[Elecraft] K2 Alignment & Test Part II

[Don Wilhelm]

Rick,

As you surmise, that is not normal.
Check to see that you have the W1 and W6 jumpers installed.  Are all the
diodes installed correctly?  Re-check your soldering.  Do you have good
nicely tinned leads on L25 and L26.

If still no improvement, try connecting the antenna to the W6 jumper - that
bypasses the TR switch and the low pass filter.  If a good signal there, try
the antenna at the W1 jumper - bypassing only the low pass filters.

If you still have difficulty, go to the Elecraft website www.elecraft.com
and download the article dealing with signal tracing (by N0SS).

You will not get a strong peak from L34.  The proper setting will have the
slug near the top of the can.  If you can't hear the birdie loud enough,
just set the slug 1 turn from the top until you get things working.  To
adjust L34, use the narrowest IF  fiilter and the 7000 Hz birdie, and tune
it for a strong signal with the lowest noise (best S/N ratio).

Good luck and best 73,
Don W3FPR

----- Original Message ----- 

| Okay . . . I've got my K2 up to this part, the 40 meter alignment.
| Everything checks out okay until I get to the IF Amplifier Alignment.  I
can
| hear the 7000khz signal, just barely, and can get the L34 to change the
| signal somewhat, but not really get a peak.  I connected a signal
generator
| and peaked L1 & L2 for peak signal strength.  Still can't really get a
peak
| on L34.
| Hooking an antenna to the K2, I can hear signals, both SSB and CW but I
have
| to turn the AF Gain up about 3/4 to hear them; in fact, turning it all the
| way is not too loud.  Tried a couple different headphones, same result.
Can
| really only hear signals with the PREamp on, with it off, they all but
| disappear.  In fact, hooking the antenna to the K2 at this point doesn't
| really even make much of a difference in background noise.
| For a reference . . .the SPOT tone is as loud as I want to make it, when I
| go to that menu setting.
| So, is this normal? (I think not)  And what should I be looking for?
| 73 de Rick, WQ8Q
|