[Elecraft] K2 #3442 IS ALIVE

[Ken Wagner]

Hello All:

Just wanted to let everyone know that K2 3442 is alive and well in Rhode
Island. This is my third one and it went together without a hitch. All
readings, ranges, and power output are within normal limits. I did have a
problem after assembly and after all the testing. During the testing
everything was normal and the Rx current draw was a reasonable 220ma. I let
it sit powered on for a while to get some lunch and when I came back to tune
WWV and set C22 more precisely, I noticed that the gain was *way* down and
that the Rx current draw was now 480ma. It smelled kinda hot as well.
Sometimes prior problems are helpful. On an earlier K2, I had a problem with
the Post-mixer Amp circuit and this was producing somewhat the same
symptoms, except for the increased current draw. Also, I noted that if I
turned the menu OPt from PErF to Batt, the current dropped down to about
260ma. I removed Q22 figuring I would have to replace it. When it was off
the board, I did some resistance measurements to see what, if anything,
might have failed causing Q22 to die. However, everything measured normal
and there was no indication that any component had failed. I checked Q22
with a meter and it seemed OK. So... big decision... I put it back in. Now
it works just fine, thank you. I could spend hours speculating what was
wrong, but I won't. It works fine now.

Now, during the next week, I'll put together the 5 options sitting on the
table. That'll keep me off the streets and out of the bars :-)

73, Ken K3IU
K2/100 920; K2 3442