[Elecraft] KX3(KIT) BATTERY COMPARTMENT SCREWS & OTHER COMMENTS

[KENT TRIMBLE, K9ZTV]

I installed the longer screws (2-56 5/16th zinc flat head) tonight for 
the battery compartment and they went in as though they were designed 
that way (which they should have been). It remains to be seen how well 
the shorter screws and/or enlarged holes necessary to accommodate them 
will hold up in the future from repeated battery replacements.  My guess 
is that over time the shorter screws will either pull out of the 
standoffs through thread-stripping, or the flat-head screws will pull 
out of the holes in the plastic base.  Hopefully neither, but I wouldn't 
be surprised if there aren't reflector posts to that effect in the future.

The antenna lead could have been a quarter-inch longer.  That is one 
very taut wire going to J1 on the KXAT3 board.

I agree with an earlier builder who suggested replacing the white 
plastic screw foot-pads with small rubber stick-ons for flat-plane 
operating.

I was unable to generate enough signal out of the XG2 to null the 
opposite sideband signal, but the -33 dBm from the XG3 was perfect and 
resulted in a total-null on both the S-meter and my ears.

I ignored the directions (since rescinded) to the contrary and installed 
the speaker cloth.  I can detect no distortion from speaker or case 
vibration, and am surprised at the quality of that little speaker.

Only one little stand-off was missing from the parts bag which slowed 
assembly down by three days, plus the four days on the screws.  All 
totaled . . . maybe three hours build-time.

For a decade now I have been saying, with each subsequent purchase, that 
this will have to be my last Elecraft . . . the desk is getting too 
small and I'm getting too old.  But it's equally clear that Kool-Aid 
stays in the tissues an awfully long time.

Sincere congratulations to the entire team on yet another excellent product.

73,

Kent Trimble, K9ZTV
Jefferson City, MO