[Elecraft] Doing all additions at once

[Ron D'Eau Claire]

You might "split the difference" on the hardware installs. 

The KDVR3 and Aux DSP board for the KRX3 require pulling the front panel
assembly. Also, if you are planning to do the microphone grounding mod
covered in the app note (to eliminate the "pin 1 problem") you can do them
at the same time. Until you enable the KRX3 option, your K3 won't know the
aux DSP board is installed, so you can check out your KDVR3 and any mods
you've made after putting the front panel back on without the rest of the
KRX3. Indeed, that's what we recommend kit builders do if they have the KRX3
on hand when assembling the basic kit. 

After you know the K3 is working properly with the front panel replaced, you
can proceed with the rest of the KRX3 install and any other mods you have in
mind, such as the "speaker amp" mod, etc., that are all done on the main
part of the K3 and don't require pulling the front panel again. 

I agree with Don that the hardware installs are well understood and tested,
as are the mods covered in the app notes. Firing up your K3 after working on
the front panel assembly is just a nice way to confirm that nothing was
amiss in the reassembly. 

Ron AC7AC


-----Original Message-----
From: elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Don Wilhelm
Sent: Saturday, December 06, 2008 4:01 AM
To: David Ferrington, M0XDF
Cc: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Doing all additions at once

Dave,

That question has a 'double edged sword' answer, so "it all depends".
1) Either you make an error in applying the mod -
2) OR (IMHO more likely) you create some unrelated problem when you 
reassemble the K3.

Reassembling and checking after each mod will reveal the first type 
problem, but it certainly will compound the likelihood that you will 
create a problem of the 2nd type.  And doing the troubleshooting is 
mentally difficult because one usually associates the problem to the mod 
that was installed.

Unlike software changes, these hardware changes have been installed by 
several users and the side effects (if any) are well known - it is not 
like making a change for the first time.

My vote is to do them all at once, but YMMV depending on your confidence 
level.

73,
Don W3FPR

David Ferrington, M0XDF wrote:
> I now have a lot of various extras and mods to add to my K3 - KRX3, 
> KDVR3, all the mods
>  - all because I haven't had the time or need to practice SMD or are 
> waiting for the last bits (some of which I've asked Elecraft to hold 
> so they ship as one) - all of which are going to arrive soon :-)
>
> It looks like there are some many dependancies on taking this off and 
> that apart, that it might be easier to do them all in one go - but 
> what are the risks of me missing something and then not being able to 
> figure out what that something is?
>
> In the software world, we never (should never) make multiple changes 
> without inter-step testing - but to test at each stage means putting 
> it back together again, using it bit and then taking it apart for the 
> next bit.
>
> What do people think here?
>
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