your ALC meter read? It should have 4 steady bars with the fifth bar flickering. Then, you can set the desired output power level with the power level control.
> 
> 73, Matt VK2ACL
> 
> 
> 
> On 02/10/2012, at 5:09 AM, "Joe K2UF" <joe at k2uf.com> wrote:
> 
>> I had the following two problems during the RTTY contest this past weekend.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 1.-   I had to reset the mode from FSK D to AFSK A many times.  Usually when
>> I changed bands or a large change in frequency within the same band.  When I
>> get to the top of the band and want to go back to the bottom of the band I
>> would type the frequency in N1MM.  Radio would QSY to the new frequency but
>> the mode would revert back to FSK D.  This would not happen every time but
>> quite often.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 2.-  Using the K3 / KPA500 setup with N1MM running on a Win XP desktop pc
>> with a soundMAX sound card.  The K3 running about 25 watts and the LINE IN
>> level set at 10 the KPA500 power out would start at about 60 to 70 watts.
>> Each time I would call/work someone the power out on the KPA500 would
>> increase.  After 8 or 10 calls/Qs the power would be up to 400 to 500 watts.
>> If I changed the power level on the K3 down 1 watt and then back up 1 watt
>> the process would start all over again.  I do not have the same problem on
>> CW.  I have not used the amp in a CW contest yet, but I have worked several
>> DXpeditions/DX stations sometimes calling for over an hour. The amp output
>> would stay where it was set.  
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> I have looked over the K3 manual and could not find any hints about problem
>> 1.  Problem 2 is a real puzzler.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Anyone have any ideas?
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Thanks  Joe K2UF 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> No trees were harmed in the sending of this e-mail; however, many electrons
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>> 
>> 
>> 
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