[Elecraft] 20 meter problem on new K2

[Rich McCabe]

Yes, I remember reading about seating the caps. So I gave those two about 20 
spins and did not help.

The  radio seems to peak OK going through the alignment. Just seems to have 
no sensitivity. I just pulled out a TenTec RX-320 and a S-9 singal on the 
TenTec is only a single bar on the K2. I have to crank the audio almost all 
the way up to listen as well.

I doubt in my case it is tinning problems. I am prone to do stupid things 
but I am pretty good with solder and removing the enamel on the wire. NOT to 
say it isnt possible.

I am surprised I did not notice this before but as I said, I am never on 20. 
Its a significant difference in audio as you switch to 20.

Just to be safe I will check "trace to trace" on the circuit board to make 
sure the torroids are making good contact :)

73,

Rich
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ron D'Eau Claire" <rondec at easystreet.com>
To: "'Rich McCabe'" <r.mccabe at 1967z28.com>; "'Elecraft Reflector'" 
<elecraft at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Saturday, October 30, 2004 7:54 PM
Subject: RE: [Elecraft] 20 meter problem on new K2


> Did you "seat" the band pass filter trimmer caps, Rich?
>
> Many of those trimmer capacitors come from the factory needing to be 
> twirled
> around a number of times to "seat" them so the sliding contact has
> electrical continuity. Just put your screwdriver in the slot and twirl it
> around a bunch of times, then re-try the alignment procedure. That CAN
> happen after the rig has  been successfully aligned once. Apparently the
> contacts need a little 'exercising' to make them seat completely. Once 
> that
> is done, they are fine. There's nothing wrong with the trimmers.
>
> That's the most common reason for a dead band, right up there with perhaps 
> a
> dreaded PTTL (poorly-tinned-toroid-lead). Normally a PTTL won't make the 
> rig
> quit though. It won't work from the first.
>
> If you didn't get ALL the enamel burned/scraped off of a toroid lead or 
> you
> pulled the lead through the board passed the tinned segment so
> enamel-covered wire was in the hole, you might not be making electrical
> contact on that lead.
>
> Leads that aren't tinned properly look fine when soldered unless you look
> VERY closely at the wire. You'll often see a tiny ring of dark that looks
> like rosin around the conductor. It's actually the enamel. In that case 
> the
> wire is "trapped" in the solder blob and won't pull out, but it isn't 
> making
> electrical contact either.
>
> Ron AC7AC
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> I just noticed that my K2 build 43xx is almost totally dead on 20 meters. 
> I
> think all the other bands are OK.
>
> I hooked up my N-Gen and could not hear anything on 20. I thought I could
> use a scope to follow the generators noise signal but the scope makes 
> about
> as much noise as the generator when going through the bandpass circuit.
>
> I am guessing it is probably bandpass or low pass and I need to start
> checking to make sure the relays are making contact, etc.??
>
> It worked when I built it a couple months ago and am not sure when it quit
> as I dont use 20 often. This K2 is totally optioned  and I have removed 
> the
> 100 watt PA to make sure it is not the culprit.
>
> Any comments on the best way to trouble shoot this?
>
> Thanks and 73,
>
> Rich
> kd0zv
>
>
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