[Elecraft] Ngen Wideband Noise Generator Mini Module Kit Problem

Scott netbsd21 at gmail.com
Sat Jul 28 20:26:33 EDT 2018


Arrgh.  Where to begin.  All was going well until "installing" U1 MAR-1 
MMIC.

Initial inventory of said kit was missing U1 MAR-1 MMIC.  FWIW, there 
are no part numbers and no pictures in the pdf manual.  So I emailed 
parts at elecraft and they sent me E600080 MAR-1 MMIC in a plastic bag. 
Upon inspection of this part during the build 2 weeks later it did not 
look like a solderable part, there were no leads for the thru holes.  It 
appeared to be just plastic with a raised "+" on one side and two holes 
on one end.  So I emailed parts at elecraft and said there has to be a 
mistake/problem and could they please check again and send the correct 
part that was solderable.  I received the second E600080 MAR-1 MMIC. 
Meet the new boss same as the old boss... the parts were identical. 
Upon closer inspection under magnification there is a "part" located 
inside the "+".  So cut it out and it is a very small black cylinder 
with 4 "arms" 90deg apart.  If this is the correct part then I'll send 
back the first one they sent me.

But here is the problem.  The Ngen PCB Rev B (which is the PCB that I 
have) has 4 "thru holes" for installing U1 MAR1 MMIC and there are no 
leads from E600080 to solder it to the PCB.  There are 4 "arms" but it 
is unclear to me how these "arms" are to be soldered to the board. 
Unless I solder wires in the 4 thru holes in the PCB and thence to the 
"arms" of E600080 I have no idea how to solder this part to the PCB. 
The pdf manual does not say anything about soldering wires into the thru 
holes and thence to the "arms".
http://www.elecraft.com/manual/E740057_N-Gen_Manual_Rev_D.pdf

I'm hoping someone else has built this module kit lately and figured it 
out or Elecraft is going to have to give me some guidance on how to 
solder this part to the board because it sure is not obvious to me.

Scott
AD5HS




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