++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Date: Mon, 27 Aug 2001 11:41:42 -0700 From: Wayne Burdick Subject: [Elecraft] Re: K2 manual concern Bob, We're considering breaking the K2 manual into two parts (Assembly/Alignment, and Operation). The Operation manual would include all of the present manual's operating info as well as the K2 rev 2 firmware manual and relevant sections of all option manuals. I think this would solve the problem you described. The Operation manual would also be much thinner than the present manual, making it more convenient as a reference. 73, Wayne "Bob Lewis (AA4PB)" wrote: > > The assembly manuals get dirty and wrinkled during construction. After > that I stick them in a file for future reference. Simple stapled > copies would be fine for assembly. The operator manual is where the > majority of the expense should go, in my opinion. I don't like having > the nice Elecraft operating manual (a work of art) on the bench during > construction. ++++++++++++++++++++++++ Date: Mon, 27 Aug 2001 15:42:17 -0400 From: "Bob Lewis \(AA4PB\)" Subject: [Elecraft] Re: K2 manual concern It sounds good, Wayne. You might also consider making the operation manual in a "booklet" format, half an 8.5 x 11 sheet. This might be more convient for the "field pack". ++++++++++++++++++++++ Date: Mon, 27 Aug 2001 14:39:43 -0700 From: lhlousek Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Re: K2 manual concern <<< You might also consider making the operation manual in a "booklet" format, half an 8.5 x 11 sheet. This might be more convient for the "field pack".>>> Much better would be 8 x 8.5" or so. The same size as the K2. Lou W7DZN ++++++++++++++++++++++ Date: Mon, 27 Aug 2001 19:46:05 -0400 From: "Francis Belliveau" Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Re: K2 manual concern << Much better than half an 8.5 x 11 would be 8 x 8.5 or so. The same size as the K2.>>> I strongly disagree. Since Elecraft will need to distibute by web transfer or sell the new manuals I think that the 5.5 x 8.5 format makes much more sense. This will make it much simpler to reproduce at home and will not be that much smaller than the K2. Fran +++++++++++++++++++++ ate: Mon, 27 Aug 2001 19:54:45 -0400 From: "Francis Belliveau" Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Re: K2 manual concern (content) On: Monday, August 27, 2001 2:41 PM "Wayne Burdick" wrote: > > We're considering breaking the K2 manual into two parts > (Assembly/Alignment, and Operation)... > This is a good idea but I have a concern with the current manual that this will not address without additional organizational changes. The adjustment and alignment procedures are currently strewn throughout the Assembly manual. This is very logical while building, but makes it very difficult is I feel a need to go back over these procedures at some time after completion. Perhaps an outline for complete readjustment, at the end, that refers back to the original pages where things were accomplished. This can have any additional notes indicating things that must be considered because of the ring being more complete that when originally done. Fran +++++++++++++++++++ Date: Tue, 28 Aug 2001 09:13:02 -0700 From: Wayne Burdick Subject: [Elecraft] K2 Operation manual re-sizing Hi Ed, Thanks for taking the time to do this. I'm sure this will be helpful for those who don't want to wait. If/when we get around to making our own version, it will be a total re-write, integrating the present K2 manual Operation section, the rev 2 firmware manual, and relevant sections of the option manuals. It will also have heavy card stock front/back, color cover, and spiral binding, just like the present K2 manual. 73, Wayne Ed Lambert wrote: > > Last night I gently massaged the downloaded K2 manual from the Elecraft site > with Adobe Acrobat. A time investment of 15 minutes yielded a very nice, > convenient operating manual on 8.5 x 5.5 pages. Daytimer produces pages of > this size prepunched with the standard seven holes if you don't want to cut > your own paper. They have various colors and weights of paper that produce > professional results. > > Those with the inclination can produce their manuals today without having to > wait for the Elecraft produced version. +++++++++++++++++ Date: Tue, 28 Aug 2001 13:03:39 -0400 From: "Ed Lambert" Subject: [Elecraft] Manual Sizing Several have expressed interest in my "technique" for reducing the manual size. What I did probably does not even rise to the level of "technique". I took the manual I downloaded from the Elecraft site and opened it in Adobe Acrobat. (You might even be able to accomplish the reduction in Adobe Reader, I'm not sure.) In the print setup box in Acrobat, I selected properties and set a user selectable paper size to 8.5 x 5.5. I was not successful at being able to change from landscape to portrait, so I had to change feed orientation for my paper. I use a DayTimer (www.daytimer.com) prepunched and perforated paper that comes two 5.5 x 8.5 sheets per page. Aspect ratio is not preserved, but I observed no truncation on the pages I printed (78 - 99). I use an older laser jet printer and printed the even pages first, turned them over and printed the odd pages to get double sided printing. Acrobat gives you the capability to cut and paste from other pdf documents, so you could collect the operating information you need from the various Elecraft documents in one place. Then take it all to your local office superstore, laminate and bind. Those with artistic capability could probably do much better than I. Acrobat 5.0 has more capability than my 4.0. One other thing. When printing the reduced size manual in Acrobat, be sure to check the box "Fit to Page" in the print dialog. Ed Lambert, P.E. KD3Y K2 1999 ++++++++++++++++++++ Date: Wed, 29 Aug 2001 09:35:48 -0400 From: "Ed Lambert" Subject: RE: [Elecraft] Re: K2 manual concern Mike and all, My original post generated much response, much of it similar to Mike's response below. My intent was to find a "quick and dirty" way to get convenient size manuals into the hands of owners without generating a burden on the folks at Elecraft. It will be nice to get professional quality operations manuals from Elecraft but in the meantime each owner can generate almost any size and quality manual with free software. Results limited only by your time and imagination. I downloaded the free Acrobat Reader v5.0 last night and was able to accomplish the same thing with it as I was with Acrobat. I never manipulated the Elecraft pdf file itself; I only printed it to a smaller size paper, 5.5 in. x 8.5 in. in my case. You can accomplish the same thing with Acrobat Reader. Open the pdf file of interest, in my case it was the K2 manual. Then select "file Print Setup". In that dialog box select "properties". In properties set the size page you want. "Ok" your way out of the Print Setup dialog and select "file print". In that dialog box be sure to select "Shrink oversize pages to paper size". Then select the pages you want to print, in my case PP 78 - 99. That's all there is to it. You now have the relevant manual pages shrunk to whatever size you want. (I tried A4; it works just fine.) Ed Lambert, P.E. KD3Y K2 1999 +++++++++++++++ Date: Wed, 29 Aug 2001 11:15:17 -0400 From: "Benjamin Blavat" Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Re: K2 manual concern Hi Ed, I think that different printer drivers under Windows allow differing abilities to change paper size. I followed your directions, but I was only given a selection of paper sizes to pick from, no custom option available.My printer is the HP 4L. 73's from W4BEN, Benjamin Blavat ++++++++++++++++ Date: Wed, 29 Aug 2001 09:23:54 -0700 From: Wayne Burdick Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Re: K2 manual concern Julian, The separate (smaller) Operation manual would definitely be available for purchase by existing customers. 73, Wayne "Julian, G4ILO" wrote: > > If you do, I hope that it will be possible to purchase copies as upgrades. > Life is too short to print something like that out on my lil old inkjet, > and given the cost of ink cartridges, buying a copy would probably be > cheaper, too. +++++++++++++++++++ Subject: Re: [Elecraft] OT - Toroids for Stereo RFI? To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net Date: Thu, 21 Nov 2002 17:48:18 +0000 (GMT) From: ehramm at dk3uz.shnet.org (Edmund H. Ramm) John, KI6WX writes: > For blocking HF into cables, you want the highest mu ferrite material you > can get. I often use #73 material for this purpose, but there are higher > mu ferrites available. > [...] I prefer ferrite rods (5-6"long) as used im medium wave AM radios. Not only are they less expensive than toroids, I also don't have to remove and re-fit connectors, regardless of their size. Two Panduit straps will fix the cable to the rod, often a third one can be used to hold the rod's far end near the equipment's back plane. Also useful in the shack for keeping line noise away from the K2. Ha! On-topic agn. 73, Eddi ._._. -- email: dk3uz AT darc DOT de - AMPRNET: dk3uz at db0hht.ampr.org +++++++++++++++++ From: "Mike McCoy" To: "rich a." , , Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Manuals Date: Thu, 21 Nov 2002 16:28:45 -0600 Did you see this? http://www.elecraft.com/Apps/K2_QRC_8x8.pdf Mike K5PU ++++++++++++++++ From: "Mike McCoy" To: "Eric Swartz WA6HHQ - Elecraft" Cc: "Elecraft" Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Manuals Date: Thu, 21 Nov 2002 16:51:09 -0600 Frankly, due to the powerful search capabilities of Adobe Acrobat I reference the online manuals more than the hard copy book itself. It's amazing how Adobe Acrobat will find (say) 'R14' in the manual even on the schematic and parts placement drawings. The ability to search the *entire* manual in one 'swoop' can provide insight to (for example) when a part is installed, if it is referenced in an alignment procedure, what it looks like, where it's located on a board, in the schematic etc. just by hitting 'find again'. Thus, I'd vote for keeping the entire manual intact, as is (and add the errata to the main manual as well). Then, in addition, have the operating section available as a seperate 'manual' in .pdf as well. Just my .02 worth Mike K5PU ++++++++++++++++ Reply-To: "Don Wilhelm" From: "Don Wilhelm" To: Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Manuals Date: Thu, 21 Nov 2002 19:23:38 -0500 Eric, THAT is a very good and generous offer. Yes, I would prefer a downloadable file, that way I can download an updated operating manual should I upgrade the firmware again. 73, Don W3FPR ++++++++++++++++ From: "JAKidz" To: Date: Fri, 22 Nov 2002 06:53:18 -0800 Subject: [Elecraft] Re: Manuals Greetings: How about bringing the "best practices" and the top to bottom sequence for tweaking / optimizing all the modules of a fully loaded and operating K2, given limited equipment (In my case a not so good Radio Shack DMM, Yaseu FRG 7700 SWL receiver, MFJ 949E dummy load and watt meter, spectorgram), into one spot? 73, John, K7JG ++++++++++++++++