[Elecraft] Infamous red blinking LED

Sat Apr 28 12:53:26 EDT 2018

Great news Joe.
I'm glad you got it working.
There is nothing more frustrating having a problem, knowing there is a fix and can't figure out how to solve the problem.

73,
Mark, WB9CIF

-----Original Message-----
From: joseph beck <w1go at icloud.com> 
Sent: Saturday, April 28, 2018 4:46 PM
To: Mark E. Musick <markmusick at sbcglobal.net>
Cc: donwilh at embarqmail.com; Elecraft Reflector <elecraft at mailman.qth.net>
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Infamous red blinking LED

Mark

You’re correct. I removed the P3 and was able to load. 

Thanks

Joe
W1GO

> On Apr 28, 2018, at 12:41, Mark E. Musick <markmusick at sbcglobal.net> wrote:
> 
> Joe,
> I had this very condition last night trying to download the latest firmware in preparing for the arrival of the KPA1500 today.
> Like you I tried the EE INit and no joy. I held the Shift/LO button tapped the power button and it would always come back to a blinking red TX LED and MCU LD in a dark display. Yes, I removed the power cable etc. as the manual and the KE7X manual instructs us to do.
> I went to the archives where I found one of Don's replies about this situation from January 28th 2017.
> Don stated that in these situations it is a problem with the PC USB port and not the K3S USB port or K3 RS232 port.
> Don suggested rebooting the PC to clear the USB port. You indicate you have done that with no success.
> As Don suggested in his 1/28/17 e-mail disconnect the PC USB from the K3, reboot the PC, start the K3 utility, reconnect the USB cable from the K3 to the PC, go into the K3 utility find the Com Port for the K3 and select it. The K3 should now be asking for the firmware load with the yellow delta f LED flashing and MCU LD in the display.
> Note, the only thing connected to the K3 should be the power cable from the power supply and the USB cable from the PC. Nothing else should be connected to the K3. The P3 needs to be completed disconnected from the K3. The USB cable from the PC needs to go directly to the K3 RS232 port or the K3S USB port. 
> I did this last night and it worked.
> I need to comment that I didn't reboot the tower PC the K3S is normally connected to, because of the length of time to reboot. So, I performed the above connecting the K3S USB cable directly to my laptop that also has the K3 utility loaded on it. 
> With the K3 utility running when I connected the USB cable from the K3S the utility asked for the Com Port. I selected the K3S port and it started working. Selected download all firmware and all was well when the download was complete.
> If I left anything out or have listed things in the wrong order etc. I'm sure Don will chime in.
> I hope this works for you.
> 
> 73,
> Mark, WB9CIF
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net 
> <elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net> On Behalf Of Don Wilhelm
> Sent: Saturday, April 28, 2018 3:31 PM
> To: W1GO (Joe) <w1go at icloud.com>; Elecraft Reflector 
> <elecraft at mailman.qthnet>
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Infamous red blinking LED
> 
> Joe,
> 
> The blinking red TX LED is an indication of one of 2 conditions.
> First is that the K3 is in TX TEST.  Hold the right side of the MODE button to exit from that.
> 
> The second is that the blinking TX LED is accompanied by an MCU LD indication on the LCD.
> If that is your situation, follow the instructions for "Forcing a Firmware Download" in the manual or in the K3 Utility Help file.
> 
> After you do the power off, reboot computer, and hold power button for
> 10 seconds, you must download new firmware with K3 Utility.
> The condition will persist until new firmware is loaded.
> 
> 73,
> Don W3FPR
> 
>> On 4/28/2018 11:03 AM, W1GO (Joe) wrote:
>> Hi all,
>> 
>> I have the infamous red blinking LED situation and can’t power up the K3S.  I simply opened the K3 utility and “badness” happened.
>> 
>> Anyhow, I tried the prescribed restart of disconnect power source, reboot computer and holder power button for min 10 seconds.  No success.  Any other suggestions?
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