Very Dissatisfied With Elecraft Support

[Don Wilhelm-4]

Bruce,

I believe Jon has decided to purchase the RF Probe kit from Elecraft,
and he knows about the instructions.  Plus, he will be asking his local
ham club members about things he is having difficulty with, and that
should result in local help that he can rely on as well as the email
assistance we can offer here on the reflector.   Thanks for your input.

73,
Don W3FPR

Bruce McLaughlin wrote:

> Don, a question.  I built the K2/100 and I remember building the RF probe
> from the parts included and using the instructions in the builder's manual.
> I wonder if it might be best to purchase the RF probe Kit and then download
> the K2 manual if (A) it includes the probe assembly instructions and (B) the
> probe kit is essentially the same as the RF probe built during K2 assembly.
> As I remember it was not at all hard to build.  I think John is unduly
> worried.  I'm sure a solution can be found for his problem.
>
> Bruce - W8FU
>  
>

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[Gary Hvizdak]

At 0922 EDT on Thu 15 May 2008 Jon Perelstein (KB1QBZ) wrote ...

I ordered a K1 ...

--

Hi Jon,

    Throughout my career I've noticed that when I attempt a project which
doesn't "work out" the first time, that it's because I didn't already know
all that I needed to know to accomplish it.  Out of this observation, I have
trained myself to see failures as opportunities to learn.  Another valuable
observation is that "getting started" is often the hardest part.

    In amateur radio, a key ingredient to getting started more quickly, is
the principle of an "Elmer".  A quick web search found this excellent
definition at http://www.qsl.net/kd4sai/intro.html ...


    An Elmer is the ham equivalent of a "Yoda".


... i.e. a teacher, as in the Star Wars character.

    I encourage you to find an Elmer either online or (preferably) in your
local area to accelerate your learning curve, so that you can more quickly
come to enjoy this wonderful hobby.

All the Best,
Gary  KI4GGX

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[AJSOENKE]

Jon,
 
I haven't read all the replies on this list, it's getting late here in
California, so I hope I'm not being repetitious. From what I read it sounds like you
are having a rather normal experience.
I don't know how old you are, so I can't tell if this will be very helpful.
Usually I can guess from the call sign, but a KB1 that's only a couple months
old is a little difficult to 'decode.'
 
Anyway,  I wanted to tell you that I am a retired engineer who is teaching
electronics at the local high school. I have actually been teaching part time
for the last 23 years, partly for my own fun and partly to help make sure some
of our youth gets more out of high school than most schools offer.  If you were
living in Santa Barbara, I can guarantee you wouldn't be having this problem.
Our local school district offers the classes I teach absolutely free of
charge and there is no age restriction except we prefer students be over 15. ( I
have several 9th graders that are barely 14 and several adults in their 40s.)  
We offer the training along with the books and online resources, and every
imaginable test equipment you could need.
 
My class just completed a K2 10 Watt transceiver, and their antenna is going
up tomorrow.
 
I suggest you get in touch with your local school district/community college
and local ham clubs. You may have had some contact with a local club already.
In fact the ARRL headquarters and their entire lab is only a short drive
(~69Mi) away from  Stamford, where you live. And be sure to take your K1 with you.  
Take an adult ed class, maybe.
 
Hams are one of the greatest 'fraternities' I know of. Look at all the
replies you got on this list!  We've all been through this and we rely on each
other, most of us can't afford a lot of test gear, etc. either. So, we share with
each other.
 
Oh, yes! One other thing - don't be too hard on the Elecraft support people.
After all, this list is their idea. Plus, they have don't a super human job of
putting a new product on the market this past year and it may have them
spread a little thin. What you have received from them isn't available from most
companies at any level.
 
Good Luck, let us know how you make out. (Even experienced builders have had
problems getting as far as you have).
 
Al WA6VNN and the Class of Dos Pueblos ARC (KI6PRK)



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[Brian Lloyd-6]

> I can understand your frustration, but there may be a simplier
> solution. The K2 comes with the parts to make a simple RF probe: 1N34A
> diode, .01 uf cap, 47 M ohm resistor and a length of RG-174 coax. You
> should be able to order all of the parts from Elecraft, including the
> small PC board that is used - part number E100079 (it's also used as a
> spacing tool for mounting the front panel switches). The instructions
> are on page 9 of Appendix E in the K2 manual that can be downloaded  
> from
> the Elecraft web site.

For that matter, someone who has already built their K2 and used a  
'scope instead of the RF probe probably has all the bits lying around  
and would send them to Jon if he asked.

--

73 de Brian, WB6RQN
Brian Lloyd - brian HYPHEN wb6rqn AT lloyd DOT com



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