[Elecraft] P3 lost receive signal on monitor from K3s

[Fred Jensen]

Had this problem originally with my P3. Things to look at:

All BNC connectors are not created equal.  This is especially true if 
they were born in "you know where."  Center pins aren't always the 
correct size or length.  It is very hard to verify they're good.  Try a 
different cable.  Several years ago when the P3 was fairly new, Elecraft 
got a batch of cables from a vendor that were basically all bad.  They 
replaced mine on the condition that I cut the bad one into little pieces 
so it didn't end up on some hamswap table. [:-)  I'm sure they're all 
gone now, but try a different cable.

The P3 is basically a receiver.  Normally for a K3/K3S, it will be tuned 
to the K3 1st IF at 8.1xxx MHz, however it can be tuned to a wide range 
of frequencies to accommodate other transceivers.  Put a piece of hookup 
wire into the center pin of the P3 BNC socket. You should be able to see 
noise and it should just about go away when you remove the wire.  If 
this is true, your P3 is probably OK.

Is your P3 tuned to the K3S's 1st IF?  It's part of the set-up in the 
manual.

Make sure the male BNC connectors are not oxidized.  P3 seems to be 
fairly sensitive to problems in that connection.

I have an early K3 and needed to order the one-resistor mod to boost the 
IF level.

73,

Fred ["Skip"] K6DGW
Sparks NV DM09dn
Washoe County


On 3/5/2017 1:59 PM, Bill Johnson wrote:
> I looked in archives but found nothing.  I can find low level noise but nothing coming from K3s. I have checked all cables and all is working fine.
> Suggestions from anyone who has had the experience and fixed it.
>
>
> 73,
> Bill
> K9YEQ
>