[Elecraft] K2 IC identification

[Don Wilhelm]

  John.

Well, I suspect the situation will get even worse with a bit of time.  
The first thing I noticed was that the resistor color coding did not 
have the color saturation that was used several years ago, and then the 
printing on the ICs became more elusive.

If you can think like an automated insertion machine, you will have no 
problem, just expect that 100+ parts that are NE612 will be loaded into 
your hopper by someone who only reads the label on the shipment from 
DigiKey, etc.  In that case, there is no need to read the actual device 
markings.  Manufacturers are responding to the needs of the board 
assembly houses which do not need "people readable" markings.  We hams 
will just have to be tolerant and creative in ways to order and identify 
the parts that we order.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 9/4/2010 10:26 PM, zendoc at netspace.net.au wrote:
>
> Hi Ross,
>
> I had a similar moment of worry when I looked at some of the ICs under an
> illuminated magnifying glass and just saw a blank top with, apparently, no ID
> markings.  Then by accident, I slightly tipped the top face of the IC away from
> the light so the top was illuminated tangentially and voila - out popped the
> lettering in a faint silver glow.  In my case, it seemed the silver lettering
> was very difficult to see if illuminated directly with a bright light source.
> Try gently re-orienting the IC under the light and see if you can make out the
> letters any better.
>
> 73,
>
> John VK7JB
>
>
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