[Elecraft] going back in time with the K1

[Paul Kirley]

The K1's main tuning rate is partially determined by the choice of tuning range, with the wider range obviously requiring a faster tuning rate for complete traversal.

The K1 manual indicates that RF board capacitor C2 determines the main tuning range, with C2 = 120 pF yielding about 150 kHz of range and C2 = 68 pF yielding about 80 kHz of range.  Both capacitors were supplied with the kit.

There was an official Elecraft mod for the K1 to eliminate the variation in the main tuning rate from one end to the other of its range, but I skipped that mod because the variation didn't bother me.

RIT/XIT tuning range and rate is determined by the R4/R3/R5 voltage divider on the front panel board.  Increasing equally the values of fixed resistors R4 and R5 will reduce both incremental tuning range and rate.  (Obviously, it's easier to replace the fixed resistors than the pot.)

A value of R4 = R5 = 47K will result in an RIT/XIT tuning range of about 1 kHz, with resulting slower tuning.  On the other hand, this range isn't enough for DX split-frequency operating, so DXers may prefer some value between 47K and the stock but touchy 10K.

73, Paul W8TM