[Elecraft] K1 Question Please?

[Mike Morrow]

I finally got a chance to search for the list posting by Eric that
stated Elecraft's warranty repair policy if IC sockets are added by
a customer.  It was posted more than seven years ago.

Below Eric's concise posting is my longer-winded comment made at that
time.

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

From: "Morrow, Michael A."
To: <elecraft at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Wednesday, April 02, 2003 4:11 PM
Subject: RE: [Elecraft] Re:] K1 Front Panel missing IC Sockets ???

>From Eric Swartz WA6HHQ - Elecraft:

> We do not recommend adding any sockets. They introduce
> reliability issues in some cases and also can add to
> critical lead lengths in RF areas.
>
> Any problems caused by adding additional sockets to our
> designs also will not be covered by warranty repair.

Socketing all ICs on a PCB is pretty much an obsolete, unnecessary, and
potentially troublesome concept for production (de-bugged) PCBs like those
of the K1.

It's not unlikely that at some point one will have to replace front panel
potentiometers (I had to replace my volume control after a year of
operating), or the VFO pot, or some panel pushbuttons, or the phone jack.
Anything with moving parts.  But ICs??  Baring infant mortality or
RF/lightening damage, it's very unlikely one will *ever* need to pull and
replace any IC except those MCUs with updated firmware.  Those are all
socketed on the K1 except for the very simple KNB1 MPU, for which the need
for a firmware update will not ever be likely.

----- End of message ------

73,
Mike / KK5F