Considering K-1 or K-2

[Phillip Zminda]

I'm looking for a low power rig  for at home QRP or pic-nic bench portable/vacation use. I'm primarily a cw guy. I built a Ten-tec 1340 recently to use portable, but I found that having about 2.5 watts on 40 meters only was a big handicap with a travel antenna. I worked in electronics assembly in a past life and have built  Heathkits and homebrew projects also. After the 1340, I think I'm ready to consider a K-1, 4-band or K-2. I see used IC-403's and FT-817's for sale in the $350 to $400 range, but wonder how they compare to the K-1 and K-2. I'm leaning for the K-1 primarily on budget and available spare time for building but see a lot to like in the K-2. Any comments on comparing these rigs?  If I went with the K-2, would I be satisfied with a bare bones model without adding too many options?

Thanks,

Phil N3ZP
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[Stephen W. Kercel]

Phil:

The noise blanker and audio filters are nice, but not totally
necessary. As a CW guy you do not the SSB option. As a QRPer you do
not need the high power option. Unless you have a special fondness
for 160m you do  not need that. You can get by without an external tuner.

In other words, even a bare bones K2 will run circles around any other QRP rig.

The kit will cost you $600 and is worth every penny.

73,

Steve
AA4AK


At 06:11 PM 8/6/2006, Phil Zminda wrote:

>I'm looking for a low power rig  for at home QRP or pic-nic bench
>portable/vacation use. I'm primarily a cw guy. I built a Ten-tec
>1340 recently to use portable, but I found that having about 2.5
>watts on 40 meters only was a big handicap with a travel antenna. I
>worked in electronics assembly in a past life and have
>built  Heathkits and homebrew projects also. After the 1340, I think
>I'm ready to consider a K-1, 4-band or K-2. I see used IC-403's and
>FT-817's for sale in the $350 to $400 range, but wonder how they
>compare to the K-1 and K-2. I'm leaning for the K-1 primarily on
>budget and available spare time for building but see a lot to like
>in the K-2. Any comments on comparing these rigs?  If I went with
>the K-2, would I be satisfied with a bare bones model without adding
>too many options?
>
>Thanks,
>
>Phil N3ZP
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>
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[Mike WA8BXN]

There ought to be a FAQ! With either rig I would suggest the built in tuner
option. The K-2 definitely is a higher performance radio, and bigger and
heavier. Also don't forget the KX-1! As for those other radios, if they
break, where do you get parts? I have a K-1 that got zapped pretty good by
lightning and I got it running again having replaced about half a dozen
components. Not sure that would be possible if it had been the FT-817 that
got zapped. Good luck on picking a radio, each has its strong points. I
suppose part of it is really deciding what your requirements exactly are.
 
73/72 - Mike WA8BXN
 
 
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[Terry W9TRB]

Phil Zminda wrote:
> I'm looking for a low power rig  for at home QRP or pic-nic bench portable/vacation use.
> Thanks,
>
> Phil N3ZP
> _______________________________________________

Hello Phil,

        For home or picnic usage, you will be very happy with either one.
Having said that, my opinion is that the barebones K-2 is a lot more
radio and a better performer than a K-1.  I have both and enjoy both,
but feel the K-2 is a cut above the K-1 in every respect except for the
fact that I like the audio of the K-1 better (don't know why that is, I
just do).

        So, either way you won't go wrong.

73,

Terry W9TRB  East Central Illinois


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[Darwin, Keith]

I bought a used K1.  It was a cool little rig but to serve as my main
base rig, I wanted more.  I wanted better filtering.  I wanted full-band
tuning range.  I wanted a better AGC.  I wanted better receiver
performance.  I wanted a better display system.  I wanted all the bands.

I bought and built a bare bones K2.  What a great rig.  It has addressed
all the issues I had with the K1.  Sweet.  It is good enough to be my
one-and-only HF transceiver.  The only thing the K1 had over the K2 was
that the K1's receiver was a bit quieter (higher S/N ratio).  Other than
that, the K2 is clearly the better rig.

If you are wanting to carry the rig everywhere you go (don't put it in
your shoe if you're going to fly) then the smaller K1 may be a better
choice.  For picnic table use and home use, the K2 is primo!

I've added one option - the AF filter.  It is a nice to have, not a
must-have.  The basic bare-bones rig does just fine without it.  I'll
probably add the 100 watt PA next since sometimes you need some power.
SSB will eventually get there but I'm in no hurry.

- Keith KD1E -
- K2 5411 -


-----Original Message-----
From: Phil Zminda

I'm looking for a low power rig ... I'm leaning for the K-1 ... but see
a lot to like in the K-2. Any comments on comparing these rigs?  If I
went with the K-2, would I be satisfied with a bare bones model without
adding too many options?

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[jmeade]

I have an early K2 and an early KX1.  My vote for a one-QRP-rig-only is for
the bare-bones K2 for the following reasons:

More power output when you want it. There is a lot of difference between 2W
and 10W but not that much between 10W and 100W (in my opinion)
All bands 80 to 10.
Not that much bigger than a K1
Much bigger than the KX1 but even then it's not too bad.
All the features you could want in a rig (adjustable sidetone freq and
volume, great xtal filtering, great receiver dynamic range, RF gain control,
selectable AGC, battery-saving mode (FWIW), good sounding speaker, variable
output power from the front panel,

The biggest (and maybe the only?) disadvantage is the power consumption in
both RX and TX modes, but even this isn't too big a deal (except if you are
a back packer).

The tuner is great, so that would be the first option to purchase, but this
depends on the antennas you plan to use.  I use a CF 40m inverted V and the
BL1 balun and work on all bands 40 to 10 (with the built in tuner). You
could also use a manual tuner with great results.

Once you get started, though, the Elecraft subliminal messages appear and
take hold, and you are forced into buying more accessories. Resistance is
futile. My bare-bones K2 now has SSB, AF filter, NB, tuner, battery, new
firmware, etc.

73,

John W2XS
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