[Elecraft] Help setting up digital

[Terry Schieler]

Don wrote,

<"3) Audio levels - ignore the internet advice to adjust the power with the audio level.  Adjust the audio to illuminate 4 bars solid on the ALC meter with the 5th bar flashing.  This is the "NO ALC" point for these Elecraft transceivers - the first 4 bars are present to allow you to properly adjust the audio.  Once adjusted, you should not have to change it unless something changes it in the computer.">


Thanks for the particularly timely  reply, Don.  I spent the past weekend trying to get my K3S set up for RTTY with MMTTY.  My old K3 (474) worked just fine for years.  Using Data A, AFSK, 45 baud, I can cleanly copy RTTY and Transmit via VOX, but, for the life of me, I cannot get the ALC set to "4 bars solid with the 5th bar flashing".  I can get it to set to 3 bars solid or 5 bars solid but nothing in between, no matter how sensitive I try to be.  Seems I recall someone else with this exact issue on her a few weeks ago.  I have spent this morning trying to find that post as I'm pretty sure his problem was solved.  I am setting the ALC via the Mic (Line) Gain.  I checked that Data A had reduced Compression to ZERO and TX EQ flat.  Any suggestions?

73, Terry W0FM



-----Original Message-----
From: Don Wilhelm [mailto:donwilh at embarqmail.com] 
Sent: Sunday, March 19, 2017 2:33 PM
To: Don Pomplun; elecraft at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Help setting up digital

Don and Ronnie,

Let me see if I can help by pointing out the differences between the Elecraft transceivers K3, K3S, KX2 and KX3 and other transceivers in the use of data modes.

The following points are directed at soundcard oriented data modes.

1) Use DATA A instead of the normally recommended USB.  While USB will work, you normally have the SSB set up for voice, including compression and TX EQ.  The data modes automatically turn compression to zero and turn off TX EQ.

2) For RTTY, use AFSK A - that is specifically designed for RTTY and defaults to LSB which is normal for RTTY.

3) Audio levels - ignore the internet advice to adjust the power with the audio level.  Adjust the audio to illuminate 4 bars solid on the ALC meter with the 5th bar flashing.  This is the "NO ALC" point for these Elecraft transceivers - the first 4 bars are present to allow you to properly adjust the audio.  Once adjusted, you should not have to change it unless something changes it in the computer.