RE: [Elecraft] GREAT alignment tool
That's a FB find RC. Thanks. I have a set of ceramic screwdriver alignment tools I got from E.F. Johnson back in the 1980's for aligning their 900 MHz repeater transmitters used in land mobile service. They tools are great but brittle, as you might expect from ceramic. Almost all of my blades are now missing a corner from failing to get them aligned exactly with a screw that was required a bit too much torque. It is true that when the trimmer caps are properly installed in most circuits in Elecraft rigs, a metal screwdriver will not alter the tuning. The orientation is such that the screw is at d-c and signal ground. However, even when the use of a metal screwdriver doesn't change the adjustment, it's nice to poke at a live circuit with a non-metallic tool that can't short or cause other issues! And the ceramic tools are invaluable when even the screw adjustment isn't at ground potential. Ron AC7AC -Original Message- Gang I found this alignment tool and it does a super job of adjusting those caps in the KX1. with a 2mm flat tip and being ceramic it does not detune the circuits. Just a satisfied customer http://www.mtechnologies.com/tools/#align de RC KC5WA/AE ___ 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] GREAT alignment tool
The plastic versions which have a small blade poking out at one end and recessed at the other are also useful for tweaking circuits working at HF and low - mid VHF, ceramic better for higher frequencies such as 900 MHz that you mention. The recessed blade makes getting proper alignment dead easy and prevents the blade slipping off while tweaking. 73, Geoff GM4ESD Ron D'Eau Claire wrote: That's a FB find RC. Thanks. I have a set of ceramic screwdriver alignment tools I got from E.F. Johnson back in the 1980's for aligning their 900 MHz repeater transmitters used in land mobile service. They tools are great but brittle, as you might expect from ceramic. Almost all of my blades are now missing a corner from failing to get them aligned exactly with a screw that was required a bit too much torque. It is true that when the trimmer caps are properly installed in most circuits in Elecraft rigs, a metal screwdriver will not alter the tuning. The orientation is such that the screw is at d-c and signal ground. However, even when the use of a metal screwdriver doesn't change the adjustment, it's nice to poke at a live circuit with a non-metallic tool that can't short or cause other issues! And the ceramic tools are invaluable when even the screw adjustment isn't at ground potential. Ron AC7AC -Original Message- Gang I found this alignment tool and it does a super job of adjusting those caps in the KX1. with a 2mm flat tip and being ceramic it does not detune the circuits. Just a satisfied customer http://www.mtechnologies.com/tools/#align de RC KC5WA/AE ___ 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 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] GREAT alignment tool
Quite right, Geoff, when they fit! I've found that is often not the case, especially in situations like the KX1 where the alignment screw is behind another board that has a small access hole in it. Often the access hole isn't big enough to accommodate the larger-diameter tool or the alignment of the screw adjustment isn't exact, putting it near one edge of the hole. That's where I'm digging for my ceramic tools. But, as you noted, those tools are more robust and the tiny metal 'blade' isn't big enough to detune the circuit. In my experience the worst choice, in terms of potential damage caused by a slip, is a plain metal shaft screwdriver. If I must reach for the screw through other boards or close to other component leads I'll either go for the ceramic tool or wrap some electrical tape around the shaft of a metal screwdriver, leaving only the tip exposed to slip into the slot on the screw. Ron AC7AC -Original Message- The plastic versions which have a small blade poking out at one end and recessed at the other are also useful for tweaking circuits working at HF and low - mid VHF, ceramic better for higher frequencies such as 900 MHz that you mention. The recessed blade makes getting proper alignment dead easy and prevents the blade slipping off while tweaking. 73, Geoff GM4ESD ___ 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] GREAT alignment tool
Whatever happened to plastic knitting needles that we would shape? David G3UNA - Original Message - From: Geoffrey Mackenzie-Kennedy [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Ron D'Eau Claire [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cc: Elecraft Discussion List elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Sunday, March 25, 2007 5:13 PM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] GREAT alignment tool The plastic versions which have a small blade poking out at one end and recessed at the other are also useful for tweaking circuits working at HF and low - mid VHF, ceramic better for higher frequencies such as 900 MHz that you mention. The recessed blade makes getting proper alignment dead easy and prevents the blade slipping off while tweaking. 73, Geoff GM4ESD Ron D'Eau Claire wrote: That's a FB find RC. Thanks. I have a set of ceramic screwdriver alignment tools I got from E.F. Johnson back in the 1980's for aligning their 900 MHz repeater transmitters used in land mobile service. They tools are great but brittle, as you might expect from ceramic. Almost all of my blades are now missing a corner from failing to get them aligned exactly with a screw that was required a bit too much torque. It is true that when the trimmer caps are properly installed in most circuits in Elecraft rigs, a metal screwdriver will not alter the tuning. The orientation is such that the screw is at d-c and signal ground. However, even when the use of a metal screwdriver doesn't change the adjustment, it's nice to poke at a live circuit with a non-metallic tool that can't short or cause other issues! And the ceramic tools are invaluable when even the screw adjustment isn't at ground potential. Ron AC7AC -Original Message- Gang I found this alignment tool and it does a super job of adjusting those caps in the KX1. with a 2mm flat tip and being ceramic it does not detune the circuits. Just a satisfied customer http://www.mtechnologies.com/tools/#align de RC KC5WA/AE ___ 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 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 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] GREAT alignment tool
Please don't misunderstand me, I like to use my ceramic tools as well. 73, Geoff GM4ESD - Original Message - From: Ron D'Eau Claire [EMAIL PROTECTED] Quite right, Geoff, when they fit! I've found that is often not the case, especially in situations like the KX1 where the alignment screw is behind another board that has a small access hole in it. Often the access hole isn't big enough to accommodate the larger-diameter tool or the alignment of the screw adjustment isn't exact, putting it near one edge of the hole. That's where I'm digging for my ceramic tools. snip ___ 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
