[Elecraft] SMD Version of the K6XX Visible LED CW Tuning Indicator

[Tom Hammond]

Hi Folks:

WOW! I'm receiving a LOT of e-mail lately... <G>

This SMD CW Tuning Indicator project's taken on a life of its own... more 
than I'd intended.

About 1 month ago, I posted to the reflector that I was going to make a kit 
of the K6XX Visible LED CW Tuning Indicator, but using SMDs, rather than 
through-hole components. At that time, I asked ALL those who might be 
interested in such a kit to drop me a note, indicating their "level of 
interest". I told those who replied that they would be given 'first choice' 
of the kits when they were created. Well, they'd taken the time to reply, 
they SHOULD have first shot at them...

I received replies from about 23 individuals, indicating a desire for some 
28 kits.

Based upon the interest shown at that time, I bought components for 40 
kits, assuming that I might be able to find at least another 12 potential 
buyers for the remaining kits.

Parts for Kit #1 were used by me to build the prototype unit.

The remaining kits went to those who had initially responded... a couple 
folks increased the number of kit's they wished to receive by one, now 
leaving me with only 3-4 kits remaining.

Those few kits have now been 'reserved' by orders received from more recent 
requests (received and acknowledged in time-sequence order).

My first DX order (to Benny Aumala, OH9NB) will go out Monday morning. At 
that time I will have first-hand information on the added costs of mailing 
to a DX location, and the added hassle of having to take the packet to the 
post office and filling out the Customs declaration forms. From that, I 
will determine final mailing/handling costs for shipping DX kits. I do not 
expect them to be terribly high, but they will be somewhat above the costs 
for shipping within the U.S. At present, I have considering asking $2 (US) 
extra ($17 basic kit price, + $2 postage) for DX shipping. But I will know 
for certain by Monday night.

Presently, the actual process of 'kitting' the components is too much 
hassle for me to want to do it more than one more time!!! Unless I can find 
a less involved method of individually separating the components, so they 
can be shipped securely, with little or no chance of being lost (they ARE 
TINY), while ensuring that the builder will be able to readily access them 
IN THE REQUIRED ASSEMBLY order, Only one more attempt at kitting things 
will be considered. At present, each component is individually placed into 
a 10" long x 1" wide plastic bag, and heat sealed into its own compartment 
in the order of assembly. This takes a LOT of time, but it is the only way 
I've found to ensure that components, especially the caps which aren't 
labeled) can be readily selected with little concern that the builder is 
getting the wrong component. This takes a LOT of time.

Anyway, given the level of apparent interest immediately shown following 
W8URs post to the reflector, I will consider making ONE (1) further run of 
'kitted' components for this project. After those kits are gone, I will 
only(!) offer the BAREBONES PC BOARD, $5 ppd stateside/$7 (US) to DX.

Bare bones boards are also NOW AVAILABLE!!!

So here's your one and ONLY chance... I am now taking orders for ONE FINAL 
RUN of kits for the K6XX CW Tuning Indicator in SMD form. The 'window of 
opportunity' for placing your order will CLOSE on November 10, 2004 without 
fail. The parts for however many kits have been ordered at that date will 
be ordered a few days later and kits will be made as the components arrive.

PLEASE NOTE - ONLY ORDERS FOR KITS PRE-ORDERED VIA E-MAIL WILL BE 
ACCEPTED!!! I'll be using your e-mail pre-orders to determine how many kits 
to make up. If I receive an order in the mail and there's no matching 
e-mail pre-order, the order will be held until all pre-orders have been 
filled. IF at that time there are remaining kits, I will try to fill other 
orders, not there will be no guarantee. In the case where an order cannot 
be filled, payment will be returned.

To order, send me an e-mail <n0ss at earthlink.net> immediately, indicating 
the number of kits you wish to order AND including your MAILING ADDRESS in 
the order.

All orders will be acknowledged by E-MAIL! PAYMENT INFORMATION will be 
included in the e-mail confirmation. If you do not receive an 
acknowledgement within 48 hours of your order, contact me directly at 
573-893-2813!!!

And NO, I do NOT accept PayPal. Sorry! I never got a 'warm fuzzy' feeling 
when I did use it, so I stopped long ago. Payment must be either 
check/cash/Money Order in US funds. I've never been cheated by a ham 
sending a no account check... please, don't do anything to change that 
spotless record.

Let the fun begin!

ALWAYS check my web site at:  http://www.n0ss.net  for the most current set 
of assembly, installation and alignment docs for this project.

The original article, written by Bob Wolbert, K6XX:

http://www.n0ss.net/k6xx_vis_led_cw_tun_ind_original_article_by_k6xx.pdf

The most current assembly/Install/Alignment docs:

http://www.n0ss.net/k6xx_vis_led_cw_tun_ind_smd_assy-align.pdf

73,

Tom Hammond    N0SS
5417 Scruggs Stn Rd
Lohman MO  USA