[Elecraft] K3 or K3S - HIGH LEVEL simple "how to" for Field Day

Mon May 19 17:44:22 EDT 2025

AMEN to all points.    I write to ARRL, various officers, and express my 
dismay with the VE program.  They claim it was done to enhance more 
utilization of the spectrum.  Bottom line, it was done to increase 
numbers.  It indeed did that!  Although I seriously question the quality 
of the numbers.  I asked for a number of new hams licensed in the past 
20 years.  Then I ask for a number showing the license non-renewals for 
the same period.  No response.  I figure most drop out due to expense of 
equipment for a hobby or loose interest as it is more work than picking 
up a cell phone to call someone.   If they are not properly taught, the 
interest will clearly diminish.  One on one teaching, Elmering, will 
keep them interested and hopefully learn a bit about operating and radios.

I've been a ham since 1959.  Later this year I will turn 83.  I hope I 
make it to then.  Otherwise, I figure what's hear today is here to 
stay.  Glad I won't have to stir the pot much longer.   My activity has 
migrated to some digital modes and mostly CW.  The CW gets rid of the 
kids and lids, political discussions, and incorrect understanding during 
technical discussions, that is often heard on SSB.

Another Cracker Box Extra scene.  I say Cracker box because it is like 
getting an Extra license as a prize out of a Cracker Jacks box.    I 
witnesses 3 new Extra Class hams constructing a simple 40M center fed 
dipole, coax feed line, for a Field Day station. There was lots of 
discussion about exactly how long it should be, what formula to use, 
etc.  That part was worked out, all agreed, the wire was cut, insulators 
put in the proper places and the coax line attached.  It was pulled into 
the air being suspended between two trees.  They no sooner got it to its 
final height when the coax feed line turned loose at the center 
insulator.   Plop it came to the ground.   It was lowered, repaired and 
pulled back to it height.  Connected to a transmitter the SWR was 
reported to be 15:1.   No where on the band could they find the lowest 
SWR and where the internal ATU would resolve a match.    The 
calculations discussions began again.  All agreed now the antenna was 
too short.  So down it came, some wire added to each end, and back up 
between the trees.  The SWR again was still 15:1.   By now I decided it 
was time to rescue the fellows.  My roll that year at Field Day was 
"technical advisor".    My DVM quickly confirmed the coax was shorted.  
I spun off the outer sleeve of the crimp-on PL-259 and what a mess I 
found.  The shield had some frayed wires in contact with the center 
conductor.  From my toolbox I pulled a new PL-259 and soldering gun.  
Chopped off the defective crimp-on connector, installed the new solder 
on connector with reducer sleeve for the RG-8X and we were almost back 
in business.  At least the SWR was much improved but all the way down to 
7.0. Still 5:1.  Grabbed my analyzer, swept the antenna and sure enough 
it was about 50 ohms at 6.6MHz.  A quick calculation on my part and I 
said "the antenna is 75 ft long, and should be 69.25 ft. So go chop off 
2 ft and 9" from each end".  They stood there in amazement as if I came 
from another world.   They dropped the antenna again, chopped off some 
from each end, pulled it back in the air.  The SWR was now 1.25:1 at 
7.150.    I looked at the 3 of them and said "boys, it is simple high 
school math along with basic troubleshooting".  Later, one of the 
fellows came over to where I was sitting and asked if I could teach him 
that stuff. Well I spent several hours that evening and night with 
clipboard, yellow legal pad and my calculator.  I have no idea if he 
retained any of it.

Skip - Always glad to chat with you..

73

Bob, K4TAX

On 5/19/2025 3:00 PM, Fred Jensen wrote:
> Different club, different place, and different radio but otherwise 
> also my experience almost down to the punctuation as yours, Bob.  I'm 
> too old for FD now, but that was the last time I volunteered any of my 
> gear.
>
> The days when a ham with a couple of years of experience pretty much 
> knew what was going on with the electronic "magic" in front of him are 
> gone now.  They're distant specks in our rear view mirrors and it is 
> foolish to think we can have that era back [all those who have 
> constructed their own current equipment from piece-parts please raise 
> your hands.] 😉  Everything is unpacked from a shipping box these 
> days.  Diagnosing why your new Winkeyer won't key your radio is a big 
> deal for many today ... watch Steve's [K1EL] Winkey email list for a 
> few days if you don't believe me.
>
> Everyone is entitled to their own opinions and beliefs.  One of mine 
> is that the ITU's abandonment of Morse code proficiency for any 
> amateur license with HF privileges was timely, smart, and may have 
> turned the declining new ham licensing rate around. Another of my 
> beliefs is that the FCC's abandonment of the two-year period of 
> on-the-air service for an Extra license was ill-conceived and 
> basically dumb.  Much earlier in my life I held a 2T.  I'd passed the 
> 1T and all I needed was the required service period under a 1T at sea 
> which made incredible sense at the time and still does.  College took 
> precedence over RO-afloat.
>
> Exercise for OT's:  Count the number of front-panel switch/knob 
> functions on your current radio ... then note all those that appeared 
> on your equipment in the 50's/early 60's.
>
> Extra credit:  Do the above for all the MENU functions as well ... oh 
> wait, menus had yet to be invented so everyone gets zero.
>
>
> 73,
>
> Fred ["Skip"] K6DGW - CWops #142
> Sparks NV DM09dn
> Washoe County
>
>> Bob McGraw <mailto:rmcgraw at benlomand.net>
>> Sunday, May 18, 2025 1:05 PM
>> Sounds like a good plan.
>>
>> My Field Day story.  I set up my Tentec Eagle, a manual ATU with 
>> written pre determined values for each band, a power supply, a Bird 
>> 43 power meter, a laptop computer and a multi-wire all band antenna. 
>>   The intent for that station was to work digital modes, AFSK, 
>> Packet, FT-8, etc.  Now mind you, there was an 8.5" x 11" page on the 
>> table in a plastic protector sheet with all of the tuner settings for 
>> the digital segments of the bands, 160M - 10M. All was working 
>> nicely, contacts were rolling in.  About midnight I retreated to my 
>> travel trailer for a nap.  About 2AM I was awaken by a knock on the 
>> door.  The fellow said there was something wrong and they couldn't 
>> make any contacts.  I went to the station location.  There I found 2 
>> EXTRA Class hams pushing buttons and turning knobs.  Sure enough 
>> there was no output indicated on the Bird meter when in the TX mode. 
>> Then I noticed the radio was on 20M and the values for the antenna 
>> tuner were clearly those for 80M.  When I pointed that out, one of 
>> the fellows state "well my tuner changes when I change my radio". 
>> That only cost me a set of final PA devices and about an hour of my 
>> time.
>>
>> For that reason and others, I detest the VE program where a person 
>> walks into an exam session with no license and walks out with an 
>> EXTRA Class license.  Yes, I know the Field Day and club activities 
>> are to teach and get less experienced hams accustomed to the ham 
>> radio environment.  But it just isn't happening. Never has, never 
>> will.   The folks on the air today only know what they think they 
>> know, few will ever read a manual, and most will always believe "old 
>> ham lore" most of which is incomplete or incorrect.    In the same 
>> light, I was asked to teach a segment of a class for new ham 
>> prospects.  When I asked what I would be teaching, the answer came 
>> back "the test".  No thank you, I want no part of that exercise.
>>
>> As long as you have operators clearly familiar with Elecraft radios, 
>> the methods, the terminology and such, you'll be OK. But with the 
>> first comment "that doesn't work like my bla bla bla radio" you're in 
>> trouble.  I know as I worked with (not for) Tentec and did both 
>> hardware and firmware beta testing for 3 of their last models.  When 
>> I decided to go with an Elecraft radio, it was indeed a learning 
>> experience.  For sure, the Elecraft did not operate like any Tentec 
>> I'd ever had on the desk.
>>
>> 73
>>
>> Bob, K4TAX
>>
>>
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>> bemeier at bellsouth.net
>> Sunday, May 18, 2025 9:39 AM
>> Bob and everyone that has responded!
>>
>>
>>
>> I couldn’t agree more. I really appreciate all the comments and 
>> suggestions that have come my way, but even with the best data sheet, 
>> as you say – there are always going to be the “I know how to do 
>> “EVERYTHING on ANY RADIO” folks.
>>
>>
>>
>> So, I am currently going to take a picture of the front of my K3S and 
>> circle / number ONLY the controls that should be touched…. Assuming 
>> one has to touch anything. The areas that I will explain are the 
>> following:
>>
>>
>>
>> Topics:
>>
>>
>>
>> 1. General overview: Push / push hold (yellow markings) differences
>> 2. ON / OFF
>> 3. Band change
>> 4. Filter adjustments (shift / width)
>> 5. Notch Filter
>> 6. AF / RF gain
>> 7. Mode
>> 8. RIT
>> 9. VOX / PTT
>> 10. Antenna selection
>> 11. ATU
>> 12. Lock VFO
>>
>>
>>
>> The first instruction to all users will be “DON’T TOUCH ANYTHING 
>> UNLESS IT IS ONE OF THE FOLLOWING CONTROLS”
>>
>>
>>
>> Fortunately, my K3S will be used ONLY for CW and all CW ops have a 
>> K3, K3s or a K4 😊
>>
>>
>>
>> 73,
>>
>> Bruce N1LN
>>
>>
>>
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>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
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>>
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>
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