K1 kit suggestions?

[Jim Hahn]

Can any of you that have or are building the K1 give me a heads up on any things to be aware of as this is my first time building a Elecraft kit?   I purchased the K1/4 band version kit.  I have built quite a few Heathkits back in the day however this of course was when everything was point to point wiring.........Thanks for your input!  jim  AC6OM/1 in Maine
______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

[David Pratt]

One thing I would recommend, Jim, is to get the K1BKLTKIT-X for your K1
at $29.95.  This is the LCD backlight kit for your unbuilt K1.  You can
add the backlight later if you want, but it would be more difficult and
will cost you an extra $10.

You will enjoy your K1; it's an excellent little rig.

73 de David G4DMP

In a recent message, Jim Hahn <[hidden email]> writes
>Can any of you that have or are building the K1 give me a heads up on
>any things to be aware of as this is my first time building a Elecraft
>kit?   I purchased the K1/4 band version kit.

--
 + - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - +
 | David M Pratt, Kippax, Leeds.   |
 | Website: http://www.g4dmp.co.uk |
 + - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - +

______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

[Mike Morrow-3]

Jim wrote:

> Can any of you that have or are building the K1 give me a heads
> up on any things to be aware of as this is my first time building
> a Elecraft kit?

(1) Priority Number One - If you have not purchased the LCD backlight kit,
**do so as soon as possible** and skip the building of the front panel until
it arrives!  I've owned a K1 (S/N 175) for almost 13 years and the most
important and useful addition (after the four-band filter board) was
the LCD backlight.  It is extremely easy to install as part of the front
panel board construction, but a *real* aggravating pain in the behind to
do so after the front panel board has been completed.  The LCD backlight
is important...to the point the Elecraft should not be selling a K1
without the LCD back light, IMHO.

(2) When you are told to install RF board C22, install it with tack
solder joints below the RF board without putting leads through PCB holes.
That will make it much easier to remove if/when the PCB connector that
comes with the KNB1 noise blanker option is to be installed.

(3) RF board C31 is a 2.2 uF AVC delay capacitor.  Almost everyone who
has built a K1 finds this value causes an AVC delay that is much much
too long...a characteristic that is never desirable for CW operation.
So tack solder C31 in below the RF PCB when the manual calls for that,
without putting leads through PCB holes.  That will make it much easier to
remove and replace with a 1 uF (or less) capacitor later, after you see
how much undesirable delay the stock capacitor causes.

(4) Triple check in every detail the marking of each semiconductor that
you are about to install.  The device to be installed must be **exactly**
the device called for in the manual...not something that just "seems close".
Every year someone installs a transistor that he thinks is "close enough"
(!!!) and winds up with an inoperative radio.  Amazing, but true!

That's about all I can think of right now for the basic K1.  

Great rig!  Great choice!  Welcome to Elecraft.  Post questions here anytime
as often as needed and someone will respond.

73,
Mike / KK5F


______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

[Gil G.]

On Sat, 2013-05-04 at 21:25 +0100, David G4DMP wrote:
> One thing I would recommend, Jim, is to get the K1BKLTKIT-X for your K1
> at $29.95.  This is the LCD backlight kit for your unbuilt K1.  You can
> add the backlight later if you want, but it would be more difficult and
> will cost you an extra $10.

Yes! Definitely do that!

No great difficulties building the K1.. Just take your time.

If I was building another one, I would installed the capacitor required
for the 80m filter board, so if you ever want to build a board with that
band, you wouldn't have to remove the bottom cover again..
I also did change a capacitor to speed up AGC, can't remember which, but
it should be easy to find.

I highly recommend using Spectrogram or even Fldigi to center the
filters.

I did opt for the 150KHz bandwidth, works fine, but it is a bit touchy..

Make sure you let the K1 warm up before adjusting your frequency
display.. Best way to do that is to call CQ and look at your reported
frequency on a few reverse beacons (see reverse beacon network).

It's a great little rig for sure!

Gil.

______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html