[Elecraft] Setting Mic Gain to ALC Problem Solution

[N4CW at aol.com]

A week or so ago I posted a problem I was experiencing with my K3;  in SSB 
mode, I couldn't "crank down" on Mic gain to get the last ALC bar to  
flicker. I had either seven bars (Mic setting 3 or above) or none! The bars were  
solid...no flicker anywhere. On-the-air checks detected nothing wrong with 
my  audio or signal...but I had 7 solid ALC bars! I was using a CM-500, 
plugged into  the rear panel (rP.H bIAS selected).
 
 
Elecraft support  suggested that to set Mic gain properly  that I first set 
CMP to zero, reset TX Eq settings, then set the Mic gain. I  tried that and 
still had the failure.

I tried several other things: latest firmware upgrade,  re-installing a 
known "good" configuration file, trying another mike (older  lightweight Heil 
with DX element), reseated the KIO3 boards several times to  assure a good 
contact, and even a borrowed mike that I plugged into the front  panel (FP.H 
bIAS selected) -- all produced the same results, seven solid ALC  bars or 
none! 
 
Support re-iterated that I try re-loading a known good  configuration file. 
I did that again and it
still failed. Then I thought back to his suggestion about setting  the Mic 
gain properly; this time, instead of resetting the settings manually as  I'd 
done before, I hit the CLR button instead, and the settings were reset. 
THAT  WORKED! I was now able to adjust the setting so I would get the last bar 
to  flicker. I could also see, if I was careful enough, the ALC reading 
increase  from zero to seven bars, something it wouldn't do before. 
 
I've increased CMP back to the way I liked it but haven't played  with the 
TX Eq yet...gun shy!
 
I thought I'd pass this along, right or wrong, just in case it  helps 
somebody in the future.
 
73, Bert N4CW