[Elecraft] DEM Transverters

[Don Brown]

Hi

As many of you know I have built several K2's and K1's as well as a KPA10=
0. A fellow sent me 2 DEM Transverters to build for him. I thought I woul=
d give the group my experience with these kits. =20

First of all contrary to the "manual" these are not beginner kits in fact=
 it is one of the most difficult kits I have ever built. The instructions=
 are "non existent" and consist of a drawing of the circuit board a parts=
 list and the instruction to install all of the parts. The PC board is no=
t silkscreened so you have to find the part in the parts list then search=
 the diagram to find where to install it. The mechanical design is such t=
hat once everything is installed it is just about impossible to remove th=
e board for service. There was not enough wire to complete the kit and th=
ere are several surface mount parts requiring quite a bit of skill to ins=
tall. I got the 6 meter unit built and it so far it receives but the tran=
smitter is flaky. I will get it working but, I will not build the 2 meter=
 kit.

I am sending the 2 meter kit back to the owner and recommending he send i=
t back to DEM and buy a TenTec 2 meter transverter or find someone else t=
o build it. I have built both a 6 meter and 2 meter TenTec transverter an=
d in my opinion they are better designed and easier to build and work on =
and work better with the K2. At least they have a well written manual. (O=
ne of the things we take for granted is the excellent manual that comes w=
ith the K2, K1.) =20

I usually don't like to run down a product and electronically the DEM loo=
ks well designed but some of you may be thinking of buying this kit. Just=
 be warned its not for beginners. I don't consider myself a beginner, it'=
s not for me either. JMHO

Don Brown
KD5NDB


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