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Elecraft KX3 Cheatsheet
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elecraft-kx3-cheatsheet.md

Elecraft KX3 Cheatsheet

The KX3 transceiver is designed for HF amateur band operation. The KX3 natively supports 160m - 6m.

An optional 2m accessory can extend the band support to 2m, though the installation of that accessory is a more intensive, electronics hobbyist task.

WARNING

As with all radios, do not transmit when the antenna is disconnected. Avoid touching the antenna or feed line when transmitting. Power down the radio and disconnect the feed line when making antenna adjustments.

Avoid excessive temperatures:

  • When charging internal batteries, select 4 hours or less. Only charge when necessary.
  • After transmitting for a few hours, cease transmission to let the radio cool off.
  • Optionally, install a heat sink over the top edge of the transceiver.

COMMON ACCESSORIES

  • Elecraft USB-A to 3.5mm TRS data cable
  • Elecraft PTT microphone
  • CW paddles
  • 3.5mm TRS audio cables
  • Microsoft Windows laptop
  • portable speaker with 3.5mm TRS auxiliary audio input jack
  • Hosa GMM-105 3.5mm 1-to-5 Knucklebones Signal Splitter

PRIMARY INTERFACE

Power on / Power off: Press and hold Band-. Then press and hold ATU Tune. Finally, release both buttons. Recommend to habitually press the Band- button first, in order to avoid accidentally tuning, especially when antennas / feed lines are disconnected.

Main menu access: Press, hold, release DISP.

Navigation: VFO knob.

Value selection: Frequency knob.

Confirm main menu selection: Press, hold, release DISP.

Mode selection: Press and release MODE.

Antenna tuning: Press and release ATU TUNE. Optionally, tune a second time.

Assign the same frequency in A to B: Press and release A>B.

Swap frequencies A and B: Press and Release A/B.

Most buttons and knobs feature additional menus via quick press and release; as well as press, hold, and release.

Charging

  • KX3 requires 8x AA internal batteries in order to boot up, even when using an external power source.
  • Prefer 8 x NiMH rechargeable AA internal batteries (nominal 1.2V).
  • Set low battery threshold to 8 x 1.2V = 9.6V.
  • Recommend Adafruit USB Type C 3.1 PD to 5.5mm Barrel Jack Cable - 15V 5A Output adapter for either internal battery charging, or continuous external power supply.
  • Recommend FXLION Nano ONE V Mount Battery 14.8V as a more convenient power source than the internal batteries. This also keeps the internal batteries in reserve as an emergency backup.
  • When using USB Type C AC wall adapters to charge internal KX3 batteries, disconnect other devices. Many wall adapters lack sufficient output power to charge the KX3 and other devices simultaneously.

Internal Battery Charging Operation

  1. Power on the KX3. (This requires a minimum level of internal battery charge remaining.)
  2. Open the main menu.
  3. Select BAT CHG.
  4. Select 4 hours.
  5. Optionally, power down. The screen will show a charge countdown timer.

Update Firmware Operation

  1. Ensure KX3 has sufficient internal battery charge (no low battery warning).
  2. Connect Elecraft USB-A to 3.5mm TRS data cable from a computer to the ACC1 3.5mm TRS data input jack.
  3. Launch the Elecraft utility application.
  4. Download the latest primary and DSP firmware from Elecraft.
  5. Extract the firmware files to a known file system path.
  6. Use the Elecraft utility application to import the file system path.
  7. Check the KX3 installed vs latest cached firmware versions.
  8. Optionally, backup KX3 user configuration.
  9. Update firmware. This can take several minutes.

Phone Operation

  1. Select an appropriate band.
  2. Select an appropriate frequency.
  3. Tune the antenna.
  4. Monitor the frequency for the noise floor. Optionally, adjust the AF/RF-SQL/MON knob to the desired speaker volume.
  5. Use the main menu to enable MIC BIAS.
  6. Use the main menu to set MIC BTN to PTT.
  7. Connect a PTT microphone to the MIC 3.5mm TRS audio input jack.
  8. Use the Keyer/Mic/Pwr knob to lower microphone gain, about 22 dB.
  9. Press the microphone PTT button. Repeat "Test " at a comfortable volume, while adjusting the microphone gain, until the ALC meter reads about 5 bars.
  10. Call CQ, join nets, respond to CQ, etc.

Digital Operation

  1. Use the main menu to disable MIC BIAS.
  2. Use the main menu to disable MIC BTN.
  3. Connect Elecraft USB-A to 3.5mm TRS data cable from a computer to the ACC1 3.5mm TRS data input jack.
  4. Launch WSJTX or similar amateur radio data application.
  5. Set the computer's CAT to COM3.

RESOURCES

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