KPA100 Receiver Tests failed!

[ON4WIX]

Hi all,

The fluctuating voltage issue at D13 and U4 has been resolved - it turns out this was caused by my power supply. Switching to another supply cured this. Thanks to Don for pointing me in that direction.

I'm now at page 44 of the manual - Receiver Tests
When switching bands I can hear the LPF relays click, all seems well there. However, when I connect an antenna to the SO239 jack I cannot hear any atmospheric noise. The noise level just does not change. I can hear a few faint signals but not like it's supposed to be.
I checked resistance between the center pin of the SO239 and ground and I'm reading a dead short. Can this be caused by RFC 10? I guess I should read at least a few ohms. Would it be OK to desolder RFC 10 just to check if I'm getting any improvement?

Any ideas are welcome

73
Glenn ON4WIX
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[ON4WIX]

OK, I goofed once again.

It turns out that the advice to NEVER work on the kit when you're tired or
not thinking clear is a piece of GOLDEN advice.
My KPA100 was nearly ready on Friday night, I only had to attach the cables
to connect the KPA to the K2 motherboard.
Instead of waiting until Saturday morning I decided to continue working
until this was finished, even though I was rather tired. I should have known
better.
I have now found out that I inserted the crimp pins the wrong way into the
connector bodies, so P6 (aux RF) was not connected physically to the antenna
connector of the KPA100! No wonder why there was no reception...
Anyway, I'm now looking at the nice job to try and retract the crimp pins
from the connector housings. They seem to be lodged rather tightly.
If anyone could give me a hint as to how to get the crimp pins back out of
the connector housings without damaging the parts I would be very
grateful... BTW, are these connectors standard items so I could get
replacements easily in case I damage the connectors?

73 (head hanging in shame, hi)
Glenn ON4WIX

----- Original Message -----
From: "ON4WIX" <[hidden email]>
To: <[hidden email]>
Sent: Sunday, May 28, 2006 8:46 AM
Subject: [Elecraft] KPA100 Receiver Tests failed!

> Hi all,
>
> The fluctuating voltage issue at D13 and U4 has been resolved - it turns
> out this was caused by my power supply. Switching to another supply cured
> this. Thanks to Don for pointing me in that direction.
>
> I'm now at page 44 of the manual - Receiver Tests
> When switching bands I can hear the LPF relays click, all seems well
> there. However, when I connect an antenna to the SO239 jack I cannot hear
> any atmospheric noise. The noise level just does not change. I can hear a
> few faint signals but not like it's supposed to be.
> I checked resistance between the center pin of the SO239 and ground and
> I'm reading a dead short. Can this be caused by RFC 10? I guess I should
> read at least a few ohms. Would it be OK to desolder RFC 10 just to check
> if I'm getting any improvement?
>
> Any ideas are welcome
>
> 73
> Glenn ON4WIX
> _______________________________________________
> 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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[Don Wilhelm-3]

Glenn,

Those pins are actually easy to remove, but it does take a bit of care.
Use a very small tip screwdriver-like tool and depress the small 'tongue' of
metal that should have popped up into the slot on the side of the connector
housing - once that has been depressed, the pin should slide out of the
housing.  You may have to tug on the wire a bit while epressing the 'tongue'

If you bent the 'tongue' too far when you removed the pin, you will have to
pry it up a bit before assembling the pin into the housing again (so it will
lock).  I use the edge of a knife-blade for that operation bcause it usually
is the only thing thin enough to work under the now bent-flat 'tongue'.

73,
Don W3FPR

-----Original Message-----

It turns out that the advice to NEVER work on the kit when you're tired or
not thinking clear is a piece of GOLDEN advice.
My KPA100 was nearly ready on Friday night, I only had to attach the cables
to connect the KPA to the K2 motherboard.
Instead of waiting until Saturday morning I decided to continue working
until this was finished, even though I was rather tired. I should have known
better.
I have now found out that I inserted the crimp pins the wrong way into the
connector bodies, so P6 (aux RF) was not connected physically to the antenna
connector of the KPA100! No wonder why there was no reception...
Anyway, I'm now looking at the nice job to try and retract the crimp pins
from the connector housings. They seem to be lodged rather tightly.
If anyone could give me a hint as to how to get the crimp pins back out of
the connector housings without damaging the parts I would be very
grateful... BTW, are these connectors standard items so I could get
replacements easily in case I damage the connectors?

73 (head hanging in shame, hi)
Glenn ON4WIX


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