[Elecraft] The Linus Special

[Ron D'Eau Claire]

Dave, W7AQK, wrote:

Notwithstanding my dog Linus's efforts to the contrary (trying to eat my  
parts), the T1 is up and running.  Still running tests though, but it tunes

fine.  My firmware is v 1.07--looks like there has been an update since the

manual was prepared.  The only construction question I have is why we are  
instructed to wait until the board is full of parts before we do the parts
on  the 
bottom side of the board.  Seems like it would have been easier to  mount
these 
first, still solder them from the bottom side, but then clip the  leads
flush 
on the top side.  But I'm sure there's a good reason for  doing it
otherwise. 


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

Congratulations, Dave! 

My prototype T1 has v 1.07. I think that was the last revision before
shipments begun. What in the operating manual makes you suspect something
different? Wayne wrote the owner's manual and I confess I haven't studied
every statement in it for accuracy. Maybe a 1.07 change got missed that
should be fixed.

Thanks for the input on the assembly manual. That was my responsibility.  

I, too, prefer to mount parts while I can easily flush-cut the leads on the
opposite side, but doing so in the T1 would likely cause interference with
installing the relays. Both bottom-mounted caps end up right against the
relay pins on the underside of the board after installation. We thought it
would be easier to install the relays and to make sure they were all
straight and properly seated against the board and all the pins were
soldered before other parts are added. 

Since the bottom-mounted parts are also soldered on the bottom side, it
didn't seem like it would be difficult to install them after the relays were
in place. Putting them in last avoided any chance of breaking the capacitor
leads by bending them back and forth to allow access to solder and inspect
the relay pins. 

Ron AC7AC