Lee, After doing the mod you are contemplating I formulated a new rule for the WE5ST shack - never touch another SMD. Once I had the mod in place, it wasn't that big a difference - not worth the risk to me. My P3 worked fine before the mod and for the kind of operating I do it was more that good enough.
I replaced the SMD with a leaded resistor supplied. I made it and the rig is working fine - huge surprise to me. It's the ugliest soldering job I ever did and I'm really happy I did not damage the board. I had a small iron, magnifier, etc. But I plan to leave that to the pros if the need ever arises. I see fine, used a good magnifier/light combo, have pretty steady hands and have done a lot of soldering. For me, the risk is too high. I would prefer to pull the board and send it back for modification. That said - I suspect the replacement may have been already made since you sent the rig back before. ________________________________ From: Lee Buller <[email protected]> To: Elecraft Reflector <[email protected]> Sent: Thu, April 19, 2012 9:20:03 AM Subject: [Elecraft] SMT and the K3 - Nerves I have SN 443 - an early model of the K3. It has been back to Aptos for updates. Now then, I just got at P3 and included in that is a kit that that changes a resistor on the K3 to give 10 db more to the P3. It is SMT, but they also include a small resistor if you don't want to use the SMT resistor. Now I have visors and I have magnifying glass on an arm....but LOOKING at this procedure and the K3....it gives megreat pause. This is a whole new game for me from the K2. I have huge hands and this just makes me nervous. Somebody.....make me un-nervous about clipping off an SMT resistor and replacing it with either another SMT (Like that is going to happen - NOT) or the little resistor. Lee - K0WA Nervous in Kansas In our day and age it seems that Common Sense is in short supply. If you don't have any Common Sense - get some Common Sense and use it. If you can't find any Common Sense, ask for help from somebody who has some Common Sense. Is Common Sense divine? Common Sense is the image of the Creator expressing revealed truth in my mind. - John W. (Kansas) Never interfere with anything that isn't bothering you. ______________________________________________________________ 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 ______________________________________________________________ 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
