[Elecraft] Re:K2 vs. the world.
Reading all the comments, it's difficult to resist and here is my contribution ! Since 1954 : 1 tube (6AQ5!) transmiter with BC312 Rx 807 CW/AM trans with same Rx Eico 720 CW Trx Home made SSB Trx with SP400 hammarlund Rx Heath HW-32 Vicking Ranger II Heath HW-101 Collins KWM-2 Drake TR-4 Drake TR-7 + L7 Yaesu FT-757 Kenwood TS-50 Kenwood TS-130 Icom IC-703 and finally Elecraft K2!!! It's not easy to tell which were the best, I think each one were what was best for me at the time!!! GL, 73/72 F5UL/Bob ___ 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
[Elecraft] Hiking the AT in PA Today with K1 and NK8Q
Hello, Today around 14:30 UTC, Mark de NK8Q and I de WB3AAL will be starting our hike on the Appalachian Trail. We will be hiking North on the AT from the Hawk Mountain / Eckville, PA crossing area. This will be about a 2 1/2 mile hike with about 1 mile of it straight up the side of the mountain. Plenty of trees in this large flat area on the top of the mountain. Unfortunately there are no views due to the heavy forest in the area. Plenty of room for Mark and I to setup and spread out. I will be taking my K1 four-band rig, 40, 30, 20 15 m and a VBWFPA antenna. We should be on the air sometime around 16:00 UTC. I will try 15 meters around 17:00 UTC. I will probably start out on 20 or 30 m. I will be on 40 m later in the afternoon around 18:00 UTC. Mark will be on the other bands with his K2 on CW. If you work us, please spot us on the DX Clusters and the e-mail list you are reading this on. 72 and Thanks, Ron Polityka WB3AAL www.wb3aal.com www.n3epa.org/ K1 - SN 01011 K2 - SN 01392 ___ 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
Re: RE: Re: [Elecraft] Re:K2 vs. the world.
From: Ron D'Eau Claire [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Fri May 19 18:47:18 CDT 2006 To: 'elecraft' elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: RE: Re: [Elecraft] Re:K2 vs. the world. Thanks Ron, good story Bill KA3IXF N3DRK wrote: I agree there are many fine commercial rigs out there, but there is nothing like building your own equipment. I just wish cost could be kept to a minimum, as a blue collar ham, it took me a while to save for the K2 and the KPA 100. I do not regret my purchase as the K2 is one of the best rigs that I have ever owned. I think I will be using it for a long time. Back in 1952, as a new Novice licensee pounding brass on 80 and 40 meters with a homebrew one-tube (6V6) transmitter putting out about 10 watts, I was also quite active in the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES). On several occasions I had the privilege of operating net control for a 75 meter phone RACES net during a Simulated Emergency Test (SET). The net control was a the home of a great friend and well-heeled adult Ham who lived on a hilltop with what can only be described as a dream station. After one of those sessions lasting all day at his rig passing traffic for the SET, I still remember being struck by a thought as I closed down the net. I suddenly realized that I was anxious to get home and make a few QSO's on my little scratch-built 6L6 crystal-controlled oscillator rig. No matter how beautiful my friend's station was, operating it was like driving a nice car. It was just a very nice appliance that I used. It could not replace the simple joy of making a contact on equipment I had assembled myself, perhaps even designed myself. That was what Ham radio was all about for me. It still is, 54 years later. I've never owned or cared to own an HF transmitter that I didn't at least assemble myself, like my K2/100. On VHF I built a number of rigs over the years, rescued a Gonset communicator that was simply a pile of parts in a box that someone gave up on and put it back on the air (then I sold it, Hi!). I've had a couple of HT's that only get used very infrequently as a sort of Ham-cell-phone to chat with locals. Other than those, all of my VHF/UHF gear has been homebrew or at least home-built as well. Along the way a great friend gave me a National HRO-5 receiver that I tore down to the rivets and rebuilt with a new homebrew lattice filter in the I.F., so it was a sort-of-commercial unit. Even so I was more inclined to use my homebrew receivers, most of which I designed myself. It's nice that Elecraft offers state-of-the-art engineering and performance for home-builders like myself. Even so there are times I get the itch and cobble together a simple little regen receiver or drag out one of my more complex HB receivers, put it alongside the K2 and then go on a hunt for a signal on the K2 that I can't copy FB on my creation. Different strokes for different folks, of course. Building and making contacts with something that started out as a box of unlikely-looking fiddly-bits is what Ham radio is all about to me! Ron AC7AC ___ 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 ___ 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
[Elecraft] Elecraft Product Ideas
We just got back to upstate NY, on shores of St. Lawrence River .. and am dreaming about new Elecraft products and projects we hams could build and buy. Please ping in with ideas improvements: 1. A 13.8vdc dual-6146 TUBE AMPLIFIER, separate box, with view of the tubes ... 200 watt PEP. I know it may sound odd - but TUBES crank it out better than solid state - no matter what they tell us! I'd buy one in a heartbeat. KIT (similiar ham project, to HF PACKER FCC backs this amp form) PARTS - for Elecraft-BACKER-AMP, optional for this project hf amp. Powerable - from a 13.8vdc Astron type supply. BACKER-KIT project form only. You wannna xmt SSB as SSB should be heard? I think every ham, over 40, would buy and use one! Do you remember the Heath HW-32/22/12! 2. A small separate POWER/SWR METER, hf, 160-10 or 80-6, 15/200 watt range, KIT. BNC/SO-239 I/O's 3. A KIT vertical QRP/100W ANTENNA back packable, with decent SWR and carry-able in form. 4. A KIT horizontal END-FED-ZEP ANTENNA ... back packable, with decent SWR in carry-able form. 5. A KIT LOOP HF antenna, back packable, hangable, plug-together, qrp to 200W. 6. An in-line POWER OUTPUT INDICATOR (bnc, bnc) sensitive/viewable to .250 watt variance. Two (2) versions; NEON, mico-meter. 7. A marine-grade BOATABLE, tossable marine (river, lakes) portable HF ANTENNA. (Float, water ground line, tow line, boyant) 8. Elecraft Golf Shirt, XXL please! White please, and some form of cotton/poly - not cheap. Small K2 on front pocket. Collar, short sleeve. 9. Elecraft HF PORTABLE TUNER Kit; meter, dummy load option, Elecraft K2 gray, 15/200W ranges. Kit Summary: Elecraft HF-BACKER 200W 6146 AMP KIT Elecraft POWER/SWR METER Elecraft QRP Portable VERTICAL ANTENNA Elecraft QRP Portable ZEP END ANTENNA Elecraft QRP Portable LOOP ANTENNA Elecraft Output POWER INDICATOR Elecraft Marine Portable HF ANTENNA Elecraft GOLF SHIRT Elecraft ANTENNA TUNER - SWR/Power. All of these potential product ideas - are suggested to be stand-alone products and NOT to be built into any existing (K2) rigs. Rather - share the table, products. It's early, and winter 06/07 is coming. I believe if you design it and offer it - we will come! Thanks, ...I still have 3/4 of a roll of Kester Solder left! Fred N3CSY Cape Vincent, NY __ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com ___ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Elecraft Product Ideas
In a message dated 5/20/06 7:19:38 AM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: 1. A 13.8vdc dual-6146 TUBE AMPLIFIER, separate box, with view of the tubes ... 200 watt PEP. Nice idea, but it would compete with the KPA-100. A prime rule of marketing is that you don't compete with yourself. I know it may sound odd - but TUBES crank it out better than solid state - no matter what they tell us! I'm a hollow-state fan and builder/user from way back. Please explain how TUBES crank it out better than solid state. 100 W of clean RF is the same RF whether it comes from silicon or vacuum. I'd buy one in a heartbeat. I might, too. But it would be more expensive than a KPA-100, and probably use even more amps. Also bigger and heavier. It would need a DC-DC inverter capable of supplying the plates, screens and grids of the 6146s. Also 1.25 amps to light the heaters. Variable caps and bandswitching, etc. Many custom parts, and the parts would have to be bought new. The big problem, though, would be getting it FCC certified. Elecraft cannot offer the KPA-100 as an external unit because of certification rules. Hams have built the KPA-100 and other amps in separate enclosures, but those are amateur-homebrew-modifications, not a product of Elecraft. Ten Tec made a 50 watt external amp for their QRP rigs - the model 405. Sweet little amp! They had to stop selling it back in the late 1970s when the rules changed. The FCC rules affect kits as well as manufactured rigs. 73 de Jim, N2EY ___ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Re:K2 vs. the world.
On May 19, 2006, at 3:35 PM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: This thread is too much fun not to respond to... Yeah, you're right. But in 30 years of amateur radio, I'm afraid my list is rather short: Heathkit GR-81 (SWL) Heathkit HR-10B Heathkit SB-301 / SB-401 (used) Heathkit DX-40 / VF-1 (Loaner) Yaesu FT-101EE (Loaner) Heathkit DX-60 w/ homebrew VFO (Loaner) Kenwood TS-430S Elecraft K2/100 This doesn't count the couple of rigs I built that I never quite made a contact with, or all the different rigs I've used at NQ4I or W4WA multi-op efforts. I really love my K2. It has some shortcomings, yes. I still have my Ts-430S (20 years old now), but may replace it with a second K2 here in a few years. Bill Coleman, AA4LR, PP-ASELMail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Quote: Not within a thousand years will man ever fly! -- Wilbur Wright, 1901 ___ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K2 vs. the world.
Interesting post, I can't resist either. Other than VHF/UHF gear: Hallicrafters SX-140 Heathkit SB-101 Realistic DX-100 Heathkit HW-8 Heathkit HW-9 Yaesu FT-301D Ten-Tec Argonaut 509 Realistic DX-394 Kenwood TS-60S Realistic DX-394B Drake R8B MFJ-9406X Elecraft K2 (Sold - possibly most stupid mistake) Elecraft K2B (Had to correct above mistake) Darrell VA7TO -- Darrell Bellerive Amateur Radio Stations VA7TO and VE7CLA Grand Forks, British Columbia, Canada ___ 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
[Elecraft] KIO2 commands for KDSP2
I've been playing with programming TRLOG and my K2 to work together. I have several functions working well from my keyboard, but I'm looking for info on commands for the KDSP2. The current version of the KIO2 Programmers Guide only covers the KAF2 audio filter, with no info on the KDSP2. Does anyone know what commands are available for the KDSP2? Thanks and 73 Bob N6WG ___ 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
[Elecraft] New KX1 #1424
Hello, now finished assembling my KX1 with KXB8030. Problem: I have a test oscillator on 10109 kc. BFO = 00, RIT = OFF After adjusting DDS (-49) I read 9.00 and receive this signal as a 620Hz tone. But my transmit frequency is 10108.5 kc. Is this normal or what to do ? 73 Uli DF5SF --- http://www.avast.com Outbound No Virus found. ___ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Elecraft Product Ideas
On May 20, 2006, at 7:17 AM, Fred (FL) wrote: 1. A 13.8vdc dual-6146 TUBE AMPLIFIER, separate box, with view of the tubes ... 200 watt PEP. I know it may sound odd - but TUBES crank it out better than solid state - no matter what they tell us! First, you may be hard-pressed to get 200 watts PEP out of a pair of 6146's. Typically, these babies are 180-200 watts INPUT. Second, your statement about tubes cranking it out may have been true 25 years ago, but solid state rigs have come a long way. The K2/100 can crank it out with the best of the hollow-state finals rigs of yesteryear. This is interesting from a nostalgia viewpoint, but not practical for Elecraft from a business point of view. 2. A small separate POWER/SWR METER, hf, 160-10 or 80-6, 15/200 watt range, KIT. BNC/SO-239 I/O's It would be especially interesting if it had reasonable accuracy, too. 3. A KIT vertical QRP/100W ANTENNA back packable, with decent SWR and carry-able in form. There are several manufacturers producing such verticals now. I'm not sure how much you would consider kit-able. 4. A KIT horizontal END-FED-ZEP ANTENNA ... back packable, with decent SWR in carry-able form. A KIT for this? Two insulators and a hank of wire? 5. A KIT LOOP HF antenna, back packable, hangable, plug-together, qrp to 200W. Like the old AEA Isoloop? This might be interesting, but I doubt there's much that could be in kit form. Perhaps if it had automatic antenna tuning. 6. An in-line POWER OUTPUT INDICATOR (bnc, bnc) sensitive/viewable to .250 watt variance. Two (2) versions; NEON, mico-meter. If you've got #2 above, I don't see why you'd need this. 7. A marine-grade BOATABLE, tossable marine (river, lakes) portable HF ANTENNA. (Float, water ground line, tow line, boyant) Not exciting. 8. Elecraft Golf Shirt, XXL please! White please, and some form of cotton/poly - not cheap. Small K2 on front pocket. Collar, short sleeve. This sounds cool. 9. Elecraft HF PORTABLE TUNER Kit; meter, dummy load option, Elecraft K2 gray, 15/200W ranges. The KAT100 doesn't do this? All you need to add is a dummy load. Bill Coleman, AA4LR, PP-ASELMail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Quote: Not within a thousand years will man ever fly! -- Wilbur Wright, 1901 ___ 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
[Elecraft] re: K2 vs. the world
An interesting discussion, but I notice no one has abandoned a Ten- Tec Omni II for a K2. Do you folks think that the Omni II is worth the great difference in price based on performance? Certainly factors like unit size and bulk, pride of building, and the fact hat the K2 is not software based are important, but is the Omni a functionally better rig? 73, Jeff KG6ZVT ___ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Re:K2 vs. the world.
I love my K2 for its intended use, but it will not replace the following 2 categories of rigs in my shack: I. Contests Low Band DX - Orion TS-930S. Why? 1. It does not have good close-in RX performance. I first discovered this when listening for YA8G on 1814.0 only to hear traces of W1AW from 1817.5. Also, if you check its phase noise performance, it limits the 1-2 kHz IMD performance to ~80 dB versus mid-90's for Orion. 2. CW Pitch limited to 400 Hz minimum. This is a show-stopper for many rigs for me and one of the reasons I love both Orion and the TS-930S. Both allow setting CW Pitch well below 300 Hz which is where my ears' S/N peaks for extremely weak signals (240-270 Hz). I know that is very low but it does work well for me (319 DXCC confirmed on 160m, 339 confirmed on 80m and current record for copying N2XE's QRP beacon on 80m - 27 uW at ~550 miles distance). 3. Size. My big hands and weak eyes like larger controls and displays both for contests and extended hours of low band DX-ing. II. Ultralight QRP - KD1JV's ATS-3. Why? 1. 3.5 oz weight for Spartan Sprints and backpacking operation. 2. Sexiness of a complete rig in an Altoids tin, although it is somewhat cumbersome to use. The K2 was born of FD QRP operating and is undoubtedly the best rig there is for that type of operation but it does have shortcomings in other areas. I would love to see Elecraft do a physically larger version, address the phase noise issues and allow CW Pitch of at least 300 Hz (preferably down to 250 Hz). Meanwhile I still love it for the most fun in portable operating! 73, Bill W4ZV ___ 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
Re: [Elecraft] re: K2 vs. the world
On May 20, 2006, at 12:40 PM, jrb wrote: An interesting discussion, but I notice no one has abandoned a Ten- Tec Omni II for a K2. If you want to send me one, I'll let you know Do you folks think that the Omni II is worth the great difference in price based on performance? The Omni II is a tremendous rig. It offers the performance of rigs that are literally three times the price. It set the standard to which these mega-rigs aspire to. Certainly factors like unit size and bulk, pride of building, and the fact hat the K2 is not software based are important, but is the Omni a functionally better rig? An Omni II is only twice the price of a fully decked out K2/100. For that price you have two functional receivers, 100% duty cycle transmit, and a bunch of other features. I'd say it's worth the price, if you can afford it. As for Price / Performance, the K2/100 wins, hands down. Bill Coleman, AA4LR, PP-ASELMail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Quote: Not within a thousand years will man ever fly! -- Wilbur Wright, 1901 ___ 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
Re: [Elecraft] re: K2 vs. the world
- Original Message - From: Bill Coleman [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: jrb [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cc: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Saturday, May 20, 2006 1:42 PM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] re: K2 vs. the world On May 20, 2006, at 12:40 PM, jrb wrote: An interesting discussion, but I notice no one has abandoned a Ten- Tec Omni II for a K2. What is an OMNI II??? 73, Joe W2KJ ___ 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
[Elecraft] Correction to previous post
Sorry folks - I meant the ORION (not Omni) II Jeff KG6ZVT ___ 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
Re: [Elecraft] New KX1 #1424
Uli, There is another menu item for calibration of the DDS (transmit frequency). The BFO just calibrates the received frequency display. I don't recall where it is in the menu, take a look at the assembly manual, the final alignment instructions, and look for the DDS adjustment. 73, Mike N2HTT - Original Message - From: Uli DF5SF [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Sunday, May 21, 2006 11:36 am Subject: [Elecraft] New KX1 #1424 Hello, now finished assembling my KX1 with KXB8030. Problem: I have a test oscillator on 10109 kc. BFO = 00, RIT = OFF After adjusting DDS (-49) I read 9.00 and receive this signal as a 620Hz tone. But my transmit frequency is 10108.5 kc. Is this normal or what to do ? 73 Uli DF5SF --- http://www.avast.com Outbound No Virus found. ___ 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 ___ 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
Re: [Elecraft] New KX1 #1424
Mike, many thanks for your answer. Your right, first calibrate the BFO for display accuracy and then the DDS. There is a dependency between the BFO and DDS settings. Now I have the following on all 4 bands: display accuracy +- 100 Hz difference RX/TX frequency +- 50Hz 73 Uli DF5SF --- http://www.avast.com Outbound No Virus found. ___ 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
Re: [Elecraft] re: K2 vs. the world
I deserted my Omni V for my K2/100 and never regret it, not to say the Omni V was a bad rig, it wasn't. The K2 is like using a 44 magnum compared to a 38 specialhi On May 20, 2006, at 12:40 PM, jrb wrote: An interesting discussion, but I notice no one has abandoned a Ten- Tec Omni II for a K2. If you want to send me one, I'll let you know Do you folks think that the Omni II is worth the great difference in price based on performance? The Omni II is a tremendous rig. It offers the performance of rigs that are literally three times the price. It set the standard to which these mega-rigs aspire to. Certainly factors like unit size and bulk, pride of building, and the fact hat the K2 is not software based are important, but is the Omni a functionally better rig? An Omni II is only twice the price of a fully decked out K2/100. For that price you have two functional receivers, 100% duty cycle transmit, and a bunch of other features. I'd say it's worth the price, if you can afford it. As for Price / Performance, the K2/100 wins, hands down. Bill Coleman, AA4LR, PP-ASELMail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Quote: Not within a thousand years will man ever fly! -- Wilbur Wright, 1901 ___ ___ 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
[Elecraft] K2 AGC Off Problem
Just finished alignment and test, part II of K2 #5093. All seems to be working as it should, except for the AGC off function. This problems appears to be the same as a few others have had, the cause of which was a bad 5.068 MHz crystal (X1). Perhaps I have the same problem. When the AGC is turned off the S-meter pegs at 40 over and the receiver is muted. The AGC threshold at pin 5 of U2 measures 3.8 volts whether AGC is on or off. The voltage at pin 1 of U2 goes from 3.8 volts with the AGC on to 5.4 volts with the AGC off. All components in the AGC circuit have been inspected again for correct values and placement. All solder joints have been reheated. I cannot measure the 5.068 MHz oscillator with my frequency counter (MFJ-259) at pin 6 or 7 of U1. Perhaps this counter loads down the circuit too much for it to oscillate? Listening with a portable shortwave receiver (5 kHz steps) finds a weak carrier at 5.070 that goes on and off with the power on the K2. Before I email Elecraft support, what else should I check? Darrell VA7TO -- Darrell Bellerive Amateur Radio Stations VA7TO and VE7CLA Grand Forks, British Columbia, Canada ___ 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
RE: [Elecraft] K2 AGC Off Problem
Hi Darrell: Your report is very similar to what I experienced. From an earlier email Wayne suggested this too: The simplest cure for this may be a different capacitor in the oscillator that makes it too inefficient at reduced bias to even start. You might try 10 pF at C8 or 680 pF at C7 I installed a 10pf cap at C8 and it worked. I'm sure someone else did the same thing with success. Good luck. 73, Ken K3IU -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Darrell Bellerive Sent: Saturday, May 20, 2006 5:37 PM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] K2 AGC Off Problem Just finished alignment and test, part II of K2 #5093. All seems to be working as it should, except for the AGC off function. This problems appears to be the same as a few others have had, the cause of which was a bad 5.068 MHz crystal (X1). Perhaps I have the same problem. When the AGC is turned off the S-meter pegs at 40 over and the receiver is muted. The AGC threshold at pin 5 of U2 measures 3.8 volts whether AGC is on or off. The voltage at pin 1 of U2 goes from 3.8 volts with the AGC on to 5.4 volts with the AGC off. All components in the AGC circuit have been inspected again for correct values and placement. All solder joints have been reheated. I cannot measure the 5.068 MHz oscillator with my frequency counter (MFJ-259) at pin 6 or 7 of U1. Perhaps this counter loads down the circuit too much for it to oscillate? Listening with a portable shortwave receiver (5 kHz steps) finds a weak carrier at 5.070 that goes on and off with the power on the K2. Before I email Elecraft support, what else should I check? Darrell VA7TO ___ 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
Re: [Elecraft] re: K2 vs. the world
In a message dated 5/20/06 12:41:28 PM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Do you folks think that the Orion II is worth the great difference in price based on performance? Depends how you define performance. Certainly the Orion's numbers are better. They should be - the basic Orion costs five times what the basic K2 costs! Compare the price of a K2/100 with SSB, 160 and noise blanker with an Orion II and some filters, and see the price differential. Certainly factors like unit size and bulk, pride of building, and the fact hat the K2 is not software based are important, but is the Omni a functionally better rig? In some ways the Orion II wins - as it should, because it's much more complex and much more expensive. The question (for me) isn't whether the Orion receiver outperforms the K2 receiver in some ways, but rather how the K2's receiver manages to compete in *any* way with rigs costing so much more and with so much more complexity. OTOH, try running the Orion from a 7 AH SLA battery for any length of time. That's a performance measure, too. IMHO, the K2 wasn't really meant to compete directly with most other HF ham rigs. Rather, it was meant to be an alternative to them, by focusing more on some things than the usual Yaecomwood. (CW performance, low power drain, ability of the owner to build and maintain, excellent receiver performance without too much complexity, ability to add options over time, etc.) IOW, the K2 offers a unique alternative. But I still wish the knobs and displays were bigger. 73 de Jim, N2EY ___ 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
Fw: [Elecraft] re: K2 vs. the world
Turns out that the K2 was so outstanding that it did and does compete with the Big 3 Jim! Nice post Jim and a different perspective of seeing the K2 in relation to other rigs. john-n3drk IMHO, the K2 wasn't really meant to compete directly with most other HF ham rigs. Rather, it was meant to be an alternative to them, by focusing more on some things than the usual Yaecomwood. (CW performance, low power drain, ability of the owner to build and maintain, excellent receiver performance without too much complexity, ability to add options over time, etc.) IOW, the K2 offers a unique alternative. But I still wish the knobs and displays were bigger. 73 de Jim, N2EY ___ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K2 AGC Off Problem
Ken, Thanks for the message. A 10 pf at C8 did the trick. The receiver is now working properly in AGC off mode. What are the implications of this substitution? Does changing C8 from 39 pf to 10 pf cause any other problems? Since I robbed the 10 pf from it's future spot in the 10 meter low pass filter, a replacement part is needed in any case. Is it better to replace X1, and go back to the original 39 pf capacitor, or should I just get another 10 pf for the low pass filter and leave the 10 pf at C8? Darrell On May 20, 2006 04:16 pm, Ken K3IU wrote: Hi Darrell: Your report is very similar to what I experienced. From an earlier email Wayne suggested this too: The simplest cure for this may be a different capacitor in the oscillator that makes it too inefficient at reduced bias to even start. You might try 10 pF at C8 or 680 pF at C7 I installed a 10pf cap at C8 and it worked. I'm sure someone else did the same thing with success. Good luck. 73, Ken K3IU -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Darrell Bellerive Sent: Saturday, May 20, 2006 5:37 PM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] K2 AGC Off Problem Just finished alignment and test, part II of K2 #5093. All seems to be working as it should, except for the AGC off function. This problems appears to be the same as a few others have had, the cause of which was a bad 5.068 MHz crystal (X1). Perhaps I have the same problem. When the AGC is turned off the S-meter pegs at 40 over and the receiver is muted. The AGC threshold at pin 5 of U2 measures 3.8 volts whether AGC is on or off. The voltage at pin 1 of U2 goes from 3.8 volts with the AGC on to 5.4 volts with the AGC off. All components in the AGC circuit have been inspected again for correct values and placement. All solder joints have been reheated. I cannot measure the 5.068 MHz oscillator with my frequency counter (MFJ-259) at pin 6 or 7 of U1. Perhaps this counter loads down the circuit too much for it to oscillate? Listening with a portable shortwave receiver (5 kHz steps) finds a weak carrier at 5.070 that goes on and off with the power on the K2. Before I email Elecraft support, what else should I check? Darrell VA7TO ___ 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 -- Darrell Bellerive Amateur Radio Stations VA7TO and VE7CLA Grand Forks, British Columbia, Canada ___ 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
RE: [Elecraft] K2 AGC Off Problem
No. Changing that cap only affects the heterodyne oscillator for the AGC and nothing else. As long as the oscillator comes on and off on command (AGC On and Off work properly) you're FB. Ron AC7AC -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Darrell Bellerive Sent: Saturday, May 20, 2006 5:50 PM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K2 AGC Off Problem Ken, Thanks for the message. A 10 pf at C8 did the trick. The receiver is now working properly in AGC off mode. What are the implications of this substitution? Does changing C8 from 39 pf to 10 pf cause any other problems? Since I robbed the 10 pf from it's future spot in the 10 meter low pass filter, a replacement part is needed in any case. Is it better to replace X1, and go back to the original 39 pf capacitor, or should I just get another 10 pf for the low pass filter and leave the 10 pf at C8? Darrell ___ 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
[Elecraft] Alignment and Test Part III failed
Hi. Any and all help is greatly appreciated. Here's what I get when first powering up for Alignment and Test III: Current drawn is .26 a bit high? Adjusting L1 and L2 for 40M and max is only 0.3 watts When pressing Tune an initial Hi current reading shows momentarily In Troubleshooting: R67/R68 and R66/R69 are all correct, D9 is correct Reset relays per instructions (removing control board, etc.) Checked count of windings on T1 - T4 and resoldered...solder joints look clean R50 is not open. I request some help with checking DC voltages in the transmitter area. Also with signal tracing. (This is new for me.) Again, Thanks! John AB8WH ___ 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
Re: [Elecraft] re: K2 vs. the world
I guess it's my time to list ham gear in the past, not including several VHF/UHF non-ham-band receivers and scanners or the commercial Collins and Watkins-Johnson gear at work: 1-tube (6SN7GT) regenerative (ham band) receiver (Boy Scout project) Pre-WW-II Zenith AM/SW console (SWL) receiver Hallicrafters S20R Receiver ARC-5 80m CW transmitter National HRO HF Receiver SCR-522 VHF AM transceiver Gonset Communicator 2m AM receiver Tecraft 2m AM tranmitter Hallicrafter SX-101 receiver w/2m AM converter Hallicrafter HT-44 HF transmitter SBE144 2m FM transceiver ICOM IC-230 2m FM transceiver * ICOM IC-228H 2m transceiver * Kenwood R5000 HF Receiver * ICOM R-7000 VHF/UHF Receiver * ICOM IC-2710 2m/440 MHztransceiver ICOM IC-02AT 2m transceiver Azden PCS4000 2m transceivcer * Alinco DR-1200 2m transceiver * Motorola Micor 440 MHz transceiver * Ten-Tec RX320D HF Receiver * ICOM IC-2100H 2m transceiver * ICON IC-207H 2m/440 MHz transceiver * ICOM IC-2720H 2m/440 MHz transceiver ( * = in service or stored serviceable) And last but certainly not least. Elecraft K2/100 s/n 5402 put into service this afternoon (should be on the air by Monday.) -- 73 de K2ASP - Phil Kane ___ 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
[Elecraft] Elecraft CW Net Announcement
Good Evening once again, The wheel has turned announcing another name. Nine billion is the magic number. When it has been named the scroll rolls up. It will be exciting. Maybe tomorrow's net will be exciting as well. Many of the regulars and one NCS is in Dayton, Ohio. Maybe he'll show up on 40 meters but maybe he will be too busy telling folks about Elecraft rigs to break free. If such is the case you will have me as NCS and anyone else who is able to act as one. I've been head down in circuit design, board layout, soldering and programming. I have interfaced a number of gadgets this week and hope to get a couple more in the main loop before too long. Now to get my interrupt timing correct. My soldering station has not been used for non-work related projects in quite a while. But this is just as much fun and I get paid for it so I cannot complain too much ;) I did launch an antenna earlier today so I can work with my ATS3 from bed. I had pulled it down for a field exercise a few weeks ago and had not replaced it. The biting flies did not help very much but my friendly hummingbirds are eating as many as they can so the population may reach steady state. I am filling the feeder once every two days right now so they must be in their second nesting period. They arrive in late February and are gone by mid July. The foxglove and fireweed will draw them away from the feeders soon. The neighboring clearcut is providing a great number of very long logs. I think they will wind up as someone's power poles since they were not cut down to dimension lumber lengths. Some of the earlier loads were of large diameter; I was told they were going to peel them for plywood at a mill near Salem. Only another couple of weeks and the Jake brakes won't awaken me at 3:30 AM. They are starting earlier because the fire danger is rising with the temperature. Their workday is done by 3 PM or earlier right now. Soon they will be required to stop loading by 1 PM. Considering I get to bed around 11 PM I have a short night's sleep. I am hoping for rain so they can get their hauling done soon! We are in a solar stream but there have been no aurorae. The 20 meter band was quiet earlier today but one can never tell what tomorrow may bring. 6 meters was open a few times this week so we may have good luck on 20 meters. Forty meters is normally troubled by Midwestern thunderstorm activity this time of year but if you can work around that we may hook up. I am hoping for low QRN so my ears won't take a beating. Please join us: Sunday 2300z (Sunday 4pm PDT) 14050 kHz Monday 0200z (Sunday 7pm PDT) 7045 kHz Until tomorrow, Kevin. KD5ONS ___ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Elecraft Product Ideas
1. A 13.8vdc dual-6146 TUBE AMPLIFIER, separate box, with view of the tubes ... 200 watt PEP. I know it may sound odd - but TUBES crank it out better than solid state - no matter what they tell us! First, you may be hard-pressed to get 200 watts PEP out of a pair of 6146's. Typically, these babies are 180-200 watts INPUT. . - That was true for linear amps for SSB service but CW purists could crank up the plate voltage to around 900v. and get 240 watts input class C. - maybe 170 watts out. Plans are in the 1975 ARRL handbook. (T9er) . In linear service, 100 watts out would be about max. -- 9. Elecraft HF PORTABLE TUNER Kit; meter, dummy load option, Elecraft K2 gray, 15/200W ranges. The KAT100 doesn't do this? All you need to add is a dummy load. --- I think the KAT100 only does this for the K2. This new kit would be useable for all rigs, like the T1. Rick Dettinger K7MW ___ 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
RE: [Elecraft] re: K2 vs. the world
Elecraft K2/100 s/n 5402 put into service this afternoon (should be on the air by Monday.) Way cool, Phil. Hope to hear you on with it. 73, Bob N6WG -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Phil Kane Sent: Saturday, May 20, 2006 8:25 PM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] re: K2 vs. the world I guess it's my time to list ham gear in the past, not including several VHF/UHF non-ham-band receivers and scanners or the commercial Collins and Watkins-Johnson gear at work: 1-tube (6SN7GT) regenerative (ham band) receiver (Boy Scout project) Pre-WW-II Zenith AM/SW console (SWL) receiver Hallicrafters S20R Receiver ARC-5 80m CW transmitter National HRO HF Receiver SCR-522 VHF AM transceiver Gonset Communicator 2m AM receiver Tecraft 2m AM tranmitter Hallicrafter SX-101 receiver w/2m AM converter Hallicrafter HT-44 HF transmitter SBE144 2m FM transceiver ICOM IC-230 2m FM transceiver * ICOM IC-228H 2m transceiver * Kenwood R5000 HF Receiver * ICOM R-7000 VHF/UHF Receiver * ICOM IC-2710 2m/440 MHztransceiver ICOM IC-02AT 2m transceiver Azden PCS4000 2m transceivcer * Alinco DR-1200 2m transceiver * Motorola Micor 440 MHz transceiver * Ten-Tec RX320D HF Receiver * ICOM IC-2100H 2m transceiver * ICON IC-207H 2m/440 MHz transceiver * ICOM IC-2720H 2m/440 MHz transceiver ( * = in service or stored serviceable) And last but certainly not least. Elecraft K2/100 s/n 5402 put into service this afternoon (should be on the air by Monday.) -- 73 de K2ASP - Phil Kane ___ 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 ___ 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
Re: [Elecraft] re: K2 vs. the world
Howdy Phil, Congratulations on the new rig. There is a net tomorrow you may be able to hear. Might take dropping your antenna to a low level since the mountain I live on is in the way. AC7AC is much better placed in Forest Grove to work me via ground wave. N7NLU has a hard time copying me from Beaverton. Our remote NCS is off in Dayton having way too much fun. Maybe next week you'll be able to check in with us :) Good luck getting your J-38 cleaned up and ready to use. 73, Kevin. KD5ONS On Sat, 20 May 2006 20:24:37 -0700, Phil Kane [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I guess it's my time to list ham gear in the past, not including several VHF/UHF non-ham-band receivers and scanners or the commercial Collins and Watkins-Johnson gear at work: 1-tube (6SN7GT) regenerative (ham band) receiver (Boy Scout project) Pre-WW-II Zenith AM/SW console (SWL) receiver Hallicrafters S20R Receiver ARC-5 80m CW transmitter National HRO HF Receiver SCR-522 VHF AM transceiver Gonset Communicator 2m AM receiver Tecraft 2m AM tranmitter Hallicrafter SX-101 receiver w/2m AM converter Hallicrafter HT-44 HF transmitter SBE144 2m FM transceiver ICOM IC-230 2m FM transceiver * ICOM IC-228H 2m transceiver * Kenwood R5000 HF Receiver * ICOM R-7000 VHF/UHF Receiver * ICOM IC-2710 2m/440 MHztransceiver ICOM IC-02AT 2m transceiver Azden PCS4000 2m transceivcer * Alinco DR-1200 2m transceiver * Motorola Micor 440 MHz transceiver * Ten-Tec RX320D HF Receiver * ICOM IC-2100H 2m transceiver * ICON IC-207H 2m/440 MHz transceiver * ICOM IC-2720H 2m/440 MHz transceiver ( * = in service or stored serviceable) And last but certainly not least. Elecraft K2/100 s/n 5402 put into service this afternoon (should be on the air by Monday.) -- 73 de K2ASP - Phil Kane ___ 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 ___ 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
