Re: Elecraft Kits

[Jim Wiley-2]

Jim -


The K2, at least, and I suspect all of the other Elecraft transceiver
kits, have either built in test equipment, or require only the simplest
of external test gear to get them up and running. I built a K2, and
while I happen to have a complete RF lab of quality test equipment (HP,
Tektronix, Fluke, General Radio, Millen) I just for fun tried aligning
the K2 after it was built using only the internal sources, and it worked
just fine.  A precision alignment after the unit had been in service for
a few weeks produced only minimal improvements and in my opinion would
have no practical real-world performance advantage over the
"non-precision" method.  I will admit that the K2 is the only Elecraft
transceiver I have, so perhaps there is something I am missing.  If your
VOM and BC-221 are reasonably close to being in "cal", you will have no
trouble.  Probably won't even need them.


- Jim, KL7CC


Falls, Jim wrote:

>
> Do you need a lab to align these when you are done, or could I just
> build one and use it?
>
>  
>
> That's the part that's off-putting. I have an analog VOM, old o-scope,
> and a BC-211 as a frequency  generator I've used on GB rigs, but
> that's it.
>
>  
>
> Jim Falls
>
> K6FWT
>
> Eureka, CA
>
>  
>

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[Don Wilhelm-4]

Jim and Jim,

I missed the original question for some reason.
Yes, most all the Elecraft kits can be built and aligned with only a DMM
and a good dummy load.  If you are not certain about the dummy load's
flatness, borrow an antenna analyzer and check it from 2 to 30 MHz - it
should be quite near 50 ohms with very low reactance over the range.
The Elecraft XG2 is also handy for setting the S-meter response, but not
required.

One point on the VOM - unless you know that a very low voltage is used
for resistance measurements on that meter, do not use it to measure
resistances on solid state circuits - many are capable of turning on
active devices which can in the best case give inaccurate measurements
and in the worst case can destroy active devices (transistors, ICs,
etc.)  Even inexpensive (less than $10) DMMs are normally accurate
enough - the better ones respond more quickly and have more features.

73,
Don W3FPR

Jim Wiley wrote:

> Jim -
>
>
>   If your
> VOM and BC-221 are reasonably close to being in "cal", you will have no
> trouble.  Probably won't even need them.
>
>
> - Jim, KL7CC
>
>
> Falls, Jim wrote:
>  
>> Do you need a lab to align these when you are done, or could I just
>> build one and use it?
>>
>>  
>>
>> That's the part that's off-putting. I have an analog VOM, old o-scope,
>> and a BC-211 as a frequency  generator I've used on GB rigs, but
>> that's it.
>>
>>  
>>
>> Jim Falls
>>
>> K6FWT
>>
>> Eureka, CA
>>
>>  
>>
>>    
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[Matt Palmer-4]

while I had access to sophisticated test equipment I built my K2 in a
hotel room with a DMM i got for free from a sales creature and a
norcal smt dummy load kit. I dont think you even need the DMM for the
K2 because it has one built in.


Matt
W8ESE
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