RE: [Elecraft] K2 and microphones
Well FWIW, I bring out all the straight through wired header pins to the front 8 pin connector and then plug in a female 8pin mic cable to DB9 connector and then depending on what I am using mic, data or what have you I plug in the appropriate device to the female 9 pin plug using the male 9 pin connector appropriately wired. /joe -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Tom Zeltwanger Sent: Tuesday, March 27, 2007 6:10 AM To: David Wilburn Cc: Elecraft Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K2 and microphones Dave, That is not what I was thinking about, but is also an interesting option. I was thinking about just wiring all the header pins straight through (as if for Elecraft mic). Then I would get short adapter cables (2 or 3 inches, with 8- pin plug/jack on the ends) for the front panel connector. The wiring of the adapter would determine the mic. I just thought this is probably not a new idea, and maybe such adapters already exist. Once i settle on a mic I will probably stick with it. But it would be nice to have the option to plug in a couple different types (desktop, headset, hand mic). 73, Tom KG3V Quoting David Wilburn [EMAIL PROTECTED]: Greetings from Toano, VA. Are you looking for something like this? http://www.n0ss.net/k2_mic_cfg_hdr.pdf David Wilburn [EMAIL PROTECTED] K4DGW K2 #5982 Tom Zeltwanger wrote: Just built the KSB2 and am setting the wiring on the front panel board for my mic. I am wiring it for a Kenwood mic but would like to have an easy way to change this for my other mics. Are there any adapters available from anyone for reconfiguring the wiring at the 8-pin plug for various mics? Has anyone had any luck with the Kenwood MC-60 mic on the K2? I would be interested in the settings you have used. 73, Tom KG3V ___ 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 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 to antenna Power
It is called a Bias T and you will need two of them to accomplish your goals. One at the shack end and one at the antenna end. A sample of a commercial bias t can be seen here. http://www.mfjenterprises.com/products.php?prodid=MFJ-4116 Hope this helps.. /joe -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Don Wilhelm Sent: Sunday, February 18, 2007 7:53 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: RE: [Elecraft] K2 to antenna Power Bob, That technique is often done to switch relays, so yes it can be used in the presence of transmit RF voltages. Basically the way it is done is to capacitor couple the RF to the coax at both ends (a series capacitor) and feed the DC to the coax through RF Chokes sized to have at least 10 times the coax impedance at the lowest operating frequency. The capacitors must be large enough to have a low impedance at the operating frequency and their voltage rating must be large enough to withstand the peak RF voltages present - all with adequate safety factors (3 is usually good) considered. Note that none of these parameters relate to the control voltage or current - of course the RF chokes must be able to handle whatever current is required for the control mechanism. I do not have a handy reference to a schematic, but that is the 'jist' of how it is accomplished - the capacitors keep the DC voltage off the transmitter and the antenna and the RF Chokes keep the RF out of the control signals. 73, Don W3FPR -Original Message- Good evening Elecrafters, may your Monday be a restfull one! I would like to send a low voltage limited current up the coax from my K2 to the antenna for powering a small device. What would be the best way to inject this voltage into the antenna feed (coax) at the K2 and recovering it up the stack? I was hoping to continue supplying this voltage even while transmitting 100 watts. I thought that the transverter manuals might have some advice about powering preamps but, not a word. Best regards, Bob K7HBG. K2# 2836 which Will only be pried from my cold dead fingers ___ 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 -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.441 / Virus Database: 268.18.1/691 - Release Date: 2/17/2007 5:06 PM -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.441 / Virus Database: 268.18.1/691 - Release Date: 2/17/2007 5:06 PM ___ 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] An Expert with Heart
AMEN !!! -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Dale Kretzer Sent: Wednesday, February 14, 2007 9:50 AM To: Elecraft Mail Posting Subject: [Elecraft] An Expert with Heart ___ 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] KX1 Tuning Direction?
I don't know as I am not familiar with the KX1 but I presume they are using an optical encoder to clock the frequency up and down. Is there a possibility that the encoder leads were installed in reverse ? -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Bill Legge Sent: Friday, February 09, 2007 2:54 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KX1 Tuning Direction? Hi Nigel, The direction reverses when you get north of the equator. hi hi. 73, de NT1R - Original Message - From: Nigel [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Friday, February 09, 2007 1:29 AM Subject: [Elecraft] KX1 Tuning Direction? I was surprised to find on my recently completed KX1 that clockwise rotation of the VFO knob Decreases the frequency and moves Up the menu list.Is there a way to reverse this so that clockwise rotation Increases the frequency? 73, Nigel ZL2DF ___ 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 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] Different Strokes was E-Ham Review
Boy Joe, I cannot support your comments enough. I am extremely proud of my little K2/100 and would not trade it for the world. I just finished it this past fall. One calendar day after the final alignment, I dragged it to Costa Rica for the CQWW CW contest and made hundreds of contacts with it while there. And although not used as a main radio for the contest, (We used different rigs for the multi-op event) I spent many off contest hours making qso's. I wasn't even used to it yet but had it fully integrated with Write Log and the computer. My main station here at home is a MP1K and the K2 sits right beside it with full access to the station infrastructure at the flip of a switch. I use them both and each one has it's place. But for the shear joy of it I use the K2 90% of the time now. I operate cw almost exclusively and enjoy using the K2 for chasing the rare stuff. I have used the K2 here recently for over 3000 qso's in the ARRL 160, NAQP cw and NAQP ssb contests and only have minor complaints. The qsk is not quite there as mentioned (although if you can stand the pops it will do it) but I feel extreme pleasure in looking at the keying waveform on the output and seeing how nice and rounded the rise and fall times are. No Stinkin Clicks from this rig ! I could go on and on but suffice it to say I couldn't have expected more from the radio. As you say, YMMV and I support that as well. /joe k8fc -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Joseph Reed Sent: Monday, January 22, 2007 11:43 AM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] Different Strokes was E-Ham Review Reviews on E-ham are just about worth as much as you pay to read them, or pay to post them. A 3/5 rating is meaningless, just the same as a 5/5 rating is. Each individual needs to consider the radio in the context of how they operate. All radios have warts, just simply there is no perfect radio. If there were everybody else would need to close their doors. Rewind back to the year 2000. I built K2 #1133, and at the time the only options were 160m, ssb, the antenna tuner, the noise blanker and the battery. At the time I considered it the best QRP radio ever designed. I would slip it in a backpack, and I never got skunked on an outing. Fast forward to the present. Last year I built K2 #5226 with all the trimmings. As a QRP radio I still consider it the best ever designed. And as a 100 watt radio it is an excellent performer. Yet and still (I married a Southern gal) it has its share of warts. In an intense pileup I will still use the 756-Pro because it has better QSK, and with dual IF it is easier to follow the DX. But I have no affinity to the 756, I built my K2 and take great pride in ownership. Man, what a great kit! And for 99% of the operating I do my K2 is the radio of choice. It always feels good when you make a QSO on a radio you put together. For that reason Elecrafters have always been considered somewhat fanatical. I have built two K2 and one K1. The sense of accomplishment is tremendous. Working stations with excellent radios that you have constructed is a priceless feeling. And my K2 Twins will knock the snot out of any Heathkit I ever built! Simply, E-Ham reviews are just how one person looks at things. Doesn't mean they look at the world the same way you do, nor operate the same way. For my money Elecraft gives a great deal of value, and the opportunity to build something great. With 7 HF stations set up and on line my K2 gets the most use. Your mileage may vary. 73, Joe N9JR ___ 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] RF choke question
Jeff, in addition, I would suggest that you have mistakenly used the small RF choke RFC15, as a resistor or choke in the earlier stages of construction at some other location. Also, what you have left is R116 a 5.1 meg resistor which I believe is the resistor that is across the BFO coil. What is across your L33 coil ? If nothing else, Elecraft and Christine are almost perfect when it comes to parts packing and insuring that each kit has every part. /joe -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Don Wilhelm Sent: Sunday, January 14, 2007 9:59 PM To: Jeff Kinzli; elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: RE: [Elecraft] RF choke question Jeff, The body color of inductors, resistors, capacitors will vary from time to time depending on the manufacturer's whims, and therefore is not a good point of reference for any component identification. The color bands are the only thing that are important. It is unfrotunate that the K2 manual does indicate the body color for the RF chokes - that was only valid at the time the manual was created. The smallest RF choke with color bands brown-black-brown should be used for RFC15. You may be confused by the body color on the other RF chokes, none are colored Green-Brown-Green which would indicate an inductance of 5,100,000 uH or 5.1 Hy which would be a very large choke (it could be 15 uH Brown-Green-Black, but I cannot be certain on that). Refer to the K2 parts list for the various chokes that are provided with the kit, and if that is not sufficient clarification, the ARRL Handbook Components Data chapter has good information on component color coding and identification. 73, Don W3FPR -Original Message- I'm at the stage where I need to put the little tiny RF choke on the bottom side of the RF board. The manual calls for RFC15, which is supposedly tiny, and BROWN-BLACK-BROWN. The only one I have that's brown-black-brown is a larger one. The little tiny one I have is GREEN-BROWN-GREEN. Which one is right? :) And, for RFC 1, 2, 12 and 13, they're supposed to be Green chokes, but I seem to have 3 greens and one tan colored chokes for this band combo. Could that be possible? -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.432 / Virus Database: 268.16.10/625 - Release Date: 1/13/2007 5:40 PM ___ 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] ESD Risk vs Relative Humidity
My 2c worth. I have posted on this reflector before my experiences with ESD and my K2 as I was building it. First, understand that I live in the mountains of Colorado at about 8200' ASL. It is extremely dry here all year round and especially in the winter months when the RH rarely gets above 60 % To make matters worse, we are remote enough so that our home is 100% electric which is expensive so we supplement the heat with two wood burning stoves up and down. There isn't much more we can do to put humidity in our air than to keep fancy water pots filled on top of each stove. I have read many comments here before on the ability of the K2 to withstand ESD discharges but I can attest to having to do a complete reset of the K2 and reload all parameters on two occasions this season. Both of these instances occurred during the later stages of construction and alignment. These ESD related issues occurred while I was wearing a ESD wrist strap tied to the ground/neutral buss of the house supply. ESD is real and the K2 is definitely NOT immune. Since completion, and while the radio was fully buttoned up with all panels, the K2 has suffered ESD shutdowns of audio and other functions but was quickly remedied by cycling the power. It seems at times that I cannot move around in my chair without zapping the little rig. So my recommendation is to utilize ESD protection at all times when constructing or working on the interior of the rig. Again, your mileage may vary but these are my experiences. /joe k8fc - Original Message - From: Mike Short [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Wednesday, December 20, 2006 5:24 AM Subject: RE: [Elecraft] ESD Risk vs Relative Humidity ESD damage does not always show up immediately. ESD can stunt the life of components. Instead of lasting 5 or 10 years, you may only get a few years out of them. I have had a lot of training in the military on ESD, and they spend big bucks on equipment And training. The avionics building I worked in in Germany had ESD tile on the floors, as well as grounded benches, mats And straps, etc. Mike AI4NS -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Wyn Hughes Sent: Tuesday, December 19, 2006 7:20 AM To: Mike Harris; elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] ESD Risk vs Relative Humidity Mike and Don, Thanks for your input. I suspect that ESD damage occurs more often than one realises. Don's report confirms. I read reports that quite a few of the NATO IC-781s went down in the last gulf conflict for no apparent reason, other than microprocessor failure suspected due to the extreme low humidity. I have experienced some strange and otherwise wholly inexplicable PC failures due to early working without a wrist strap in the past. For safety sake I will stick with the new mat amd its combined wrist strap. Then at least I will eliminate one possibility from my shopping list of problem causes. Best 73 Wyn, VR2AX - Original Message - From: Mike Harris [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Wyn Hughes [EMAIL PROTECTED]; elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Tuesday, December 19, 2006 5:42 AM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] ESD Risk vs Relative Humidity G'day, snip Today in Hong Kong we have relative humidity (RH) of 55% (temp a 'freezing' 16 C), compared to our norm of 90 - 100% RH and temp 30 C+ snip I assume the 16C was outside not inside. snip These past two days my daughter and xyl have mentioned several 'static shocks' when they play with our cats, all 6 of them. I remember my school kid days of cats tail static generators, but there's a serious question behind this. Under what conditions of RH do most builders of Elecraft rigs operate? snip RH in the house is of the order 40-60% temp 20-22C most of the time. No cats, no ESD countermeasures besides touching an earthed object before picking up sensitive devices. Not killed one yet. Regards, Mike VP8NO ___ 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 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:
Re: [Elecraft] Help-damaged front end?
For What it is worth, during the course of construction on my K2 I inadvertently scrambled the K2's eprom storage with ESD. (Electrostatic Discharge) In one instance I had to do a complete reset of the MPU and memory back to the factory defaults. Only at that time did the receiver come back to life again. In my opinion, the little K2 is very susceptible to ESD ( I was wearing a wrist strap) and the thunderstorms you speak of could have definitely jumbled the K2's data storage. /joe - Original Message - From: Don Wilhelm [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: john [EMAIL PROTECTED]; elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Saturday, December 16, 2006 7:30 AM Subject: RE: [Elecraft] Help-damaged front end? John, Yup, thunderstorms can put some big surges on unterminated hunks of coax. If it receives any signals at all and you can tune the signals, then it is unlikely that everything between the mixer and the audio output has been damaged. That leaves only the preamp for active stages - turn the preamp on and off to see if it works, you should see about a 14 dB change (2+ S-units). If the preamp check works out fine, that leaves only the bandpass filters, lowpass filters and the T/R switch in the base K2 and the KPA100. Since you said it transmits fine, the filters are likely not the problem (a filter problem would have more impact on transmit) - the most likely thing is one of the diodes in the T/R switch is damaged. I would first do the DC voltage measurements on the T/R switch diodes in both the base K2 and the KPA100. 73, Don W3FPR -Original Message- I've got a K2 / 100 that has had a dramatic loss of sensitivity. This occurred after a thunderstorm, when the antennas were disconnected outside the house, but there was still some residual coax feeds (unterminated) still connected to the K2. Where to start to look? Appears to have lost sensitivity on all bands, all modes. Transmit is still fine (at least CW) . Thanks John -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.432 / Virus Database: 268.15.20/588 - Release Date: 12/15/2006 10:02 AM ___ 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] K2 DSP
Good evening folks. I thought I would pass along a little information to those of you who are contemplating the installation of the K2 DSP option. First let me say that this option is well worth the price and has many features and a wide range of adjustments for all three popular modes. But I digress from the point. The DSP unit (KDSP2) comes fully assembled on it's own pc board with two male headers, a 12 pin and a 20 pin. I will refer to this assembly as a daughter card for lack of a better term. The mother board must be built up by the kit builder as per Elecraft's great instructions. During installation, you mount the mother board to the control board via a couple of headers (there are male headers on the bottom of the mother board) and a standoff that you install as part of the kit. The problem that I ran into is this. The male pins on the pre-assembled DSP board for the 20 pin header are too long for the female mating header and they hold the board away from the header about a 1/16 inch or so. Normally this would not be a big deal if you only had the K2 without the 100 watt rf deck. With the 100 watt option, the speaker enclosure rubs right up against the DSP chip itself and actually pushes on the whole mother daughter board if it is installed that way. I solved the problem by cutting 1/16 or so off the male header pins on the pre-assembled board and now it mates flush with the female header. There is now about 1/32 or so clearance between the speaker and the DSP. FWIW /joe k8fc ___ 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
