[Elecraft] Re:Puffing to keep up with the Nanofarads
Another thread of nits to pick. The only good thing is that solder and soldering/unsoldering utensils are getting a rest. KA5N ___ 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
[Elecraft] Mods, mods, mods for #1107
Yesterday I put the SWR mod in my KPA100 for my K2 #1107 which was purchased on 3-29-2000. No problems and the rig worked fine as usual after the mod. I got to thinking that it seems like I have been doing mods for four years and it must have cost me a fortune. I got out my invoices (I have never thrown ANYTHING away) and ran a total on my mods and the original cost of the K2 and all modules and updates. I have a K2 with a KPA100, a SSB module, a 160 meter module, a noise blanker and a DSP module. Todays price for these is a total of $1344.00. I then ran a total on my K2 with new crystals, PPL mod, 2nd filter mod. BFO mod, shield mod, firmware upgrades, etc., etc. and got a total of $1345.00. So over four years of adding mods (I admit some didn't cost anything) I had to spend a whole dollar more than I could have bought the same end product today. Of course I had four years of use of an outstanding tranceiver and the enjoyment of making the mods and dealing with a company that furnishes free online documentation and service second to none. I think I got my money's worth!! Allen KA5N ___ 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
[Elecraft] Re: K2 BFO Test: BFO low freq is really low
Sounds like the circuit is trying to pull the crystal farther than it will oscillate properly. The crystal might be marginal, the varactor might be flaky or there may be a wrong part in the circuit. The other possiblity is that the waveform of the oscillator is such that the counter circuit may be counting every other cycle (one peak high the next low etc.) and /or the voltage may be low. Low voltage could be caused by a marginal xtal. You need to check with an oscilloscope and and an external counter. You might try slowly lowering the BFO frequency and see if there is a point at which the oscillator goes nuts. My bet is that you need a new crystal. Luck Allen ___ 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
[Elecraft] Re. Trouble with KDSP2, need help.
Suggest you look for solder bridges. The KDSP2 has several close pads that are easy to bridge. I had some problems with the module. In my case it seemed to work but had two solder bridges. My excuse is old eyes. Luck Allen ___ 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
[Elecraft] Re: SSTV and the K2
I have been using the MMSSTV software for some time to receive SSTV (I am not interested in transmitting and just monitoring). I use the headphone jack and get good pictures if the signals are strong enough. With all the MM software you have to figure out how it works by trial and error (lots of trial and plenty of error). The hardest thing is to correctly tune the signal. If you tune the ham's voices correctly then the signal for the picture will be correct. If you put the receive on Auto sometimes it correctly selects the mode (Scottie 1, Scottie 2, etc.) and sometimes not. All the pictures I get are slanted and I have to clean them up after they are received. I find it is fun to play with for a hour or so once in awhile but soon becomes boring (depending on the subject matter of the pictures). Getting it to work correctly is a learning experience. Just a get a strong signal tuned correctly and let it play. Allen ___ 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
[Elecraft] Re: K1 Manual Errata Sheet - add these?
The proposed addition of a note to use only a 3 amp power supply is not really the best way to avoid PCB damage in case of a short. A three amp supply (or most others unless designed to cut off if excessive current is drawn) will supply as much power into a short as it is capable. So if the traces are not vaporized they will still cook until power is removed. This will result in raised traces, carbon paths in PCB's and in general either ruining the PCB or making it unreliable. A fast acting fuse is much better. One should always monitor current when applying power for the first time. Elecraft manuals are far better than the usual kit manual. Like the story of the man who used his new ladder to climb to the roof of his barn and in the winter set the ladder on a pile of frozen horse manure. All was fine until the spring thaw and the then soggy manure caused the man to fall and break a leg. He sued because the ladder manufacturer didn't warn him of setting his ladder on a pile of horse manure. Since a large number of first time or inexperience builders have sucessfully built Elecraft kits and help is only an email away, it seems unnecessary to dumb-up the instruction manuals. (Before anyone gets the vapours, I am not calling anyone who has commented on this thread a dummy) 73 Allen KA5N ___ 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
[Elecraft] Re: Spare parts for K2
I managed to blow a set of K2 finals. One of the mounting screws rusted and the rust shorted one collector to ground (high resistance) so one transistor opened and the other was down to about 3 watts max. I dredged back in memory to a First Telephone License test (when they were still available) to the rules for number of spare tubes required for radio stations. I don't remember the exact numbers but one spare was required for 1-4 tubes, 2 spares for 5-8 tubes (some such numbers). So I went through the K2 schematic and ordered 3 sets of finals, 2 drivers, and some of just about everything ( from RF Parts, Mouser, Newark, Digi-key etc.). After replacing the finals I have yet to need a single spare (about 2 years). There is some moral here connected with Murphy's law or some corollary thereof. I suppose in time there won't be any through-hole parts available and if I am still around I won't be able to see well enough or solder well enough to fix anything anyway. Don't worry, be happy. Allen ___ 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/elecraftHelp: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
[Elecraft] Re: CW Readers and CW Keyboards
CW Get works pretty well when you monitor something like W1AW doing code practice (with strong non-QSBed signal) but on real signals you get drop-outs and a series of e e e e t t tt et te nonsense on very slow unsteady signals. The problem is that it is the best that I have tried! The human head is the best interface for receiving Morse. For keyboard keyers try something from K1EL (http://www.k1el.com) for $25 he has a kit (K-20) that is a keyboard keyer with variable speed, weighing, memories, etc. all you add is the keyboard (inexpensive computer type keyboard) or use it with paddles as a keyer. This unit would make a good keyer for portable operation as no computer interface is required, comsumes little power, and can be powered off the 12 volts for the K2 or whatever. He has several other kits. He is easy to deal with and takes PayPal. I am not associated with K1EL and his business. Allen ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft You must subscribe to post. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, Unsub etc): http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft page: http://www.elecraft.com
[Elecraft] K1 on USB CW
Both the Central Electronics 10B and 20A generated EITHER USB and LSB at 9 MHz. I owned one each of these rigs. Mixed with 5 MHz (or various multiples thereof) one could operate from 80 to 10 meters. You selected the sideband by flipping a switch on the CE unit. The best part was the magic eye on the 20A which was used to indicate the suppression of the carrier and output tuning. Folks tend to forget what great sounding CW came out of these QRP rigs and the amazement of working someone with 5-10 watts. Allen KA5N ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft You must subscribe to post. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, Unsub etc): http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft page: http://www.elecraft.com
