[Elecraft] SSB Carrier Balance Solved

[William M. Spaulding, Sr.]

Folks,

When is a solder joint a solder joint?  When it makes a reasonably low-ohm
connection between metal surfaces.  I guess it's just not good enough if it
LOOKS like a good solder connection -  all shiny and well shaped - so pretty
you'd bet 100 bux it's good.

I can report that carrier balance requires that both pin 1 and pin 2 of U5
connect to R1 with good solder joints.  Connecting to pin 2 only isn't
enough.

I think what I have learned so far is that if you have the correct parts in
the right holes and it doesn't work, start touching up ALL solder
connections, no matter how good they look.  I've had three problems with my
K2 and 6 options. Two were bad solder on the RF board, one bad solder on the
SSB option, and one was an open pop-through on the RF board.  As I watch,
most of all our problems are soldering related, and a lot of us have been
doing it for a lot of years.

So, we have SSB carrier balance, and all is well.

Thanks for the suggestions guys,

Bill
NA7Y