KX1 Receiver alignment - further information

[Vin Cortina]

OK

I managed to whittle a plastic tuning wand to the correct shape in order to
adjust the 2 tuning capacitors for 20M and the 1 for 40M.
The situation I mentioned about "touching the board and having the signal
come way, way up is only happening when I transmit my K1-4 into the DL1 in
the shack.  So the increase in gain may be that the RF is in the shack (even
though it is only 100 mW into a dummy load), and when I touch the board
(especially near L7), I am capacitivlely coupling a high amount of RF into
the KX1.  If I simply listen to 40M or 20M, on an antenna and touch the
board, nothing happens.  But I am still slightly troubled by the fact that
signals on the KX1 just aren't as loud and/or strong as on any other radio
in my shack with the same antenna.

I have done numerous checks for cold/non-existent solder joints.  Any ideas
what may be wrong, if anything?


Thanks again.


Vin Cortina  KR2F

K1-4 s/n:1977
KX1  s/n:1476






Earlier posts:

Hi there, again.

I just finished Alignment and Test Part II.  For the most part, things seem
OK, but I have one or two concerns.

As a signal source, I used my K1-4 at 100mW into my Elecraft DL-1.  Now out
of all my alignment tools, none of the non-ferrous type would fit in the
alignment hole through the board.  So I took a metallic screwdriver and
electrical taped the entire shaft except for the tip.  Despite the
insulation, the metal in influencing the alignment, of course, so I am
trying to align slightly, pull away and see what happens.  If I touch the
board near the cap, the gains comes WAY, WAY up, but only for the duration
of the touch.  Also, I notice that while listening to receive, I am hearing
signals, but not nearly as strong as I hear them on any other receiver in
the shack on the same antenna.

I think I know what you are going to tell me.  Get a non-ferrous alignment
tool, right?

This may simply be because the alignment is not quite correct, but I also
notice that even with the volume up full, the background hiss isn't really
that loud
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[Mike Scott-7]

Vin,

Congratulations on completing your KX1 your fun is just beginning. Your
audio will naturally be higher on 40M, at least mine is. Low audio output is
a common subject on this net for the KX1. I suspect your unit is fine.

Sensitive earphones are a necessity with the KX1, check your specifications.
I use 94-dB sensitivity headphones which are adequate but on the low side
for a KX1. There are a lot of low cost headsets/earbuds with sensitivity
above 110-dB/Mw.

On 40M with filter set to wide and connected to a full sized dipole the band
noise is too loud with full audio gain. With narrowest filter settings I
tend to run the audio gain full on but no desire for more.

Mike Scott
AE6WA
Tarzana, CA (near LA)
Elecraft KX1 4-Watts

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email]
[mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Vin Cortina
Sent: Wednesday, July 05, 2006 5:14 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: [Elecraft] KX1 Receiver alignment - further information

OK

I managed to whittle a plastic tuning wand to the correct shape in order to
adjust the 2 tuning capacitors for 20M and the 1 for 40M.
The situation I mentioned about "touching the board and having the signal
come way, way up is only happening when I transmit my K1-4 into the DL1 in
the shack.  So the increase in gain may be that the RF is in the shack (even
though it is only 100 mW into a dummy load), and when I touch the board
(especially near L7), I am capacitivlely coupling a high amount of RF into
the KX1.  If I simply listen to 40M or 20M, on an antenna and touch the
board, nothing happens.  But I am still slightly troubled by the fact that
signals on the KX1 just aren't as loud and/or strong as on any other radio
in my shack with the same antenna.

I have done numerous checks for cold/non-existent solder joints.  Any ideas
what may be wrong, if anything?


Thanks again.


Vin Cortina  KR2F

K1-4 s/n:1977
KX1  s/n:1476






Earlier posts:

Hi there, again.

I just finished Alignment and Test Part II.  For the most part, things seem
OK, but I have one or two concerns.

As a signal source, I used my K1-4 at 100mW into my Elecraft DL-1.  Now out
of all my alignment tools, none of the non-ferrous type would fit in the
alignment hole through the board.  So I took a metallic screwdriver and
electrical taped the entire shaft except for the tip.  Despite the
insulation, the metal in influencing the alignment, of course, so I am
trying to align slightly, pull away and see what happens.  If I touch the
board near the cap, the gains comes WAY, WAY up, but only for the duration
of the touch.  Also, I notice that while listening to receive, I am hearing
signals, but not nearly as strong as I hear them on any other receiver in
the shack on the same antenna.

I think I know what you are going to tell me.  Get a non-ferrous alignment
tool, right?

This may simply be because the alignment is not quite correct, but I also
notice that even with the volume up full, the background hiss isn't really
that loud
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