[Elecraft] Intermittent steady CW send ?

[Don Wilhelm]

Steve,

"strange happenings" like that are commonly attributed to 
RF-in-the-shack.  I know this is an often cited problem, but in many 
cases it is real.
Given that it happens only infrequently, the source may be difficult to 
find.  For instance, do you have an antenna swaying in the wind that can 
have a bad connection somewhere in the system that rears its ugly face 
and spits RF into the shack only when the wind blows in the right direction.

It may be beneficial to create a log of conditions just before the 
problem occurs.  What band, what power level, which antenna.  In time, 
you may find a pattern.

I can assure you that it is not a firmware problem or a general K3 
hardware problem - if it were, yours would not be the only complaint 
about that behavior we have seen reported.  That of course does not 
suggest that your particular K3 does not have a problem, only to suggest 
that it is not a problem that has been previously reported on the reflector.

That means there is likely something happening that is either 
RF-in-the-shack, or something special about your shack interconnections 
to the K3.  For instance, are you using computer keying in addition to 
the key or paddles?  Something like that may be a contributing factor.

Sorry, but no real answers, but a few things for you to consider as 
possible problem areas.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 2/16/2016 7:53 PM, Steve via Elecraft wrote:
> I suppose I should look for this in the database, but I'm not really sure
> what to call it. I have a nice K3 and, generally I am delighted with it. One
>   small splinter as I slide down the banister happens so infrequently that I
>   suspect it would be difficult to demonstrate "on demand." When working CW
> with  either straight key or paddles and VOX and QSK turned on, maybe once
> in 6 to 10  hours of operation; I will experience a steady CW output. It is
> as if I had  pressed the "tune" button or held the key down. Not
> surprisingly, this is  embarrassing in the middle of a QSO. It seems that the only way
> to stop  this is to turn the power off.   I think that, in my panic, I have
> tried other  things to stop it; but I can't remember what -- only that they
> didn't help. Does the keying circuit(s) have some kind of threshold
> setting?
>   
> I will be happy to supply other information as needed and will appreciate
> any guidance from the Elecraft tribe.
>   
>