[Elecraft] Possible Solution to KX3 reboot only on JT modes

Wed Mar 22 21:59:02 EDT 2017

I was reviewing some notes that I made in Evernote while debugging and
configuring my KX3 for digital modes, and I happened to (almost) miss this
one sentence again.  Must have read it over two or three times before it
actually sunk in what it was saying.

"For the logging function you can use JT-Alert but you have to stop the
automatic update to HRD.  You can't run HRD.  *Every fourth or fifth "CQ"
my KX3 will power cycle if running with HRD.*"  (Emphasis mine.)

So, I'm now wondiering if there is some interaction that I need to pay
attention to between this software and my hardware.   And obviously,
someone mentioned this already.  These are not my words.  The obvious
question is,  whose words are they??

Normally, a clip from Evernote adds the URL into the properties for the
note.   But this note is one that I created, curated from my wanderings
throughout the Intertubes for how to do this, and it contains private
communications, Facebook comments, replies to messages and other things
that don't appear to be attributed at all.   In short, despite my Google-fu
I can't get a real source for the issue no matter how creatively I search.

Since this statement seems to fit the behavior I'm experiencing (no matter
if low or high power; only on JT modes) I'm going to take HRD out of the
loop and see if this problem goes away.   If so, so much the better.   I
like HRD, but not to the level of letting it bounce my KX3 while in use.

To satisfy my curiosity, I'll also monitor internal temperatures while
operating but I seriously doubt that they are the issue.  Stand by, I may
have an answer shortly.

On Wed, Mar 22, 2017 at 10:57 AM, Brian Waterworth <
brian.waterworth at gmail.com> wrote:

> Technically, psk31 is a high duty cycle mode.   But, you may not transmit
> as long as you would with JT modes.  Depends on how chatty :-) you are.
>
> Regards
> Brian
> VE3IBW
>
> On Mar 22, 2017 2:49 PM, "rich hurd WC3T" <rich at wc3t.us> wrote:
>
> I will check the temperature while operating next time.
>
> I would like an opinion, however, on whether PSK31 is also defined as a
> "high duty cycle" mode because I can and often do camp out on PSK31 all day
> (and that means either in a QSO or calling CQ with the repeat function in
> DM780 set to every 30 seconds) and it doesn't make the KX3 flinch.
>
> By the way, a subjective assessment of the heat sink temp is that in all
> digital modes the heat sink is warm to the touch, but only warm like "phone
> in your pocket" warm.   It doesn't approach an uncomfortable level at ALL.
>
> On Tue, Mar 21, 2017 at 10:29 PM, Nr4c <nr4c at widomaker.com> wrote:
>
> > Turn on the display of Temperature. Watch it while transmitting.
> >
> > Sent from my iPhone
> > ...nr4c. bill
> >
> >
> > > On Mar 21, 2017, at 3:45 PM, rich hurd WC3T <rich at wc3t.us> wrote:
> > >
> > > But only on JT modes?   And this is a 7XXX serial number KX3.
> > >
> > > I do not think this has anything to do with the physical power
> > connections,
> > > but I did inspect them and they were all tight.
> > > Going to pay more attention to see what might be going on during these
> Tx
> > > cycles.
> > >
> > >> On Tue, Mar 21, 2017 at 3:17 PM, Don Wilhelm <donwilh at embarqmail.com>
> > wrote:
> > >>
> > >> Rich,
> > >>
> > >> First check your power cables carefully for any sign of looseness.
> > >> If none found, try wiggling the KX3 2.1mm power plug to see if that
> > >> induces the failure.  You may have a failed power jack.
> > >> Early KX3s did not have the power jack glued to the board and could
> fail
> > >> (even with the right angle power plug).  The failure would be
> > intermittent.
> > >>
> > >> I don't think it has anything to do with your operating mode.
> > >>
> > >> 73,
> > >> Don W3FPR
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>> On 3/21/2017 2:47 PM, rich hurd WC3T wrote:
> > >>>
> > >>> Okay, here's an odd one and I couldn't find any suggestions in the
> > >>> archives
> > >>> or using Google-fu.
> > >>>
> > >>> I can run any mode with my KX3/PX3/KXPA100 station with no incident
> > except
> > >>> for JT modes; using WSJT-X, I will complete a Tx cycle and randomly
> the
> > >>> KX3
> > >>> will bounce (power off/power on.)
> > >>> 9 times out of 10, I'm operating at 3W.   I'll sometimes bump to 5.
> To
> > >>> test this, I have also bumped it to 11 watts to kick the amp in and I
> > get
> > >>> the same reaction; that is, sometimes (but not always) the station
> just
> > >>> decides it's had enough and the power bounces.   Power supply is a
> > Samlex
> > >>> SEC-1223.
> > >>>
> > >>
> > >
> > >
> > > --
> > > 73 (or 72 for the QRP folks),
> > > Rich Hurd / WC3T
> > > Northampton County RACES
> > > EPA-ARRL Public Information Officer for Scouting
> > > Latitude: 40.761621 Longitude: -75.288988  Grid: *FN20is*
> > > 40°45.68' N 75°17.33' W
> > > ______________________________________________________________
> > > Elecraft mailing list
> > > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> > > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> > > Post: mailto:Elecraft at mailman.qth.net
> > >
> > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> > > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> > > Message delivered to nr4c at widomaker.comBut only on JT modes?   And
> this
> > is a 7XXX serial number KX3.
> > >
> > > I do not think this has anything to do with the physical power
> > connections,
> > > but I did inspect them and they were all tight.
> > > Going to pay more attention to see what might be going on during these
> Tx
> > > cycles.
> > >
> > >> On Tue, Mar 21, 2017 at 3:17 PM, Don Wilhelm <donwilh at embarqmail.com>
> > wrote:
> > >>
> > >> Rich,
> > >>
> > >> First check your power cables carefully for any sign of looseness.
> > >> If none found, try wiggling the KX3 2.1mm power plug to see if that
> > >> induces the failure.  You may have a failed power jack.
> > >> Early KX3s did not have the power jack glued to the board and could
> fail
> > >> (even with the right angle power plug).  The failure would be
> > intermittent.
> > >>
> > >> I don't think it has anything to do with your operating mode.
> > >>
> > >> 73,
> > >> Don W3FPR
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>> On 3/21/2017 2:47 PM, rich hurd WC3T wrote:
> > >>>
> > >>> Okay, here's an odd one and I couldn't find any suggestions in the
> > >>> archives
> > >>> or using Google-fu.
> > >>>
> > >>> I can run any mode with my KX3/PX3/KXPA100 station with no incident
> > except
> > >>> for JT modes; using WSJT-X, I will complete a Tx cycle and randomly
> the
> > >>> KX3
> > >>> will bounce (power off/power on.)
> > >>> 9 times out of 10, I'm operating at 3W.   I'll sometimes bump to 5.
> To
> > >>> test this, I have also bumped it to 11 watts to kick the amp in and I
> > get
> > >>> the same reaction; that is, sometimes (but not always) the station
> just
> > >>> decides it's had enough and the power bounces.   Power supply is a
> > Samlex
> > >>> SEC-1223.
> > >>>
> > >>
> > >
> > >
> > > --
> > > 73 (or 72 for the QRP folks),
> > > Rich Hurd / WC3T
> > > Northampton County RACES
> > > EPA-ARRL Public Information Officer for Scouting
> > > Latitude: 40.761621 Longitude: -75.288988  Grid: *FN20is*
> > > 40°45.68' N 75°17.33' W
> > > ______________________________________________________________
> > > Elecraft mailing list
> > > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> > > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> > > Post: mailto:Elecraft at mailman.qth.net
> > >
> > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> > > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> > > Message delivered to nr4c at widomaker.com
> >
> >
>
>
> --
> 73 (or 72 for the QRP folks),
> Rich Hurd / WC3T
> Northampton County RACES
> EPA-ARRL Public Information Officer for Scouting
> Latitude: 40.761621 Longitude: -75.288988  Grid: *FN20is*
> 40°45.68' N 75°17.33' W
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:Elecraft at mailman.qth.net
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to brian.waterworth at gmail.com
>
>
>

-- 
73 (or 72 for the QRP folks),
Rich Hurd / WC3T
Northampton County RACES
EPA-ARRL Public Information Officer for Scouting
Latitude: 40.761621 Longitude: -75.288988  Grid: *FN20is*
40°45.68' N 75°17.33' W