Hi Ron, Yes, replacement of the whole RF board would be very time and labor intensive; certainly something that I'd like to avoid at all possible costs. I would rather send the K3 back to Aptos, and use my Icom in the interim, then take the K3 apart to that level.
Just last night, I removed the side panel with handle, the rear panel and everything attached to it. I also removed the KIO3 and transverter board so I could see what was on the other side of the RF board under the choke. Putting it back together, I had to spend some time looking at the manual - not because I couldn't remember how it was assembled, but because I couldn't recall the different screw sizes and types and which holes they thread in to. I can only imagine how much longer it would take me if I had to swap the whole RF board out! Anyway, I've asked Dale to send me two of the RFC4 chokes in case I damage one while performing the swap. If I can't get it right, then I'll send the K3 back to Aptos. 73 de James K2QI On Sun, Nov 14, 2010 at 4:35 PM, Ron D'Eau Claire <[email protected]> wrote: > You handled it just like I would, James, and I've repaired communications > equipment, LF through microwave, professionally as well as built countless > kits and scratch-built Ham rigs, many of my own design. > > I don't know if the fellow behind "The Smiths" built his K3 from a kit, but > you and I both know that replacing the RF board is a big job involving > completely disassembling the K3 back to a "kit" except for the front panel > assembly. I've done it. Time is required, just as with the original > assembly. Rushing, while assuming one remembers exactly what to do, will > certainly lead to time-consuming mistakes. > > RF chokes on leads leading outside the rig are for RF suppression - to keep > RF in or, in this case, certainly to keep RF that might trigger the circuit > out. > > You'd know instantly if there was a problem. Your rig would key when you > operated something else, or stick in transmit if it's own RF trigger the > key > line. > > In your situation I'd replace the choke too, but if it were too difficult > to > get to, I'd add a similar value choke to points I could reach physically as > close to the existing choke as possible. > > 73, > > Ron AC7AC > > > > ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[email protected] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
