[Elecraft] Question about installing KAT1 in my K1

[Anthony Hardwick]

Ed,

Thank you very much for the very swift confirmation before I did any  
further erroneous work.  Well, I have to say that unless I am being a  
total idiot (very possible), I can't see any proper documentation in  
the errata or the manuals that I received.

I received this K1 and a few accessory kits (including the KAT1) a few  
weeks ago directly from Elecraft, so one would think all possible  
corrections to the manual and errata sheets would be up to date.

Elecraft, you guys are a great company, and I am thoroughly impressed  
with your kits, but honestly you should provide better documentation  
than what I received for a kit that is as mature as the K1 is.  I'm  
pretty good at following directions, arguably too good, as I didn't  
foresee the erroneous instructions prior to cutting the trace.  Don't  
you think you should update the errata page at the LEAST, or even  
better, revise the manual for both the K1 and the various accessory  
kits for it?  I know the K3 is the current hot product to work on, and  
I very well might get one down the line, but please update the manuals  
so others don't make needless cuts in traces.

Alright enough criticism.  Don't get me wrong, I do love the K1, and  
I've only had it completed a few days... I just think you can do  
better with the documentation, and honestly, you should.

If I'm wrong and I overlooked proper instructions then I apologize,  
but I have been through the documentation several times, and can't  
find any evidence of up to date instructions for the revision RF board  
I have.

Thanks,
Anthony, W6GC


On Jul 7, 2009, at 7:42 PM, E Neubauer wrote:

> Anthony:
>
> I almost did the same thing.  Your diagnosis is correct.  You have a  
> version that is later than the ones requiring the cut.  The only  
> thing that stopped me from doing the same thing was that the drawing  
> in the manual didn't seem to match my board.
>
> Go to page 7 in the KAT 1 manual.  Scratch out everything under "K1  
> RF Board Preparation".  And do not unsolder R36.  Turn to page 8.   
> Scratch out the top three steps on the page (above "Filter Board and  
> KAT 1 Module Installation").
>
> Because you have Revision E, all you should need to do is move the  
> little tiny RF DET jumper (on the 3-pin header P3) to the KAT 1  
> position.  If you remove the KAT 1 from the radio later on, you  
> should move that jumper back to the original pins.
>
> Others may have additional details.  With help from Don Wilhelm and  
> Ron D'Eau Claire I was able to get my K1 up and running!  Good luck!
>
> Ed  - KB3SZZ
>
> > From: wentwest at mac.com
> > To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
> > Date: Tue, 7 Jul 2009 19:27:15 -0700
> > Subject: [Elecraft] Question about installing KAT1 in my K1
> >
> > Okay, so I have followed the directions in the KAT1 manual up to the
> > top of page 8, and I cut the trace to the right of "DRV," as it
> > indicates to. After doing this, the next step is to "solder resistor
> > RF-R4 (5.6K) on the bottom of the board between the two pads located
> > on either end of the cut trace segment."
> >
> > Well, I am about to do that, but I just want to be sure that RF-R4  
> is
> > to be installed in addition to the R4 resistor of the same value  
> that
> > was already installed during the build of the RF board.
> >
> > I am a bit concerned that maybe cutting the trace and installing  
> RF-R4
> > might not be the right procedure for my revision of the RF board (K1
> > RF Rev. Er). If I shouldn't have cut the trace, it's too late, but I
> > was hoping someone out there might be able to shed light on this.
> >
> > It seems strange, because there aren't 2 free pads, only the one at
> > the top. If I am to install the additional 5.6K resistor, one end
> > would have to go to the lead of the already installed R4. Is this
> > right??
> >
> > I've triple checked my errata page, and both the manual for the K1,
> > and also the KAT1, and according to the documentation I think I have
> > followed the directions properly up to now.
> >
> > Thanks for any reassurance or re-direction (if necessary) anyone may
> > be able to help me with before I continue.
> >
> > Best,
> > Anthony, W6GC

_________________
Anthony Hardwick
wentwest at mac.com