[Elecraft] KX3 digital modes problem

[Jim Fitzpatrick]

I recently purchased a KX3. I have made several hundred CW QSOs with it in
the past several months. One of the main reasons for getting it is that I
enjoy operating QRP while traveling and camping. I like to operate JT-65 HF
with minimal power just to see what I can work. 

 

I have run into 2 problems with this radio. The first is I cannot get any
power out when attempting to operate either JT-65 or RTTY (AFSK).  The
second is that I have been having problems with battery operation.

 

The details on the first problem are as follows. When portable I operate
using either a SignaLink USB sound card interface or a WestMountainRadio
Nomic interface. I have been using these for several years with JT-65 and
AFSK RTTY. I have used both of them with four different radios and have made
thousands of QSOs without problems. The radios are a K-3, IC-7000, IC-706
and a Flex 1500. Attempting to operate digitally with the KX3 results in the
PTT working with either interface, but no power output from the KX3. I am
using commercial cables from the interfaces to the KX3. I have tried it with
2 different computers, both of which work fine with the other radios. I
strongly doubt that the problem is with either the computers or either of
the interfaces, they all work fine with my K3. I have read the manual 416
times to try to figure out what I may be doing wrong, but can find nothing
in there that I am not doing correctly regarding menu settings,
gain/compression controls, etc. I do not have a microphone that works with
the KX3 so I cannot see if there is power out in SSB mode. I have tried it
in both standard SSB mode and in Data mode (DataA). I have fiddled with the
mic gain, the sound card output, and anything else I can think of. I am
wondering if there is some secret menu setting I should be using or if there
is actually a problem with the radio. I'm obviously hoping it is something
simple and obvious that I am overlooking.

 

The other problem has been operating with batteries. Using fully charged
brand new NiMH batteries the radio simply turns itself off after I turn it
on. I have the BAT MIN set at 8.4V. I measure the battery charge at about
11V. This should be enough to keep it running, but it doesn't even after I
have enabled all the power saving measures suggested in the manual. Loading
it up with 8 brand new Duracell AA batteries gives me 12.2V, and it seems to
work fine just as it should. AUTO OFF is set to infinite.

 

I'd appreciate any constructive ideas.

 

Thanks.

 

Jim

WI9WI