FW: [Elecraft] K2 MARS mod
Ron: did you check the output frequency? The way I understand the K2 design, if you select a freq it can't do, it'll do something anyhow. 100W on the wrong freq is not particularly usefulg. (Of course you know better than this, but you didn't say and I had to ask!) Dan / WG4S / K2 #2456 snip My K2/100 puts out full power on all of these frequencies. /snip ___ 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 MARS mod
Dan WG4S wrote: Ron: did you check the output frequency? The way I understand the K2 design, if you select a freq it can't do, it'll do something anyhow. 100W on the wrong freq is not particularly usefulg. (Of course you know better than this, but you didn't say and I had to ask!) - GOOD CATCH Dan! You are so right. The K2 PLL just stops changing frequency when it hits a tuning limit. I was thinking of output LP filter issues and not what the PLL might do. In my case, it actually transmits on all of these frequencies except 4872: 3308 kHz 4872 kHz - actual 4048 kHz 7633.5 kHz 13927 kHz My K2's PLL stops at 4048. Most of them will tune higher, but I don't know how much higher. Thanks! 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
RE: [Elecraft] K2 MARS mod
Jay wrote: Radios with wideband (1.8-30 MHz) receivers can sometimes be modified by or for valid MARS stations It is likely that someday NTIA compliant radios will be required for MARS. MARS stations that participate in SHARES nets already need to meet specs. The Civil Air Patrol has committed to NTIA compliance, so it has an interesting official web site with listings of what commonly available gear meets the specs (frequency stability and spurious output are two important criteria): https://ntc.cap.af.mil/comm/equipment/hf_equipment.cfm Were I choosing a radio specifically for MARS/SHARES/CAP/USCGAux/etc., I'd want it to meet NTIA specs and have HF general coverage transmit capability. It's not all that onerous...the rig will need a frequency reference at least as good as a TXCO. Even an old TS-50S with SO-2 TXCO meets specs, for example. Alinco and most Yaesu rigs do not. The Elecraft K2 does not. Hambands-only radios, even if they cover a few hundred Khz above or below the hamband limits miss out on a lot. Most Army and Navy-Marine Corps MARS frequencies are just outside the ham bands, so a lot of *older* (without microprocessor control of frequency) ham-band-only gear will work well there. The K2 shouldn't have much problem operating on these systems either (until NTIA compliance is required). That is NOT true of Air Force MARS and CAP, whose frequencies are often way outside ham bands. Modern (last 20 years) ham band transceivers with microprocessor control of frequency usually stop transmitting at the exact official band edges unless a general coverage transmit mod is made. Glad to answer Army MARS questions (not frequencies) off-list. Why not frequencies? I've heard some of the MARS coordinators telling their nets to use frequency designators when specifying frequencies, but that is nonsense. MARS activities haven't the slightest classification. When I was in MARS (20 years worth, split between Navy and Army MARS beginning in 1968) we were happy to have people listen in on our frequencies and perhaps become members. We would even pass out brochures at ham fests with net times and frequency info on it. Every MARS organization *banned* Morse operation about ten years ago, even including training nets and repeater IDs. What a way to ruin the outfit! 73, Mike / KK5F ex-USN-USMC N0LTD, ex-USA AAT6UI ___ 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 MARS mod
On Tue, 2005-06-21 at 15:14 -0400, Mike Morrow wrote: MARS activities haven't the slightest classification. ... and even if they did, security through obscurity is no security at all. ___ 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 MARS mod
On Tue, 21 Jun 2005, Mike Morrow wrote: Every MARS organization *banned* Morse operation about ten years ago, even including training nets and repeater IDs. What a way to ruin the outfit! MARS, at least in my experience is about as realistic as tent-stretchers and/or polka-ddot paint. I queried each service a few months ago, asking them if they could either tell me what frequencies I would have to use, OR asking them if they could tell me if my Elecraft K2 would work on the required frequencies: Service Comments ARMYCan not disclose frequencies, request forwarded to Maryland MARS for action - No action NAVYMaryland Director told me that the K2 wouldn't work because it was low power and that Navy MARS used digital modes. AIR FORCE No reponse from National or Maryland 73,Thom-k3hrn www.zerobeat.net Home of QRP Web Ring, Drakelist home page, Free Classified Ads for amateur radio, QRP IRC channel Elecraft Owners Database www.tlchost.net/ Web Hosting as low as 3.49/month ___ 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 MARS mod
On Mon, 20 Jun 2005, Charles B. Wilber wrote: Could someone point me to a MARS mod for the K2? I am contemplating trying my K2 out on the MARS frequencies to see if its excellent receiver would be helpful at my very noisy QTH. Thanks. Remember the old line If I tell you, I will have to kill you? I once asked all three MARS services what frequencies I might expect to use so that I could determine if my K2 would work in that environmentand none of them wold tell me...supposedly for security reasons.so you questions has confirmed that the K2 out of the box may not work for MARS. Guess it will be hard to find the MARS mod, if you can't folks what frequency(ies) you want. With a good natured curmudeonly 73 Thom K3HRN ___ 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 MARS mod
On 6/20/05 10:40 AM, Thom R LaCosta [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: On Mon, 20 Jun 2005, Charles B. Wilber wrote: Could someone point me to a MARS mod for the K2? I am contemplating trying my K2 out on the MARS frequencies to see if its excellent receiver would be helpful at my very noisy QTH. Thanks. Remember the old line If I tell you, I will have to kill you? I once asked all three MARS services what frequencies I might expect to use so that I could determine if my K2 would work in that environmentand none of them wold tell me...supposedly for security reasons.so you questions has confirmed that the K2 out of the box may not work for MARS. Guess it will be hard to find the MARS mod, if you can't folks what frequency(ies) you want. A Google search for MARS frequencies produces an extensive list of sites that describe the MARS programs of the Army, Navy-Marines, and Air Force. These frequencies are not a dark secret, but to use them you need a valid MARS license (and a radio/antenna system capable of MARS coverage, of course). Gus Hansen KB0YH ___ 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 MARS mod
Generally, hamband-only radios are not so good for MARS operations. Radios with wideband (1.8-30 MHz) receivers can sometimes be modified by or for valid MARS stations and this works well. Hambands-only radios, even if they cover a few hundred Khz above or below the hamband limits miss out on a lot.Glad to answer Army MARS questions (not frequencies) off-list. Jay W6CJ/AAR9QM -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Augie Hansen Sent: Monday, June 20, 2005 9:58 AM To: Thom R LaCosta; Charles B. Wilber Cc: Elecraft Reflector Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K2 MARS mod On 6/20/05 10:40 AM, Thom R LaCosta [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: On Mon, 20 Jun 2005, Charles B. Wilber wrote: Could someone point me to a MARS mod for the K2? I am contemplating trying my K2 out on the MARS frequencies to see if its excellent receiver would be helpful at my very noisy QTH. Thanks. Remember the old line If I tell you, I will have to kill you? I once asked all three MARS services what frequencies I might expect to use so that I could determine if my K2 would work in that environmentand none of them wold tell me...supposedly for security reasons.so you questions has confirmed that the K2 out of the box may not work for MARS. Guess it will be hard to find the MARS mod, if you can't folks what frequency(ies) you want. A Google search for MARS frequencies produces an extensive list of sites that describe the MARS programs of the Army, Navy-Marines, and Air Force. These frequencies are not a dark secret, but to use them you need a valid MARS license (and a radio/antenna system capable of MARS coverage, of course). Gus Hansen KB0YH ___ 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 MARS mod
i am glad someone brought this up, it was a make or break question for me before i made a purchase. Michael Prevatt A clean hamshack is a sign Bartow, Florida of a sick mind Amateur Radio Callsign: KU4YP Navy/Marine Corps Callsign: NNN0AAL - Original Message - From: J. Coote [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Augie Hansen [EMAIL PROTECTED]; Thom R LaCosta [EMAIL PROTECTED]; Charles B. Wilber [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cc: Elecraft Reflector elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Monday, June 20, 2005 8:42 PM Subject: RE: [Elecraft] K2 MARS mod Generally, hamband-only radios are not so good for MARS operations. Radios with wideband (1.8-30 MHz) receivers can sometimes be modified by or for valid MARS stations and this works well. Hambands-only radios, even if they cover a few hundred Khz above or below the hamband limits miss out on a lot.Glad to answer Army MARS questions (not frequencies) off-list. Jay W6CJ/AAR9QM -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Augie Hansen Sent: Monday, June 20, 2005 9:58 AM To: Thom R LaCosta; Charles B. Wilber Cc: Elecraft Reflector Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K2 MARS mod On 6/20/05 10:40 AM, Thom R LaCosta [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: On Mon, 20 Jun 2005, Charles B. Wilber wrote: Could someone point me to a MARS mod for the K2? I am contemplating trying my K2 out on the MARS frequencies to see if its excellent receiver would be helpful at my very noisy QTH. Thanks. Remember the old line If I tell you, I will have to kill you? I once asked all three MARS services what frequencies I might expect to use so that I could determine if my K2 would work in that environmentand none of them wold tell me...supposedly for security reasons.so you questions has confirmed that the K2 out of the box may not work for MARS. Guess it will be hard to find the MARS mod, if you can't folks what frequency(ies) you want. A Google search for MARS frequencies produces an extensive list of sites that describe the MARS programs of the Army, Navy-Marines, and Air Force. These frequencies are not a dark secret, but to use them you need a valid MARS license (and a radio/antenna system capable of MARS coverage, of course). Gus Hansen KB0YH ___ 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 MARS mod
On 6/20/05 10:40 AM, Thom R LaCosta [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: On Mon, 20 Jun 2005, Charles B. Wilber wrote: Could someone point me to a MARS mod for the K2? I am contemplating trying my K2 out on the MARS frequencies to see if its excellent receiver would be helpful at my very noisy QTH. Thanks. Don't know that any MARs mod is needed. Checking the range of MARS frequencies on the net, the following frequencies were found to be the farthest of any listed from a Ham band: 3308 kHz 4872 kHz 7633.5 kHz 13927 kHz My K2/100 puts out full power on all of these frequencies. 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
