[Elecraft] K3 Power-hunting on FT8

[Dan Violette]

Yes, it hunts for a couple seconds first time on a change (freq, mode,
power, turn on).  Elecraft mentioned it has to do with it setting its power
level (it works a bit to get stabilized and not noticed normally).  After
the first TX time it will be fine.

 

Dan KI6X

 

Message: 14

Date: Thu, 20 Jul 2023 17:16:47 -0400

From: Pete Smith N4ZR <pete.n4zr at gmail.com <mailto:pete.n4zr at gmail.com> >

To: Elecraft List <elecraft at mailman.qth.net
<mailto:elecraft at mailman.qth.net> >

Subject: [Elecraft] K3 Power-hunting on FT8

Message-ID: <caff765b-c334-0990-072f-a2e7f163207e at gmail.com
<mailto:caff765b-c334-0990-072f-a2e7f163207e at gmail.com> >

Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed

 

I've recently started operating FT8, and on advice from other K3 users, have
been adjusting the power slider in WSJT-X to a level just short of or just
into the first flickers of ALC.? I did this because I was advised that
setting the slider for 4 or 5 bars of ALC generated junk in the FT8
passband.? I am running the K3 in Data A mode

 

Since I did this, I've noticed strange (to me, anyway) behavior from my K3.?
When WSJT-X starts an FT8 transmit cycle, after I have just switched to the
current band or changed the power slider in WSJT-X or the PWR control on my
K-3, the K3's power output starts essentially at zero and slowly ramps up
through 1- 1 1/2 FT8 transmit cycles.? Once it reaches the expected level,
subsequent transmissions stay at that level.

 

I've been told (not by Elecraft) that this behavior is a result of the K3's
firmware "hunting" for the right power level, but such a slow and
repetitious behavior doesn't fit with the rest of what I've come to expect
from my K3.? It doesn't happen on CW or SSB either. So what's going on?

 

-- 

73, Pete N4ZR