[Elecraft] T/R switching problem

Wed Mar 26 18:12:49 EDT 2014

Well, I have never had my K3 hooked up to any amplifier other than the KPA500.  Before I got the KPA500 I did have a PW-1 but I sold that.  Which reminds me, I should buy the new brick amp for the KX3.

73, phil

On Mar 26, 2014, at 10:00 AM, Toby Pennington <w4cakk at centurylink.net> wrote:

> 
> The only time I have experienced some amount of attenuation on receive is when I was using some other amplifier besides the KPA 500.
> 
> I found I had to totally disconnect all my cabling between the amplifier and the rig.   Since I am using the K line completely, trying to use an external amp other than the KPA 500  can be done without disconnecting  all the cabling,  but on receive you will experience attenuation of the receive signals.  To have full receive using another brand of amp,  you will have to remove the data transfer cabling between the rig and amp.    I hope I have this right,  as it has been some time since I experimented with using an amp with more output than the KPA 500.
> 
> Toby  K4NH
> 
> 
> -------- Original Message --------
> Subject: 	Re: [Elecraft] T/R switching problem
> Date: 	Wed, 26 Mar 2014 06:53:18 -0700
> From: 	Phil Hystad <phystad at mac.com>
> To: 	Mike K2MK <k2mk at comcast.net>
> CC: 	elecraft at mailman.qth.net
> 
> 
> 
> I have a similar (close but not identical to symptoms below) problem with
> K3 receive attenuation.  I do not have a SteppIR and this same problem occurred
> on more than one antenna (80-meter dipole, Traffie Hex Beam).
> 
> My symptoms were that when I turned on the radio in the morning, the band
> per the display on the P3 was flat, virtually no "visible" signals.  No matter
> as I was doing my morning reading with my coffee.
> 
> Later, I went to the radio and there should have been some good activity
> on 20, 17, 15, 12, and 10.  I did have signals but no where near as much
> as I think there should have been.  I thought maybe the KAT500 was out
> of tune so I fooled with that, Xmitted tune and so on and no real change.
> 
> I checked everything I could think of such as change in PRE setting (I was
> on PRE), Attenuation (no, was not), and so on.
> 
> Finally, I tried the old computer programming trick, turn it off and turn it
> on again.
> 
> When the K3 came back up the bands were crowded with signals.  So, there
> was some significant attenuation going on but turning off (front panel
> switch only) the K3 and turning it back on fixed everything.
> 
> Ideas, comments??  Oh, this has happened only that one time so far.
> 
> 73, phil, K7PEH
> 
> 
> On Mar 26, 2014, at 4:14 AM, Mike K2MK <k2mk at comcast.net> wrote:
> 
>> Hi Jan,
>> 
>> What is your antenna. There has been an ongoing thread on the SteppIR site
>> regarding this identical problem with many types of transceivers, not just
>> the K3. If you have a SteppIR antenna (any model) you should take a look at
>> their Yahoo site.
>> 
>> 73,
>> Mike K2MK
>> 
>> 
>> Jan Ditzian wrote
>>> I am having a problem with T/R switching in my K3.  The symptom is that,
>>> after I transmit, the receive signals are sometimes very attenuated.
>>> This problem has gotten worse.  At first, simply a quick tap on the PTT
>>> switch fixed everything, but now, at least on phone, I must make a brief
>>> additional transmission to get the receive to return.  Today, the
>>> problem got worse, and sometimes I have to really fuss with things to
>>> get receive back.  Here are some questions:
>>> 
>>> 1. Is there a T/R relay in the K3, and does this sound like it is
>>>   sticking, at least to the extent that it does not make good contact
>>>   on receive?
>>> 2. Has anyone had the similar problem, and what was the solution?
>>> 3. If it is a relay, can it be replaced easily, or is this a return to
>>>   Elecraft situation?
>>> 4. If it is simply a relay replacement, where is the relay located?
>>> 
>>> Thank you,
>>> 
>>> Jan, KX2A
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> --
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