[Elecraft] K2DSP 20-pin (2 X 10 pin) socket problem

[Frank C Van Cleef]

Greetings all :--

At the request of Tom, N0SS, I'm reposting a modified version of comments I
sent him concering the now infamous 20-pin connector:

I just received my K2DSP package and immediately opened it to check the
socket.  Just as reported by Tom and others, one side of the socket would
not allow the 5-pin male connector to be plugged into it!  I followed Tom's
instructions, which worked perfectly, and in a couple of minutes the socket
was working properly.  The only interesting thing is that I had to re-insert
each pin on the affected side while slanting the base (or solder) end AWAY
from the centerline.  As each pin was adjusted it could be seen to be
slightly but clearly tilted OUT (away from the centerline) compared to the
remaining un-adjusted pins.  In fact, when looking at the socket before
making any changes with my Optivisor, I could clearly see that the solder
ends appeared centered in heir holes differently on the bad side compared to
the good side.

The pins are easily removed and repositioned with needle-nosed pliers.  I
did a couple at a time and then used the 5-pin mail connector to verify that
the pins were set correctly.

If it weren't for folks like Tom and others on this reflector I'd have gone
ahead and mounted
that socket and then had a really fine time trying to re-align the pins
already soldered to the board.  I've had such good results using the Hakko
808 to desolder and remove components that I think I would have just removed
the socket and asked Elecraft to send out another, but now none of that fuss
is necessary.  I have, BTW, fired off a note to the Elecraft gurus so as to
officially record yet another instance of this problem.

Van, W1WCG
K2 #2634