[Elecraft] K2 #3338 problem solved

[Steve Ratzlaff]

Hi,
"It's the soldering, dummy". My intermittent receive problem on all
bands was due to an unsoldered D3 anode, in the T/R switching line, in
the antenna/filters RF section path. This diode is right at the rear of
the board, where I claimed I'd made an extra inspection and reheated all
those connections. So much for my claims. I didn't even find it by
inspection either. I had a signal connected to the antenna connector and
was pondering the problem, when I idly touched the top rear of the
board, near D2. Just a light touch caused the intermittent to happen.
Since D2 was soldered on the bottom, and the top had a nice shiny look I
turned the radio over to inspect D2--it was soldered, but right next to
it was D3's unsoldered shiny pad staring at me, with its lead cut flush
with the pad. Another soldered pad was right next to it--I guess my eye
kept seeing the soldered connection and refused to see D3's shiny
unsoldered pad.
Memo to self--"it's the soldering, dummy"--slow down and inspect the
pads one more time, then if necessary, one more time until you spot it.

Thanks to those who gave very helpful suggestions, but the solution was
as simple as could be--check the soldering, even when you think you've
already checked it! Gary Surrency was the first help reply I received,
and his one and only tip--it's the soldering dummy (but he didn't phrase
it that bluntly, he was kind). He was right.

Steve