[Elecraft] maximizing useful K1 VFO range

[Wallace, Andy]

Well, I had my K1 doing 150 kHz VFO range for a while, but changed it back
to 80
kHz with the stock 68pF VFO cap again. The wider range is nice to scan more
of
the band but I was hearing very little activity above the 100 kHz mark on
the
bands. I hope CW isn't dying out faster than before!

Anyway, here is a tip which many of you might benefit from. After doing your
CAL
OSC and CAL OPF operations to make the VFO tune the proper range, set the
bands
on frequency, then reajust the VFO toroid spacing to compensate for the 
variations in the two or four bands installed in your K1.

Take note of the lower band-edge-tuning of each band with the VFO fully
counter-clockwise. Whichever one starts the highest -- closest to the lower
ham
band edge -- is what you want to adjust. With the VFO nylon hardware
tightened
down, take the insulated tweaker or some other tool and squeeze or separate
the
last VFO turn from the rest. Even with the hardware tight you can have a
slight
movement -- and that is all that should be necessary. 

After the rig has warmed up, try to make the fully CCW VFO position be as
close
to that band edge as possible.

With my rig, it was the 40m band. Now after doing this adjustment, the other
bands also have the maximum operating range available:

6.998 - 7.091
10.092 - 10.185
13.992 - 14.085
20.990 - 21.083

See how the lower edge of 40m is what limited the range of the others?

And my final VFO CAL OSC comes out to 3.091 - 2.998. 


--Andy