[Elecraft] Weird K-3 Power Behavior

[W3FPR]

According to the DSP software engineer (Lyle Johnson) ALC begins at the 
5th bar, and with the 5th bsr flickering shows no ALC action - 5th on 
solid, it does show some ALC.

To keep the audio drive for digital modes correct set so the 5th bar 
just flickers.  Less than that the audio drive will ramp up and produce 
"power hunting" at the output.  More than that, you will go into 
distortion (ALC Compression) which will not produce the cleanest signal.

The Fred Cady books also agree on that.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 4/6/2024 3:03 PM, Fred Jensen wrote:
> Hmmm ... I thought that the ALC started AT the 5th bar and the first 4 
> bars were sort of a VU-meter.  Hence Don's occasional advice, "4 full 
> bars and the 5th occasionally flickering." I've been known to get 
> things wrong in the past however.
>
> 73,
>
> Fred ["Skip"] K6DGW
> Sparks NV DM09dn
> Washoe County
>
> Bob McGraw wrote on 4/6/2024 8:50 AM:
>> Just to be clear on the point.  The correct audio level should 
>> produce 4 bars indicated on the ALC Scale.  Actual ALC action does 
>> not start until after the 5th bar.
>>
>> Yes, after any power adjustment, the audio system does start at lower 
>> gain, quickly ramping to the desired level.  This is done to prevent 
>> any potential power overshoot.  After the initial transmission at the 
>> new power setting, the remainder of transmissions are at the proper 
>> power level setting.
>>
>> 73
>>
>> Bob, K4TAX
>>
>>
>> On 4/5/2024 5:50 PM, elecraft-request at mailman.qth.net wrote:
>>> Message: 14
>>> Date: Thu, 4 Apr 2024 21:03:20 -0400
>>> From: Pete Smith N4ZR<pete.n4zr at gmail.com>
>>> To:elecraft at mailman.qth.net
>>> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Weird K-3 Power Behavior
>>> Message-ID:<59c02b5d-1800-4a78-9d73-60461d231efb at gmail.com>
>>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed
>>>
>>> I just set the audio to be sure I'm? hitting 4 bars of ALC,and the 
>>> cycle
>>> of adjust K-3 power to full expected drive to the KPA-1500 is now more
>>> like CW, but the question remains -? after I adjust the power a tiny
>>> fraction in either direction, why does the K-3's output power drop way
>>> back and relatively slowly recover?
>>>
>>> 73, Pete N4ZR
>
>
>