[Elecraft] Kit KX1, Number 00406, Invoice # 28911, 1/12/2004. Troubleshooting.

Sun Mar 7 19:56:02 2004

Johannes St=F6ckle DJ5AI
Sonnenhalde 34
71642 Ludwigsburg
Germany
Phone 07141-51698
e-mail: [email protected]

Elecraft LLC
PO Box 69
Aptos, CA 95001-0069
USA

Kit KX1, Number 00406, Invoice # 28911, Date 1/12/2004. Troubleshooting.

Hallo OM,

first of all thank you for that fine kit.
The excellent manual made it easy, to assemble and to test the KX1.
Now I am working with this transceiver on 14 MHz for about 2 weeks and =
had much fun in getting
rare stations around the world (J88DR, ZF2UL, YI3DX, ZL2BR, J6/G3VMK, =
FY/F5JGT, PJ2/N1ZZ,
3B9FR, 5H1BP, VK2YN etc.)
It is a new experience for an old DXer (68), to contact stations in all =
continents with only 3 watts
and a 4 element beam.

But I have some difficulty with troubleshooting and I hope, you can =
help, to find the mistakes.

1.    On 14 MHz receiving and transmitting is possible WITHOUT ANY =
PROBLEMS.

       But on 7 MHz I only can RECEIVE the stations. When I tap the TUNE =
mode (MENU+BAND)
       the dial is getting dark and no other features are possible any =
more. There is no power getting out.
       Then I have to switch OFF and again ON to activate the receiving =
mode again.
       Using the keyer KXPD1 the dial is "holding". I cannot change the =
selected frequency any more by
       tuning the VFO knob, and I cannot go back to the different tuning =
rates by tapping the VFO knob.
       Also no power is getting out.
       Then I have to switch the KX1 OFF and again ON to activate the =
transceiver again.

       The measurements with my DVM show the following voltages:
               U1 pin 1 ... 5.0V DC,  U3 pin 6 ... 5.9V DC,  U3 pin 7 =
... 0V! (zero)
       If I measure on 14 MHz in mode TUNE the voltage of U3 pin 7 is =
5.9V DC as described in the manual.
       And the reason is, that on 7 MHz K1, K2 and driver will not get =
any voltage.
       But I cannot find any short in the circuit. Is it a wrong order =
from MCU pins RC6 or RC7 on 7 MHz ?
       (The KXB30 is not yet installed and the KXAT1 was removed. But =
with installed KXAT1 I have the same
       problem).
       For the test on 14 MHz and on 7 MHz I used a 50-ohm dummy load =
(HEATHKIT Model HN-31).
      =20
2.    With the VFO knob it is possible, to change the TUNING RATE.
       If I tap on 7 MHz from 100 Hz to 10 Hz the dial is "holding". =
That means, I cannot change the=20
       frequency any more by tuning the VFO knob. And I cannot go back =
to 100 Hz or 1 kHz tuning rate.
       I have to switch the KX1 OFF an again ON to activate the =
transceiver.
       On 14 MHz I haven=B4t this problem.

3.    If I turn the VFO knob on 14 MHz (perhaps on 7 MHz too) very =
slowly clockwise=20
       (tapping 100 Hz), the frequncy is not increasing, but moving down =
about 200 Hz and than increasing again.   =20
       That looks i.e. (14)12.2 ... 12.0 ... 12.2 ... 12.0 ... 12.2 ... =
12.3 ... 12.4
       The same mistake is on 7 MHz when I use the RIT mode.

4.    The ON switch has an interruption. I have to switch ON/OFF/ON =
several times till the KX1 is on.

From my side, I am an Electronic Engineer (retired) and have some =
experience in handling and
soldering Electronic kits.

So thank you very much for your help. I hope, that fine transceiver is =
doing it=B4s full job soon.   =20

With best regards

J. St=F6ckle, DJ5AI

DXCC HONOR ROLL
IOTA HONOR ROLL
WAE I
G-QRP-Club

    =20

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