K2 - getting ready to build
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Hello,
I am getting ready to start my K2 project (after this weekend's VHF contest is done.) I have the base K2 kit + KAT2, + KSB2 for my initial build. I am planning to add a couple more pieces in the future (KIO2, K160RX, K60XV.) I know that some people have used some sort of inexpensive kit to allow to for the future upgrade path. Are there any opinions one way or the other on that? My main concern being any parts that I might need to desolder in the future if I don't plan for the options now. After building my XV222 (for this weekend's contest) I am looking forward to starting the K2 project. The dead of winter has arrived in Minnesota so it is a good time of year to melt some solder. 73 -- John Hoaglun NG0R - EN25 http://www.hoaglun.com -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.516 / Virus Database: 269.19.5/1228 - Release Date: 1/16/2008 9:01 AM _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
Re: K2 - getting ready to build
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John,
I'd consider getting the Rework Eliminators http://www.unpcbs.com/ . When you're done with your K2, you'll be able to plug in future modules without a lot of hacking. Great for troubleshooting too. If you have different microphones you might want to use, consider also their Internal Mic Adapter. (Disclaimer: I use these parts when I build K2's for my clients. I'm listed on their web site, but I don't get any financial benefits.) Cheers, Alan Alan D. Wilcox, W3DVX 570-321-1516 http://WilcoxEngineering.com Williamsport, PA 17701 John Hoaglun wrote: > Hello, > > I am getting ready to start my K2 project (after this weekend's VHF > contest is done.) I have the base K2 kit + KAT2, + KSB2 for my initial > build. I am planning to add a couple more pieces in the future (KIO2, > K160RX, K60XV.) I know that some people have used some sort of > inexpensive kit to allow to for the future upgrade path. > > Are there any opinions one way or the other on that? My main concern > being any parts that I might need to desolder in the future if I don't > plan for the options now. > > After building my XV222 (for this weekend's contest) I am looking > forward to starting the K2 project. The dead of winter has arrived in > Minnesota so it is a good time of year to melt some solder. > > 73 > Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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In reply to this post by John Hoaglun-2
John,
I should be right behind you with the K2 construction. I wasn't going to do a K2, but have become brainwashed enough that I finally had to order the box of parts. If you hear any noise to the south of you it will be just me grumping after I screwed something up because I have no patience when building. Have fun! Ken, KA0W Mason City, IA John Hoaglun <[hidden email]> wrote: Hello, I am getting ready to start my K2 project (after this weekend's VHF contest is done.) I have the base K2 kit + KAT2, + KSB2 for my initial build. I am planning to add a couple more pieces in the future (KIO2, K160RX, K60XV.) I know that some people have used some sort of inexpensive kit to allow to for the future upgrade path. Are there any opinions one way or the other on that? My main concern being any parts that I might need to desolder in the future if I don't plan for the options now. After building my XV222 (for this weekend's contest) I am looking forward to starting the K2 project. The dead of winter has arrived in Minnesota so it is a good time of year to melt some solder. 73 -- John Hoaglun NG0R - EN25 http://www.hoaglun.com -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.516 / Virus Database: 269.19.5/1228 - Release Date: 1/16/2008 9:01 AM _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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In reply to this post by John Hoaglun-2
Thanks Steve. It's http://www.unpcbs.com/ rather than www/ ... sorry!
---- Steve Stutman <[hidden email]> wrote: > Hi, > > Link to: > > http://www/unpcbs.com/ > > points to Yahoo? _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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In reply to this post by Ken, KA0W
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Re: K2 - getting ready to build
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Don't forget Don's [W3FPR's] axiom
If you have a problem check your solder joints then recheck your solder joints then check them again. >From personal experience those joints with the exception of once were always the problem RC kc5wa --------------------- On Jan 17, 2008 6:27 PM, Ron D'Eau Claire <[hidden email]> wrote: > Ken, KA0W wrote: > > I should be right behind you with the K2 construction. I wasn't going to do > a K2, but have become brainwashed enough that I finally had to order the box > of parts. > > If you hear any noise to the south of you it will be just me grumping after > I screwed something up because I have no patience when building. > > ------------------------------------------------- > Ha, ha!!! Let's hope they are growls of pleasure, not pain! > > Take a D-E-E-E-P breath and do the build ONE step at a time, and double > check your parts placement before soldering! > > I built my K2 in 2000. It's worked like a champ in spite of being one of the > test machines for many of the "improvements" to the K2 gene pool over the > years. > > Following this reflector since 2000, I've noticed one complaint begin to > turn up among a few owners: intermittent problems! > > In every case that I've followed, the intermittent turned out to be a lead > that was never soldered. Elecraft uses high quality boards with > plated-through holes. A bare, unsoldered lead can hang in one of those holes > for years before enough oxidation builds up or it becomes loose enough to > start losing conductivity. > > So I suggest keeping the three following things in mind as you build: > > 1) All parts have a tendency to jump from one place to another without > warning. After you put R3 in the spot for R3, when you reach for the > soldering iron you may discover that while you looked away it: a) jumped to > another location or b) changed to a different value. Parts tend to do this > more easily as the hours wear on.. > > 2) An unsoldered part remains unsoldered until you solder it, even if it's > years later. > > 3) Intermittents are the worst sort of trouble to locate. > > Ron AC7AC > > > _______________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Post to: [hidden email] > You must be a subscriber to post to the list. > Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): > http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm > Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com > -- <http://www.geocities.com/kc5wa> 72/73 DE RC KC5WA Flying Pigs #567 NAQCC #420 NETX #43 SKCC #089 ARCI-QRP #12572 _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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In reply to this post by John Hoaglun-2
John,
If you do not purchase and install the Rework Eliminators IMA microphone adapter product, AND you are going to use a mic different from the Elecraft MH2 or Proset, then DO NOT solder anything to the long gold pins of the DIL microphone header. If you do, you will have trouble with the installation of the IMA should you wish to add it at a later date. If you want to look at using different mics, then I would suggest you install the IMA now, as part of the build. All the best with your project. I have built two K2s, sold one and just finished the KPA100, and have not had so much fun and learning in years. Now suffering withdrawal symptoms - shall just try to take comfort in a less depleted bank account and less ire from the XYL when all these packages stop arriving from Aptos. Best 73 Kevin VK3DAP / ZL2DAP _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
Re: K2 - getting ready to build
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In reply to this post by John Hoaglun-2
John,
You can add the options in any order, and the desoldering is not extensive for any of them. The inexpensive kit that you refer to is the "Rework Eliminators", and while beneficial to many, there is one shortcoming related to the K60XV that you should be aware of. The Rework Eliminators would have you change the value of C71 and set the K2 menu D19 parameter to ON. That precludes you from finally setting the VCO voltages (voltages at R30) until you actually install the K60XV. In other words, the K2 cannot be fully tested for VCO voltages with the rework eliminators in place. Is this a major problem? - yes, maybe, no. If you are aware of this situation and follow the directions in the rework eliminator instructions carefully, it will not be a problem - but this part of the rework eliminators is not exactly 'plug and play' because you will have to re-visit the R30 voltages again after you add the K60XV. Other than that, enjoy the build. As I have stated, I do not believe that adding the options later is any great deal (with or without the rework eliminators) - the number of components to de-solder is quite small for any particular option - just follow the instructions provided by Elecraft. Enjoy your Minnesota winter - I am quite happy here in North Carolina. :-) 73, Don W3FPR John Hoaglun wrote: > Hello, > > I am getting ready to start my K2 project (after this weekend's VHF > contest is done.) I have the base K2 kit + KAT2, + KSB2 for my initial > build. I am planning to add a couple more pieces in the future (KIO2, > K160RX, K60XV.) I know that some people have used some sort of > inexpensive kit to allow to for the future upgrade path. > > Are there any opinions one way or the other on that? My main concern > being any parts that I might need to desolder in the future if I don't > plan for the options now. > > After building my XV222 (for this weekend's contest) I am looking > forward to starting the K2 project. The dead of winter has arrived in > Minnesota so it is a good time of year to melt some solder. > > 73 > Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
Re: Re: K2 - getting ready to build
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Don Wilhelm wrote:
> that you should be aware of. The Rework Eliminators would have you > change the value of C71 and set the K2 menu D19 parameter to ON. That > precludes you from finally setting the VCO voltages (voltages at R30) I actually deleted these steps when I built with the eliminators. The capacitor should be reasonably accessible later. I think there is also an issue that the temperature compensation is optimised for not having this particular change made. -- David Woolley Emails are not formal business letters, whatever businesses may want. RFC1855 says there should be an address here, but, in a world of spam, that is no longer good advice, as archive address hiding may not work. _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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