In my desperate rush to get back home this weekend and into the shack to change the power supply (thinking it could be a unstable power source and hence being the cause of the problem), I connected my linear bench supply and inadvertently fried both the U2 and QLG1 with 13.8VOLTS! ............... so problem solved. Doh!
However, that's opened up a brave new world which demands new U3S and QLG1 kits. The lengths people will go to in attaining the Ultimate.
So guys, I'd like to thank everyone who responded to my initial plight. The spirit of QRP-Labs lives on.
Roger Reeves M0ROJ