[Elecraft] K3S QST Article

[Eric Swartz - WA6HHQ, Elecraft]

Hi Gene,

The K3S was definitely a random production unit. The failure was quite unusual 
as it was an intermittent solder connection in that particular LPF. We rarely 
see that in this area on our professionally assembled and inspected boards. It 
must have been intermittent as it passed our automated board level and final K3S 
tests.

As a double check we tightened our visual inspection of that area of the board 
and reviewed our test procedures. So far no other failures like this one found.

73,
Eric
/elecraft.com/

On 10/18/2016 2:51 PM, n9tf at comcast.net wrote:
> Hi Eric,
> Just curious/devils advocate question. Was this unit that was reviewed, picked at random from stock at Elecraft? If so, or not, wouldn't it's performance be reflective of a population of other units manufactured? Just curious how you can say all others shipped were/are OK on 17, when the review unit was not?
>    
> Just asking.
>    
> Also curious, when radios are factory built and aligned, does Elecraft keep some kind of history data base of performance measurements of hose radios. kind od like a Certificate of Analysis/Performance, of specifications?
>    
> Thanks and 73, Gene N9TF
> K3S 10057
>
> ----- Original Message -----
>
> From: "Eric Swartz - WA6HHQ, Elecraft" <eric at elecraft.com>
> To: "Jim Rogers" <jim.w4atk at gmail.com>, "elecraft" <elecraft at mailman.qth.net>
> Sent: Tuesday, October 18, 2016 2:10:17 PM
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3S QST Article
>
> Hi Jim - The 17 m harmonic problem was limited to the single review unit, which
> we corrected. All others shipped were/are OK on 17M.
>
> 73,
>
> Eric
> /elecraft.com/
>
> On 10/18/2016 11:38 AM, Jim Rogers wrote:
>> To all who responded, certainly my friend Don and others....
>>
>> "During initial testing, we found that the second harmonic on 17 meters
>> measured 42 dB below the fundamental, well below the specified >50 dB we
>> measured on the other bands. We returned the transceiver to Elecraft for
>> repair and they brought it into spec." Bob Allison, WB1GCM Assistant ARRL
>> Laboratory Manager, QST (Nov 2016) p.50 sidebar.
>>
>> Elecraft K3s Operators manual pg. 9 "Harmonic Spurious Outputs >50 dB below
>> carrier @ 100W (>60 dB on 6 meters).
>>
>> Just sayin' if that is the case with my K3s s/n 10271, send me the necessary
>> board/module(s) to correct the situation and I will be more than happy to make
>> the replacement in my K3s and return the defective units to Elecraft for
>> rework. Just don't ask me to send the whole radio back for something I can
>> accomplish in the field.
>>
>> I am not angry, perhaps a bit dissappointed.  I love my K-Line, which
>> originated with a K3 and when the K3s came out, I elected to buy a K3s rather
>> than upgrade my K3. Tell me my radio meets the spec and does not need repair
>> to meet the spec and I am a happy camper.
>>
>> Jim, W4ATK
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> Elecraft mailing list
>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>> Post: mailto:Elecraft at mailman.qth.net
>>
>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>> Message delivered to eric.swartz at elecraft.com
>>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:Elecraft at mailman.qth.net
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to n9tf at comcast.net
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:Elecraft at mailman.qth.net
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to eric.swartz at elecraft.com