(K1) seiral number 3178 on the air!

[dean]

Sorry about the first post a moment ago, I forgot the forum only uses
plain text......

Hello all.
Don't know exactly how many hours I have spent building the little
radio, but they flew by quickly! Everything went together just as
directed and checked out exactly as the manual said they should. The
only trouble, if you can call it that, was I was missing about four
parts (three caps and one incorrectly supplied transistor). This was
between all the kits purchased (K1, a 2 band filter board, a 4 band
filter board, the ATU, and the noise blanker. Not bad for the number of
parts in the little thing! The receiver is HOT and sounds better than my
Yaesu FT-840 that I have used for years. The Yaesu will not go below 2
watts out and I wanted to play in the milliwatt domain to "see what
happens!" Also, I am getting about 7 watts out if I crank it up. Should
really run cool at under a watt that I plan to run it at. Also, as an
added benefit, I am no longer going to shy away from homebrew projects
that have toroids to be built in them. After making all the toroids in
the K1 and accessories, and they WORK, I have new confidence in building
with them! Thanks to the folks who answered a question or two I had
during the build. The forum was a god-send.

Very nice kits Elecraft!

73 and see you on the air!

Dean K6DDJ
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[Mike Morrow-3]

Dean wrote:

> Don't know exactly how many hours I have spent building the little
> radio, but they flew by quickly! Everything went together just as
> directed and checked out exactly as the manual said they should.

Your K1 is 3003 units after my number 175, received in November 2000 after
a six-month wait after ordering.  After 12 years it remains my favorite QRP
rig.

> This was between all the kits purchased (K1, a 2 band filter board,
> a 4 band filter board, the ATU, and the noise blanker.

I have found 15 meters on my four-band board to wonderful for operations
as solar cycle 24 picks up.  I've also found the NB to be very helpful
for some types of local digital noise.

I hope you installed the LCD back-light too.  That is a *very* desirable
item, but one that is rather unpleasant to back fit once the front panel
board has been built.  I think the back-light should be a standard part
of all K1 units sold...not just an option....because of the difficulty
of the back-fit.

> I wanted to play in the milliwatt domain to "see what happens!"

The mW operating domain is a real challenge...for the receiving station. :-)
The K1 power control system is not useful for setting less than 100 mW output,
and I'm not sure how accurate that is, when 0.1 watt output is selected.

> Also, I am getting about 7 watts out if I crank it up. Should really run
> cool at under a watt that I plan to run it at.

It will always run cool.  I've set mine for 7 watts into a dummy load and
used the auto-keyer to send for several hours, with 14 vdc supply voltage.
Afterwards my K1 was slightly warm on the right side panel that heat sinks
the PA transistor.

> ...see you on the air!

Congratulations on the K1.  It's a tremendous little radio, superior for
some purposes over even the KX3.  (But I think it'll be best to have *both*
eventually.)

73
Mike / KK5F
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[David Pratt]

Thousands of people will agree with you, Dean, and congratulations in
putting your K1 on the air.  Yes, Elecraft produce some fine kits - I
have built the K1, KX1 and K2 and assembled the K3 also.  I intend to
buy a KX3 when the exchange rate allows.

Be sure to register the serial number of your new K1 on the Elecraft
Owner Database at
http://www.zerobeat.net/qrp/elowners.html

73 de David G4DMP

In a recent message, [hidden email] writes
>I am no longer going to shy away from homebrew projects
>that have toroids to be built in them. After making all the toroids in
>the K1 and accessories, and they WORK, I have new confidence in building
>with them! Thanks to the folks who answered a question or two I had
>during the build. The forum was a god-send.
>
>Very nice kits Elecraft!
--
 + - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - +
 | David M Pratt, Kippax, Leeds.   |
 | Website: http://www.g4dmp.co.uk |
 + - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - +

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