[Elecraft] Surface Mount tech; Orion; and K2/100

[Dick Ballard]

I doubt if any Elecraft radio would ever be designed with SMD (Surface
Mount Device) parts. Primary reason is that they are intended to be
assembled by hobbyists with ordinary tools. Although SMD boards can be
hand built, the appearance, quality, and reliability are seriously
compromised unless special techniques are used. Just handling the
components is a bear for the home hobbyist. Repair and modification is
also difficult.

The principle reason for SMD design is size. Stuff can be made a lot
smaller that way. It also eliminates a lot of thru holes in the PCB.
Manufacturing cost may also be less once a stable design is achieved
and produced in quantity.

Dick Ballard
Beaverton OR
W7AND


On Mon, 6 Jan 2003 21:00:31 -0700, you wrote:

>Hi folks -
>  This may be a very ignorant question but what the heck. If I =
understand it
>correctly alot of the inards of the Orion are only available as surface
>mount  (SM) type items. QRP folks are playing a lot with this if you =
look at
>the Norcal site etc
>  Could this mean  that the next level of Elecraft evolution could be =
based
>on SM technology and utilize some of the Orion type concepts? Is this a
>moron question?  Thanks for the feedback. 73/Tim NZ7C