[Elecraft] Low output using K3 & FLDigi

[Don Wilhelm]

Randy,

I suspect that you are not driving the audio sufficiently.
You would first set the K3 to DATA A mode.  Connect the MicroKeyer II to 
the K3 line in and line out jacks in the rear.  Then consult the 
MicroKeyer manual to be sure you have it configured for Line level 
output (I believe the default is for microphone level).
You can do the setup in TX TEST mode so you don't have to be concerned 
about putting a live signal on the air.

Adjust the computer soundcard slider for Line Out to about 2/3 of maximum.
Then while transmitting from Fldigi, adjust the K3 Line In level to 
produce 4 bars solid on the ALC meter and the 5th bar flickering. You 
may have to make minor adjustments to the computer Line out slider.
Note that the K3 audio setup differs from the usual advice seen in that 
you *must* set up the audio correctly and control the power output with 
the power knob.  Attempting to control the power level by adjusting the 
audio will result in "power hunting".  The K3 "ALC" meter is more like a 
"VU" meter combined with an ALC meter.  The onset of ALC is when the 5th 
bar is illuminated.  Below that, it is simply an audio level meter.

The only thing RigCAT or HamLib does for transmit is the PTT operation, 
and to use that, you must set the K3 menu for PTT-KEY to correspond with 
the signal that is being activated for PTT by the software.
You can use VOX and avoid the PTT setup.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 4/18/2014 10:21 AM, Randy wrote:
> Need some help.  I have made several PSK, RTTY, MFSK and Domino 
> contacts using FLDigi but I am only able to get about 18 watts of 
> output out of the K3 even though the K3 is set to 100 watts.  My set 
> up is a K3, MicroKeyerII and FLDigi(3.21.81). The K3 is set to "Data 
> A", FLDigi is configured using "HamLib" with "Rig" set to Elecraft 
> K3/KX3 (Beta), Com 4, baud rate = 38400, 1 stopbits and Sideband set 
> "Rig Mode".  I tried using "RigCat" after downloading the K3.xml but 
> as soon as I click on the "Initialize" button in Fldigi the Com port 
> closes in Microham router(ver. 8.4.6).  Taking this one step further 
> using "RigCat".... FLDigi still sees the MKII because when I click on 
> a micro in FlDigi the MKII 'SC' LED lights up but doesn't key the K3.
>
> I can achieve 100 watt out from the K3 using MKII and N1MM or 
> WinWarbler but that is setting the K3 in "FSK D" mode.  Any 
> suggestions on what I am doing wrong with FLDigi?