I'm a bit frustrated! Well actually more than a bit. Q7 on my K2 has blown again! This is the third time it's blown. In each case it's blown after a period of normal operation. This time the conditions were:
1. I'd had two PSK31 qso's earlier in the day. At well over an hour earlier. 2. I was tuning up and down the bands checking on the conditions on various bands, esp. PSK 3. As I went from 15 to 12 meters I heard a loud snap. The rig continued to receive normally 4. Powered off and leaned over to check that the ground was still properly attached. It was. BUT smelled that smell that we never like to smell. The magic smoke had gotten out of something. 5. Measured the ground from several places on the rig to the ground connection as it leaves the house. All showed less than 0.1 ohm. Checked the security of the connection at the ground rod outside. Seems good. 6. Weather conditions at the time: Blowing snow with temps about 20 F. 7. Tried to switch antennas and couldn't do it. 8. Checked the ATU indications on the menu display, the rig shows it not available and won't allow reconnect. (note the number two antenna is the active antenna and goes to a switch, all indications are that this is a working antenna. Receives find on all bands.) 9. Disassembled the K2, no visual indications of problems until a took the heat sink off. (I hate taking that thing off!!!) Q7 is in pieces again. 10. Called Elecraft. Closed for the holidays!!!! (That I expected and find no fault. BUT the Stew Perry Challenge starts in 48 hours and I really don't want to use one of the other rigs for that!!! @#$%^&* ) I suspect static build up on one of the antennas, esp. the 160 dipole that is used for all but 80, 40 and 15 meters. But I was not experiencing unusual static on 20 only moments before. Now to decide whether I want to try the Icom, the Kenwood, or the Yaesu for the Challenge. None of them are even close to the K2s receiver for cw. And I'm going to be doing it as QRP too. Thanks for Listening. Don I suspect you'll be getting 6708 back next week. :-( Then again I might just try installing those four transistors again myself. I really don't like desoldering stuff. de KD0R David ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html