Heath Horror Stories

[The Boutwells Bill & Mary]

Well, not much of a horror story, but it was a real problem for me.

Back in the 70's, I purchased my first kit: SB-303.  I figured I'd go with the best so I had an incentive to get my ham license.  I built the kit and everything looked perfect...I was quite proud.  Then I decided to give it the "smoke test".  I stood back at arms length and turned it on.  No smoke!  The lights lit and a hiss came out of the speaker, but I couldn't "hear" a thing on the air.

Being new to amateur radio and not too smart about electronics, I took the only approach I knew to troubleshooting:  I reheated EVERY solder joint.  Didn't help.  I did that again.  Nothin'.  Now I had done everything I knew...twice...I called Heathkit for help.  I exhausted several techs until one asked, "Did you remove the shorting springs from the FETs?"  Ahhhh, 'no...but I don't see any'.  Well, upon careful examination, I found a number of really fine spring like wires around all the leads of the FETs....just like the manual said.  I remove the wires and it worked!  This was the first of many times I lucked out after messing something up.  Those kits were tough!

Thanks to all the Heathkit techs for the patience you all seemed to have for some of us who had no idea what we were doing.

Bill Boutwell, KB0BK

Listserver Subscription:listserv at listserv.tempe.gov - "subscribe heath 'name' 'call'"
Listserver Submissions: heath at listserv.tempe.gov
Listserver Unsubscribe: listserv at listserv.tempe.gov - -"signoff heath"