[Elecraft] the saga of #286 (KX1)

[Dan Presley]

Finally, I'm able to report the arrival of KX1 #286 as a functioning 
radio despite my best efforts to keep it from going on the air! 
First, I managed to destroy the U1 microprocessor by snapping off a 
pin while trying to install it in the IC socket ( thanks to Scott at 
Elecraft for shipping a new one overnight) . After getting that 
solved, I got the basic radio working, but it seemed erratic and 
wouldn't always function properly. I started troubleshooting and 
thought I had another problem when my old friend U1 ( microprocessor) 
started to  fall out of the socket! Turns out I didn't get it seated 
properly,probably because I was worried about busting off another 
pin. So, once I got it clearly seated everything was fine. I then 
proceeded to the 30 M module which I built and installed, but as I 
was closing up the KX1 case after soldering those wires (@#$%^&###!) 
I plugged in a power supply and nothing happened except a brief smell 
of smoke-oh s***t! Turns out the shoulder washer that insulates the 
final PA transistor from the case fell out before I screwed the case 
back on, thus shorting the transistor to ground. So, I thought I was 
done for this time. I finally found the washer on my workshop floor ( 
no mean feat as the floor is dirty, and a very dark color, and the 
washer is black)) and re-installed it with a drop of glue to hold it 
in. I started checking voltages around the RF amp where things might 
have gone bad, but it was all coming up ok, so I thought,"what the 
hell-plug it in and see what happens". OK- receiver works, so I guess 
it can't be too bad, and then I went ahead to see if any rf was 
coming out, or if I now had a fancy code practice oscillator. To my 
surprise, it seemed to emit power at its designated rate ( 3-4 W) on 
all bands and was functioning normally as far as I could tell. So, I 
plugged in the Kent paddle and started firing away on 40, and got my 
first qso with W5WAX ( great call!) in Oklahoma-not bad from Oregon 
with an almost destroyed rig. After proper alignment all seems well, 
and qsos on all 3 bands were made. Kinda like the old watch 
commercial-"takes a licking and keeps on ticking"...Wayne & Eric-I 
could really be a good 'beta tester' on your next project :). Now on 
the the autotuner and new adventures-if you hear me on next week 
you'll know I lived through that one!
Truly this rig will be ready for camping this summer. I plan to use 
it on the Metolius and Deschutes river campgrounds when fly fishing 
is slow. I can't wait to get it in the woods if I don't destroy it 
first.
-- 
Dan Presley-N7CQR-Portland, Or QRP-L #502
n7cqr@arrl.net