Shure... based on my emails with elecraft i thought i am the only one with this 'features'... ;o) To be honest these issues are not really a big problem for me. Overall this is a unbelievable piece of hardware !
73 de Thomas, DM7TN -----Original Message----- From: Windy Dankoff [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, April 29, 2008 9:19 AM To: Thomas Norff Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 #764 experience and critique Thanks very much, Thomas! Will you please post your reply to the group? I think it will help confirm the need to make some improvements. 73 de Windy KM5Q On Apr 28, 2008, at 11:36 PM, Thomas Norff wrote: > Hi Windy, > > maybe i can share my experiences building my K3 #78. > > point 3: i had the same issue and solved it by replacing the inside- > tooth lock washer with the second nut. That means i first installed > the nut to the encoder and the second one as mentioned in the manual. > This way the encoder is fixed to the front panel. Like it is done with > the VFO B endcoder. The encoder shaft will be 'shorter' and you have > to take care while mounting the knob cause you are missing the second > nut as an arrester. Check the encoder pins ! > > point 4: same here... if you swing the K3 you can hear the large > washer...ignored that... maybe another small washer can prevent that ? > > point 9: i had the chance to check mine with a quite accurate > measurement equipment. At 14.200 MHz i am 7Hz off !! > The alignment method is working... i used a local AM broadcast > station. > > The only issue with my K3 is a not working LED (CUT-LO-LED). The next > time i disassemble it for including the second receiver i will fix > this. > > 73 de Thomas, DM7TN > > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of KM5Q > Sent: Monday, April 28, 2008 8:17 PM > To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net > Subject: [Elecraft] K3 #764 experience and critique > > First, I'm delighted with the whole K3 experience. It's a brilliant > product, worth the wait. > > I have a few issues and suggestions: > > 1. Several times I found myself doing a complex assembly step in my > hands while reading the instructions. An important point would show up > late in the paragraph, and I wished I had read it all first (but I > couldn't resist). If important points were emphasized in BOLD print, I > would have been more likely to read them first. > > 2. The final multi-plugging of the front panel was the only challenge > I experienced. I knew it would be tricky, after reading about it in > the reflector. Because I knew this, I took extra time and did it with > confidence. Had I NOT known it was tricky, I would have felt clumsy > and frustrated. I suggest noting in the instructions that this IS a > tricky step and if the builder is getting tired, take a break first, > and take it SLOW. > > 3. VFO A encoder uses an inside-tooth lock washer on each side of its > mount. > This caused mine to come out slightly off-90° when tightened (using a > box-end wrench). I noticed it only when I mounted the knob with the > felt washer and it rubbed on one side. I spaced it out slightly > further with cardboard. It's OK, but this could have been avoided > somehow. > > 4. Headphone jack on front panel isn't tight enough. Instructions are > to tighten the ring-nut only finger-tight. I have pretty strong > fingers, but that doesn't do the trick. If I use a hex-nut, will it > squeeze the panel too much? > > 5. K3 is advertised as a no-solder kit, so it should not require > soldering (or a $100 crimp tool) to make the Powerpole connection. > That should be done at the factory. > > I soldered mine, using high temp. quickly, so it wouldn't wick much > solder up the cable. A builder who does not have good soldering skills > is likely to have trouble. > > 6. KUSB adapter instructions make no mention of Mac application. > They should > mention that the Prolific.com site has driver download for Mac OSX as > well as other PCs, and that it is necessary. > > 7. When I turn down the compression, the power goes down with it. It > should be equalized. > > 8. When I tune out of a ham band to listen elsewhere, then hit band > switch, band switch will not return to the nearby ham band, but to the > out- of-band frequency. Others reported this a few days ago. I expect > that will get fixed in firmware. > > 9. I did frequency calibration by zero-beat method with WWV. I tuned > the wrong way and didn't know it would take many turns. I didn't write > down the original setting, so I got "lost". I waited until I had a > steadier WWV signal, then went in the other direction and got it > perfect. I suggest that the instructions say that it may take many > turns of the knob, and that you should write down the original setting > first. > > In conclusion, the only issue I'm left with is the loose headphone > jack. Not too bad! > > I have a Kenwood MC-43S fist mike with the 8-pin connector standard. I > plugged it in and it works fine. My first QSO was with another K3 at > the super-station in Visalia :-) I also checked into the Sunday > Elecraft SSB Net. I've gotten all excellent audio reports. > > I just retired my Ten Tec Triton IV. I feel like Rip Van Winkle, > awaking from the 1970's. > Windy KM5Q_______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
