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Radio => Kit Building => Topic started by: idial1911 on February 20, 2012, 01:27:36 PM

Title: Building the Elecraft k3 Transceiver
Post by: idial1911 on February 20, 2012, 01:27:36 PM
So Saturday morning I decided to start my build around 10am. I had a cup of expresso double shot (just because we prepare in the event something bad happens doesn't mean we can't live it up now!!!) So I started to unpack everything, there were a million little packages, so i weeded through and laid them all out on my work space. I opened just the main hardware bag and sorted it out into muffin cook sheets. For future kit builders reading this, DO NOT SKIP THIS PART. There are certain screws that look to be very close in size, but are a little different in size. Go by the amounts and try to find all the matching pieces, label them out, and put in seperate containers. I ran out of space so I had to double up in some compartments, but do it smartly and put in parts that you can't confuse. IE nuts and Bolts, or front face buttons and knobs. There are a few assembly places that if you put in the wrong screws you will create a short and blow the entire thing up. Once I got the pieces sorted I went at it.

First step was to take out the main RF board:

(http://www.w4kso.com/pics/k31.jpg)

You can see the edge of the muffin pans up top. This board came just like you see it, I just took it out of the package.

The first part was to put on a few of the standoffs and various nuts and bolts which we will be using to mount up the shell to later, Then we install the filter. I only got the stock filter, but you can see slots for filters 1-5. I might get some additional ones later, Just slide it in, line up connectors, and screw it down from under the board.

(http://www.w4kso.com/pics/k32.jpg)

Next I slip the LPA (low power amplifier) board into the large hole in the middle. It simply slides in, once the connectors are lined up, and friction holds it in place, Easy does it here, the main board and everything else starts flexing and you don't want to break it!

(http://www.w4kso.com/pics/k33.jpg)

Next up we mount up the bracket for the face plate. Nothing tricky here, just a couple screws.

(http://www.w4kso.com/pics/k34.jpg)

Next in is the mixer board. The small board down near the bracket, with the screw in it.

(http://www.w4kso.com/pics/k35.jpg)

Next assembly of the left wall side.. We attach the handle.

(http://www.w4kso.com/pics/k36.jpg)

Bolting up the left side to the RF board, and the front face bracket.

(http://www.w4kso.com/pics/k37.jpg)

Aerial shot of the left side after attachment:

(http://www.w4kso.com/pics/k38.jpg)

We start working to assemble the back Plate now, and begin to put the antenna connections on it.

The back
(http://www.w4kso.com/pics/k39.jpg)

The inside:
(http://www.w4kso.com/pics/k311.jpg)

Mounting the second connection:

(http://www.w4kso.com/pics/k312.jpg)

Now we slide the KAT3 the Antenna tuner into the main RF board:

(http://www.w4kso.com/pics/k313.jpg)

side view:

(http://www.w4kso.com/pics/k314.jpg)

Time to put the back plate on and connect it so the side and the rf board!

(http://www.w4kso.com/pics/k315.jpg)

Aerial shot of the back:

(http://www.w4kso.com/pics/k316.jpg)

Mount the right panel now, and it starting to take shape!

(http://www.w4kso.com/pics/k317.jpg)

We install the kxv3 board into the back panel and connect to RF board now, this board allows up to make connection to panadapters and other devices.

(http://www.w4kso.com/pics/k318.jpg)

Here is a view from the outside of the case, you can see the connections, the panadapter (band scope) connects into the IF out here:

(http://www.w4kso.com/pics/k319.jpg)

We not connect in and bolt up the remaining interfaces on this back part of the board the kio3 and the audio interfaces

(http://www.w4kso.com/pics/k320.jpg)

Put the case aside and it's time to assemble the front face of the unit.

Here is a shot of the front:
(http://www.w4kso.com/pics/k321.jpg)

and back of the control panel:
(http://www.w4kso.com/pics/k322.jpg)

We mount some standoffs and put the front panel on it:

(http://www.w4kso.com/pics/k323.jpg)

On go the knobs!

(http://www.w4kso.com/pics/k324.jpg)

Slip the DSP board on to the back of the front panel:

(http://www.w4kso.com/pics/k325.jpg)

Now bolt the entire assembly onto the case

(http://www.w4kso.com/pics/k326.jpg)

Time for the moment of truth!! THE SMOKE TEST!!

No smoke!! And it lights up just fine!! The Error is normal, the IF board isn't installed yet!

(http://www.w4kso.com/pics/k327.jpg)

Here she is, plugged in.. Go ahead and take all night trying to find smoke.. There is none!!

(http://www.w4kso.com/pics/k328.jpg)

It's time to mount the syn board, and the reference module. They both bolt to the back back of the front case bracket:

(http://www.w4kso.com/pics/k329.jpg)

Assemble the bottom of the unit, this is the "front" piece:

(http://www.w4kso.com/pics/k330.jpg)

We mount the RF shield now in preparation to mount the 100w amplifier, after calibration.

(http://www.w4kso.com/pics/k331.jpg)

Mount both the bottom pieces onto the unit.. Look at the carnage in the background it's been a long day!!

(http://www.w4kso.com/pics/k332.jpg)

Slap the top on, and we have a completed unit!! Well, minus the 100w amp, which is just a drop in, and 3 screws, Time to calibrate!

(http://www.w4kso.com/pics/k333.jpg)

The last pic of it calibrating.

(http://www.w4kso.com/pics/k334.jpg)


http://www.elecraft.com/K3/K3.htm (http://www.elecraft.com/K3/K3.htm)

On a 1-10 scale of difficulty this was a 4 or maybe a 5. Certainly not as hard as the old kits, that require soldering.

Tools I needed and used:
Screw driver, smaller ones
I did solder the anderson power pole connectors on
signal generator
100w dummy load
multi meter, at one point you need to measure resistance across a few areas to make sure you aren't grounding out anything. Mine was fine first try.


This was a real fun project, took about 12 hours from the time I started until the time I was on the air. Had some minor calibration issues, and some other issues that I will elaborate on in a later post..


Price: 1999$ Assembled 2499$
Title: Re: Building the Elecraft k3 Transceiver
Post by: scubadivingjoe on February 20, 2012, 01:41:29 PM
nice job and you saved $500. 
Title: Re: Building the Elecraft k3 Transceiver
Post by: idial1911 on February 20, 2012, 01:43:02 PM
nice job and you saved $500.

Yea i think all up it was like 700$ between all the kits... and all the gear.
Title: Re: Building the Elecraft k3 Transceiver
Post by: PLA on February 20, 2012, 01:55:37 PM
What experience level is this kit??

I have 2  mity mites I been contemplating putting together, this easier or harder?
Title: Re: Building the Elecraft k3 Transceiver
Post by: idial1911 on February 20, 2012, 01:58:17 PM
I am not familiar with the mty mites but this one wasn't that hard, just a lot of steps.

And the performance of this rig is AMAZING!! It's beating out some of the 12k radios in independent testing.
Title: Re: Building the Elecraft k3 Transceiver
Post by: Hamsexy on February 20, 2012, 02:10:00 PM
A thing of beauty is a joy for ever:
Its loveliness increases; it will never
Pass into nothingness; but still will keep...

John Keats

(and you thought I was just another pretty face!)
Title: Re: Building the Elecraft k3 Transceiver
Post by: PeterRabbit on February 20, 2012, 06:12:37 PM
What a nice design!  And your pics were just great, too.  Hope you get many hours of high performance.
Title: Re: Building the Elecraft k3 Transceiver
Post by: idial1911 on February 20, 2012, 06:26:44 PM
What a nice design!  And your pics were just great, too.  Hope you get many hours of high performance.

It's so nicely laid out isn't it.. Very very good design. Someone sat down and thought about it...

I can't recommend the radio enough. Plus its an american company.. I am glad John talked me out of the 7600.
Title: Re: Building the Elecraft k3 Transceiver
Post by: Tex on February 20, 2012, 07:00:50 PM
That's pretty awesome. I would have wound up with extra parts.

Tex
Title: Re: Building the Elecraft k3 Transceiver
Post by: idial1911 on February 20, 2012, 07:02:41 PM
The funny part is, they send it with extra parts.. Just hardware screws and such.. they say it everywhere in the manual so you dont freak out.. It was kind of funny..
Title: Re: Building the Elecraft k3 Transceiver
Post by: rah on February 22, 2012, 03:57:10 AM
Outstanding job, outstanding illustration.  That's just inspiring!
Title: Re: Building the Elecraft k3 Transceiver
Post by: 45-70 on February 25, 2012, 08:19:37 AM
Very good looking rig, nice job!
Title: Re: Building the Elecraft k3 Transceiver
Post by: DSB on February 25, 2012, 11:06:28 AM
Well Done! and a great pic presentation so we can easily follow along... excellent presentation. you need to sticky back this under "HF kit building"so people can see it isnt all "majic"
Title: Re: Building the Elecraft k3 Transceiver
Post by: KC9TNH on March 25, 2012, 08:45:17 AM
Just reviewing some things having recently joined.
You "HAD" me when I saw you were using a nicely grounded anti-static mat.
Great job and thanks for the care in the presentation.

The Elecrafts are known for their superb receiver sections; that puppy has some "ears" on it, you're surely pleased.

Thanks for sharing.
Title: Re: Building the Elecraft k3 Transceiver
Post by: idial1911 on July 06, 2012, 10:17:55 PM
Just reviewing some things having recently joined.
You "HAD" me when I saw you were using a nicely grounded anti-static mat.
Great job and thanks for the care in the presentation.

The Elecrafts are known for their superb receiver sections; that puppy has some "ears" on it, you're surely pleased.

Thanks for sharing.

Yes, it receives great.. I paired it with a Heil mic and I get great audio reports too.. Now I just need to get a nice antenna system!
Title: Re: Building the Elecraft k3 Transceiver
Post by: jsr5 on October 28, 2012, 08:47:12 PM
Any suggestions on some places to look and see what kind of kits are available? I think I might be smart enough to get one together as long as the instructions are in english, not chinglish. would love to see some kind of all mode HF uhf vhf kit especially one without a case and all so I can use the little bit of an ifea that is starting to form it'self in my little pea. If It would save me alot of dollars I could afford to invest the time. I have very little of one and too much of the other. a 12 hour kit would likely take me several weeks as I can't sit up to a work table more than a hour or so at a time and my manual dexterity erodes very fast when trying to run a screw driver or do little fiddly work but I can make a good place to lay it all out and hit it two or three one hour sessions a day. still need to get some equipt ment but was gonna get a better multimeter anyway and someone was telling me the SWR meter was gonna be a must if I was gonna build antennas so not really anything I wasn't gonna get anyway. Definitely would seem to open up some possibilities for me. Found youkits they get close to what I'm looking for but not quite.

Hmmm yes please please please tell me wher you all reccomend getting kits at. even if I dont get it together I would always have the backup in kit form should I need it.
Title: Re: Building the Elecraft k3 Transceiver
Post by: idial1911 on October 29, 2012, 02:04:04 PM
Elecraft has some smaller kits.. I know Ten Tec does too. You can google QRP kits and turn up a good many of them, but I am not to into the QRP stuff so i am not sure what is good or not in that genre.
Title: Re: Building the Elecraft k3 Transceiver
Post by: ghrit on December 12, 2012, 04:08:30 PM
idial1911
OK, then. 
-It's been some time since you've completed the build, so how has it satisfied you so far?
-Last kit I built was a Heathkit VTVM (a long time ago.)  Is that level of skill enough, or do I need more practice on something less challenging?  (Then again, you might not be old enough.  Think vacuum tube socket soldering.)
-What "extras" would you have put in at the time if you knew you wanted them?  (Filters, for example.)
-What tools does one need other than basic soldering irons and run of the mill twisty, smashy, breaky things found in the usual DIY home mechanic/carpenter's tool box?  (i.e., how important is the anti static mat?)

What's going on chez moi is budgeting for next year.  On top of the transceiver (which may come from elsewhere in the short haul) I know I'm going to need an external tuner, power supply and antenna, but have made no decisions. Anything else I need to budget for that you can think of?  Hey, I'm brand new at this, and really don't have a clue.

Title: Re: Building the Elecraft k3 Transceiver
Post by: idial1911 on December 13, 2012, 09:23:46 PM
idial1911
OK, then. 
-It's been some time since you've completed the build, so how has it satisfied you so far?
-Last kit I built was a Heathkit VOM (a long time ago.)  Is that level of skill enough, or do I need more practice on something less challenging?  (Then again, you might not be old enough.  Think vacuum tube socket soldering.)
-What "extras" would you have put in at the time if you knew you wanted them?  (Filters, for example.)
-What tools does one need other than basic soldering irons and run of the mill twisty, smashy, breaky things found in the usual DIY home mechanic/carpenter's tool box?  (i.e., how important is the anti static mat?)

What's going on chez moi is budgeting for next year.  On top of the transceiver (which may come from elsewhere in the short haul) I know I'm going to need an external tuner, power supply and antenna, but have made no decisions. Anything else I need to budget for that you can think of?  Hey, I'm brand new at this, and really don't have a clue.

I love the unit still.. It's very user friendly and easy to use.

You could build this kit, anyone could.. It's not that hard.

I got the stock filters, and still do.. Don't feel like i need to ad any. Happy with the performance.

Anderson power pole crimpers are the old special tool i'd recommend.

What you listed will serve you to start. Don't get fancy, get a decent power unit, get a g5rv, and a good solid rig and just get on the air.. then next year maybe add battery backup, look at upgrading the antenna.. Don't bite off to much to start..
Title: Re: Building the Elecraft k3 Transceiver
Post by: ghrit on December 14, 2012, 02:09:25 PM
I love the unit still.. It's very user friendly and easy to use.

You could build this kit, anyone could.. It's not that hard.

I got the stock filters, and still do.. Don't feel like i need to ad any. Happy with the performance.

Anderson power pole crimpers are the old special tool i'd recommend.

What you listed will serve you to start. Don't get fancy, get a decent power unit, get a g5rv, and a good solid rig and just get on the air.. then next year maybe add battery backup, look at upgrading the antenna.. Don't bite off to much to start..
Thanks for all that.  The bite is going to be heavily influenced by cash flow (obviously, I guess.)  Among other things, gotta see what zero and boner do, then get into heavier planning around a 10, 20, and 40 meter setup.  Wire is cheap, it's the rest that will get a heavier influence.