[Elecraft] K3 builder's notes # 1195

[Nick-WA5BDU]

Amazing what can be done with a keg of 4-40 hardware and a few other 
misc items.  Assembly of the kit took me about 16 hours total.  Fourteen 
for the basic ten watter and two to add the 100 watt amp.  My 
configuration has the ATU, general coverage receive, four filters, KPA3 
amplifier.

The manual was very clear and I had almost no missteps.  I did lose 
about an hour trying to fit the front panel.  It would almost but not 
quite go all the way on to make the screw holes align.  Tried to remove 
it but couldn't do that either.  I finally noticed that the main (RF) 
board on the front right corner was a little long and was hitting the 
front panel board, preventing full insertion of the connectors.  I had 
to shave a bit of the board at the break point and then it went together 
OK.  I was on the verge of just forcing things, and I'm glad I didn't.  
Later I shaved the bottom of the crystal oscillator board at the break 
point which helped with getting the connector to align with the hole in 
the front shield -- or was the the front panel?

Got it finished at 8:11 PM last night and put it on the air for a few 
"test" QSOs in the IARU, CW portion.  All I knew about the rig was how 
to turn it on and where to plug in the key.  Lots of fun.  Worked 
several EU stations on 40, which isn't all that routine from Arkansas.

My initial impression is that I'm going to like it a lot.  I was very 
fond of the FT-1000 I sold to buy this rig, but I  think I'm going to 
like this one better.  The K3 is my first Elecraft product of any kind.

73-Nick, WA5BDU