Nobody at my house cares about radio stuff, so I have to share this with somebody!!
I am putting together my K1 and have gotten to the point where I install L1 to perform the "VFO Range Test". Of course I just HAD to plug in an antenna to see if this thing can hear, so I push the ON/OFF button and ... ... ... IT'S ALIVE!!!! How exciting, I just listened to 40 CW all night, did VFO range tests, and went to bed. I peaked all the trimmers "by ear" by transmitting 2 watts from my big rig (into a dummy load); there must be a more scientific way to do this. But so far so good. At 5 watts I think what will keep me back is NOT that last dB I lose from bad tweeking of the caps! My only snags: 1. I did not have a DMM and assumed my analog Radio Shack meter would do. The RatShack meter gave me crazy readings, went to Amazon and got an Equus 3320 Autorange DMM for $21 and BINGO, all readings were right on. 2. I could not get VFO frequency up to 3.090 by simple spreading of turns in L1, I had to remove L1 and remove a turn. BUT I had already flush-cut the leads when I put it in. It was a BITCH to get L1 installed again and that one short lead in the hole deep enough for soldering. Since removing L1 is a distinct possibility for future builders, maybe a note to NOT flush-cut the leads until you are SURE L1 is right. Otherwise, HAPPY HAPPY JOY JOY. Paul K3STX ______________________________________________________________ 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
