Gettin' off the fence (K1 vs K2)

[Darwin, Keith]

Hey folks,
 
Well, last night I did something foolish.  I put a bit on a K1 on e-bay.
I bit near the max I thought the rig was worth but figured I'd be out
bid.  I wasn't.  I won.  Oh great, I'm not sure I really was planning on
that, but hey, I got the rig so ...
 
Some time next week I expect a little box with a K1 in it.  I'll have
fun comparing it to my TenTec Omni V.  I could see me replacing both
with a K2/100 some day ...
 
Of course this week I also got my 5th adult air rifle (RWS 24C) so I
have more than enough toys to play with in the basement to keep me busy.
 
Oh, and I joined the new group SKCC (Straight Key Century Club) so I
need to get on 7.120 CW with the straight key ...
 
*sigh*, so many toys, so little time...
 
- Keith KD1E -
- K1, Omni V -
- SKCC 344 -
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[Mike Morrow-3]

Keith wrote:

>Some time next week I expect a little box with a K1 in it.  I'll have
>fun comparing it to my TenTec Omni V.  I could see me replacing both
>with a K2/100 some day ...

I don't think one should consider the K2 as an upgrade to the K1.  These two units fill different rolls.  For my purposes, the K1 fulfills requirements for which the K2 would be unsatisfactory (size, weight, power consumption, etc.).

I can more easily live without a K2 than I could a K1.  If I had both, I'd still never let the K1 go.

73,
Mike / KK5F
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[Darwin, Keith]

Thanks Mike,

Due to cost limitations (I have too many hobbies, too few dollars) I
find I'm usually running a very lean ship.  One rig is about all I can
have, maybe 2 tops.

If I find the K1 is to my liking (menu-driven, QSK operation, sound of
receiver, RX performance, etc) I'll consider going to a K2/100 as my
only rig.  I do basically no portable or field ops - except for field
day where I'll carry a 12V deep cycle battery & my full size rig into
the back yard - so having a portable battery operated rig is not that
important to me.

So far my K1 hasn't even shipped yet so I'll have to wait until my
shipped sails in before I start making plans :-)

- Keith KD1E -
 

-----Original Message-----
Mike wrote:

I don't think one should consider the K2 as an upgrade to the K1.  These
two units fill different rolls.  For my purposes, the K1 fulfills
requirements for which the K2 would be unsatisfactory (size, weight,
power consumption, etc.).

I can more easily live without a K2 than I could a K1.  If I had both,
I'd still never let the K1 go.
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[Ron D'Eau Claire-2]

Keith, KD1E wrote:

If I find the K1 is to my liking (menu-driven, QSK operation, sound of
receiver, RX performance, etc) I'll consider going to a K2/100 as my only
rig.  I do basically no portable or field ops - except for field day where
I'll carry a 12V deep cycle battery & my full size rig into the back yard -
so having a portable battery operated rig is not that important to me.

-------------------------------------

Cost should always  be a factor when there's a budget.

Still, whether or not you like the K1 will have nothing to do with your
experience with a K2. That's almost like saying you'll buy a Ford Pickup to
see if you'd like a Lincoln town car.  

As Mike said, they are different designs intended for different roles and
different operators. They are both excellent rigs, but different in
performance, features and functions.

Ron AC7AC

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[Dan Barker]

Based on what you say, I'd suggest you get the K2. You don't have any of the
needs for which the K1 is the better rig, and the $'s ain't that much
different (you just have to abuse the math just right).

K1 = 359 = $90/band.
K2 = 599 = $75/band.
K2+K160RX = 638 = $71/band<g>.

Dan / WG4S / K2 #2456

Darwin, Keith

Thanks Mike,

Due to cost limitations (I have too many hobbies, too few dollars) I
find I'm usually running a very lean ship.  One rig is about all I can
have, maybe 2 tops.

If I find the K1 is to my liking (menu-driven, QSK operation, sound of
receiver, RX performance, etc) I'll consider going to a K2/100 as my
only rig.  I do basically no portable or field ops - except for field
day where I'll carry a 12V deep cycle battery & my full size rig into
the back yard - so having a portable battery operated rig is not that
important to me.

So far my K1 hasn't even shipped yet so I'll have to wait until my
shipped sails in before I start making plans :-)

- Keith KD1E -

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[Darwin, Keith]

Hmmm, Now hold on there Ron :-)

I figure, the K1 and K2, both coming from Elecraft, will have a similar
operating feel. Small size, menu driven who knows what else.  It will be
quite a shift from my big Omni V, right?

I used to have a Corsair II.  Prior to that I had an Omni D.  I now have
the Omni V.  All 3 are different radios, yet they are distinctively
TenTec and owning any of them will give you a taste of TT.  No, owning
an Omni D will not tell you whether or not you'd like an Omni V, but it
puts you much closer than owning a TS-430s :-)

So, I guess I hear what you're saying but I still think there is
something of Elecraft to be learned by owning a K1 and some of those
lessons can be applied to the K2.

Of course, as always, I reserve the right to be totally WRONG :-)  LOL!!

73

- Keith -

------------------

Still, whether or not you like the K1 will have nothing to do with your
experience with a K2. That's almost like saying you'll buy a Ford Pickup
to see if you'd like a Lincoln town car.  

As Mike said, they are different designs intended for different roles
and different operators. They are both excellent rigs, but different in
performance, features and functions.

Ron AC7AC

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[Ron D'Eau Claire-2]

Keith wrote:

Hmmm, Now hold on there Ron :-)

I figure, the K1 and K2, both coming from Elecraft, will have a similar
operating feel. Small size, menu driven who knows what else.  It will be
quite a shift from my big Omni V, right?

I used to have a Corsair II.  Prior to that I had an Omni D.  I now have the
Omni V.  All 3 are different radios, yet they are distinctively TenTec and
owning any of them will give you a taste of TT.  No, owning an Omni D will
not tell you whether or not you'd like an Omni V, but it puts you much
closer than owning a TS-430s :-)

So, I guess I hear what you're saying but I still think there is something
of Elecraft to be learned by owning a K1 and some of those lessons can be
applied to the K2.

Of course, as always, I reserve the right to be totally WRONG :-)  LOL!!

-----------------------------------
Good points Keith:

I wouldn't say that your experience comparing Elecraft rigs would be at all
like comparing Ten-Tec rigs. It is true that both the K1 and K2 use a menu.
That's like saying a pickup truck and a town car both have steering wheels
similar instruments on the dashboard. Still, a K1 might be the right rig for
you today. Let me explain:

Electronically, the K2 is very much different from a K1, and those
differences show up in use. It uses an optical encoder tuning control
controlling a special type of phase-locked loop for the receiver local
oscillator instead of a multi-turn pot driving a simple L/C oscillator. It
has more extensive filtering for superior performance in crowded band
conditions and can be extended to cover 160 meters (and 60 meters) with a
few inexpensive add-on modules. The K2 has excellent I.F. derived AGC that
gives it superior QSK on CW, something that K1 with its audio-derived AGC
can't match. I'm sure others could add a huge list of differences.

That said, the K1 is a nice rig, it's just not designed to compete with
toe-to-toe with other high-performance rigs designed for home station use.
The K2 is designed to do just that, and many independent reviews back up
that comparison.

What you'll get with the K1 is a very efficient and effective rig designed
for portable QRP use that covers up to four bands and is very easy on
batteries. Sure, many operators use their K1's at home too and they're quite
happy with them, but it would be unfair to compare a K1 to most rigs
designed for home station use, including any of the Ten-Tec rigs.

No matter which rig you buy, you will learn about the excellent attention to
detail the Elecraft folks give their rigs, the kits, the documentation
(which I'm often involved in so I am not unbiased here) and probably most
obvious of all, their world-class customer support starting with Gary at
[hidden email] and the gang on this reflector.

But there's probably a more important issue here than features or
performance.

I read about a lot of Hams having to sneak a piece of gear past the XYL or
having to talk the XYL into allowing them to spend the money. Those stories
make me very sad because I see them often enough to realize that at least
some of them are true.

I believe that Ham radio should enhance a marriage, not create stress in the
relationship, just as Ham radio should enhance one's individual life, not
create problems within it. So if a K2 is not in your budget and a K1 is, go
for the K1 and have a ball. Nothing else matters.

If the day comes that you want to move "up" to a K2, you'll find someone
ready to take the K1 off of your hands at a fair price, if the experiences
of others reported here are any indication.

Ron AC7AC

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[Darwin, Keith]

 

-----Original Message-----
Ron Said:

> I wouldn't say that your experience comparing Elecraft rigs would be
at all like
> comparing Ten-Tec rigs.

> Electronically, the K2 is very much different from a K1, and those
differences
> show up in use.

OK, I'm starting to see your point.  Excellent, the K1 and K2 have
significant differences in design and implementation.

> So if a K2 is not in your budget and a K1 is, go for the K1 and have a
ball.

Actually the K2 is in my budget but only if it is the only rig in my
shack.  Of course, your info suggests that I may not know if a K2 can be
my only rig unless I actually get a K2 and use it for a while.  Fair
enough.

In the interim, I'll be having some fun with the K1...

- Keith KD1E -
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