[Elecraft] RFI on K3s

[David Ahrendts]

Gents, that’s my setup also with K3S #10125, and I’m convinced the Powerwerx SS-30DV is a stable, quiet, top-notch amp recommended by the fine people a Elecraft (it’s what they use on the road). However, thanks to some great advice from people here, I have eliminated the black-red zip cable from all uses in my station. Zip line, or for that matter, any parallel cable, like monster speaker cable, is highly susceptible to RFI. This was a lesson from the early days of stringing telephone cable. The solution: twisted pairs, and even better in 2016, shielded twisted pairs. So every power cable has been replaced in my station with shielded twisted pairs, further protected with ferrite snap-on beads. Even further, I’ve eliminated every switching power supply nearby. It has helped immensely.   
That said, some of those pesky slowly drifting S9+ noise bumps still live! 

David A., KK6DA, Los Angeles



I certainly hope you are correct.  I love this little power supply.  It
keeps my K3s/P3 smack dab on 13.8 RX and no lower than 13.5 on TX at 100W.
But it will be check #1.  Learned a long time ago not to make
assumptions or NOT eliminate variables (when possible).

73,

______________________
Clay Autery, KY5G
MONTAC Enterprises
(318) 518-1389

On 6/20/2016 6:45 AM, Drew AF2Z wrote:
> I have a Powerwerx SS-30DV also. I think it is unlikely that this PS
> would put out that kind of trash. I've found it to be very quiet even
> listening with an endfed wire antenna within inches of it.
> 
> 73,
> Drew
> AF2Z



> On Jun 20, 2016, at 8:15 AM, Clay Autery <cautery at montac.com> wrote:
> 
> On 6/20/2016 5:28 AM, Dave Cole wrote:
>> Sometimes you can "get a feeling", where they are located by watching
>> the timing...  Do they drift in the morning, and after sunset, if so,
>> the SMPS might be outside, on in a non temperature controlled area, if
>> not it might be inside...  
>> 
>> Do they happen at set intervals?  Time to do the power off test to your
>> home and see if they go away...  If you are lucky they will...
>> 
>> If they do, bring the house up one breaker at a time, looking for the
>> RFI to start...  If not, then set up S-Meter Lite, look for patterns,
>> then after a week or so of recording what is happening, take out a loop
>> and start looking for it...
> Thank you...  I think I will TRACK when they are stable vs. drifting... 
> First, I need to find a good battery and QUIET float charger for the K3/P3.
> 
> Lot of info in short reply.  S-Meter Lite...  Thanks!  Got it now.
> Need to research/build the loop(s).
> 
> 73,
> 
> ______________________
> Clay Autery, KY5G
> MONTAC Enterprises
> (318) 518-1389




David Ahrendts   davidahrendts at me.com