SMD Version of the K6XX Visible LED CW Tuning Indicator

[Tom Hammond-3]

Hi Folks:

WOW! I'm receiving a LOT of e-mail lately... <G>

This SMD CW Tuning Indicator project's taken on a life of its own... more
than I'd intended.

About 1 month ago, I posted to the reflector that I was going to make a kit
of the K6XX Visible LED CW Tuning Indicator, but using SMDs, rather than
through-hole components. At that time, I asked ALL those who might be
interested in such a kit to drop me a note, indicating their "level of
interest". I told those who replied that they would be given 'first choice'
of the kits when they were created. Well, they'd taken the time to reply,
they SHOULD have first shot at them...

I received replies from about 23 individuals, indicating a desire for some
28 kits.

Based upon the interest shown at that time, I bought components for 40
kits, assuming that I might be able to find at least another 12 potential
buyers for the remaining kits.

Parts for Kit #1 were used by me to build the prototype unit.

The remaining kits went to those who had initially responded... a couple
folks increased the number of kit's they wished to receive by one, now
leaving me with only 3-4 kits remaining.

Those few kits have now been 'reserved' by orders received from more recent
requests (received and acknowledged in time-sequence order).

My first DX order (to Benny Aumala, OH9NB) will go out Monday morning. At
that time I will have first-hand information on the added costs of mailing
to a DX location, and the added hassle of having to take the packet to the
post office and filling out the Customs declaration forms. From that, I
will determine final mailing/handling costs for shipping DX kits. I do not
expect them to be terribly high, but they will be somewhat above the costs
for shipping within the U.S. At present, I have considering asking $2 (US)
extra ($17 basic kit price, + $2 postage) for DX shipping. But I will know
for certain by Monday night.

Presently, the actual process of 'kitting' the components is too much
hassle for me to want to do it more than one more time!!! Unless I can find
a less involved method of individually separating the components, so they
can be shipped securely, with little or no chance of being lost (they ARE
TINY), while ensuring that the builder will be able to readily access them
IN THE REQUIRED ASSEMBLY order, Only one more attempt at kitting things
will be considered. At present, each component is individually placed into
a 10" long x 1" wide plastic bag, and heat sealed into its own compartment
in the order of assembly. This takes a LOT of time, but it is the only way
I've found to ensure that components, especially the caps which aren't
labeled) can be readily selected with little concern that the builder is
getting the wrong component. This takes a LOT of time.

Anyway, given the level of apparent interest immediately shown following
W8URs post to the reflector, I will consider making ONE (1) further run of
'kitted' components for this project. After those kits are gone, I will
only(!) offer the BAREBONES PC BOARD, $5 ppd stateside/$7 (US) to DX.

Bare bones boards are also NOW AVAILABLE!!!

So here's your one and ONLY chance... I am now taking orders for ONE FINAL
RUN of kits for the K6XX CW Tuning Indicator in SMD form. The 'window of
opportunity' for placing your order will CLOSE on November 10, 2004 without
fail. The parts for however many kits have been ordered at that date will
be ordered a few days later and kits will be made as the components arrive.

PLEASE NOTE - ONLY ORDERS FOR KITS PRE-ORDERED VIA E-MAIL WILL BE
ACCEPTED!!! I'll be using your e-mail pre-orders to determine how many kits
to make up. If I receive an order in the mail and there's no matching
e-mail pre-order, the order will be held until all pre-orders have been
filled. IF at that time there are remaining kits, I will try to fill other
orders, not there will be no guarantee. In the case where an order cannot
be filled, payment will be returned.

To order, send me an e-mail <[hidden email]> immediately, indicating
the number of kits you wish to order AND including your MAILING ADDRESS in
the order.

All orders will be acknowledged by E-MAIL! PAYMENT INFORMATION will be
included in the e-mail confirmation. If you do not receive an
acknowledgement within 48 hours of your order, contact me directly at
573-893-2813!!!

And NO, I do NOT accept PayPal. Sorry! I never got a 'warm fuzzy' feeling
when I did use it, so I stopped long ago. Payment must be either
check/cash/Money Order in US funds. I've never been cheated by a ham
sending a no account check... please, don't do anything to change that
spotless record.

Let the fun begin!

ALWAYS check my web site at:  http://www.n0ss.net  for the most current set
of assembly, installation and alignment docs for this project.

The original article, written by Bob Wolbert, K6XX:

http://www.n0ss.net/k6xx_vis_led_cw_tun_ind_original_article_by_k6xx.pdf

The most current assembly/Install/Alignment docs:

http://www.n0ss.net/k6xx_vis_led_cw_tun_ind_smd_assy-align.pdf

73,

Tom Hammond    N0SS
5417 Scruggs Stn Rd
Lohman MO  USA

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[WA7SPY]

I received my tuning indicator from Tom Hammond N0SS last week. I put it
together on Sunday. To my dismay it did not work. I checked and tripled
checked component placement and wiring. It all looked good. I still could
not get the tuning indicator to work. Tom and I emailed back and forth. I
was about ready to send my board to Tom for his evaluation. I got home from
work tonight and started trouble shooting. I got out my trusty Hakko 808. I
put the small long tip on it. I cleaned up all the solder off of all the
components. I then touched up all the solder connections to all of the
components. I plugged the board back into the K2. What do you know the 10th
LED now lights up when the tuning is locked on a signal. I can adjust the
LED to come on and off with the trim pot. If anyone else is having problems
make sure you have good solder joints! Especially the little legs to the
very tiny FSK chip which is the heart of the tuning indicator circuit. They
are hard to see let alone solder. Make sure you have a very small soldering
tip and you get in and out quickly with the tip so you do not over heat
components or lift a trace.

Tom did an awesome job with this little project! I hope this may help
someone else who has or may have problems with this SMD kit.

Thanks,
Glenn Maclean WA7SPY

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