ELECRAFT K3 HIGH-PERFORMANCE 160 – 6 METER TRANSCEIVER K144XV 2-METER OPTION INSTALLATION AND OPERATION Revision D July 25, 2011 Copyright © 2011, Elecraft, Inc.
Contents Introduction............................................................................................................................................. 3 Specifications ...................................................................................................................................................... 3 Customer Service and Support ............................................................................................................................
Introduction If your K144XV is already installed in your K3, turn to Using the K144XV on page 18 for operating instructions. The K144XV option adds 144 to 148 MHz receive and 10-watt transmit capability to your K3 via a separate antenna connector on the rear panel. Complete specifications and operating instructions are included in your K3 Owner’s manual. This manual covers both installation and operation of the K144XV option. Only a few basic hand tools are needed (see page 6) to perform the installation.
Customer Service and Support Technical Assistance You can send e-mail to k3support@elecraft.com and we will respond quickly - typically the same day Monday through Friday. Telephone assistance is available from 9 A.M. to 5 P.M. Pacific time (weekdays only) at 831-763-4211. Please use e-mail rather than calling when possible since this gives us a written record of the details of your problem and allows us to handle a larger number of requests each day.
Assembling and Installing the K144XV If you purchased your K3 with the K144XV already installed, turn to Using the K144XV on page 18 for operating instructions. Preventing Electrostatic Discharge Damage There is no climate or work location where the components of your K3 are safe from Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) unless you take specific steps to prevent such damage. Many of the components in your K3 can be damaged by static discharges of only a few volts: far too little for you to notice.
We strongly recommend you take the following anti-static precautions (listed in order of importance) to avoid trouble: Leave ESD-sensitive parts in their anti-static packaging until you install them. The packaging may be a special plastic bag or the component’s leads may be inserted in conductive foam. Parts which are especially ESD-sensitive are identified in the parts list and in the assembly procedures. Wear a conductive wrist strap with a series 1-megohm resistor.
Parts Included The following parts should be included in your kit. Check to ensure you have them all. If any parts are damaged or missing, contact Elecraft for replacements (see Customer Service and Support, page 4). QTY. ELECRAFT PART NO. 1 E850376 K144XV Top Cover (Normally supplied mounted on bottom cover to protect the pc board.) 1 E850379 KPA3 K3 Fan Panel (Top) 1 E100288 1 E100215 1 E100222 QTY. ELECRAFT PART NO.
DESCRIPTION QTY. ELECRAFT PART NO. TMP Cable, 6-Inch (15.2 cm) marked near the connector at each end.(Typically the marking will be in color. White is shown here for clarity.) 1 E850389 Serial Cable Assembly 1 E850369 Screw, Pan Head, Zn, 4-40 1/4” (6.4 mm) 5 E700005 Screw, Flat Head, Black, 6-32 1/4” (6.
Installation Procedure Removing the K3Top Cover Disconnect power and all cables from your K3. Remove the nine screws to free the top cover as shown in Figure 1. After the cover is open, lift it gently to reach the speaker wire connector. Unplug the speaker then set the top cover aside in a safe place. Whenever you remove screws from a panel, if one screw seems too tight to loosen without damaging it, first loosen the other screws then try again.
Remove the K3’s left side panel (the side with the handle). Check the panel to determine whether it has the three mounting holes for the K144XV module shown in Figure 2. The three mounting holes may have screws in them: If the side panel does not have the mounting holes, move the handle onto the new side panel with the required holes furnished with your K144XV kit. If the side panel has the three holes, remove the 6-32 flat head screws filling them.
Solder the male half of the one –pin connector to the via (copper plated hole through the board) near the front right area of the K3 main RF board just behind the front panel shield as shown in Figure 4. That via may be occupied on some K3’s. If so, use the alternate location shown. Mounting the connector may be done by standing the K3 on its left side and inserting the connector in the hole in the pc board. Carefully solder the pin to the copper via on the bottom.
If you have a K3/10 with its blank rear panel, go on to the next step with a square check box. If you have a K3/100, move the circuit breaker and the fans from the existing panel onto the new panel with the ANT 3 hole as follows: Transfer the fans to the new panel. The fans are held in place by four flat-head screws with the heads on the inside surface of the fan panel. There are two different types of hardware used on the fans.
If you have a K3/100, skip this step. If you have a K3/10 with the blank rear panel, replace it as follows: Install the TMP cable with a BNC connector at one end on the blank panel. Remove the nut and lock washer (if on the BNC) and thread the cable through the ANT3 hole in the panel from the side with the ANT3 legend, then replace the lock washer and nut. Tighten the nut to hold the BNC securely.
Lift the top cover off of the K144XV module and connect the cables as follows (See Figure 7). The top cover is supplied fitted but not screwed onto the module. CAUTION DO NOT touch the small red coils on the K144XV pc board. Doing so will disturb the alignment and compromise the performance of your K144XV. Connect the cable from the rear panel ANT3 connector. Connect the marked cable from the KXV3A module to the IF IN connector on the K144XV board.
Install the top cover on the K144XV module. Ensure the lip fits outside the bottom cover on all three sides, then secure the cover with five 4-40 1/4” (6.4mm) zinc pan head screws as shown in Figure 8. Figure 8. Installing the K144XV Module Top Cover. Connect the power cable you assembled earlier to the one-pin connector you installed on the RF board and the 3-pin connector on the K144XV module as shown in Figure 9. Figure 9. Installing K144XV Power Cable.
Replace the chassis stiffener using the screws you removed earlier. If your original stiffener lacks the cutout required for the K144XV as shown in Figure 10, use the stiffener supplied with your K144XV kit. Figure 10. Chassis Stiffener for K144XV. Enabling the K144XV Module The following steps configure your K3 for use with the K144XV option. Reconnect power to your K3 and turn it on. Hold CONFIG and note the K3 firmware revision displayed. It must read 4.12 or later.
Turn the K3 off, then on again while watching the status LED on the K144XV module. It should flash once or twice when power is applied. That indicates normal operation. If it does anything else, refer to Status Light on page 19. Turn to Frequency Calibration on page 19 and follow those instructions enter the calibration data on the K144XV module top cover label into the K3’s configuration menu. After confirming your K144XV is operating normally, we strongly recommend you check the Elecraft web site (www.
Using the K144XV The K144XV 2-meter option adds full coverage of the 2-meter band (144-148 MHz) to the K3. The K144XV is a transverter, taking RF in the 28-30 MHz range from the K3, converting and amplifying it to provide up to 10 watts RF output in the two meter band. Two meter signals received by the K144XV are down-converted to the 28-30 MHz range and passed on to the K3 receiver. (The 28-30 MHz range is referred to as the I.F., or intermediate frequency.
Frequency Calibration There are two local oscillators in the K144XV that control the receive and transmit frequencies. One is active from 144 to 146 MHz and the other is active from 146 to 148 MHz. Both oscillators must be calibrated to provide an accurate frequency display across the band. The calibration is done by entering a frequency offset in the K3’s configuration menu (this was done at the factory if you purchased your K3 with the K144XV already installed).
Using External Transverters with the K144XV The K144XV may be used with higher-frequency converters and the KXV3 interface will provide band data to control the external transverter. The CONFIG:XV1 ADR menu selects the band data to be sent. The default for the K144XV is Int. Trn0. Int. Trn0 through Int. Trn9 provides band information for external transverters. See Band Data in the K3 Owner’s manual for details about the data signals.
When the download is complete, turn the K3 off, wait at least 10 seconds, then turn it on again while watching the STATUS LED. Verify that the STATUS LED flashes once or twice and then turns off, indicating normal operation. Turn the K3 off, unplug the RS232 cable from the K144XV and replace the K3’s top cover. Be sure to connect the loudspeaker (see Replacing the Top Cover on page 17). Turn the K3 on again and confirm that the K144XV transmits and receives normally.
DC Power On Antenna Cable During Transmit A jumper is provided to add +5VDC to the antenna cable center conductor during transmit if desired. The load must not draw more than 1 mA. The jumper is P8 on the K144XV pc board. To access the jumper, remove the K3 top cover (see Figure 1on page 9), then remove the K144XV top cover (see Figure 8on page15). Place the shorting block over both pins of P8. Note: There are two other jumpers, P2 and P3, on the K144XV pc board that are provided for future use.
