[Elecraft] KX3 Question

Phil Hystad phystad at mac.com
Sun Oct 14 13:04:02 EDT 2012


Joel,

Thanks for the clarifying comment below.  I remember reading the errata and
marking up my documents with changes but I totally briefed over the part
about the change to calibration (you noted below) and then forgot about it.

This was done in the rush to process all the errata sheets to get required 
changes written into the manuals and my main focus at the time were
changes to installation and assembly, not to other stuff.  Oh, well, my 
fault for doing this late on Wednesday night when I should have been 
in bed asleep.

73, phil, K7PEH


On Oct 14, 2012, at 5:00 AM, Joel Black <w4jbb at charter.net> wrote:

> Yes, the Owner's Manual does tell you that, Jon.  However, Errata A2-2 
> dated July 5, 2012 states:
> 
> "MAKE THESE CHANGES TO YOUR MANUAL BEFORE BEGINNING ASSEMBLY...
> 
> 2.  Page 2, Setup and Operation:  Change the second bullet point to read 
> as follows:
> 
>         Turn to page 4 to calibrate the KXFL3 if you purchased it 
> *separately* (emphasis mine) from the KX3 *or* (emphasis mine) are 
> installing the KXFL3 in a different KX3.  KXFL3 modules *shipped* 
> (emphasis mine) with either a factory assembled KX3 or a kit KX3 have 
> been factory calibrated."
> 
> Can you do the calibration?  Yes.  The procedure is there and the tools 
> necessary to do it are included.  *Must* you do the calibration?  No.  I 
> cannot see how you would go wrong either way. I did *not* do the 
> calibration on mine and have been happy with it. Some folks may want to 
> do it anyway.  It's a choice, not a mandate.
> 
> I tried scanning the document I have, but the scan didn't turn out 
> well.  As someone else stated, I cannot find EXFL3 Errata A2-2 on the 
> website even after manipulating the web address of the older errata.
> 
> 73,
> Joel - W4JBB
> 
> On 10/14/2012 5:25 AM, Jon Kåre Hellan wrote:
>> I stil think that the owner's manual is telling us to do the
>> calibration, and the kit assembly manual is telling us not to. As I'm
>> lazy, and the kit assembly manual is more recent, I chose to not
>> calibrate.  But I think there should be an erratum to the owner's manual
>> about this.
>> 
>> Jon LA4RT
>> Trondheim, Norway
>> 
>> On 10/14/2012 03:43 AM, John Strandberg wrote:
>>> I think there is a comma in the below excerpt from the manual that may be
>>> misleading.  If you're not comfortable, send and email to
>>> support at elecraft.com and you will the correct information.  I would
>>> strongly advise against performing the filter calibration until you hear it
>>> from Elecraft.
>>> 
>>> *Most calibration steps are performed at the*
>>> *factory for both kit and assembled KX3s.*
>>> There is one exception: If you install a KXFL3
>>> roofing filter during KX3 kit assembly*, *or install
>>> one in a factory assembled KX3 *after initial*
>>> *purchase, *you’ll need to perform the Receive
>>> Sideband calibration step (pg 32).
>>> 
>>> On Sat, Oct 13, 2012 at 9:25 PM, Phil Hystad<phystad at mac.com>  wrote:
>>> 
>>>> OK, maybe I am misunderstanding something or mis-stating this question of
>>>> calibration/configuration.
>>>> 
>>>> First, my page 32 in my owner's manual DOES NOT have a section called
>>>> CALIBRATION.  That is the top of page 31.  And, right under that there is
>>>> this statement:
>>>> 
>>>> "Most calibration steps are performed at the factory for both kit and
>>>> assembled KX3s.
>>>> There is one exception:  If you install a KXFL3 roofing filter during the
>>>> KX3 kit assembly, or install one in a factory assembled KX3 after initial
>>>> purchase, you'll need to perform the Receive Sideband calibration step (pg.
>>>> 32)."
>>>> 
>>>> So, is this what you are referring to because it seems to suggest that
>>>> there still is a calibration procedure associated with the KXFL3.
>>>> 
>>>> Thanks for any additional help and clarity you can provide.  By the way,
>>>> my owner's manual is Revision B4, June 1, 2012 which is the same as
>>>> currently available as "the latest" on the Elecraft web site.
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 73, phil, K7PEH
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> On Oct 13, 2012, at 6:14 PM, John Strandberg<w4dx at arrl.net>  wrote:
>>>> 
>>>> The information on calibration of filter is in the owner's manual. The
>>>> version I have, it is on page 32 under the heading "CALIBRATION".  It
>>>> clearly states that if the filter and KX3 were ordered and shipped at the
>>>> same time, the filter calibration is not needed.
>>>> 
>>>> Elecraft retains configuration files for each KX3 it ships which includes
>>>> calibration data for the filter.  I know this because I made a very dumb
>>>> error in building my kit and Elecraft support worked me through the
>>>> troubleshooting process and the last try before sending back fixed it.  One
>>>> of the troubleshooting steps was to do a REINIT which sets all
>>>> configuration and calibration data back to factory default.  Once I
>>>> notified Vic in support that my problem was solved and I was going to do
>>>> the filter calibration, he came back immediately and said "Stop Don't!" and
>>>> my S/N configuration file was attached to the email.  He told me just to
>>>> upload the config file.  I uploaded it and my KX3 absolutely lit up.  It
>>>> was an amazing moment and this radio has been amazing ever since.
>>>> 
>>>> If you can't find the statement on no need to do filter calibration in the
>>>> manual, just repost and I'll find it in the current version manual.
>>>> 
>>>> 73 John W4DX
>>>> On Sat, Oct 13, 2012 at 8:50 PM, Phil Hystad<phystad at mac.com>  wrote:
>>>> 
>>>>> OK but I just looked in the assembly manual and the user guide and I did
>>>>> not see anything about NOT doing the configuration/calibration of the
>>>>> filter.  Where is this located?  I mean, the instruction saying that
>>>>> configuration/calibration of the filter is not required if shipped with the
>>>>> KX3.  By the way, even though it was shipped, I did install it and the
>>>>> configuration instructions say that the procedure must be performed
>>>>> whenever the filter is removed or replaced.
>>>>> 
>>>>> What is this configuration file you mention that is associated with my
>>>>> serial number.  Is this something I need to request?
>>>>> 
>>>>> Also, if this too is documented somewhere I must have missed that.  I do
>>>>> admit to not reading the user guide cover to cover yet.
>>>>> 
>>>>> phil
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> On Oct 13, 2012, at 5:31 PM, John Strandberg<w4dx at arrl.net>  wrote:
>>>>> 
>>>>> Yes. This is correct and Elecraft has a configuration file for your KX3
>>>>> by your serial number including configuration/calibration data for any
>>>>> options such as the filter.
>>>>> 
>>>>> On Sat, Oct 13, 2012 at 8:24 PM, hawley, charles j jr<
>>>>> c-hawley at illinois.edu>  wrote:
>>>>> 
>>>>>> Didn't the assembly manual say the if the filter is shipped with the
>>>>>> KX3, the filter doesn't need to be calibrated?
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Sent from my iPad
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> On Oct 13, 2012, at 6:57 PM, "Phil Hystad"<phystad at mac.com>  wrote:
>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> Gang, I just finished putting together my KX3 with the filter option,
>>>>>> ATU, and battery charger.  I am just about to do the calibration for the
>>>>>> filter but I noticed that there is an LED or something that flashes, maybe
>>>>>> once per 2 seconds?, inside the KX3.  I can see it through the key/paddle
>>>>>> plug opening.
>>>>>>> Does anyone know what this is?  Is there meaning to the flash?  Is it
>>>>>> important?
>>>>>>> Thanks,
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> 73, phil, K7PEH
>>>>>>> 
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