[Elecraft] KX3-2M power out problem & birdies (was: Re: KX3-2m CW problem)

[Oliver Dröse]

Hi Jack,

Elecraft is aware of the power out problem, we reported it already a few 
weeks ago. My personal KX3-2M is only putting out 2 watts on SSB, too 
(like yours), while the one of a friend of mine even only 1.5 watts (all 
measured on a calibrated PEP meter). Both units put out the full 3 watts 
on CW & FM. The low SSB power out is reflected on the KX3's internal 
meter, too. It seems there are units that have the problem and some that 
don't.

Wayne's supposed to work on the problem and it should be fixable by 
firmware, that's the last response I had from him 2 weeks ago (after we 
had done a few other checks the weeks before). Eagerly waiting for new 
beta software to try the fix overhere ...

Concerning the birdies: Yes, there are a few. With a real antenna 
connected there are only 3 or 4 left that are audible stronger than s1 
in the 144.0 to 144.5 MHz range, non of them stronger than s3. Yes, it 
would be great to have no birdies at all in the weak signal band but to 
be honest I do not know of any transceiver of the last 20 years (and 
I've tried a few) that has no birdies at all. We certainly have to 
accept a few compromises when putting so much technique into such a 
small package.

Haven't tried connecting just a whip directly to the KX3 yet, always had 
a yagi connected as with the small power out you need every bit of 
antenna gain you can get anyway to make QSOs. ;-) Have you tried using a 
smal HB9CV or 2L yagi a few meters away? Still too many birdies then?

73, Olli - DH8BQA

Contest, DX & radio projects: http://www.dh8bqa.de


Am 21.11.2014 22:38, schrieb Jack F6AJW:
> Sorry Paul, no answer to your problem with CW (not yet tried).
> On my side, I am a bit disappointed with my KX3-2m because of low TX 
> output (2W instead of 3 announced) and lot of birdies on dummy load in 
> RX mode. When using an external antenna, noise level increases and 
> some birdies disappear but not all especially on 144.400 MHz. Do not 
> try to connect an antenna (flexible quarter wave in my case) directly 
> on SMA socket, you will receive a lot of birdies so, no way to use my 
> KX3-2m like I used to do at the end of 70's with my IC-202 transceiver 
> and telescopic antenna.
>
> Any way to cure my problems?
>
> 73's.
>
> Jacques F6AJW/Paris
>
>
>  Le 21/11/2014 18:05, paul hippenmeyer a écrit :
>> Hi all,
>>
>> CW on 2m is a problem. Especially with speeds higher than 25 wpm the 
>> timing of the sidetone becomes very unregular (eg. continues keying 
>> of dots only). With an external keyer the problem seems to be even 
>> worse. QRQ CW sounds very dirty.
>>
>> CW on HF bands is perfect.
>>
>> Any others who can confirm this problem?
>>
>> 73, paul
>> hb9axl
>>
>> MCU 2.25
>> DSP  1.30
>>
>>
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