[Elecraft] K2 PLL reference oscillator problems (DAC side!)

[Don Wilhelm]

Chris,

I would believe that the RF Board components were packed before 
mid-January and was not purged of the J310s prior to shipping.
Granted, that should have been purged, but for some reason (perhaps 
human error), it apparently was not.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 5/29/2019 10:14 AM, Chris Smith wrote:
> Thanks for the detailed reply. That makes sense entirely.
>
> To note this K2 shipped in early May so there may be problems still.
>
> Best regards,
>
> Chris M0XTE
>
> On Wed, 29 May 2019, at 14:49, Don Wilhelm wrote:
>> Chris and all,
>>
>> Let me try to add some clarity to this J310 situation:
>>
>> 1. Thru-hole J310s have been discontinued.  Last August, Elecraft
>> ordered a new supply (from a new source) which proved to be inadequate
>> for the K2 PLL Reference Oscillator circuit.  A source of New Old Stock
>> for J310s was sought and finally found.  Those parts were received in
>> January 2019 and the stock that was deficient was scrapped.
>> 2. So the K2s which were affected were shipped between mid-August 2018
>> and January 2019.
>> Not all J310s shipped during that period were sub-par, some worked fine
>> while others did not.
>>
>> 3. So this problem reared its ugly head on some of the K2s shipped
>> during that period while others worked fine.
>>
>> The problem would show up during the PLL Reference Range Test during
>> early testing of the K2.  Many have been corrected so far, actually I
>> hope all those which failed have now been corrected - time will tell.
>> With the current stock of J310s at Elecraft, this problem has been
>> solved.  Warranty support for those K2s exhibiting the problem will be
>> addressed as the symptoms are revealed.
>>
>> The circuit is not to blame.  The circuit has been unchanged since the
>> Field Test K3s and it has worked successfully until this J310 situation
>> came up.
>>
>> There are no new thru-hole J310s being manufactured from the original
>> manufacturers - SMD J310s have no problems.
>>
>> 73,
>> Don W3FPR
>>
>> On 5/29/2019 4:56 AM, Chris Smith wrote:
>> > Hi,
>> >
>> > I have replaced the J310 and the oscillator now runs over the full 
>> voltage range of the DAC. Many thanks. After this, the PLL 
>> calibration routine completes successfully. The EEPROM appears to be 
>> ok here.
>> >
>> > So at a high level the issue appears to be:
>> >
>> > 1. The J310 or circuit was at fault. Either the J310 device spread 
>> is suspect or the circuit is device spread sensitive. Having built a 
>> few VXOs over the years some problems are almost inevitable here so 
>> it's expected really.
>>
>