[Elecraft] [K3]Microphone socket wobble

[Don Wilhelm]

It certainly is not a problem.  All foster type jacks that I have 
encountered have this condition.  The insert holding the pins is not 
tightly fixed to the shell.  If the mic jack shell is secured to the 
panel and the pins are connected to the PC board with wires, the 
assembly with the pins will move inside the shell, and no-one complains, 
they think that is normal.  However, when the K2 and K3 front panel 
boards connect the *pins* of the connector directly to the PC board, 
then the pins are fixed in position and the shell will move a bit around 
the pin housing.  This is NOT a problem.
I have given those who would *believe* it to be a *problem* the solution 
- solder the shell as well as the pins to the PC board. That will 
prevent any movement between the jack pin assembly and the shell.

BUT - repeat after me - "this is not a problem" --  "this is not a problem"

If you do fix the shell and the pins together, and subsequently pick up 
a mic plug that is slightly misaligned, you will not be able to plug it 
into your mic jack that has been soldered to allow no movement.  Take 
your pick - a soldered and fixed mic jack shell tha may not allow the 
plugging of a slightly misaligned mic plug, or just leave it as-is, and 
all mic plugs (even those slightly misaligned) will plug in easily.

This is a NON-problem.  The solution I gave is only for those who would 
loose sleep over a slightly "wobbly" microphone jack shell - it can be 
made "non-wobbly", but it is not important to any operation and does 
have its down-sides.

73,
Don W3FPR

KARL MARDERIAN wrote:
> Hello Don,
> I have been following this tread. I have had my K3 for about two years and the mic socket will turn a little. I said something a year or so ago on line here but never got any feed back. Do you think it a defect, or just needed play and should be well enough left alone. Never had any issues with the mic.
> Karl N6XVT
> On Mar 9, 2010, at 5:06 PM, Don Wilhelm wrote:
>
>   
>