[Elecraft] K3: Odd ALC behavior

[Dave Cole]

Hi Glenn,

Respectfully, the issue, as already stated a few times, in several 
messages, is not that no one knows what to adjust, and we are all over 
thinking how to fix this, but that it is not possible to get the desired 
results, no matter what one adjusts.

I have adjusted all possible combinations of level controls-- LINE IN on 
the K3, the sound card out on the computer, and the Power Out on WSJT-X, 
to get to the desired results, and have failed.

Given that I am a pretty creative fellow, and spend decades in the 
Electronics industry, I suspect I am doing this correctly, so no, I am 
pretty sure this is not a case of over thinking, but of something not 
visible happening.

I just read Ken's post of July 16th, and yes Ken's problem sounds like 
the same issue I have-- as one approaches the correct settings, the K3 
jumps to instantly to 5 bars, skipping 4 bars, or as you lower any input 
to the K3, the ALC actions simply stops at 5 bars...  Then te ALC levels 
start to pump, while power out stays the same...

I have heard this described as Power Hunting before, but in my case, it 
seems totally disconnected from any power settings I run.  I have tried 
everything from 1 watt to 100 watts, and the behavior never changes.

Alas, I fear I will just continue running with a bit of ALC, which I 
don't want to do...  I would like to set it up as per Elecraft 
recommendations, but that seems impossible.


73s and thanks,
Dave
NK7Z
http://www.nk7z.net

On 08/04/2017 05:11 AM, Glenn Anderson wrote:
> You guys are over-thinking this "issue". Just set whatever combination of
> level controls it takes to get four solid bars and a flashing fifth on the
> ALC and get on with it.....that works for me.
> 
> See Y'all on FT8!
> 
> Glenn WB5TUF
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net
> [mailto:elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Dave Cole
> Sent: Thursday, August 03, 2017 11:52 PM
> To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3: Odd ALC behavior
> 
> Thanks to all for the sheer number and breadth of answers...  Rather than
> answer each one, and create a huge number of posts, I will try and answer
> all here...
> 
> I have done all the steps outlined i the posts here before, and have tried
> them again today.
> 
> Output from the computer is sitting dead center, line in was sitting at 27,
> and the power slider on WSJT-X is sitting at 4/5th full.
> 
> I took a different sound card program, (MixW in RTTY), and I got the same
> behavior at 5 bars, the meter shows 5 bars, or no bars going between those
> conditions about once or twice a second randomly.
> 
> If I increase ANY of the audio controls it drops out of that mode, and acts
> just as Elecraft say to set things, just one bar higher, i.e. sits at 5
> bars, and the 6th flashes...
> 
> No combination I can create of the input, or output controls will stop this.
> 
> I also tried adjusting the power controls set a 1 watt, and at 50 watts.
>    The power control makes zero difference in how it behaves.  In fact if I
> am in TEST TRANSMIT mode the problem shows...
> 
> Listening to the computer output via MON-- sounds perfect...
> 
> I may next get the scope out again, and start looking at things again...
>    I doubt it is the sound card changing levels because the issue goes away
> if I turn up LINE IN on the K3...
> 
> I am still at a loss as to what is causing this issue.  I am pretty sure it
> is an artifact of something happening in the K3, but for the life of me I
> can't figure it out.
> 
> 73s and thanks,
> Dave
> NK7Z
> http://www.nk7z.net
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