N8YV
06-05-2002, 09:57 PM
It's VHF contest weekend soon, so to get in on any 6-meter action that will take place, I thought I'd buy a transverter for my HF rig. #In reviewing the Ten-Tec website, I found several transverters in both assembled and kit forms. #After placing a call to Ten-Tec to inquire, I discovered that, unfortunately, the model I wanted---1208A---was no longer available, only the kitted version was offered.
I am not new to kitbuilding, in fact I have somewhat better facilities and experience available to me than many hams. I needed a rig to get on the air with, I felt up to giving it a go, so I ordered the unit in kit form and set up my assembly table, test equipment and tools in anticipation!
The kit arrived and was well-packaged. #A quick overview of the parts and materials confirmed the presence of each item. #Then, it was off to the easy chair for a thorough read in preparation for the project. #I started in, after dinner.
The assembly of the unit, up to the first testing stage, went smoothly and without a hitch. Following the instructions to the letter, I prepared for the first of several "progress checks", this one being a test of the oscillator circuit. #
With my frequency counter and power supply at the ready, I fired-up the circuit as per the instructions. #Nothing. #I double-checked my connections, made sure the counter was functioning and still---nothing. #I grabbed my multimeter, proceeded to check for voltage and----nothing----. #Wow, did my power supply quit working? #
Just as I asked myself this question, I placed my hand on the supply to turn it around and noticed the heat sink was VERY hot! #I hit the power switch and disconnected the project from the supply. Tracing my work (which I had already thoroughly inspected) for any solder bridges, mis-installed components, etc., I found that I was getting a complete dead short across the ground and +12v terminals of the transverter board.
I began unsoldering key components in an effort to isolate the trouble, finally arriving at the point where I was inspecting the circuit board's copper traces, themselves. #Soon, I found the problem---an area of copper which had not been properly etched-away in the manufacturing process! #A dead short, even had no components been installed, existed right out of the box!
As I stated previously, I have experience and the facilities to handle most contingencies. #As a technician, I am familiar with locating troubles in equipment, but I was not dealing with a working product, here. In fact, this problem rendered the project useless, even before it was begun!
After engineering a solution to the shorted board (using a drill bit and scraping tools), I was up and running again...or so I thought. #Remember that hot supply? #Well, it functioned no more! #Already delayed over an hour while fiddling with the faulty circuit board, and beginning to question my decision to buy this kit, I pressed another supply into service for the test. #This time, I got results, the circuit was functional, but I could not adjust the device to the desired specifications.
After another delay period, I determined that I could modify the circuit by removing a component. #I did this, then re-tried the test. #This time, it adjusted perfectly and quickly. #So far, I had lost a large amount of wasted time, found a defect in manufacturing and now a possible design flaw--but at least, I finally had it going forward!
Anxious to get back on track after these diversions, I proceeded through the next phases, until I AGAIN reached a point where I had to stop. This time, it was for a shortage of material--the material had been included, but in insufficient quantity to complete the required task. #So, off to the garage in a pouring rain to find a substitute (successfully), I lost another 20 minutes or so, for what was now a becoming a five-hour, patience-trying affair.
After grabbing some sleep, I gave TenTec a call the next morning. #Sorry, I was told, I had to call on their non-800 line, at my expense, to get help. Okay, fine. #The techs were helpful, agreed with my assessments and remedies so far, even apologizing for my difficulties. #In the event, I was told these circuit boards are made elsewhere, as are the instruction manuals, which makes me wonder why Ten-Tec would not be a bit more careful to be sure things are in proper order, before shipping these out to the customers?
Later that morning, as I was encountering still more problems of serious delay, I received a call from Ten-Tec and learned of yet another fault in this kit. #I appreciated their efforts to warn me, and proceeded to engineer yet another fix, this time thankfully in advance! #
At that point, I had encountered four major delays, a damaged piece of equipment and discovered that even the instruction manual contains a host of errors, including a critical step that should be placed MUCH earlier in the assembly process (it involves applying a lot of heat using a high-wattage soldering tool, to a large area of the PC board that should be done before any components are added. Instead, it appears at a point nearly 75% toward completion)!
As this is written, the project is at a standstill, awaiting replenishment of certain parts which were damaged or missing. #I am out a lot of wasted time, phone calls and growing very frustrated. #No matter what is done to help solve the problems by Ten-Tec, this project is already a defective product, with so many delays and shortcomings, it may NEVER be up and running in time for this weekend's contest!
To be continued....
I am not new to kitbuilding, in fact I have somewhat better facilities and experience available to me than many hams. I needed a rig to get on the air with, I felt up to giving it a go, so I ordered the unit in kit form and set up my assembly table, test equipment and tools in anticipation!
The kit arrived and was well-packaged. #A quick overview of the parts and materials confirmed the presence of each item. #Then, it was off to the easy chair for a thorough read in preparation for the project. #I started in, after dinner.
The assembly of the unit, up to the first testing stage, went smoothly and without a hitch. Following the instructions to the letter, I prepared for the first of several "progress checks", this one being a test of the oscillator circuit. #
With my frequency counter and power supply at the ready, I fired-up the circuit as per the instructions. #Nothing. #I double-checked my connections, made sure the counter was functioning and still---nothing. #I grabbed my multimeter, proceeded to check for voltage and----nothing----. #Wow, did my power supply quit working? #
Just as I asked myself this question, I placed my hand on the supply to turn it around and noticed the heat sink was VERY hot! #I hit the power switch and disconnected the project from the supply. Tracing my work (which I had already thoroughly inspected) for any solder bridges, mis-installed components, etc., I found that I was getting a complete dead short across the ground and +12v terminals of the transverter board.
I began unsoldering key components in an effort to isolate the trouble, finally arriving at the point where I was inspecting the circuit board's copper traces, themselves. #Soon, I found the problem---an area of copper which had not been properly etched-away in the manufacturing process! #A dead short, even had no components been installed, existed right out of the box!
As I stated previously, I have experience and the facilities to handle most contingencies. #As a technician, I am familiar with locating troubles in equipment, but I was not dealing with a working product, here. In fact, this problem rendered the project useless, even before it was begun!
After engineering a solution to the shorted board (using a drill bit and scraping tools), I was up and running again...or so I thought. #Remember that hot supply? #Well, it functioned no more! #Already delayed over an hour while fiddling with the faulty circuit board, and beginning to question my decision to buy this kit, I pressed another supply into service for the test. #This time, I got results, the circuit was functional, but I could not adjust the device to the desired specifications.
After another delay period, I determined that I could modify the circuit by removing a component. #I did this, then re-tried the test. #This time, it adjusted perfectly and quickly. #So far, I had lost a large amount of wasted time, found a defect in manufacturing and now a possible design flaw--but at least, I finally had it going forward!
Anxious to get back on track after these diversions, I proceeded through the next phases, until I AGAIN reached a point where I had to stop. This time, it was for a shortage of material--the material had been included, but in insufficient quantity to complete the required task. #So, off to the garage in a pouring rain to find a substitute (successfully), I lost another 20 minutes or so, for what was now a becoming a five-hour, patience-trying affair.
After grabbing some sleep, I gave TenTec a call the next morning. #Sorry, I was told, I had to call on their non-800 line, at my expense, to get help. Okay, fine. #The techs were helpful, agreed with my assessments and remedies so far, even apologizing for my difficulties. #In the event, I was told these circuit boards are made elsewhere, as are the instruction manuals, which makes me wonder why Ten-Tec would not be a bit more careful to be sure things are in proper order, before shipping these out to the customers?
Later that morning, as I was encountering still more problems of serious delay, I received a call from Ten-Tec and learned of yet another fault in this kit. #I appreciated their efforts to warn me, and proceeded to engineer yet another fix, this time thankfully in advance! #
At that point, I had encountered four major delays, a damaged piece of equipment and discovered that even the instruction manual contains a host of errors, including a critical step that should be placed MUCH earlier in the assembly process (it involves applying a lot of heat using a high-wattage soldering tool, to a large area of the PC board that should be done before any components are added. Instead, it appears at a point nearly 75% toward completion)!
As this is written, the project is at a standstill, awaiting replenishment of certain parts which were damaged or missing. #I am out a lot of wasted time, phone calls and growing very frustrated. #No matter what is done to help solve the problems by Ten-Tec, this project is already a defective product, with so many delays and shortcomings, it may NEVER be up and running in time for this weekend's contest!
To be continued....
