[Elecraft] Best approach for K1 rx alignment?

[Don Wilhelm]

Andy,

What you need - especially on 15 meters is a good strong signal that is 
known to be in the 15 meter band.  It is possible (and easy) to get the 
Pre-Mixer bandpass filter tuned up so that you are receiving 24 MHz 
rather than 21 MHz.  The marker generator will not differentiate between 
the marker points, so I would discourage its use for the intitial tuning 
of the K1 bandpass filters.

So I would suggest you operate a 15 meter transmitter into a dummy load 
and couple a "hunk of wire" antenna from the K1 to the dummy load - 
sufficiently close that you can hear a signal even though the bandpass 
filters may be mis-tuned.

The same thing goes for 30 meters, but the problem is not as severe on 
30 meters as it is on 15 (or 17 if you built the 4 band board for that 
band).

Once you find the 15 meter signal, keep increasing the distance between 
the other transmitter's dummy load and your antenna wire as you tune the 
15 meter trimmers.  Keep the signal into the K1 as low as possible so 
you can find a definite peak.

You must tune 15 meters before you tune 20 meters, and 30 meters before 
you tune 40 meters.  Attempting to do it the "other way 'round" will 
onlly lead to frustration.
 
The capacitive trimmers should be set initially with the slots parallel 
with the long side of the 4 band board.  The proper tuning point will be 
no further than 20 degrees from that position (unless you have a problem 
with the number of turns on the toroids).

Once you do the receive alignment, you will be instructed to do the 
transmit alignment later.  You should only have to 'tweak' the 
adjustments slightly during this transmmit alignment if you did a good 
job of alignment in receive mode.  It is easier to discern the peak 
during transmit adjustment than in receive.

73,
Don W3FPR
Andy Engle wrote:
> Hey guys!  New Elecrafter here...building myself a K1 and having a LOT of fun.  Altogether, I'm assembling the K1 with 4-band filter, noise blanker, and tuner.
>  
> I've built a lot of smaller kits in the past, but this has been by far the most ambitious build yet.  I'm happy to say that studying all of the builders' guides and instructions have kept me from running off the road.  I do, however, have one question for the group.
>  
> Specifically, I have reached the point in construction (Ch. 7, Pg. 39) where I am to perform receiver alignment.  The instructions suggest, in preference order, a signal generator, another ham transceiver, or an antenna.  Since things have gone so well this far, I am motivated to use the best option and hopefully continue my success through this step.
>  
> I don't have a signal generator, per se.  I do, however, have a VE3DNL marker generator assembled and functioning.  Would this be appropriate to use for the intended purpose, or do I need a transmitter that is "natively" (that is, not through harmonics like the VE3DNL does) transmitting in-band?  Alternatively, would the Elecraft XG2 be a better tool for the job?
>  
> I am building for 40,30,20, & 15....but the XG2 is 3-band only?
>  
> Thanks to all for help and kindness to this newbie!
>  
> --Andy
> K0ADE
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