[Elecraft] Possible K3s TX failure - distorted audio

[marvwheeler at nwlink.com]

I think it is possible that those who are happy with Elecraft legendary
support are the same people that have realistic expectations.

Marv
KG7V

-----Original Message-----
From: elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net <elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net> On
Behalf Of Peter Dougherty (W2IRT)
Sent: Wednesday, November 14, 2018 2:14 PM
To: Gary at ka1j.com; Elecraft at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Possible K3s TX failure - distorted audio

Well here we are two weeks later. The radio's been sitting in the repair
queue since Nov. 1st and hasn't even been looked at yet according to the
phone call I just placed. Still waiting to experience that legendary
Elecraft support that everybody here raves about. To have a radio that I
went four years into debt to buy fail catastrophically after two years of
extremely light use isn't something I signed up for. Sorry for venting, but
I basically lost a chance at setting a personal best in CQWW-SSB and now CW
seems out of the question too, although thankfully a loaned Flex 6500 has at
least kept me on the air.

----------------------------------------------------
Regards,
Peter Dougherty, W2IRT

-----Original Message-----
From: elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Gary Smith
Sent: Sunday, October 28, 2018 8:58 PM
To: Elecraft at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Possible K3s TX failure - distorted audio

Peter,

I had that issue with the K3s, same kind of issue. I'd sent it in maybe 3
months ago for some warranty work & work on the PA I believe it was, but
hadn't used the SSB for the same reasons as you. I heard no issue in the
headphones listening to Monitor but got many reports of a terrible signal. I
bought a HM4 mic thinking that was the issue but the new mic did no better.

I ran the backup K3 and got excellent
reports with the KM4 mic so knew the issue was in the K3s. It's in
California, in Queue right now.

Your issue may be different.

73,

Gary
KA1J


> Hi all.
> Early into CQWW this weekend I was getting reports of extremely 
> distorted audio from my K3s. Being mostly a CW (and 6m FT8) operator I 
> wasn't sure what was going on. I figured it was RF, but it was 
> happening at all power levels, from QRP to 100W, and QRO with my 
> KPA-1500. Same (bad) audio, just stronger/weaker signals. All bands 
> were equally bad.
> 
> I ended up going from the radio directly to the tower, physically 
> bypassing the amp and tuner, and only running low power, with the same 
> result. It sounded more like distorted audio than RF ingress.
> 
> Some troubleshooting by Dave, WO2X, who is a Flex owner: He remoted in 
> to his Flex a few miles away and noticed my garbled signal was 
> absolutely dirty and wide, despite low mic gain and little or no 
> compression. The audio sounded clean through the monitor, so it wasn't 
> the audio chain. He's speculating I may have a blown FET in the PA 
> stage.
> 
> We put in a Flex 6500 temporarily and it seems to be running fine.
> Wondering if anybody here has had experience with this, and if so, 
> what are my next steps?
> 
> Thanks in advance.
> 
> ---------------------------------------------
> 73 and Good DX
> Peter, W2IRT
> 
> K3s S/N 10023
> 
> 
> ______________________________________________________________
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> gary at ka1j.com
> 



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