[Elecraft] Building KX1 # 00920

[Ron D'Eau Claire]

Mike, KD7YLA, asked:

Today I completed the first Test & Alignment of the KX1 # 00920. All tests
went exactly as the book calls for, and the building proceeds with no
problems up to this point. 

I do have the KXPD1, KXB30,and the KXAT1 option kits as well; I was
wondering if it would be wiser to finish building the KX1 as is first, and
do all the alignments tests; then build the optional kits? My concern is for
any later modifications needed to the main PCB when the kits are added on
later. 

----------------------------

Congratulations Mike! 

Definitely build the basic KX1 first, complete all tests and get familiar
with its operation before going onto the other modules.

The other modules can be tackled in any order desired, although the paddles
probably make the most sense for the second project if you don't have other
paddles to use with it. 

That's true of ALL Elecraft kits, by the way. And it's good practice any
time, anywhere when you build or troubleshoot. Start with the basic unit,
make sure it's working exactly as it should, then start making changes. Test
and retest after EVERY addition or change. 

In my years of building and service experience on everything from a
one-transistor QRPp rig to commercial radio and radar installations, when
something goes wrong it's never been something that just happened to fail at
the time I was there. As much as I have at times desperately wanted to
believe in a coincidence, the problem has always been something that I
touched recently, either actually building or repairing, or it was something
I did peripherally while disassembling or reassembling things. 

It makes it a lot easier to find an error if you haven't done any more than
absolutely necessary before testing to make sure everything is (still)
working.

On the other hand, there's absolutely nothing as hard to troubleshoot as a
radio that hasn't ever worked (yet). 

Ron AC7AC