Let me present a dissenting point of view on the K1. I am the fourth owner of K-1 SN0004 with a 40/20 M module. I have had it for 2 years. I have found that the more I use it the less I like it.
I find the K1 both too much radio and too little radio at the same time. I use it primarily for portable operation. As I don't use it all the time in the shack, I find that I need the reference card to recall all of the functions when I use it in the field. Being menu driven and with many of the switches having several functions I often make mistakes. The code speed goes up when I try to change filter settings for example. I don't need all of those functions in a portable contest radio, and I think that cramming them all into a small radio significantly detracts from the ability to seamless operate the radio. Thus, the radio is too much. But, there are significant performance compromises made. There is no RF gain. The NE602 front end mixer has problems in crowded band conditions. These two issues are exasperated by the fact that the AGC cannot be turned off without going into the menus. The filter has a pretty poor shape factor, with a very gentle roll off on the high side. The fact that the filter is adjustable means that optimum peformance is not possible at any bandwidth. The built in keyer requires 2 key strokes to send what is in memory, a big delay in contests. I bought the K-1 to replace an aging OHR Classic, also a 20 M and 40 M rig. I find myself returning to the OHR more and more. It is a simple receiver with no bells and whistles. But it uses a crunch proof diode balanced mixer in the front end that runs circles around the K1's NE602. After a few hours with the K-1 on 40 M for Field Day, we switched to the OHR and were much happier with its performance. As the OHR does not have an RF Gain control and the AGC is not switchable, the preference for the OHR is likely due to the higher performing front end and better IF filter. We eventually replaced the OHR with a K2 when the 15 M station QRTed at dark. It was preferable to both the K1 and the OHR. There are some nice features of the K1. The tilt stand is very nice in getting the rig off the table and at eye level, a common problem with QRP rigs. The provision for repetitive CQing is nice on sparsely populated bands during contests. I like the provision to monitor the battery voltage. The audio is generous and much better than the K2. The rig has generous power output and 5 watts is possible on all bands. The built in power meter is nice to have. I must admit that many of these opinions may be colored by a feeling of betrayal by the K1. It is the only rig to have failed me in the field. At the start of Field Day it failed to work on 40 M. 20 M was fine. After opening the rig, removing the filter board, inspecting it to find nothing obviously wrong, cleaning it, and reseating it; it again worked OK. Don't know what the problem was, but it left me with less confidence in the K1 than I had before. I don't need that kind of stress prior to a major operating event. I have often thought of upgrading with a 4 band module and the built in tuner. I believe that would also require a firmware upgrade in a rig as old as mine. The total for these upgrades is about 90% of what I paid for the rig, and I question if putting that much money into a rig I am not real happy with is worth it to me. But it does point out the fact that adding options quickly raises the price of an Elecraft rig. Having said all that, I realize that rig preference is a personal thing. Most are happy with their K1s. The K1 does not really fit what I am looking for in a portable rig for contesting. The more I use it, the more these shortcomings are apparent to me. I have decided that performance is more important to me than the bells and whistles of the K1. I respect the opinions of those who love their K1s and this is not meant to denigrate them. I just am not one of them. - Dr. Megacycle KK6MC/5 ______________________ James R. Duffey KK6MC/5 Cedar Crest NM 87008 DM65 _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
