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Amber display for the K2?

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Amber display for the K2?

I saw a picture wher somone had an amber display on their K2.
I would assume it's just a matter of changing out the led backlight.
So the question is where can I get an Amber backlight panel?Or do I just make my own?
Thank you
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Charlie T, K3ICH

Re: Amber display for the K2?

Hmmmm....I thought they were ALL amber ???

What color would you call the stock display, orangey-yellow maybe??

Not trying to be funny,( well, maybe just a tad) but what am I missing here?

73, Charlie k3ICH

-----Original Message-----
From: Elecraft [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Harry
Yingst via Elecraft
Sent: Tuesday, April 04, 2017 12:31 AM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: [Elecraft] Amber display for the K2?

I saw a picture wher somone had an amber display on their K2.
I would assume it's just a matter of changing out the led backlight.
So the question is where can I get an Amber backlight panel?Or do I just
make my own?
Thank you
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WA2SI

Re: Amber display for the K2?

My K2/100 display is green, much more pleasing to the eye and easier to look at for longer periods of time. I'd love to see the option of a green display offered for the K3s. As always, take care es...

Vy 73 de Bert
WA2SI

Sent from my android device.

-----Original Message-----
From: "Charlie T, K3ICH" <[hidden email]>
To: [hidden email]
Sent: Tue, 04 Apr 2017 9:20
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Amber display for the K2?

Hmmmm....I thought they were ALL amber ???

What color would you call the stock display, orangey-yellow maybe??

Not trying to be funny,( well, maybe just a tad) but what am I missing here?

73, Charlie k3ICH

-----Original Message-----
From: Elecraft [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Harry
Yingst via Elecraft
Sent: Tuesday, April 04, 2017 12:31 AM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: [Elecraft] Amber display for the K2?

I saw a picture wher somone had an amber display on their K2.
I would assume it's just a matter of changing out the led backlight.
So the question is where can I get an Amber backlight panel?Or do I just
make my own?
Thank you
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Ken G Kopp

Re: Amber display for the K2?

Mine is without a doubt "green" ...

On Apr 4, 2017 7:26 AM, "Bert Craig" <[hidden email]> wrote:

My K2/100 display is green, much more pleasing to the eye and easier to
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Tom McCulloch

Re: Amber display for the K2?

Amber here..s/n 1103

Tom

wb2qdg

On 4/4/2017 9:33 AM, Ken G Kopp wrote:

> Mine is without a doubt "green" ...
>
> On Apr 4, 2017 7:26 AM, "Bert Craig" <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> My K2/100 display is green, much more pleasing to the eye and easier to
> ______________________________________________________________
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--

I don't wear a watch because where I am is where I want to be.
I don't carry a cell phone because who I'm with is who I want to talk to...yep I'm retired!

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Charlie T, K3ICH

Re: Amber display for the K2?

In reply to this post by WA2SI

Oh man, talk about putting one’s foot in one’s mouth!!

I guess I WAS missing a yuge point.

I immediately thought of the K3, K3S, KX2 & KX3.

I completely missed the fact you were asking about the K2, which of course, DOES have a green display.

Very sorry for all the wasted electrons….

Charlie T.

From: Bert Craig [mailto:[hidden email]]
Sent: Tuesday, April 04, 2017 9:25 AM
To: [hidden email]; Charlie T, K3ICH <[hidden email]>
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Amber display for the K2?

My K2/100 display is green, much more pleasing to the eye and easier to look at for longer periods of time. I'd love to see the option of a green display offered for the K3s. As always, take care es...

Vy 73 de Bert
WA2SI

Sent from my android device.

-----Original Message-----
From: "Charlie T, K3ICH" <[hidden email] <mailto:[hidden email]> >
To: [hidden email] <mailto:[hidden email]>
Sent: Tue, 04 Apr 2017 9:20
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Amber display for the K2?

Hmmmm....I thought they were ALL amber ???

What color would you call the stock display, orangey-yellow maybe??

Not trying to be funny,( well, maybe just a tad) but what am I missing here?

73, Charlie k3ICH

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k6dgw

Re: Amber display for the K2?

In reply to this post by Charlie T, K3ICH

The main display on my K2, S/N 4398, is VB on NVB [Very Black on Not
Very Black]. Works great in sunlight.

73,

Fred ("Skip") K6DGW
Sparks NV USA
Washoe County DM09dn

On 4/4/2017 6:12 AM, Charlie T, K3ICH wrote:
> Hmmmm....I thought they were ALL amber ???
>
> What color would you call the stock display, orangey-yellow maybe??
>
> Not trying to be funny,( well, maybe just a tad) but what am I missing here?
>
> 73, Charlie k3ICH
>
>

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Elecraft mailing list

Re: Amber display for the K2?

In reply to this post by Tom McCulloch

How did you get the Amber display?

From: Tom McCulloch <[hidden email]>
To: [hidden email]
Sent: Tuesday, April 4, 2017 9:46 AM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Amber display for the K2?

Amber here..s/n 1103

Tom

wb2qdg

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Guy Olinger K2AV

Re: Amber display for the K2?

In reply to this post by k6dgw

K2 #1239 is green at night when the internal light is on, more gray than
green in daylight. But it definitely is not amber.

I suspect that is a function of the LED's that are lighting the screen,
which appears to be lit from the side, not the back.

73, Guy K2AV

On Tue, Apr 4, 2017 at 2:34 PM, Fred Jensen <[hidden email]> wrote:

> The main display on my K2, S/N 4398, is VB on NVB [Very Black on Not Very
> Black]. Works great in sunlight.
>
> 73,
>
> Fred ("Skip") K6DGW
> Sparks NV USA
> Washoe County DM09dn
>
> On 4/4/2017 6:12 AM, Charlie T, K3ICH wrote:
>
>> Hmmmm....I thought they were ALL amber ???
>>
>> What color would you call the stock display, orangey-yellow maybe??
>>
>> Not trying to be funny,( well, maybe just a tad) but what am I missing
>> here?
>>
>> 73, Charlie k3ICH
>>
>>
>>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
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>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>

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Tom McCulloch

Re: Amber display for the K2?

In reply to this post by Elecraft mailing list

When it's off it's sort of grayish. When I power the K2 up there are
(what looks to be) two small light bulbs on, or behind, the left and
right sides of the display, When lit they give an amber-ish (if that's
a word) color. It's actually the color from the two "clear"
incandescent bulbs.

Does anyone with a low serial number have this and can better explain it?

Tom, wb2qdg
K2 s/n 1103

On 4/4/2017 3:18 PM, Harry Yingst wrote:

>
>
> How did you get the Amber display?
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> *From:* Tom McCulloch <[hidden email]>
> *To:* [hidden email]
> *Sent:* Tuesday, April 4, 2017 9:46 AM
> *Subject:* Re: [Elecraft] Amber display for the K2?
>
> Amber here.s/n 1103
>
> Tom
>
> wb2qdg
>
>

John Wingard

Re: Amber display for the K2?

K2 S/N 1057 here and my display is a pale yellow-green color when lit.
Definitely not what I would consider to be amber.

73, WB4GLJ

On Wed, Apr 5, 2017 at 4:51 PM, Tom McCulloch <[hidden email]> wrote:

> When it's off it's sort of grayish. When I power the K2 up there are
> (what looks to be) two small light bulbs on, or behind, the left and right
> sides of the display, When lit they give an amber-ish (if that's a word)
> color. It's actually the color from the two "clear" incandescent bulbs.
>
> Does anyone with a low serial number have this and can better explain it?
>
> Tom, wb2qdg
> K2 s/n 1103
>
> On 4/4/2017 3:18 PM, Harry Yingst wrote:
>
>>
>>
>> How did you get the Amber display?
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>> *From:* Tom McCulloch <[hidden email]>
>> *To:* [hidden email]
>> *Sent:* Tuesday, April 4, 2017 9:46 AM
>> *Subject:* Re: [Elecraft] Amber display for the K2?
>>
>> Amber here.s/n 1103
>>
>> Tom
>>
>> wb2qdg
>>
>>
>>
> --
>
> I don't wear a watch because where I am is where I want to be.
> I don't carry a cell phone because who I'm with is who I want to talk
> to...yep I'm retired!
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>

Don Wilhelm

Re: Amber display for the K2?

In reply to this post by Tom McCulloch

Tom,

The LCD display on the K2 has "been what it was" from the beginning
(even for Field Test units).
The backlighting is white (LEDs, not incandescent), but the color of the
actual display is green when backlighted. Actually, it is green when
frontlighted (without the backlight) as well, but more gray than green.

There is no amber LCD for the K2, never has been. I think some posters
confused K2 with the KX2 (which does have an amber LCD - same LCD as the
K3/K3S and the KX3).

The LCD display is a custom display, so duplicating that custom display
for someone who wants an amber display would be quite an expensive
proposition. In other words, an amber LCD for the K2 is not practical.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 4/5/2017 4:51 PM, Tom McCulloch wrote:
> When it's off it's sort of grayish. When I power the K2 up there are
> (what looks to be) two small light bulbs on, or behind, the left and
> right sides of the display, When lit they give an amber-ish (if that's
> a word) color. It's actually the color from the two "clear"
> incandescent bulbs.
>
> Does anyone with a low serial number have this and can better explain it?
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Elecraft mailing list

Re: Amber display for the K2?

In reply to this post by Tom McCulloch

Interesting

I build a K2 Years ago SN in the 3500 range and just built a new one (just finished it).

Both with Green Backlights. I was thinking that it would be nice to

change this one over to an Amber backlight so it matches my K3 better.

I may just need to find some closely matching LEDs or just leave it as is.

I figured it was worth a shot.

________________________________
From: Tom McCulloch <[hidden email]>
To: Harry Yingst <[hidden email]>; "[hidden email]" <[hidden email]>
Sent: Wednesday, April 5, 2017 4:51 PM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Amber display for the K2?

When it's off it's sort of grayish. When I power the K2 up there are (what looks to be) two small light bulbs on, or behind, the left and right sides of the display, When lit they give an amber-ish (if that's a word) color. It's actually the color from the two "clear" incandescent bulbs.

Does anyone with a low serial number have this and can better explain it?

Tom, wb2qdg
K2 s/n 1103

On 4/4/2017 3:18 PM, Harry Yingst wrote:
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Elecraft mailing list

Re: Amber display for the K2?

In reply to this post by Don Wilhelm

Actually the Stock Backlight LEDs are Green
If you shine a light at the K3 or the KPA500 you will se they also gave a greenish cast to them when off

From: Don Wilhelm <[hidden email]>
To: Tom McCulloch <[hidden email]>; Harry Yingst <[hidden email]>; "[hidden email]" <[hidden email]>
Sent: Wednesday, April 5, 2017 5:15 PM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Amber display for the K2?

Tom,

The LCD display on the K2 has "been what it was" from the beginning
(even for Field Test units).
The backlighting is white (LEDs, not incandescent), but the color of the
actual display is green when backlighted. Actually, it is green when
frontlighted (without the backlight) as well, but more gray than green.

There is no amber LCD for the K2, never has been. I think some posters
confused K2 with the KX2 (which does have an amber LCD - same LCD as the
K3/K3S and the KX3).

The LCD display is a custom display, so duplicating that custom display
for someone who wants an amber display would be quite an expensive
proposition. In other words, an amber LCD for the K2 is not practical.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 4/5/2017 4:51 PM, Tom McCulloch wrote:
> When it's off it's sort of grayish. When I power the K2 up there are
> (what looks to be) two small light bulbs on, or behind, the left and
> right sides of the display, When lit they give an amber-ish (if that's
> a word) color. It's actually the color from the two "clear"
> incandescent bulbs.
>
> Does anyone with a low serial number have this and can better explain it?

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Bill Frantz

Re: Amber display for the K2?

If you can replace the backlight LEDs with RGB LEDs, you might
be able to have any color you wanted depending on the current
limiting resistors. :-)

When I turn the backlight off on my K3, the color shifts from
amber to something gray-green.

73 Bill AE6JV

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bill Frantz | Re: Computer reliability, performance, and security:
408-356-8506 | The guy who *is* wearing a parachute is
*not* the
www.pwpconsult.com | first to reach the ground. - Terence Kelly

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Elecraft mailing list

Re: Amber display for the K2?

I has a Ten Tec amp that was like that with RGB LEDs

From: Bill Frantz <[hidden email]>
To: [hidden email]
Sent: Wednesday, April 5, 2017 7:51 PM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Amber display for the K2?

If you can replace the backlight LEDs with RGB LEDs, you might
be able to have any color you wanted depending on the current
limiting resistors. :-)

When I turn the backlight off on my K3, the color shifts from
amber to something gray-green.

73 Bill AE6JV

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bill Frantz | Re: Computer reliability, performance, and security:
408-356-8506 | The guy who *is* wearing a parachute is
*not* the
www.pwpconsult.com | first to reach the ground. - Terence Kelly

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David Woolley (E.L)

Re: Amber display for the K2?

In reply to this post by Don Wilhelm

I'd never really thought about the colour, but I think it is basically
the natural colour of the combination of liquid crystal and polariser.
It's not the narrowband green that you would get with a green LED.

Especially if you add in the fact that white "LED"s are really narrow
band blue LEDs with broadband yellow phosphors, so are not peaking in
the green, natural variations in colour vision, or colour vision
defects, could easily cause the colour to be treated as a yellowish
amber, rather than a reddish green.

I would have thought using green LEDs would have been a more efficient
use of precious milliamps.

The display is just a seven segment array and has a manufacturer's part
number, although it is possible it is end of line. I don't think it is
custom, or at least not at the time of the original design.

The real problems with making the change are that the LED's are
integrated into the diffuser and the diffuser is behind the, unsocketed,
display. I doubt you could change the colour, except before the first
build, without destroying the LCD panel. It is also possible that the
diffuser assembly is difficult to source; there is no manufacturer's
part number for that.

--
David Woolley K2 06123

On 05/04/17 22:15, Don Wilhelm wrote:

> Tom,
>
> The LCD display on the K2 has "been what it was" from the beginning
> (even for Field Test units).
> The backlighting is white (LEDs, not incandescent), but the color of the
> actual display is green when backlighted. Actually, it is green when
> frontlighted (without the backlight) as well, but more gray than green.
>
> There is no amber LCD for the K2, never has been. I think some posters
> confused K2 with the KX2 (which does have an amber LCD - same LCD as the
> K3/K3S and the KX3).
>
> The LCD display is a custom display, so duplicating that custom display
> for someone who wants an amber display would be quite an expensive
> proposition. In other words, an amber LCD for the K2 is not practical.
>

Elecraft mailing list

Re: Amber display for the K2?

I have a Pace de-soldering tool so taking off the display is not really an issue,
but agreed it would have been easier before the display was installed.

As for the diffuser, If needed I have a CNC mini mill so I could cut a piece of Plexiglass and I have
a nice sample pack of photography gel filters that include many colors and some various defusing films.

I was trying to avoid having to build one from scratch, That being saig I may just use it as is for a while.
After all the face of the K2 is half grey so it does not quite match the K3 as it is.

Thank you

________________________________
From: David Woolley <[hidden email]>
To: [hidden email]
Sent: Thursday, April 6, 2017 5:25 AM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Amber display for the K2?

I'd never really thought about the colour, but I think it is basically

the natural colour of the combination of liquid crystal and polariser.

It's not the narrowband green that you would get with a green LED.

Especially if you add in the fact that white "LED"s are really narrow

band blue LEDs with broadband yellow phosphors, so are not peaking in

the green, natural variations in colour vision, or colour vision

defects, could easily cause the colour to be treated as a yellowish

amber, rather than a reddish green.

I would have thought using green LEDs would have been a more efficient

use of precious milliamps.

The display is just a seven segment array and has a manufacturer's part

number, although it is possible it is end of line. I don't think it is

custom, or at least not at the time of the original design.

The real problems with making the change are that the LED's are

integrated into the diffuser and the diffuser is behind the, unsocketed,

display. I doubt you could change the colour, except before the first

build, without destroying the LCD panel. It is also possible that the

diffuser assembly is difficult to source; there is no manufacturer's

part number for that.

--

David Woolley K2 06123
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