[Elecraft] An Amusing way To Break a Part

[Mike Lewis]

Hi Guys,
 
I am back on the reflector and posting a copy of an email that I sent to
Elecraft regarding a part for my K160RX option that, through a rather
interesting set of circumstances, I decided to rip apart before trying to
install. I would not want to place any money on the chances that anyone else
has either done this, or might do this, but on the off-chance, I thought
this would maybe be useful, and probably good for a laugh as well (it'll be
easier to laugh after I get the next part in the mail though, hihi...) This
email is in response to Scott King, who sent me an email confirming my
original request for this replacement part that was missing from my original
K160RX kit. This is the female conmnector that mounts on the K2 RF board
that the K160RX plugs into. As all of the rest of you know who have made
this option, this connector is taller than many of the other option board
connectors that mount on the RF board (in order to clear the K2 antenna BNC
connector)...Well mine isn't anymore...
 
----------- Excerpt of Original Message ------------------------------
 
 Scott,
 
I have good news and bad news. The good news is, the 16 pin female connector
arrived yesterday in the mail. The bad news is, I broke it (sigh). I will
need to get another one (which I can pay for this time around if that is
required).
 
The explanation, while probably not required, might help someone else avoid
the same issue. Since the part is part of the 160m/rcv ant option for the
K2, the manual does not have any pictures of the parts in it. I assumed the
part I was looking to receive would look the same as the other female
connectors on the K2 RF board that the other options I already have built
and installed (SSB board and Noise Blanker) use. When the part came in and I
saw it, I attributed the extra height as being the result of an extra piece
of socket strip having been installed on the end of the female connectors
pins in order to protect them in shipping. I proceeded to 'remove' the
'extra connector' prior to installing it in the K2 RF board, not realizing
my mistake until I had pulled the pieces apart. After realizing my mistake I
was able to push the pieces back together, but in light of the particular
difficulty in removing this sort of a connector if it is defective I decided
I did not want to take a chance on the connector's reliability after it had
been separated. I imagine this would not have happened if:
 
1) I had gotten the connector in the kit originally. Would not have assumed
that it needed special shipping protection and would have most likely fit
checked it it before I started messing with it (which immediately shows that
it is different in order to clear the BNC antenna jack...)
 
2) There had been a picture in the manual. This omission is perfectly
understandable since the manual for such a small kit is only about 5 or so
pages and adding pictures to all of those would likely affect prices, which
all of us kit builders appreciate being so reasonable. That is part of the
reason that 'Santa' was able to bring me such a fun little kit in the first
place.
 
3) There had been some specific words in the 160m add on kit manual about
the differing appearance of this connector as compared to the other female
board connectors used to attach other options to the K2 RF board. While this
would be an easy change to make, and might have helped me avoid my mistake,
I imagine this is not really what I would term a 'foreseeable problem' by
whoever wrote the manual (has anyone pulled this particular bonehead stunt
besides me?) so I certainly don't blame Elecraft for this one in any way.
Still, just in case some other over-zealous assembler in the grip of 'K2
option fever' might have a potential to go down this path it might be worth
considering adding a line to the manual regarding the appearance of this
particular connector whenever the 160RX manual next gets a chance to be
modified.
 
I will also send this email to the Elecraft reflector to let everyone know
of a potential issue (however unlikely) and to give everyone a laugh as
well, I expect. The good news is that after the fervor of K2 Optionitis dies
down I can be happy that I still have a potentially perfect K2 in another
week or so. Although, if I need to pay for the new part I would also
consider spending a little extra money to get the part in sooner as well,
since the  CQ 160-Meter CW contest looms in a week or so...
 
Anyway, after the long-winded confession, here are the details again:
 
Broken: 16 pin female connector (J14, part number given as E620003 on
envelope used to send my first replacement)
 
Thanks for all the fine support, and for your patience with things like
this!
 
73 de KE0MF/Mike 
S/N 3096 K2 and SSB, NB options so far...


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