[Elecraft] K2 S/N 01324...Update.. "Thoughts From A Newbie"...

[Andy GM0NWI]

Guy's...'n' ..Gal's...

A few weeks back...I joined this "elite" group of operators,....my "family"
as I have came to call them...through my 13 years (..boy..! it's flown..) as
a "Ham"...with the intention of "hopefully" NOT...needin' to "post" anything
in the way of "plea" type stuff...here on the reflector...

My "baby" had sat, .."..packed away for a rainy day..." (..we get them here
in GM-land...believe me..!) for the last 4 years or so....whilst I did
Qrp-ing on
the bands,...along with some other "home-brew" construction that way waitin'
to get built.... when under "extreme" pressure from the local boy's here in
Stirling,
I finally "took the plunge"...got out the K2 kit, ...and made a start..

It's been slow....BUT.!!  "really enjoyable"....some would say "better than
sex..!"  but we won't go into that ..for the most part..!!  Let's just
say,...in the words of the song..."...I'm having the time of my life..."
(fantastic film..!)...I've been doin' a little here...a little there..for
mixed reason's really....Some of you will already be aware of my "physical
position"...disabled with Spina Bifida ..confined to a wheelchair...all that
"boring mudane stuff"...and the old body 'n' bones are NOT like
they used to be...even at the "tender age" of 37...So..! I've been choosing
my moments for constructing my "baby"....  Along with the fact that, the
"site" as I like to call it, where I live..is currently "under construction"
BIG TIME...as the residents here are having "make-overs" to their respective
houses,....y'know...new kitchen, underfloor heating,...etc etc...  so I am
awaiting an iminent rap on the door...to be deluded (i think..!  DOH..!)
with workmen.. when the construction
of the K2 ...will...unfortunatley have to be "put on hold"....momentarily at
least...for a few weeks...

SO..! with that in mind...I'm "tryin'" to get as much completed in my
alloted time as I can...  SO..FAR..!  I have only in the last 2 days,
managed to complete the first board of my "series" of the K2 (don't know if
the boards or construction pattern is different for the more up-to-date of
the K2s is different or not)....the
"Control Board"..

My thoughts..

Well..!  to be honest...and this is full "...$1 of honesty.." here folks....
I found the construction of the board...many things.... In the beginning
"very" daunting...but only because I KNOW...how much the kit cost me way
back then....but didnt know if my soldering was indeed "up to it"...with
only having experience on the "mini-kits"...like "Oner", "OxO", "Epiphyte
3"...."Keyers" and a like...which, for the most part, have ALL went together
fine, and are all working as they should, albeit not "boxed" yet...(I'm a
sucker for nice enclosures and finishing touches..!)....the only other kit
that I have built are the 3 (or is it 4..!) "Heathkit HW" rigs, that I am
the very proud owner of...  SO in starting the "Control Board", I was a bit
"wary".....

No need...Once I had gotten my "bench" sorted out for space,..and aquired
the relevent "tools for the job"...it just seemed to "flow" with ease...a
componant here, a componant there...and before I knew it "Bob Hopes Your
Auntie"...job done..!

There it was,...in all it's "glory"...my first K2 board....as we say here in
GM-land "....Ya Wee Dancer..!"  was the loud cry (much to the annoyance of
the neighbours at 0430 in the morning..!)...

I did have a "wee problem" half way through the board however...bein' that
my temperature-controlled soldering iron, with the finest tip you've ever
seen..."died",..an untimley death...Sad, it was too....so I had to wait a
couple of weeks till the funds could be found to aquire a new one, which I
now have, a
Weller S51 (you guy's might know it), I can recommend this one for anyone
..not sure on which to buy ....but make sure that you also get a selection
of tips to
go along with it...

For another "...$1 worth..." ..I would also say, to anyone who has never
constructed one of these kits before.....Check, Check, Check...and re-Check,
the componants, first BEFORE, putting them onto the board, make sure that
you have them all first,...and if, like me, there are some componants in
there that are
"new" to you, make a note (in your head ...on paper...whatever's best) to
help you remember,...not only where they go on the board (incase in a moment
of panic..you think you dont have the componant), but also...what they look
like physically...  Now..! I know that they are "pictured" in the
manuals,...but come on guy's...how many of us....when "In The Zone"..bother
to flick back n forth ...to find out what a componant that we're not sure
about looks like...??  WE SHOULD...but some of us (and I bet there's more
than who will put their hands up..) dont..  I found that "RP1" and alike
where a new "convention" to my knowledge...and was nearly "flung" by them in
the first few days...  Again just my "$1 worth"...

Also...I had another "problem" that stopped construction for a few days,
till I sought advice from a very good life long friend of mine, who owns a
satellite production unit....that was...when putting in some of the
transistors,...because of the board becoming more "populated"...and my
idiotic stupidity, of trying to
finish a section when suffering fatigue....I managed to put 2 of the
transistors on the board (without solder bridges too...hurray..!), but they
were not "seated"
correctly, WAY to high on the board "I" thought....but it turns out that
once I had a "guiding hand" with my friend being present ...all that was
needed was a
carefully placed hand with the iron, and the offending transistors "seated"
themselves correctly...  But IT WAS "scary"...I can tell you,...waitin on my
friend
arriving, in anticipation as to wether I had "messed up" badly....thankfully
no...

Finally,....let me apolgise for the size of this mail...."it wont happen
again"....I promise..   We came to the final part of the construction of the
first board tonight..all componants in correctly,..no "splashes",
"bridges"..... Got the multimeter out...."did the deed"....and I can finally
say, that my initial tests on ...what I think is the K2's "brain" (can
someone confirm that)....the readings I have obtained are ALL greater >
than, what is depicted in my revision of the manual...  "Maybe" NOT a "good
thing", some of you will be able to tell me wether "ye or nae"...but I think
that it "should" be like that, ....if one expects that "all has went well",
and "the patient is doing nicely"....

I'm "quietly hopeful" anyway, if the tests are to be seen as positive
....and looking forward to the coming days (starting the next board
today)...that I will see my "baby" grown into a "fine young specimen" of
technology....  The folks at "Elecraft"  ..HAVE...done ALL "hams"
worldwide,...an absolutley unbelievable deal on this folks, I'm sure you
will agree, it's been a boyhood "dream" of mine since the age of 11 to one
day, not only BE a "Ham" but ...both own,...and "build" .."one of those
radios they use dad..!" as I used to say, .....finally it's coming true....

Thanks ever so much guys ...for allowing me the ultimate pleasure of
becoming, once again a member of such an "elite" group of
individuals....this is some experience for me I can tell you....long may it
continue....I can honesty say..(50c this time...runnin' low on cash..!)
...that I will be writing my "journal" of findings to y'all again in the
near future (if that's allowed that is..?), as I don't have anyone here in
the house to "share" my excitement with, ...."so just HAVE to tell
someone"....

"Happy Smelting"....  Long Live QRP..!   And Elvis...

72s
Andy
GM0NWI              andy.gm0nwi1@btinternet.com
K2 S/N 01324 (newborn)