[Elecraft] K3S - High SWR on 6 Meters

[Joe Subich, W4TV]

 > Any advice?
 > A spur/oscillation in the KPA3A?
 > A relay stuck/not switching?

Are you sure there is no breakdown in your antenna, feedline or
external antenna switch?  Infinite SWR on the external meter would
indicate an issue beyond it.

Are you seeing the problem on any other band?  with any other antenna?

I recently went through a "High SWR" issue with my K3 that turned out
to be a bad coaxial jumper (between rig and switch that allows me to
switch rigs) even though the jumper does not test bad with an ohm meter
(no shorts, opens or intermittents as either connector is flexed or
twisted).

73,

    ... Joe, W4TV


On 2022-06-13 4:07 PM, N4ST wrote:
> So, received a new KLPA3A & KPA3A from Elecraft in exchange for my old ones
> plus $$.
> Installed the new KLPA3A & KPA3A and passed LP and HP TX Calibration.
> My 6M beam measures 1.06 SWR on analyzer.
> CW Key down, 100W, I get 1.2 on external SWR meter and 1 bar on K3S SWR
> meter.
> With FT8 I'm OK for 1 or 2 transmits and then I get infinity on external SWR
> meter and full scale on K3S SWR meter, but full power out.
> If I switch to a dummy load, I get zero power out (fold back?)
> If I operate FT8 at 8 watts with the beam, I get 1.2 on external SWR meter
> and 1 bar on K3S SWR meter and 8 watts out.
> Going back to CW full power seems to perform a reset.  Everything still fine
> in CW, but now FT8 is OK for 1 or 2 transmits and then high SWR returns.
> 
> Any advice?
> A spur/oscillation in the KPA3A?
> A relay stuck/not switching?
> 
> My TenTec Eagle is carrying the load for me during these 6M openings.
> (46 states worked in last few weeks)
> 
> 
> ___________
> 73,
> Jim - N4ST
>