NORCAL NC2030 Manual page 22

After soldering pins on both sides to firmly anchor the IC, I run a bead of solder down both sides of the
IC. All pins are now shorted to each other. Next I heat of sections of that bead with the soldering iron
and use the solder sucker to suck away the excess. You have to be fast removing the iron and getting the
sucker in place before the solder has a chance to cool, but this seems to work very well. When using the
approach, carefully inspect the pins when finished to make sure there is no solder left between the pins.
It is not uncommon for a very light solder film to be left which can be cleaned up with either a knife or a
very small screw driver blade or a light touch of the soldering iron.
This manual has been set up to build a section, and then test it. The tests are normally quite simple. This
should find most problems as we go from stage to stage rather than getting to the end and not knowing
where to start.
I found building the transceiver over a large cookie sheet eliminated the problem of dropping parts and
loosing them. However, when doing the applied voltage tests, you should place a few sheets of clean
paper under the boards to keep them from shorting out against the cookie sheet.
I find that this radio can be built in about three 8 hour days. That is a weekend and a couple of evenings.
This transceiver has a very high performance receiver. I hope some of you can finish the 20m version of
this radio before the November CW sweepstakes. Then listen to the contest using your current rig and if
possible, compare it with this receiver. In a contest situation, most receivers need the RF preamps
turned off and the RF gain reduced in order to cope with the numerous high power signals on the band.
In contrast, the NC2030 always operates at full sensitivity. Look for situations that cause your current
receiver problems and then, if possible, listen to the same thing on the NC2030. I think you will be
pleased in the difference you hear. Pretty good for less than 12 ma of current drain!
Norcal NC2030 v5 12-18-05
Page 22 of 128