[Elecraft] [K3] Line in / out socket failure

[Brendan Minish]

I use an old audio patch bay to manage the I/O connections for my K3(s)
this makes it very easy to reroute things and significantly reduces the 
need to reach around the back of the radio.

http://ei6iz.com/?p=4

patch bays can be found on ebay and normalised (or half normalised) 
paths can be used for your default configuration so that you will only 
need to use patch cables when you wish to alter how something is 
connected by default

1/8" mini-jacks are not the most solid of connectors so one does need to 
be careful with them. It is also worth checking to ensure that the board 
that carries the jack sockets (KIO3 audio daugherboard) is not pushed 
too far back causing the rear panel to prevent the jacks from going all 
the way in.
how far this goes in is set by the black spacer fitted to J91, in one of 
the K3's I have put together this was a little too far back, it can be 
adjusted out by (carefully) using a small screwdriver to move it 
forwards a few mm on the pins of j91

the minijacks themselves are standard parts and all the usual parts 
suppliers should have them should yours need replacing


Stewart wrote:
> I have found that a number of these sockets on my K3 are becoming loose.
> Frequently I have to reseat the headphone plug  because one channel is missing audio.
> Also if I move them I get scratching noises. They weren't the greatest when I first built
> my K3, but they are definitely getting worse.