[Elecraft] Let's play... Stump The Reflector!

Tue Jul 2 12:16:01 2002

Posting for my friend Bruce, he is have reflector problems in addition
to a KPA100 problem. Please email him direct.

73, Rod N0RC    ...the email reflector reflector...

-----Original Message-----
From: Bruce - backup email [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Monday, July 01, 2002 10:57 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Let's play... Stump The Reflector!

Welcome everyone to the exciting game show, "Stump the Reflector",
where our
contestants pit their skills against tough troubleshooting situations.
Today's show sponsored by Elecraft, makers of the K1 and K2 Amateur
radio
kits!  <applause>

I'm also happy to announce that after last weeks unfortunate microwave
explosion, all of our contestants are recovering nicely.  Well,
without
further a due, let's meet this weeks contestants, Scott, Gary, and
Wayne!
<More applause>

Remember contestants, the object of our game is to correctly diagnose
the
problem.  Five points will be given for correctly selecting debugging
steps
along the way.  You have 10 seconds to go to the next step or you will
loose
your turn and the next contestant will get their chance.  If you think
you
know the real problem, buzz in.  Guess incorrectly and you will be
eliminated. Select the correct problem and win fabulous prizes.   Now,
let's
meet this weeks guest with a problem!  <applause!>

"Your name is?"
<with microphone stuck in his face>
"Ah, Bruce Thompson"
"Where are you from Bruce?"
"Ah, from Golden Colorado"
"And Bruce, what is your problem for our contestants?"
"Well, um, I've finished building the KPA100 and am testing it.  There
are
two problems.  First, I have no "dots" on CW and second, I can only
output
0.3 watts max when setting the power from 0-11 watts."

OK, let's play,... Stump The Reflector!......  <Background music fades
out?

Scott, you've won the toss back stage and have elected to go first.
We'll
start the clock...now!

<Scott>
"Let's see, did you make sure your paddle was working?"
"Yes."
"You did completely disconnect the KPA100 didn't you?"
"Yes, first thing"
"Did you make sure the keyer was turned on?"
"Yes."
"Do you have dashes?"
"Yes"
"Did you test for low voltage on pin 30 of the MCU on the control
board?"
"Yes, it would not go low."
"Ah Ha..."
"<Announcer:  You're up to twenty five points...">
"Let's see, did you check the continuity of the connector J1?"
"Yes, it was fine."
"Did you check the solder joints for the connector and the resistors?"
"Yes."
"Did you ohm out from J1 to J8 pin 18 of the RF board?"
"Yes, that was OK."
"Did you check continuity from J8 to the MCU on the control board?"
"Yes, that was OK as well."
"Oh dear, um, did you try the previous version of the MCU firmware?"
"Yes, still had the same problems"
"Did you call Elecraft support?"
BUZZZT!
"Oh, I'm sorry, that is a 10 point penalty"
"Oops.  Well, um.. Did you try to ground the resistor R1?"
"Yes, on the connector side of R1, nothing.  Grounding the side that
hooked
to the capacitor, I got dits!"
"What?  .... That makes no sense...um..."
BUZZZZT!
<Announcer>  I'm sorry Scott, your 10 seconds is up.  On to Gary, your
turn."

<Gary>
"Wow, this is a strange one. I'm going to look at the low power
output.  Did
you check that the finals were not shorted to the heat sink?"
"Yes, all checked fine"
"Um, did you verify your power supply was holding the voltage during
transmit?"
"Yes, I was using a 30A supply."
"Did you check the current on transmit?"
"Yes, it was less than an amp."
"Were you sure you had the power pot set to more than 1 watt?"
"Yes, I had it on maximum"
"Ah, did you check the voltages of Q6, Q7 and Q8?"
"Yes, all were within limits"
"Ah,...man, this is a tough one...Did you yell and scream and throw a
fit?"
"Yes, I did that rather well!"  <audience laughter>
"Did you try the amp on full power anyway?"
BUZZZZT!
<Announcer:> I'm sorry.  Our judges say that may have damaged the
radio so
that is not a valid debugging step.  I'm afraid you loose your turn.
On to
Wayne.  What do you think Wayne, have to figured this one out yet?"

<Wayne>"
"Wow, I've never seen this one before.  Um, what is the serial number
of
your K2?"
"00549"
"That's an old one.  When did you build it?"
"1999"
"Ok, you said you tried it on CW.  Did you try it on SSB?"
"Yes, no output at all"
"Did you try it on all the bands?"
"Yes, same problem on all the bands."
"Oh, let's see, you were building the KPA100 and now you are
seeing...."

<To the surprise of everyone, Wayne hits his buzzer...>
"BING!"
<Announcer>
"Wayne, tell us what you think the problem is..."
<Drum roll>
"When he upgraded the SSB board, Bruce put the firmware chip in
backwards!"

<Thunderous applause, begin background music, balloons fall from the
ceiling, smiling blond enters stage left>

"Congratulations Wayne!  You and your XYL have won a fabulous
DXpedition to
the Caribbean Island of your choice.  Yes, two weeks of sun, fun and
QSO's,
brought to you by Elecraft!"

"Bruce, what happened when you put the chip in the right way around?"
"Everything worked fine business.  My K2 is now up and running with
100
watts on all bands on CW with both the dits and the dashes as well as
SSB."

<announcer>
"Well, folks, that's all for this week.  Tune in next week when we
trouble
shoot a home nuclear reactor.  Until next week, 73s and so long from
"Stump
the Reflector!"

<Cut to Elecraft commerical>

Bruce "Pin 1? What pin 1!" Thompson
KG0SH
[email protected]