[Elecraft] Mic gain goes to zero using N1MM

[KE1B]

On Sep 9, 2015, at 6:07 AM, K8TE <billamader at gmail.com> wrote:

> I have experienced this same problem over numerous N1MM versions (legacy and
> Plus).  It is very intermittent and I'm unable to identify a specific
> command or cause.  It's happened to me on both my shack and portable
> computers.  This symptom does not show up with my daily logger (N3FJP ACLog)
> but it has occurred with both of my K3's.
> 
> I use the "typical" K3 commands for either keying DVK memories or audio from
> my computers.  I don't use any of the mic gain command strings in N1MM+.
> 
> Are we the only two who have experienced this?  I've Googled this previously
> but not found any threads on the subject.  I'm glad to read (sort of) I'm
> not alone.  I have operated many hours (all of Field Day) without this
> symptom appearing.  Yet, it happened a couple of times in last weekend's
> Colorado QSO Party.  It's a mystery to me.
> 

It’s a mystery to me, too. When I lose transmit power (and once it goes, it’s gone until I do a power off/on or switch to ANT2 and back) I checked the Mic Gain and it was normal (31 for me). The power level was also at its proper setting. It has happened both using N1MM+ and my daily logger (MacloggerDX). I use NO CAT commands with MLDX. 

That is at a time of failure, I have a Mic Gain of 31, a Power level of 50W or so, I key the rig (footswitch), the K3S goes into Transmit Mode (Red LED, receiver goes off) but there is no power output shown, and no SWR shown (as would be if the antenna was disconnected externally). I hear myself perfectly well in the headset monitor, indicating there is a good connection from the microphone through to the radio. Just no output power. And as I said, switching to ANT2 and back to ANT1 brings all to normal, as does a power reset. To me, something is intermittent in the radio internals, but I have no idea what.

Elecraft advised me to try to reproduce the problem with a “no frills” setup: no computer, no amp, just the K3S into a dummy load. I’ll try this today, but of course with intermittent problems it may or may not recur.

-Rich KE1B