[Elecraft] K1 Question Please?

[Mike Morrow]

Eric wrote of adding IC sockets on his K1:

>Is it OK to install the IC sockets...

No.  It is *never* permissible to install IC sockets in an Elecraft rig
where the designers and the manual did not specify a socket.  Elecraft
has stated that warranty repair of problems caused by that will not
be honored.

In some cases, there may be space constraints, but usually this requirement
results from the much greater reliability of direct soldered-in ICs.

Components like the MPUs on the front panel board, the filter board, and
on the auto antenna tuner board are not soldered in because there may be
a future need to install a replacement chip with revised system firmware.
But on the KNB1, even the MPU is soldered to the board.  Soldering in the
IC is always the preferable technique, otherwise.

Always trust the specifications of the designer!

73,
Mike / KK5F