[Elecraft] (K1) seiral number 3178 on the air!

[Mike Morrow]

Dean wrote:

> Don't know exactly how many hours I have spent building the little
> radio, but they flew by quickly! Everything went together just as
> directed and checked out exactly as the manual said they should.

Your K1 is 3003 units after my number 175, received in November 2000 after
a six-month wait after ordering.  After 12 years it remains my favorite QRP
rig.

> This was between all the kits purchased (K1, a 2 band filter board,
> a 4 band filter board, the ATU, and the noise blanker.

I have found 15 meters on my four-band board to wonderful for operations
as solar cycle 24 picks up.  I've also found the NB to be very helpful
for some types of local digital noise.

I hope you installed the LCD back-light too.  That is a *very* desirable
item, but one that is rather unpleasant to back fit once the front panel
board has been built.  I think the back-light should be a standard part
of all K1 units sold...not just an option....because of the difficulty
of the back-fit.

> I wanted to play in the milliwatt domain to "see what happens!"

The mW operating domain is a real challenge...for the receiving station. :-)
The K1 power control system is not useful for setting less than 100 mW output,
and I'm not sure how accurate that is, when 0.1 watt output is selected.

> Also, I am getting about 7 watts out if I crank it up. Should really run
> cool at under a watt that I plan to run it at.

It will always run cool.  I've set mine for 7 watts into a dummy load and
used the auto-keyer to send for several hours, with 14 vdc supply voltage.
Afterwards my K1 was slightly warm on the right side panel that heat sinks
the PA transistor.

> ...see you on the air!

Congratulations on the K1.  It's a tremendous little radio, superior for
some purposes over even the KX3.  (But I think it'll be best to have *both*
eventually.)

73
Mike / KK5F