[Elecraft] K2 Build - #6950

[Don Wilhelm]

Steve,

For your button problems, I would look on the front panel.  Check RP1 to 
be certain it is installed the right-way-'round (this particular RPak 
cannot be swapped end for end like many others can).  Also check the 
soldering at the switches as well as U2 and U3.
If you want to follow along on the schematic, it would seem that there 
is a short between the /BANK1 and /BANK2 signals somewhere.

Trimmers de-tuned by a metal screwdriver -- you installed the trimmer 
capacitors backwards.  The flat is on the short end of the blue body 
trimmers - if you look closely, you will see that end is truely flat, 
and the wider end is rounded at the corners.  It will cause no harm 
except that you must use a fully insulated tool for adjustment.

17 meter problem -- Make certain the inductors L10 and L11 are actually 
tuned for 15 meters.  You may want to check the values and soldering of 
C30, C31, C33, C35 and C36.  Once 15 meters is properly tuned, then 17 
meters should adjust with the trimmer caps set near the center position 
(slots parallel with the front of the K2).

73,
Don W3FPR

Steve KC8QVO wrote:
> Good news - the rig is on the air! I have made two QSO's on it so far. I
> tried holding off to get one of my friends to give me the first QSO but I
> scrolled past a guy calling CQ and just couldn't resist HI. So I have two
> QSO's on the rig so far. 
>
> I tuned the filters first with the receive method. I keyed up one of my
> other radios in to a dummy load and tuned the filters to peak the meter. I
> adjusted the power out of the radio so I got close to a jump in the meter on
> the K2. Then I fine-tuned the inductors and caps more.
>
> After the receive test it was on to the transmit. I peaked the filters for
> power out (based on the K2's internal metering while in "tune" mode). In
> most cases I was very close already. 
>
> A couple of issues that need resolved - 
>
> First - the buttons on the right side of the rig don't always work right.
> Specifically the filter button and the ATTN/PRE. They seem to have crossed
> signals with the display, band up, and band down functions. Any ideas on
> this one? Most notably - the filter button scrolls through the bands instead
> of adjusting the filter width. 
>
> Second - I wasn't able to get any more than .6w out when I did the transmit
> test on 17m. It seems to me the caps were very touchy during the receive
> test. I was using a metal screwdriver to adjust them and that was playing
> all kinds of havoc on the tuning. So I went back to the tuning tool that
> came with it. The reason I wasn't using it before was because the caps were
> stiff and I didn't want to break the tool. Oh well - theres a reasn why the
> tool is plastic, eh? HI. 
>
> In any event, I will get back over to my buddy's place with the test lab and
> peak the filters. 17m really seems goofy to me though. I was able to get
> nearly all the other bands cose on the receive tuning. Then when I hit 17m I
> couldn't get the power to go up for nothing. Hopefully this one is just
> being difficult and will be tuned in easier in a lab session. The buttons
> are also a bit of a concern. However, the transmitter and receiver work for
> the most part. 
>
> Steve, KC8QVO
>