[Elecraft] K3s Transmit question

[Gary Smith]

Hi Bob,

I don't recall if it was from the WSJT-X 
online help page or advice from a K3s user 
but I had my WSJT-X power bar around 80% 
and in the sound manager, both playback & 
recording levels are around 52%.

With that, the line level value in the K3s 
was around 7. After the suggestions 
earlier I moved it to line level 8 and all 
5 bars were solid. To the good, I was not 
having that issue of false transmit and 
needing to jog the power to get output.

I'm willing to follow suggestions and see 
how it goes so I moved the power slider to 
roughly 1/2 way which then required me to 
adjust the line level value on the K3s to 
26. Checking the levels in sound manager, 
they remain at 52. 

At this point the meteors seem to be 
hitting less, the shower may well be over. 
I've only made one Q in the last 20 
minutes and that was an E contact from 163 
miles away. I'm not reading decodes so the 
band is quiet but all seems well, I am 
seeing proper output. 40W drive is putting 
out 900W on 6M with every transmission.

Fingers crossed these changes are the 
solution. I hope these posts help others 
in the future, and thanks for the reply.

Oh... How timely, you & I just started a 
MSK144 Q & at 807 miles. Things are still 
going!  :)

73, 

Gary
KA1J

> Do understand in the K3 & K3S operation the actual output power is
> controlled by the PWR setting on the radio.  The PWR setting on the
> WSJT-X screen is actually audio level.   This should be adjusted
> about mid scale for both TUNE and TRANSMIT. The radio Line Gain will
> then allow you to adjust the udio level such that you have 4 bars
> solid on the ALC  scale.    The 5th bar should be flickering.
> 
> 73
> 
> Bob, K4TAX
> 
> 
> On 8/12/2018 11:23 AM, Gary Smith wrote:
> > Don & Jim,
> >
> > Yes, I do have it set for the DATA A. The
> > bars were with the 5th flickering.
> >
> > I just bumped the line from 7, to 8. Now
> > they are solid bars, no flicker. It does
> > seem to be OK at this moment and perhaps
> > that is what I needed to do. It was
> > intermittent before so will have to wait
> > and see.
> >
> > I'll come back if this does not resolve
> > the issue. Thanks for the input.
> >
> > 73,
> >
> > Gary
> > KA1J
> >
> >
> >> Gary,
> >>
> >> Are you working in DATA A mode, and driving the audio to 4 bars
> >> solid with the 5th bar flickering on the ALC meter?
> >>
> >> That is the No ALC point for the K3/K3S/KX2/KX3.  The lower bars
> >> are there to give you a guide to adjust the audio.
> >>
> >> So the common internet advice not to drive into ALC is being
> >> observed - it is just that to point where that occurs is at a full
> >> 5th bar on the ALC meter.
> >>
> >> Moving the power knob "reactivates" the power control circuits, but
> >> if you do not have enough audio, the power will not be steady - the
> >> radio will "power hunt"
> >>
> >> 73,
> >> Don W3FPR
> >>
> >> On 8/12/2018 11:12 AM, Gary Smith wrote:
> >>> Last night while using the K3s and WSJT-X
> >>> on meteor Scatter in the MSK144 mode I was
> >>> making numerous contacts. I stopped for
> >>> awhile and returned, this time noticing I
> >>> was not putting out any output from the
> >>> amp.
> >>>
> >>> The rig went into the transmit state, and
> >>> the relay engaged on the amp. There was a
> >>> small grid current on the amp as one gets
> >>> with key down and no transmitted signal.
> >>> When I eventually moved the power control
> >>> on the K3s ever so slightly, it
> >>> transmitted properly. I had to do this
> >>> several times but did not notice it
> >>> before.
> >>>
> >>> I re-loaded the factory settings with the
> >>> Elecraft Utility and the issue remains
> >>> albeit it is intermittent. Slightly moving
> >>> the power knob resolves the issue.
> >
> >
> >
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> 
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