K3 #272 QRV in style

[Don Rasmussen]

Having used all my stored patience getting the K3
built and receiving on Sunday, the KPA3 100 watts was
the next order of the evening for tonight.

It went enjoyably as usual, but all the PA connectors
take quite a bit of physical force and you really need
to support the RF board carefully to keep it from an
over flex condition.

Press -real- hard, support the board from the bottom,
and don't zap it with static while doing it. ;-)

I pressed from the bottom with a folded up anti static
bag under my fingers.

I put the K3 on a 40 meter dipole at 30 feet, used 75
watts, and put out call number one (ever), and hooked
up with K2A/KH6 at 7.054. Max gave me a 599 from
Hawaii.

This radio is just a pleasure to the senses, sounds
great, feels great, the pictures don't do it justice.

I'd suggest that "by the book" is the only way to go
with this transceiver, -everything- has been thought
of, but you really need to follow the plan to the
letter.

For example, the front panel has 4 main standoffs, all
5/16ths long but 2 are drilled at 2-56 and 2 are 4-40.


I can't see the difference between those sizes myself
but you need to take the time to know that there are 4
in the process, compare them against each other, then
mount them where they go - specifically.

All round head screws go on the bottom, flat head on
the top - all teeny tiny and look remarkably the same
to me. Building RC helicopters put your head in the
right frame of mind for getting all this tiny work
just right. There are lots of parts that should not be
forced and many screws that should not be over
torqued.  

I'd suggest to most anyone that does not have real
good finger tip skills, fairly sharp eyesight and a
good selection of miniature tools - to just to buy the
factory assembled unit. The radio itself is THAT good.

Having it built by the book by the people who created
it is, IMHO, worth every cent they charge and it ought
to be more. ;-)

YMMV

de wb8yqj



 
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[Julian, G4ILO]

wb8yqj wrote

I'd suggest that "by the book" is the only way to go
with this transceiver, -everything- has been thought
of, but you really need to follow the plan to the
letter.

For example, the front panel has 4 main standoffs, all
5/16ths long but 2 are drilled at 2-56 and 2 are 4-40.


I can't see the difference between those sizes myself
but you need to take the time to know that there are 4
in the process, compare them against each other, then
mount them where they go - specifically.

All round head screws go on the bottom, flat head on
the top - all teeny tiny and look remarkably the same
to me.

One of the best pieces of advice gleaned from this reflector prior to assembly was to inventory all the parts, right down to screw level, and store all the different screws, nuts, washers etc, in egg cartons labelled with their specific descriptions. It's much easier to see what's what when you are comparing them with each other, and if you have the wrong amount then that's a clue that one may have been put in the wrong compartment. And having sorted them out it's much quicker to find the correct part by just fishing in the labelled compartment.

I'd suggest to most anyone that does not have real
good finger tip skills, fairly sharp eyesight and a
good selection of miniature tools - to just to buy the
factory assembled unit. The radio itself is THAT good.

It's worth the wait, and worth a lot more than the price, that's for sure.

But I'd still say go for the kit if possible. To me, having some personal involvement in the creation of the radio is one of the most important differences between using ham radio and picking up a mobile phone or using the internet to communicate. And it's one of the reasons why I don't get bored with my Elecraft radios and think about trading them for the next new thing in a few months like so many of those who buy ready made gear.

[Alan Bloom]

> One of the best pieces of advice gleaned from this reflector prior to
> assembly was to inventory all the parts, right down to screw level, and
> store all the different screws, nuts, washers etc, in egg cartons labelled
> with their specific descriptions.

I guess that leaves out those of us who don't eat eggs.

:=)

Al N1AL


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[Julian, G4ILO]

Do you drink whisky, bourbon, vodka? Ice cube trays work quite well
for the small components (and the problem of not having ice to go in
your favorite tipple gives an extra incentive to get that K3 finished
quick!)  Cheers! :)
--
Julian, G4ILO
Member: RSGB, ARRL
QRP Station: Elecraft K3 #222, K2 #392
G4ILO's Shack: www.g4ilo.com


On 29/01/2008, [hidden email] <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> > One of the best pieces of advice gleaned from this reflector prior to
> > assembly was to inventory all the parts, right down to screw level, and
> > store all the different screws, nuts, washers etc, in egg cartons labelled
> > with their specific descriptions.
>
> I guess that leaves out those of us who don't eat eggs.
>
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[w6jd]

Ice??? A Brit who uses ice?? I spent a fair amount of time in the
Mother Country and can only conclude that they've finally
been corrupted by us Yanks!

Doug
W6JD

-------------- Original message --------------
From: "Julian G4ILO" <[hidden email]>

> Do you drink whisky, bourbon, vodka? Ice cube trays work quite well
> for the small components (and the problem of not having ice to go in
> your favorite tipple gives an extra incentive to get that K3 finished
> quick!) Cheers! :)
> --
> Julian, G4ILO
> Member: RSGB, ARRL
> QRP Station: Elecraft K3 #222, K2 #392
> G4ILO's Shack: www.g4ilo.com
>
>
> On 29/01/2008, [hidden email] wrote:
> >
> > > One of the best pieces of advice gleaned from this reflector prior to
> > > assembly was to inventory all the parts, right down to screw level, and
> > > store all the different screws, nuts, washers etc, in egg cartons labelled
> > > with their specific descriptions.
> >
> > I guess that leaves out those of us who don't eat eggs.
> >
> _______________________________________________
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[WILLIS COOKE]

I spent some time in Aberdeen in the winter.  I wanted
someone to turn the heat on, not bring me ice.  

--- [hidden email] wrote:

> Ice??? A Brit who uses ice?? I spent a fair amount
> of time in the
> Mother Country and can only conclude that they've
> finally
> been corrupted by us Yanks!
>
> Doug
> W6JD
>
> -------------- Original message --------------
> From: "Julian G4ILO" <[hidden email]>
>
> > Do you drink whisky, bourbon, vodka? Ice cube
> trays work quite well
> > for the small components (and the problem of not
> having ice to go in
> > your favorite tipple gives an extra incentive to
> get that K3 finished
> > quick!) Cheers! :)
> > --
> > Julian, G4ILO
> > Member: RSGB, ARRL
> > QRP Station: Elecraft K3 #222, K2 #392
> > G4ILO's Shack: www.g4ilo.com
> >
> >
> > On 29/01/2008, [hidden email] wrote:
> > >
> > > > One of the best pieces of advice gleaned from
> this reflector prior to
> > > > assembly was to inventory all the parts, right
> down to screw level, and
> > > > store all the different screws, nuts, washers
> etc, in egg cartons labelled
> > > > with their specific descriptions.
> > >
> > > I guess that leaves out those of us who don't
> eat eggs.
> > >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Elecraft mailing list
> > Post to: [hidden email]
> > You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
> > Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.):
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> >
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[M0XDF]

My XLY uses so much, I bought an ice making machine!


On 29/1/08 19:35, "[hidden email]" <[hidden email]> sent:

> Ice??? A Brit who uses ice?? I spent a fair amount of time in the
> Mother Country and can only conclude that they've finally
> been corrupted by us Yanks!
>
> Doug
> W6JD

--
Sometimes I think we're alone in the universe, and sometimes I think
we're not. In either case, the idea is quite staggering.
-Arthur C Clarke, science fiction writer (1917- )


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[Geoffrey Mackenzie-Kennedy]

Not the Scots! Whisky with ice???  Good grief !

Geoff
GM4ESD

----- Original Message -----
From: <[hidden email]>

> Ice??? A Brit who uses ice?? I spent a fair amount of time in the
> Mother Country and can only conclude that they've finally
> been corrupted by us Yanks!
>
> Doug
> W6JD
>
> -------------- Original message --------------
> From: "Julian G4ILO" <[hidden email]>
>
>> Do you drink whisky, bourbon, vodka? Ice cube trays work quite well
>> for the small components (and the problem of not having ice to go in
>> your favorite tipple gives an extra incentive to get that K3 finished
>> quick!) Cheers! :)
>> --
>> Julian, G4ILO
>> Member: RSGB, ARRL
>> QRP Station: Elecraft K3 #222, K2 #392
>> G4ILO's Shack: www.g4ilo.com
>>
>>
>> On 29/01/2008, [hidden email] wrote:
>> >
>> > > One of the best pieces of advice gleaned from this reflector prior to
>> > > assembly was to inventory all the parts, right down to screw level,
>> > > and
>> > > store all the different screws, nuts, washers etc, in egg cartons
>> > > labelled
>> > > with their specific descriptions.
>> >
>> > I guess that leaves out those of us who don't eat eggs.

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[WILLIS COOKE]

The only way to drink fine Scott's Whiskey,
particularly my favorite, Glen Fiddich is neat.
Perhaps with a bit of beer for a chaser.  Of late I
have been enjoying a nice brew that is labeled
Newcastle Brown, but my Geordie contacts assure me
that it is Newcastle Brun.

--- Geoffrey Mackenzie-Kennedy <[hidden email]>
wrote:

> Not the Scots! Whisky with ice???  Good grief !
>
> Geoff
> GM4ESD
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <[hidden email]>
>
> > Ice??? A Brit who uses ice?? I spent a fair amount
> of time in the
> > Mother Country and can only conclude that they've
> finally
> > been corrupted by us Yanks!
> >
> > Doug
> > W6JD
> >
> > -------------- Original message --------------
> > From: "Julian G4ILO" <[hidden email]>
> >
> >> Do you drink whisky, bourbon, vodka? Ice cube
> trays work quite well
> >> for the small components (and the problem of not
> having ice to go in
> >> your favorite tipple gives an extra incentive to
> get that K3 finished
> >> quick!) Cheers! :)
> >> --
> >> Julian, G4ILO
> >> Member: RSGB, ARRL
> >> QRP Station: Elecraft K3 #222, K2 #392
> >> G4ILO's Shack: www.g4ilo.com
> >>
> >>
> >> On 29/01/2008, [hidden email] wrote:
> >> >
> >> > > One of the best pieces of advice gleaned from
> this reflector prior to
> >> > > assembly was to inventory all the parts,
> right down to screw level,
> >> > > and
> >> > > store all the different screws, nuts, washers
> etc, in egg cartons
> >> > > labelled
> >> > > with their specific descriptions.
> >> >
> >> > I guess that leaves out those of us who don't
> eat eggs.
>
> _______________________________________________
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>
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>

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