[Elecraft] K3 Transmit Issue on 80M SSB

[Don Wilhelm]

Dave,

This is a classic case with Elecraft transceivers that do not drive the 
audio sufficiently.  Unless you drive the audio as instructed in the 
manual, the power output will be erratic or non-existent.

When you speak into the microphone, do you see 5 to 7 bars on the ALC 
meter?  If not, you do not have adequate audio drive, increase the mic 
gain until that condition is realized.

If you have a Heil HC6 or HC7 mic element, those have very low output 
levels and you may need to go to the MIC Gain High range.
Note that the high range only applies to the front panel mic jack.  Go 
to the K3 menu for MIC SEL and tap "3" to toggle the setting on/off. 
The high gain mic preamp is indicated by the icon "H'" in the display.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 1/21/2017 10:20 PM, Dave Fugleberg wrote:
> I seldom operate 80M phone, so don't know if this is a new issue or not. K3
> S/N 8334 with latest firmware. When I key the transmitter and speak or
> whistle into the mic, I get no RF output. I can hear myself in the monitor.
> If I enable VOX, speaking engages the transmitter, but no RF output.
> Engaging the TUNE function does produce RF output as expected.
> If I switch the mode to CW and tap the straight key, the radio transmits
> with expected output. If I THEN switch mode back to LSB, radio functions
> normally with expected output.
> Note that all of the above is with radio connected to a dummy load, so my
> antenna is out of the picture.
>
> Once I switch to CW, key the radio, and switch back to LSB as described
> above, transmit works fine until I power cycle the radio, or adjust the RF
> Power control (even if I just dial it down a couple watts and then right
> back to where it was). Either of those two events appears to disable SSB
> transmit until I 'kick' it by transmitting with CW.
>
> As far as I can tell, this behavior is ONLY on 80M. The rig is NOT in 'Test
> mode', and Xmit Inhibit is turned off in the menu.  All other radio
> functions and bands seem to work FB.