[Elecraft] My in-progress K1 is ALIVE!!!

[Paul Roche]

Nobody at my house cares about radio stuff, so I have to share this with
somebody!!

I am putting together my K1 and have gotten to the point where I install L1
to perform the "VFO Range Test". Of course I just HAD to plug in an antenna
to see if this thing can hear, so I push the ON/OFF button and ... ... ...

IT'S ALIVE!!!!  How exciting, I just listened to 40 CW all night, did VFO
range tests, and went to bed. I peaked all the trimmers "by ear" by
transmitting 2 watts from my big rig (into a dummy load); there must be a
more scientific way to do this. But so far so good. At 5 watts I think what
will keep me back is NOT that last dB I lose from bad tweeking of the caps!

My only snags:

1. I did not have a DMM and assumed my analog Radio Shack meter would do.
The RatShack meter gave me crazy readings, went to Amazon and got an Equus
3320 Autorange DMM for $21 and BINGO, all readings were right on.

2. I could not get VFO frequency up to 3.090 by simple spreading of turns in
L1, I had to remove L1 and remove a turn. BUT I had already flush-cut the
leads when I put it in. It was a BITCH to get L1 installed again and that
one short lead in the hole deep enough for soldering. Since removing L1 is a
distinct possibility for future builders, maybe a note to NOT flush-cut the
leads until you are SURE L1 is right.

Otherwise, HAPPY HAPPY JOY JOY.

Paul K3STX