[Elecraft] [K3S] Test Procedure

[Kevin]

I think Don should write that up and post it on his site.


On 7/24/2016 8:37 PM, Don Wilhelm wrote:
> Mark,
>
> I think you are correct, no "standard" test procedure is possible 
> because it would not account for all installed options, filter 
> assignments, and other configurable aspects of the K3/K3S.
>
> I would however suggest that one could use a procedure similar to what 
> I use for a K2.
> It is best if you have a dummy load and can observe the TX waveforms 
> on an oscilloscope connected across that dummy load with a 10X probe.
> How well you can do the tests will depend on the equipment you have 
> available.
> Testing into an antenna can produce ambiguous results - use a dummy 
> load even if you have to borrow one.  An external wattmeter with 
> trusted calibration is also useful.
>
> Proposed procedure ---
> 1) Go through all the calibration items listed in the manual.
> 2) Check the status of each option installed and do a functional check 
> to assure that each of those options is working.
> 3) Check the computer connection capability - does it connect with K3 
> Uility?
> 4) Check the filter assignments using K3 Utility.
> 5) Check the CW output waveform on the 'scope.
> 6) Check the SSB output waveform.  Does it change with Mic Gain and 
> Compression.
> 7) Check data mode operation if you had been set up for that capability.
> 8) Check FM capability if your K3 is equipped with the 13kHz filter.
> 9) Check AM capability if your K3 has the 6kHz or 13kHz filter.
> 10) if you have the KAT3, check that it tunes properly into a dummy 
> load on all bands.
> 10a) if you have 2 50 ohm dummy loads, connect them in parallel and 
> assure that the KAT3 will tune into the resultant 25 ohm dummy load.
> 11) Check receive function on all bands.  A signal generator like the 
> XG3 is a big help with this evaluation.  Check at low signal levels.
> 12) Check the KRX3 receive in the same manner as the main reciever.
>
> Note, you can best observe the RX characteristics using an audio 
> spectrum analyzer (Spectrogram or Spectrum Lab or others) running on 
> your computer - feed the headphone output (or rear panel phones or 
> speaker) to the soundcard input.  The main RX is the left channel and 
> the KRX3 is the right channel.
> If you do not have an audio spectrum analyzer, you can download a good 
> copy of Spectrogram from my website www.w3fpr.com - look near the 
> bottom of the opening page for links to a copy internal to my website 
> (it has been scrubbed by several anti-virus programs and has come up 
> clean - contrary to several copies of Spectrogram found 'in the wild' 
> on the internet).
>
> 73,
> Don W3FPR
>

-- 
R. Kevin Stover
AC0H
ARRL
FISTS #11993
SKCC #215
NAQCC #3441


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