RE: Elecraft Digest, Vol 3, Issue 5

[Tom(ni0i)]

RE:KX1
HI Roger,W1WEM
I want to purchase your KX1 #693
Send details.
Thanks.
Tom, ni0i

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email]
[mailto:[hidden email]]On Behalf Of
[hidden email]
Sent: Monday, July 05, 2004 3:01 AM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Elecraft Digest, Vol 3, Issue 5


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To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
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Today's Topics:

   1. Re: K2 inventory question (js)
   2. Re: Antenna? (Mike Morrow)
   3. K2 #4130 on the air in SSB !!! (JEAN-FRANCOIS MENARD)
   4. Re: K2 inventory question (Hisashi T Fujinaka)
   5. Re: Antenna? (Brian Mury)
   6. Re: Antenna? (Leigh L. Klotz, Jr.)
   7. A paint scratch, Help! ([hidden email])
   8. RE: Antenna? (Ron D'Eau Claire)
   9. Re: Antenna? (Mike Morrow)
  10. KX1 #693 FOR SALE with all options (Roger Marrotte)
  11. RE: Antenna? (Steve)
  12. KPA100 Tightening the finals... (Ward Willats)
  13. Elecraft CW Net 20 meter report for July 4, 2004 (Kevin Rock)
  14. RE: KPA100 Tightening the finals... (Ron D'Eau Claire)
  15. K2 fixed audio output again. (Don Wilhelm)
  16. Re: KPA100 Tightening the finals... (js)
  17. Elecraft CW Net 40 meter Report for July 5th, 2004 (Kevin Rock)
  18. Re: Antenna? (Brian Mury)
  19. K2 Inventory 'problem' (Bill Scovell)


----------------------------------------------------------------------

Message: 1
Date: Sun, 4 Jul 2004 16:46:21 +0800
From: "js" <[hidden email]>
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K2 inventory question
To: "Bill Scovell" <[hidden email]>,
        <[hidden email]>
Message-ID: <[hidden email]>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

The two resistors should also be on the bandolier.

73

Johnny VR2XMC
----- Original Message -----
From: "Bill Scovell" <[hidden email]>
To: <[hidden email]>
Sent: Sunday, July 04, 2004 1:46 PM
Subject: [Elecraft] K2 inventory question


Just completing inventory check for my second K2 (#4313)all well except
can't find R50 and R58 (both 1/2 watt so not on the bandolier) are these
normally loose in the RFb bag? or do they lurk in some other spot and I've
had a senior moment and missed them?. I wouldn't normally bother the
reflector for two R's but R50 is 1.5 Ohms and low values not easy to come by
here.
TIA Bill / VK4SQ
_______________________________________________



------------------------------

Message: 2
Date: Sun, 4 Jul 2004 06:47:20 -0700 (PDT)
From: Mike Morrow <[hidden email]>
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Antenna?
To: Jeff Imel <[hidden email]>, [hidden email]
Message-ID:
        <[hidden email]>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Jeff Imel wrote:

> The HF Pack organization sponsors and annual antenna shootout...
> http://tinyurl.com/2lzgm

That is a pretty interesting site.  Thanks for the URL.

It confirms the very dismal performance of *all* those "popular" HF short
loading-coil verticals in comparison to the most simple, basic, inexpensive
quarter-wave vertical.  TANSTAAFL!

Likewise, the horizontal antenna comparisons confirm the overall superiority
of a simple dipole over other horizontal types being tested.

A comparison of all tested horizontal and vertical antennas against the
half-wave horizontal dipole would have been interesting.  I'm sure it would
have shown a very significant advantage of a horizontal dipole over any
vertical tested.

At campsites I've made several side-by-side tests of various verticals
versus a resonant dipole and have *always* found found verticals to be very
poor performers, when directly compared to a cheap horizontal dipole.  Plus,
don't forget the counterpoise or ground required by the vertical.

If one chooses to use a multi-band dipole for portable operation, I'd
suggest staying away from *trap* dipoles.  Aside from the traps being heavy
and bulky, the traps really narrow the bandwidth of each band compared to
that of a single band dipole.  That's why, for the seven-band portable
dipole that I put together,  I use small, lightweight, home-made PVC
insulators with manually connected jumpers around them to change the band of
resonance.

The second-best portable antenna I've ever used was a random-length dipole,
center fed with 450 ohm ladder twin lead and a tuner.  The main problem
presented was the routing of the excess twin lead.  Every camp site is
different, and it *does* make a difference if you coil up the excess or
allow it to lay on the ground.  The resonant dipole allowed me to return to
the joyful and trouble-free world of RG-8X coax!  Also, most small tuners
aren't real balanced line tuners, so there are losses in the ferrite balun
that nearly all such tuners use to support balanced line feed.

I think I'm going to build a light-weight four-band version of my portable
dipole for the four bands on my K1.  Right now, I just use the seven-band
version that I originally built for my old TS-50S.

73,
Mike / KK5F


------------------------------

Message: 3
Date: Sun, 4 Jul 2004 09:56:11 -0400
From: JEAN-FRANCOIS MENARD <[hidden email]>
Subject: [Elecraft] K2 #4130 on the air in SSB !!!
To: [hidden email]
Message-ID: <[hidden email]>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

Hi,

First of all, I would like to thanks Elecraft and his fabulous team
that give us memorable moments building their kits !!! It's the first
time in my life I have so much fun and desire to do something.... even
on a beautiful sunny day !!! ;-)

And YES !!! Finally K2 #4130 is on the air in SSB !!! I made my first
real QSO yesterday. I receive only excellent comments. I'm using my
Kenwood hand microphone that I receive with my TS-2000. It's not a desk
mike but everybody told me that my audio was excellent.... it's not
only the mic, it's my K2 also. :-)

I transmit at about 13W. I receive very good quality report. I also got
a better report than someone transmitting with 100W with a so so
antenna !!!

I'm using a vertical V antenna on 80M, well calibrated with my
MFJ-259B... so no antenna tuner is necessary between 3.750 to 3.790.

I'm very surprised of the perfromance and people comments. When you
hear people telling those comments about something you build and
using.... you can't feel better !!! ... and even when it's your first
time building project !!!


73 and hope to hear you soon Elecraft folks !!!


===============================================
Jean-Frangois Minard / VA2VYZ
[hidden email]

Amateur Radio Club of Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada

Web site: http://homepage.mac.com/jfmenard
===============================================


------------------------------

Message: 4
Date: Sun, 4 Jul 2004 07:36:58 -0700 (PDT)
From: Hisashi T Fujinaka <[hidden email]>
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K2 inventory question
To: Don Wilhelm <[hidden email]>
Cc: [hidden email]
Message-ID: <[hidden email]>
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed

SN4355 has the resistors on the strip. So far, so good, I'm past the
initial checks on the RF board (i.e. my control board and front panel
work).

I got an incredible headache sorting the caps. My wish for future
builders: sort parts in a more sensible order so the RF board parts are
divided into the stages. I know that means more labor at Elecraft, but
so far that's my main complaint. :)

On Sun, 4 Jul 2004, Don Wilhelm wrote:

> Bill,
>
> Elecraft continually improves things - we all know that.  So now you will
> find R50 and R58 on the strip of resistors - at least they were that way
for

> SN4192 when I assembled it.  Yes, it has not always been that way - those
> resistors were previously shipped loose in the RFb bag, so your memory is
> working well.
>
> 73,
> Don W3FPR
>
> Life is what happens when you are making other plans
>
> ----- Original Message -----
>
> Just completing inventory check for my second K2 (#4313)all well except
> can't find R50 and R58 (both 1/2 watt so not on the bandolier) are these
> normally loose in the RFb bag? or do they lurk in some other spot and I've
> had a senior moment and missed them?. I wouldn't normally bother the
> reflector for two R's but R50 is 1.5 Ohms and low values not easy to come

by
> here.
> TIA Bill / VK4SQ
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> 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
>

--
Hisashi T Fujinaka - [hidden email]
BSEE(6/86) + BSChem(3/95) + BAEnglish(8/95) + MSCS(8/03) + $2.50 = latte


------------------------------

Message: 5
Date: Sun, 04 Jul 2004 10:20:08 -0700
From: Brian Mury <[hidden email]>
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Antenna?
To: [hidden email]
Message-ID: <[hidden email]>
Content-Type: text/plain

On Sun, 2004-07-04 at 06:47, Mike Morrow wrote:
> It confirms the very dismal performance of *all* those "popular" HF
> short loading-coil verticals in comparison to the most simple, basic,
> inexpensive quarter-wave vertical.  TANSTAAFL!

It's no surprise that a full size quarter wave beats any loaded
vertical, but I disagree that they all have dismal performance. The best
5 are less than a 1 dB difference (with the best being a mere 0.3 dB
difference). The best 13 are under 6 dB, which is less than 1 S unit.
Only 4 have a greater than 1 S unit difference.

> Likewise, the horizontal antenna comparisons confirm the overall
> superiority of a simple dipole over other horizontal types being
> tested.

Here, the worst is -3.78 db, which is only slightly over half an S unit,
while a couple beat out the reference antenna. Yes, ok, one of those
*is* a yagi; the other is the long buddipole.

> A comparison of all tested horizontal and vertical antennas against
> the half-wave horizontal dipole would have been interesting.  I'm sure
> it would have shown a very significant advantage of a horizontal
> dipole over any vertical tested.

I would also like to see a comparison between the horizontal and
vertical antennas. I don't think the horizontal antenna would
necessarily beat the vertical - it depends on a few variables, a couple
big ones that come to mind being the height of the dipole and the
vertical's counterpoise.

Of course, what is best also depends on what takeoff angle you want. If
you want a low takeoff angle for DX, I would argue that a vertical would
be hard to beat, especially if you're not able to get a dipole up high
enough. A low dipole is, of course, hard to beat for shorter distances.

> compared to that of a single band dipole.  That's why, for the
> seven-band portable dipole that I put together,  I use small,
> lightweight, home-made PVC insulators with manually connected jumpers
> around them to change the band of resonance.

Neat idea!

--
73, Brian
VE7NGR



------------------------------

Message: 6
Date: Sun, 4 Jul 2004 10:21:29 -0700
From: "Leigh L. Klotz, Jr." <[hidden email]>
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Antenna?
To: [hidden email]
Message-ID: <[hidden email]>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format="flowed"

Mike,

The way I read the table, the MP1 and PAC-12 are both about 1/2 dB down
from a quarter wave piece of wire and a single radial.
Leigh WA5ZNU

On Sun, 4 Jul 2004 6:49am, Mike Morrow wrote:
> It confirms the very dismal performance of *all* those "popular" HF
> short loading-coil verticals in comparison to the most simple, basic,
> inexpensive quarter-wave vertical.
73,
WA5ZNU Leigh


------------------------------

Message: 7
Date: Sun, 4 Jul 2004 10:46:56 -0700 (PDT)
From: [hidden email]
Subject: [Elecraft] A paint scratch, Help!
To: [hidden email]
Message-ID:
        <[hidden email]>
Content-Type: text/plain;charset=iso-8859-1

Good day all! I have acquired a paint scratch on my K2 although in a good
cause, Field Day. Has anyone come up with a matching paint for touch up
use.
Best regards, Bob K7HBG





------------------------------

Message: 8
Date: Sun, 4 Jul 2004 10:54:42 -0700
From: "Ron D'Eau Claire" <[hidden email]>
Subject: RE: [Elecraft] Antenna?
To: <[hidden email]>
Message-ID: <000201c461ef$ff522cb0$c5ddfea9@RONPORTABLE>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

I haven't done "pedestrian mobile" like the "Packers" but I have used a
vertical with single "counterpoise" with a total length of 1/2 wave like
that "reference vertical" they show on the web page would be on 20 meters.

First, we ARE talking verticals now, and a vertical has about a 6 dB
disadvantage over a horizontal, provided the horizontal is about 1/2 wave
high! That's not likely to happen below 10 meters on a portable or
pedestrian mobile setup, so it's a moot point here.

That aside, what is interesting about a vertical with one horizontal
counterpoise wire is that the counterpoise radiates as much as the antenna.
Typical "ground-plane" arrangements provide a lot of cancellation of
radiation from the "radials" since then are generally opposite each other
and fed "in phase" (all connect to the same electrical point, not to
out-of-phase currents like a dipole fed at the center). With only one
counterpoise, there is no cancellation.

That produces a lobe straight up for NVIS propagation from the counterpoise
that is virtually as strong as the lower angle lobe. Also the antenna
becomes fairly directional (in the direction of the counterpoise) which
helps provide some gain to overcome the near-ground losses when hanging from
a pedestrian <G>.

That combination can be dynamite for what a H-F Pack operator wants - a
great mix of radiation angles supporting ground wave and sky wave contacts.
The only consideration seems to be that it will probably help to have the
counterpoise sort of generally pointing in the direction of the other
station for ground wave communications, although the "directivity" is going
to be very broad. Also, with the counterpoise literally "on the ground" that
high angle radiation will be greatly affected by the condition of the earth
under it.

Ron AC7AC



-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email]
[mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Brian Mury
Sent: Sunday, July 04, 2004 10:20 AM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Antenna?


On Sun, 2004-07-04 at 06:47, Mike Morrow wrote:
> It confirms the very dismal performance of *all* those "popular" HF
> short loading-coil verticals in comparison to the most simple, basic,
> inexpensive quarter-wave vertical.  TANSTAAFL!

It's no surprise that a full size quarter wave beats any loaded vertical,
but I disagree that they all have dismal performance. The best 5 are less
than a 1 dB difference (with the best being a mere 0.3 dB difference). The
best 13 are under 6 dB, which is less than 1 S unit. Only 4 have a greater
than 1 S unit difference.

>...
--
73, Brian
VE7NGR






------------------------------

Message: 9
Date: Sun, 4 Jul 2004 13:24:18 -0500 (GMT-05:00)
From: Mike Morrow <[hidden email]>
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Antenna?
To: Brian Mury <[hidden email]>
Cc: [hidden email]
Message-ID:
        <[hidden email]>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Brian Mury wrote:

>I would also like to see a comparison between the horizontal and
>vertical antennas. I don't think the horizontal antenna would
>necessarily beat the vertical - it depends on a few variables, a couple
>big ones that come to mind being the height of the dipole and the
>vertical's counterpoise.

Hi Brian,

HF verticals perform poorly without, as you mention above, a very good
counterpoise or ground plane.  In temporary portable installations, that is
generally very difficult to obtain.  But for a dipole, it's a non-issue
altogether.

I've never been able to get any vertical antenna (even a very expensive
Australian-made dummy load) to perform within several s-units of a half-wave
dipole that was up only about ten feet in side-by-side tests at a
*temporary* site.

The generalizations I make are simply based on what I've observed in several
decades of tinkering with campsite antennas.  They apply only to practical
portable installations, not to the more optimally configured fixed vertical
situation where observed performance may more likely reflect the theory.

73,
Mike / KK5F


------------------------------

Message: 10
Date: Sun, 4 Jul 2004 15:05:45 -0400
From: "Roger Marrotte" <[hidden email]>
Subject: [Elecraft] KX1 #693 FOR SALE with all options
To: <[hidden email]>
Message-ID: <001501c461f9$ecbbfb30$6500a8c0@marrotte>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

I have for sale KX1 #693.  It comes with the following:

KX1 #693
KXB30 30 Meter Adapter
KXPD1 Plug in Keyer Paddle
KXAT1 Internal Auto Antenna Tuner
All Manuals
KOSS Stereo Earbud Headphones
6 Lithium AA Batteries (almost new)

In asking just my original cost + $7.- for S/H = $495.00.

The radio works great.  It went together without a hitch and worked the
first time. It puts out about 5 watts with an external power supply and
about 2-2.5 watts with internal lithium batteries. I've worked plenty of DX
with it.  The best one for me was OK1BB from an armchair in front of the TV
(I had a coax going to my shack connected to a 30M loop up 65 feet). The fun
was in the building for me, so now I'm selling it. I've built a K1, 2 K2s, a
KX1, 2 XV transverters and most options.
Please reply to me directly.

Thanks, Roger, W1EM





------------------------------

Message: 11
Date: Sun, 4 Jul 2004 20:53:36 -0400
From: "Steve" <[hidden email]>
Subject: RE: [Elecraft] Antenna?
To: <[hidden email]>
Message-ID: <[hidden email]>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Mike (and others)...

There's been some discussions on the HFPack list about a ground independent
vertical design, published in the April 2004 issue of QST.  The author,
Brian Cake, KF2YN, describes a "C-Pole" loop antenna resembling an OCF
(off-center fed) horizontal antenna, only wrapped in a loop.  A tree branch
about 18' off the ground is all that's needed to hoist the 20M version into
the air.  Feed is at ground level through a choke balun.  EZNEC shows a low
angle of radiation, and no radials/counterpoise, etc. are needed.

Details for the 20M version may also be found:
        http://www.angelfire.com/tx4/netxqrpclub/
And the original article describing the background and 20 - 10M designs:
        http://www.arrl.org/members-only/tis/info/pdf/0404037.pdf

73,
Steve
aa8af

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

HF verticals perform poorly without, as you mention above, a very good
counterpoise or ground plane.  In temporary portable installations, that is
generally very difficult to obtain.  But for a dipole, it's a non-issue
altogether.



------------------------------

Message: 12
Date: Sun, 4 Jul 2004 17:56:54 -0700
From: Ward Willats <[hidden email]>
Subject: [Elecraft] KPA100 Tightening the finals...
To: <[hidden email]>
Message-ID: <p06100501bd0e566296a8@[192.168.23.2]>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" ; format="flowed"

Just finished the KNB2 for my K2 (a birthday present from the in-laws
-- yea!) and while I was inside the K2 to install it I tightened up
the screws on the KPA100 finals per Elecraft's recommendation, since
I've been using the radio for about 6 months now and this was
probably overdue. They all took a little snugging up, maybe a little
less than 1/8 turn.

My question is: will they stay tight now for all time? Or do I have
to check them now and then? What's the theory on the thermal cycling
here and how it effects these screws?

Just wondering...

-- Ward / KG6HAF


------------------------------

Message: 13
Date: Sun, 04 Jul 2004 17:59:50 -0700
From: Kevin Rock <[hidden email]>
Subject: [Elecraft] Elecraft CW Net 20 meter report for July 4, 2004
To: Elecraft <[hidden email]>
Message-ID: <opsam3p0ryd4qby6@localhost>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset=iso-8859-15

Howdy folks,
    It was interesting propagation this afternoon.  I received fair
contacts for one go around and then folks would be gone.  Three contacts
 from California, Nova Scotia, and then Minnesota.  There were some very,
very light stations below my ability to copy.  Gary gave me a 229 which I
appreciate.  John in California was pretty light but copyable.  Bruce and
Gary were both much stronger but it depended upon what moment I was
listening.  Gary did try to relay a Bill but I lost him at that point.

The list:

N6JW - John - CA - K2 - 3290
VE1RGB - Gary - NS - K2 - 2519
W0QQS - Bruce - MN - K2 - 3646

Thank you for hanging in there.  I worked until 34 minutes after the hour
to allow propagation to change.  I am glad I did.  It took almost 7
minutes for the first check in and then about 5 to six minutes in
between.  If I missed you I am sorry.  Hopefully the sun will improve
conditions a bit for next week.  I did hear 6 and 15 meters opened up but
I was too busy to find out for myself.  Hope you had a chance to work on
them.

In about an hour I hope to hear some of you on 40 meters for ECN/2.

73,
     Kevin.  KD5ONS   (Net Control Operator 5th Class)



------------------------------

Message: 14
Date: Sun, 4 Jul 2004 18:29:40 -0700
From: "Ron D'Eau Claire" <[hidden email]>
Subject: RE: [Elecraft] KPA100 Tightening the finals...
To: <[hidden email]>
Message-ID: <000201c4622f$8df93140$c5ddfea9@RONPORTABLE>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

I haven't noticed any looseness in mine since tightening them a few months
after the initial build, and I did some testing of the "drift" mods that had
me cycling the K2 finals over and over again hard enough that the heat sink
was too hot to leave my hand on for any length of time.

So I'd guess that you're fine, now that you've done the initial
re-tightening.

Checking heat sink screws whenever I have a rig open is sort of "second
nature" to me after servicing gear professionally for a few years. On the
other hand, you don't want to crank 'em down so tight you damage the gaskets
and washers on the hardware. Snug 'em but don't do what I like to call
"Godzilla" them <G>.

Ron AC7AC

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

Subject: [Elecraft] KPA100 Tightening the finals...


Just finished the KNB2 for my K2 (a birthday present from the in-laws
-- yea!) and while I was inside the K2 to install it I tightened up
the screws on the KPA100 finals per Elecraft's recommendation, since
I've been using the radio for about 6 months now and this was
probably overdue. They all took a little snugging up, maybe a little
less than 1/8 turn.

My question is: will they stay tight now for all time? Or do I have
to check them now and then? What's the theory on the thermal cycling
here and how it effects these screws?

Just wondering...

-- Ward / KG6HAF _______________________________________________




------------------------------

Message: 15
Date: Sun, 4 Jul 2004 22:14:16 -0400
From: "Don Wilhelm" <[hidden email]>
Subject: [Elecraft] K2 fixed audio output again.
To: "Elecraft reflector" <[hidden email]>
Message-ID: <003b01c46235$ca2a6020$0e8afea9@w3fpr>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Folks,

I have had many asking if I can take PayPal payments - and the answer is
yes, IF and only if those payment come from your PayPal funds or a bank
account.  I have only a personal PayPal account and I don't want to upgrade
to a business account just for this project and pay the resulting fees
forevermore.

If you are wondering what this is all about because you didn't see the
posting first time, I have a kit available to add a fixed audio output to
the K2.  You can take a look at the article on my website www.qsl.net/w3fpr
for full information and photos.

Prices for the full kit is $17.50 with Priority mail shipping and $15 for
1st class mail.  Outside the US I will ship AirMail and need to adjust the
price for the additional shipping (I will know how much extra it costs for
the UK after Tuesday's mailing).

Partial kits (without the connectors, jack and cables) $3.50 less than the
full kit ($14.00 Priority and $11.50 1st Class)

For those wanting the board only, $5 shipped 1st Class mail in the US

I have plenty of the boards, and I have about half the full kits left.
Since few have asked about the partial kit, I can order more connectors and
jacks and pass the savings of buying in quantity along to you.  I will let
you know when I am running low, but it will only take 3 to 4 days to restock
the parts.

73,
Don W3FPR

Life is what happens when you are making other plans




------------------------------

Message: 16
Date: Mon, 5 Jul 2004 10:38:06 +0800
From: "js" <[hidden email]>
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KPA100 Tightening the finals...
To: "Ron D'Eau Claire" <[hidden email]>,
        <[hidden email]>
Message-ID: <[hidden email]>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="ISO-8859-1"

I share the same experience as Ron.

73

Johnny Siu VR2XMC
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ron D'Eau Claire" <[hidden email]>
To: <[hidden email]>
Sent: Monday, July 05, 2004 9:29 AM
Subject: RE: [Elecraft] KPA100 Tightening the finals...


I haven't noticed any looseness in mine since tightening them a few months
after the initial build, and I did some testing of the "drift" mods that had
me cycling the K2 finals over and over again hard enough that the heat sink
was too hot to leave my hand on for any length of time.

So I'd guess that you're fine, now that you've done the initial
re-tightening.

Checking heat sink screws whenever I have a rig open is sort of "second
nature" to me after servicing gear professionally for a few years. On the
other hand, you don't want to crank 'em down so tight you damage the gaskets
and washers on the hardware. Snug 'em but don't do what I like to call
"Godzilla" them <G>.

Ron AC7AC

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

Subject: [Elecraft] KPA100 Tightening the finals...


Just finished the KNB2 for my K2 (a birthday present from the in-laws
-- yea!) and while I was inside the K2 to install it I tightened up
the screws on the KPA100 finals per Elecraft's recommendation, since
I've been using the radio for about 6 months now and this was
probably overdue. They all took a little snugging up, maybe a little
less than 1/8 turn.

My question is: will they stay tight now for all time? Or do I have
to check them now and then? What's the theory on the thermal cycling
here and how it effects these screws?

Just wondering...

-- Ward / KG6HAF _______________________________________________


_______________________________________________
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Message: 17
Date: Sun, 04 Jul 2004 19:38:48 -0700
From: Kevin Rock <[hidden email]>
Subject: [Elecraft] Elecraft CW Net 40 meter Report for July 5th, 2004
To: Elecraft <[hidden email]>
Message-ID: <opsam8ay1dd4qby6@localhost>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset=iso-8859-15

Good Evening,
    The QRM was higher than on 20 meters but the signal strength was too.
A 339 from Ric and a 599 from John.  I don't feel so bad now :)  I also
checked in one of my NTS buddies from Vancouver, BC.  John was the only
one who wished me a Happy 4th however.  I wonder why they don't celebrate
this day in Canada ;)  Soon Ms P and are off to the fireworks.  Hopefully
you all have had a safe day playing with explosives (where legal that is)
and retained all your fingers and thumbs.  Happy 4th of July to all of you
folks who celebrate this holiday.

On to the list:

VE3XL - Ric - ON - K1 - 968
N6JW - John - CA - K2 - 3290
VE7DWG - Dave - BC - non-Elecraft rig

Thanks to all who participated and I am sorry to have missed those who may
have tried and I could not hear you.  The noise was a bit high but I'll do
better next time.
    73,
       Kevin.  KD5ONS  (Net Control Operator 5th Class)



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Message: 18
Date: Sun, 04 Jul 2004 21:37:08 -0700
From: Brian Mury <[hidden email]>
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Antenna?
To: [hidden email]
Message-ID: <[hidden email]>
Content-Type: text/plain

On Sun, 2004-07-04 at 10:20, Brian Mury wrote:
> It's no surprise that a full size quarter wave beats any loaded
> vertical, but I disagree that they all have dismal performance.

What I said and what I was thinking were not exactly the same. I meant
to say that the antennas in the shootout don't all have dismal
performance compared to the full size quarter wave reference antenna
used. Compared to a full size quarter wave with a good counterpoise -
well, that's a different question!

--
73, Brian
VE7NGR



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Message: 19
Date: Mon, 5 Jul 2004 17:43:45 +1000
From: "Bill Scovell" <[hidden email]>
Subject: [Elecraft] K2 Inventory 'problem'
To: "Hisashi T Fujinaka" <[hidden email]>
Cc: Elecraft <[hidden email]>
Message-ID: <001101c46263$e7959200$f1818b90@bill2oyrtq9s6k>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

They say that confession is good for the soul so perhaps I should detail my
foolish mistake.
I looked at the RFa bag bandolier, not too closely it turns out, and decided
that it wasn't carrying any 1/2 watt resistors. Not being able to find any
loose ones I counted up the number of resistors required for the RF board
and compared this to the number of R's on the bandolier ---two short!!! but
I had overlooked R115 and R116.
After a 'heads up' (I hope I'm using that term correctly) from Don Wilhelm I
looked again at the bandolier which, of course, was loaded with two 1/2
watts in their ordained position.
I should not have been so quick to doubt Elecraft's reliability. My only
worry now is that the 'Mojo Fairy' might punish me for this --- perhaps if I
record my thanks to Christine, Walter, Judy and Somarian for a 100% perfect
pack I shall be forgiven.

Bill / VK4SQ

p.s. I didn't suffer your headache --- I'm the proud possessor of an AADE
L/C Meter --- outside of Elecraft the best $100 I ever spent.

------------------------------

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End of Elecraft Digest, Vol 3, Issue 5
**************************************

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