[Elecraft] K3: Odd ALC behavior

[Wes Stewart]

Welcome to the club. I don't know what it is, but it is.

See my post "Soundcard levels" from July 16.

Maybe with your complaint there will be a response.

BTW, TX Test doesn't guarantee zero output.  I have another thread about that.

Crickets.

Wes  N7WS


On 8/3/2017 1:25 PM, Dave Cole wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I have an issue in  regards to obtaining 4 bars, and getting the 5th bar of 
> ALC to fluctuate while transmitting JT65.
>
> I have plenty of audio, and can drive the ALC to 6 or more bars if I turn 
> things up.  However, as I get to 4 bars with the 5th flashing a bit, the ALC 
> starts to fluctuate between nothing and 4 or 5 bars...
>
> That is to say, the ALC just goes to zero, no visible ALC, and then teh ALC 
> returns to 4 or 5 bars.  This happens across a one or two second time span.
>
> The ALC is at zero more than it is above zero most of the time. If I run it to 
> five bars, with the fifth fluctuating, all is well, there seems to be some 
> sort of threshold at the 5th bar of ALC...
>
> I have tried a number of things to try and triage this...  For instance:
>
> 1.  Running in "Transmit Test" mode to eliminate RF feedback.
> 2.  Upping the audio level feeding the K3.
> 3.  Reducing the audio level feeding the K3.
> 4.  Upping the line in on the K3 setup.
> 5.  Reducing the Line in on the K3 setup.
> 6.  Adjustment of the WSJT-X output level control, under conditions 2 through 
> 5 above.
>
> In all cases the above described behavior of the ALC dropping to zero does not 
> change in any way if I am at 5 or less bars.  That is to say, if I take the 
> ALC level to 4 bars, it starts dropping to zero more than not...
>
> Does anyone have any suggestions as to what this might be?
>
> A a bit of history-- the computer and sound card were used on an Icom 756 
> ProIII, and there was never an issue like this...  The ALC was adjustable from 
> zero to too much on the Icom, with no dropouts...
>