[Elecraft] KX1 LED noise
I am experiencing a static like noise level when the LED is lit. The noise is significant enough to cover up any weak signal. I almost have to tune, wait for it to time out and see if anyone is there. It doesn't occur on all frequencies, it is random. Sometimes on 80M, I have noise when the LED is out and nice and quiet when it is on. I have the 80M and firmware upgrades. Any suggestions would be appreciated. 73, N7NSD Norm Havercroft KX1 #149 ___ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K2 near the sea: leave on or not?
I live on the southern shore of Fidalgo Island where the fresh salt air turns metal of most sorts into new colors. In order to minimize corrosion I have come up with the following technique. After all the soldering and close trimming is done on a project, I go back over every lead end and give it a touch of solder to cover those copper ends that are anxious to turn green. It takes less than a second on each component lead. Doing so also makes for a very smooth board. Next comes a very thorough cleaning with Q tips, tooth brush and denatured alcohol the remove all the flux. After cleaning, I give the board a thin coating of Boeshield, an anti-corrosion spray developed by Boeing Aircraft. If you use the thin red extension "straw" and very gently depress the spray button, you can get a very thin coating on the board without getting it on the components. Quickly tipping the board back and forth will cover everything before the solvent flashes off. You can also just spray some into a small cup and use Q tips to apply if you are wary of variable caps. After it dries, you can either leave it with a slightly waxy coating or wipe it down with no loss of protection. I have 20 year old projects that look as bright and shiny as the day the were built. This stuff works well to keep tools from rusting. I also use it on boat electrical systems with great success. And no, I don't own Boeing. 72/73, N7NSD Norm ___ 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] SGC ADSP1 into a K2
In rummaging through my miscellaneous odd parts I came across an ADSP1 that was formerly in an SGC-2020. Has anyone been successful in installing one of these in a K2? The connections are for audio in +/-, audio out +/-, 12v +/- and a control line, which when grounded, turns the unit on. Will the firmware and the KAF2 work with this in such a way as to allow me to use either a preprogrammed instruction or one of the option switches? I have all this space on the left side of the radio just begging to be filled up. 73, N7NSD Norm Havercroft ___ 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] K2 accessory installation and calibration
Greetings all! I have recently finished up building #5107 and got it on the air with no smoke (yahoo). After spending the last week building all of the below accessories, I am ready to start installing and calibrating them. In what order should I do the RF board mods, install and calibrate. I have already figured out that the battery is going in last. Any advise from those that do this a lot would be appreciated. I want to get everything in and working so that I can make a field trip to my local marine electronics guru who has offered the use of his bench to get everything dialed in. KAF2 KNB2 KSB2 K160RX KAT2 KBT2 KIO2 Two errata notes: the instructions on split ring placement for KAT2 are very un-clear. Also in KAT2, C60 and C45 are way too fat for J5 to fit. I ended up using the small blue ones of the same value. The recent batch of the square brick colored ones need to go on a diet. I am also going to use the now obsolete upper transverter holes for smart charger input to the SLA (direct, no diode and resister) and a main switch12v accessory out. I am building an LED night light. My KX1 convinced me I can't live without it. I found some 2.1 mm power jacks that fit nicely with just a touch of file work. I want to fuse both lines and am curious about the re-settable fuse used in the K2. Would this be the right part to use? 73, N7NSD Norm Havercroft PS ...haven't had this much radio fun in a long time. ___ 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: KX1 Ideas
Some time ago I got a spare back half of the case into which I installed four 3V lithium cells (CR 123) in two groups of two. They are positioned in place of the AA holders. Right now I am using my trusty hot glue gun to hold them in place while perfecting a good holder that is a little more elegant. Most drug stores sell these lithiums for about $7.00 each but I buy them in a lot of a dozen for about a buck a piece. Google will lead you to good prices on these. In lots of 500 you can even get the for as little as $0.83 each. They are lighter, cheaper and higher output (more watts baby!) than the AA cells. I am also prototyping a Li-Poly back that will give good output and very rapid re-charge. I am becoming Scott's biggest customer for KX1 backs. When (OK, if and when) I finally figure out a holder for the CR 123s, I'll post some pictures. 73, N7NSD Norm ___ 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] K2 T3 windings
Last night while doing a final visual inspection of the RF board, I noticed that I somehow managed to scrape a bare spot in the insulation of one of the bifilar windings of T3. It is not in any danger of shorting, but this rig is going on a boat and that little bit of bare copper is going to be green and fuzzy in no time unless I either replace it or patch up the insulation. It is where the winding makes the last turn around the toroid on it's way to the PC board. Is there anything I can use like fingernail polish that will do the job without adversely affecting the part, or is it re-wind time? Thanks 73, N7NSD Norm ___ 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] K2 battery switch
Greetings! I am finishing up a new K2 with internal battery and would like to use a DPDT switch in place of the supplied one so that I can either connect or bypass the in-line diode and resistor in the battery wiring depending on what power supply I am using. Has anyone found a substitute DPDT switch that matches the footprint of the stock one? Thanks 73, N7NSD Norm ___ 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] K2 front panel board rubber spacers
Greetings! Spent the weekend on a new K2. After finishing up the front panel board, the little rubber spacers kept falling off the PC board. They stick, just not very well. After one of them fell off for the third time, I tried to pick up the backing paper off my desk with plans to deal with it later only to discover the paper square firmly glued in place. After pealing it up, it no longer has any interest in transfering the thin adhesive to the pad. Is it time for super glue? Any suggestions would be welcome. 73, N7NSD Norm ___ 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
