[Elecraft] Setting audio levels (power out) in Data A for RF output stability on K3s

[Don Wilhelm]

Howard,

Does the indication on the ALC meter change or does it stay the same 
with 4 bars solid and the 5th bar blinking?
How long does it take for the power to begin increasing and does it 
reach a limit? or does it continuously increase?

The K3 and K3S will normally reduce power after a band change or a 
change in the power knob, then it should rapidly increase power to the 
power level that you have set.  It is done that way to eliminate the 
possibility of an overshoot.  Is this initial adjustment of the power 
what you are observing?  Or does the power climb to above the requested 
power level?

I don't know anything specific about the K3S with the USB audio 
interface that should cause that behavior.
If the power increases above the requested level, there is a problem 
with the power control circuits in your K3S and you need to contact 
K3support.

Take the KPA500 out of the picture and connect the K3S directly to a 
dummy load through an in-line wattmeter to see what is really going on.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 11/22/2015 10:05 AM, Howard Sherer wrote:
> When I use the Data A or AFSK A modes, I set my line in to just fill the
> lower 4-5 bars of the ALC scale, and then adjust the pwr out for the
> desired level. what occurs when I xmit is an increase in RF output as it
> rapidly drifts up. If I adjust the pwr down it still drifts up. This is an
> issue when I want to either run very low output power or closely control
> the output of my KPA 500. I did not have this issue using the signalink
> with my K3, but I do with the K3s and the USB audio interface.
>
> The output power reacts as if there is ALC or AGC increasing the output
> level automatically. Any ideas?
>
>