[Elecraft] Rework Eliminators

[Darwin, Keith]

-----Original Message----->
From: Ron D'Eau Claire

I surprised that you'd consider my recommendation to read Don's comments
as coming down hard on the RE product. 

Don spends a lot of time working with builders here on the reflector who
have problems and I've noticed that a number of those problems are, as
he says, based on someone using the RE product without realizing how
they can change the test and alignment process. 
<--------------------------

IIRC, Don called the rework eliminators a waste of money for most K2
builders.  He also said the alignment procedures change if you use them.
You're recommendation to read Don's post was a sort of "endorsement" of
what Don said so that's how you got drug into this :-)



---------------------------->
I thought his comments were pretty solidly based on facts and expressed
fairly. I've worked with Don on many projects and learned to trust in
his expertise. 
<---------------------------

Yes, Don is great, solid, factual.  I agree.  That is why it was so
shocking to me to see him speak strongly against something that in my
experience very positive.  If it was just about any other person on the
list, we could just dismiss the comments meaningless, but this is Don
we're talking about.  And then Ron (another very knowledgeable,
trustworthy contributor) backs them up.  Wow.



---------------------------------->
However, there are those who want to button up the rig once and avoid
touching a soldering iron to the PCB ever again unless something fails,
and there are those who have their rigs built and don't want to think
about doing anything inside them involving more than plugging or
unplugging a cable or module to make changes. Even fashioning a little
jumper and pushing it into the proper holes in the connector if they
decide to remove a module is more than they want to do.
>----------------------------------

Yep, I guess that's pretty much where I am.  Jumpers pushed into little
holes, or caps with their leads pushed into little holes doesn't sound
like how I want my K2 to be in the long run.  That's a temporary patch
for troubleshooting, not a long term bypass.  The RE header boards are a
far better long-term solution to plugging the headers.  Sure, one could
build up a more robust header plug but if you don't really want to be
touching the soldering iron once the rig is done, then you don't want to
have to run to the store (if you have one nearby) to get the parts to
build the plug.


 
--------------------------------->
But the RE product is not a panacea. There are issues involved in buying
and using them, especially if one does it as part of the original build
depending upon the configuration of their rig.
>----------------------------------

Panacea, it is not.  There are pros and cons and each person will need
to weigh the pros / cons for their particular situation.

The RE could be a waste of money or a God-send, depending on who you are
and your situation.



73!

- Keith N1AS -
- K2 5411.ssb -