[Elecraft] New Elecraft stuff...

[Ron D'Eau Claire]

The KX1 was done just as you say, Vic. Elecraft pre-populated the pc board
with the DDS chip and the builder adds the rest. 

Y'know a lot of builders find SMDs too small. Shoot, some even find current
1/4 or 1/8 watt leaded resistors too small, and I do sympathize with the
issue of trying the read those microscopic numbers on capacitors and other
parts, but needing a microscope and loupe are not going to interfere with
the fun of building my own gear. 

I, too, hope Elecraft keeps producing new kits, even SMD kits. It all
depends upon whether there are enough people to buy them out there. 

People like the American QRP club have some interesting kits, including many
using SMDs. I've considered getting their net Antenna Analyzer

http://www.amqrp.org/kits/micro908/

QRP enthusiasts remain for me some of the most inspiring and interesting
operators on the air. It's great to see the continued interest in
home-brewing. 

Ron AC7AC
 

-----Original Message-----

I know how you feel. I recently bought a W1 wattmeter. I sort of needed
another wattmeter, 
but really I wanted to sit down, turn on some classical music, and solder
parts to a neat 
little board. I still get a kick when something I build works, even if it is
a 
well-planned kit!

I've built some stuff with surface mount parts. It's not so hard, although
it's annoying 
when something goes flying. They seem to enter the 4th dimension before
landing. I always 
keep some surface-mount diodes, resistors, and caps handy; hopefully the one
that vanishes 
will be a common one.

One thing that Elecraft can do is supply boards with multi-pin surface-mount
parts already 
attached, and you can add through-hole components to finish it. They didn't
do this with 
the K3 because of the difficulty of testing the partially-populated boards
-- at least, I 
think this was the reason -- but it's practical with simpler kits.
-- 
73,
Vic, K2VCO
Fresno CA
http://www.qsl.net/k2vco