Having noticed the recent semiannual K4 speculation I wanted to offer
speculation in a different direction.
The K2 was originally offered as a true kit that, upon completion,
provided
a radio capable of both home use and trail use.
The trail/remote and home use capabilities have been supplanted by the
other
radios in the Elecraft stable.
The only really unique feature of the K2 is that it is a true kit; that
said, it is a bit behind the curve in tech plus it is a major PITB to
"align".
I would like to see Elecraft revisit the K2 (well, not exactly):
01) Keep it a kit as much as possible. So maybe RF and AF sections
could
be
kits (at least partially).
02) Fully assembled as an option.
03) Make the "middle" a high performance SDR; factory assembled and
aligned.
04) 6 KHz band pass filter in the first IF with the DSP doing the
remaining
filtering functions.
05) Include a 12 volt to (say) 60 volt conversion to power a "high
voltage"
RF section.
06) 100 watts output.
07) No FM but add 6 meters.
08) Include Digital Voice as a mode. Pick one of the Open Source
implementations. Make it an "App"; Elecraft would maintain the latest
source code and latest "compiled" App; anyone who wished could
modify and
install their own version; might be an area where Amateurs could
contribute
something meaningful.
09) Competent single receiver (with RIT) but not necessarily (in
Japanese
radio jargon) "Competition Grade".
10) Very competent transmit (with XIT): no splatter, no clicks, no
noise.
11) Put it all inside a "big" box in the style of the best looking
piece of
Ham Radio gear ever designed: the Collins 75A4.
12) Real "Collins" style knobs , real "bat handle" toggle switches.
13) Only a few radio functions need constant, easy access, tie those
to the
big knobs and toggle switches.
14) Note the switches and controls would only tell a DSP or MCU to take
some
action. I'm not talking multi-pole, multi-gang rotary switches.
15) Preassembled wire bundles to attach the front panel controls and
switches to the main unit (with quick disconnect to allow easy
removal).
16) Add a 5-inch color touch screen display (like my Garmin GPS) in the
middle of the front panel with a nice size, high inertia tuning knob
for
freq control.
17) Put the ancillary functions on the (multi-page) touch screen.
18) The touch screen pages should be tab accessible; with user
definable
pages.
19) Embed this all inside the "75A4 Cabinet": nice size box, mostly air
inside but with room to add additional features (maybe even a decent
speaker).
20) This is not meant to be a DXpedition, mountaintop, contest box;
just a
desktop system that you could turn on with a (toggle) switch, select
your
band with a rotary switch, select your mode with a rotary switch,
touch the
tab on the touch screen to verify your audio/keyer/data settings
then kick
back and operate. Toggle switches for AGC On/Off, AGC Fast/Slow, Noise
Blanker On/Off, Noise Reduction On/Off, rotary controls for receive
bandpass
width and shift, so on. Touch screen pages to set/adjust the
characteristics
of the Noise Reduction, Noise Blanker, AGC, etc. Switched LCD meter to
provide S-meter, power, audio level, whatever.
OK, OK, OK.I know it can never happen:
1) No one would want one.
2) It would be too big.
3) It wouldn't be big enough.
4) Elecraft doesn't have the financial resources to develop such a
device.
5) Purchase price would be too high.
6) Besides it would take engineering talent away from the
development of
the
K4, the 1500 watt solid state amp, the VHF to near-infrared
transceiver,
the
Elecraft EPad, etc.
But, it would be a really neat rig: very "Retro" look with a high tech
heart.
Mike W5FTD
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