[Elecraft] K3 Abnormal Behavior

[kennedyjp]

Thanks Frank, I will do as you suggested.  JimW7OUU Sent via the Samsung Galaxy S9+, an AT&T 5G Evolution capable smartphone
-------- Original message --------From: donovanf at starpower.net Date: 12/2/19  13:57  (GMT-07:00) To: elecraft <elecraft at mailman.qth.net> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Abnormal Behavior Hi Jim,The symptom you observed is exactly how the K3 normally operateswhen the audio level is too low.The correct way to set up your audio level to:- place the K3 in TX TEST mode- click the TUNE button on the WSJT-X main screen- adjust the audio level to display four bars with the fifth bar flickering  on the ALC display.   The K3 COMP display should read zero.- click the WSJT-X TUNE button once more- place the K3 in TX NORMAL mode- set the K3 PWR control for desired output power.- NEVER use the WSJT-X power slider or the K3 MIC control to   adjust the output power.  Use them only to maintain four barswith the fifth bar flickering on the K3 ALC displayGood luck!73FrankW3LPL From: "Jim Kennedy" <kennedyjp at cableone.net>To: "donwilh" <donwilh at embarqmail.com>Cc: "elecraft" <elecraft at mailman.qth.net>Sent: Monday, December 2, 2019 8:29:43 PMSubject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Abnormal BehaviorHi again Don, this morning on a cold start the K3 power indicator tracked with the Bird watt meter. Technically competent and not one to give up easily I continued to trouble shoot almost to the verge of paralysis analysis. I put the K3 on the bench and lashed it up as it were in the station including Tigertronics USB digital interface. Fired it up and again had low power slowly climbing operating in FT8 using the tune tab in the WSJT program to key the rig. Hmmm better check SSB,FM,CW,AM modes. What the "H" I got full output on the Bird 43 !!! Back to TX Data mode. Hit the tune tab in FT8 and power coming up slowly again ?? Something wrong in the TX DATA mode ?? Well as it turns out, somehow the TX audio setting on the Tigertroncis USB interface got reduced and it was a simple matter of not enough transmit audio in TX Data mode. Turned up TX audio on the Tigertronics USB interface less than one division and "voila" full power output. I'm still a little puzzled about the symp toms but for now my K3 is back in operation. Thanks to everyone who offered suggestions and help. This is a great group of hams.  Excuse me while I go wipe the egg off my face. Jeesh !JimW7OUU   ----- Original Message -----From: "Jim Kennedy" <kennedyjp at cableone.net>To: "donwilh" <donwilh at embarqmail.com>Cc: "elecraft" <elecraft at mailman.qth.net>Sent: Sunday, December 1, 2019 4:46:00 PMSubject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Abnormal BehaviorHi Don, I have checked it with both my Bird 43 and Daiwa CN801. Both with the same results. Now with the K3 warmed up there is no problem. I will have to wait for another cold start since I didn't even bother to see if the power meter in the K3 was tracking with the other two. I'll post again when on a cold start if the K3 tracks the same.Tnx es 73'sJimW7OUU----- Original Message -----From: "Don Wilhelm" <donwilh at embarqmail.com>To: "Jim Kennedy" <kennedyjp at cableone.net>, "elecraft" <elecraft at mailman.qth.net>Sent: Sunday, December 1, 2019 11:09:08 AMSubject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Abnormal BehaviorJim,How were you observing the power increase?  There is a big difference in how your situation can be analyzed depending on whether the power increase is noted by the K3 display or whether with an external wattmeter.I am not saying that you have no problem, but that the area to look can be different depending on how you observe the power increase.73,Don W3FPROn 11/30/2019 1:26 PM, Jim Kennedy wrote:> Fired up my K3 the last couple of mornings and noticed this. As the autotuner was searching for a solution the power output was slowing rising. Not so unusual right . But, after the tuner made a match the K3 was reading about 40w of output. I went into tune mode again (key down), the antenna was matched 1:1 but the output was slowly coming up so I let it continue. A slow climb to full output after about a minute or so was achieved. I have eliminated the tuner as the problem by using it on another transceiver. I'm thinking it may be a heat related issue somewhere, my guess is it's possibly on the PA board and possibly a solder problem, but then again it could be that same issue anywhere in the drive chain. If I don't transmit for a period of time it will repeat but not as bad as from a cold start. No other abnormal behavior has been noted. Any ideas ? Thanks in advance. Serial # 3378______________________________________________________________Elecraft mailing listHome: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraftHelp: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htmPost: mailto:Elecraft at mailman.qth.netThis list hosted by: http://www.qsl.netPlease help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.htmlMessage delivered to kennedyjp at cableone.net______________________________________________________________Elecraft mailing listHome: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraftHelp: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htmPost: mailto:Elecraft at mailman.qth.netThis list hosted by: http://www.qsl.netPlease help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.htmlMessage delivered to donovanf at starpower.net