K-2: my perosnal experience

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K-2: my perosnal experience

VK2DX
The K-2 was ordered on December 17th and No. 6653 arrived 3 days later.
I have to say I did not know what to expect- I was just looking for
'something' to keep me busy during the summer holiday (I am located in Australia).
Well let me just say that I got my money worth of pleasure
even before the radio was completed!

I am a master watchmaker by trade so I can not comment on electronic aspect of K-2.
However from the mechanical perspective the kit surpassed all expectations.
The quality of instruction manual, PCBs, relays, connectors, individual components is just amazing.
Everything fitted together perfectly and I got the radio working in a first go!
The bit that I enjoy the most is winding of toroids. I love the magic
of radio "getting alive", especially when LCD flashed Elecraft for the first time.
And most importantly I've learned a lot!

Since English is not my first language, I'll keep this rapport brief.

I took 175 photos of assembly process,
including on-air test :http://vk1aa.com/K2/k2.html

The very first contact made was with JE1RZR over the distance of 9,250 Km on 14,054 MHz. (Manabu was operating K-2/100 !). Few minutes later under rather poor band condition I also worked FK8DD, BV7, ZL1. Just after my sunset, I had a lovely QSO on 40m with another JA1 and ZL2- all with 5W out into home-made vertical antenna.

I would like to thank Wayne and Eric for such a wonderful experience
and to many of you on Elecraft forum for your unselfish assistance to Ham community.

73, Nick VK2DX
Sydney - Australia.
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Re: K-2: my perosnal experience

Johnny Siu
Hello Nick,
 
Glad to share your experience.  In fact, I addict to kit building since my 1st K2 #1146.  Through out the years, I built a lot of K2 for other hams, not for profit but for the fun of kit building.  My latest K2 is just several numbers before yours.
 
Both K2 and K3 are expensive if you add up ALL the options.  Bearing in mind, radio gears in Hong Kong are far cheaoer. However, I appeciate the price premium is paid for the fun of kit building and radio knowledge learnt.  Of course, their support is excellent.
 
Enjoy your new toy and see you on the air.
 
73
 
Johnny VR2XMC

--- 2009年1月5日 星期一,VK2DX <[hidden email]> 寫道﹕
寄件人: VK2DX <[hidden email]>
主題: [Elecraft] K-2: my perosnal experience
收件人: [hidden email]
日期: 2009 1 5 星期一 上午 8:09

The K-2 was ordered on December 17th and No. 6653 arrived 3 days later.
I have to say I did not know what to expect- I was just looking for
'something' to keep me busy during the summer holiday (I am located in
Australia). 
Well let me just say that I got my money worth of pleasure
even before the radio was completed! 

I am a master watchmaker by trade so I can not comment on electronic aspect
of K-2.
However from the mechanical perspective the kit surpassed all expectations.
The quality of instruction manual, PCBs, relays, connectors, individual
components is just amazing.
Everything fitted together perfectly and I got the radio working in a first
go!
The bit that I enjoy the most is winding of toroids. I love the magic
of radio "getting alive", especially when LCD flashed Elecraft for
the first
time.
And most importantly I've learned a lot!

Since English is not my first language, I'll keep this rapport brief.

I took 175 photos of assembly process,
including on-air test :http://vk1aa.com/K2/k2.html

The very first contact made was with JE1RZR over the distance of 9,250 Km on
14,054 MHz. (Manabu was operating K-2/100 !). Few minutes later under rather
poor band condition I also worked FK8DD, BV7, ZL1. Just after my sunset, I
had a lovely QSO on 40m with another JA1 and ZL2- all with 5W out into
home-made vertical antenna.

I would like to thank Wayne and Eric for such a wonderful experience
and to many of you on Elecraft forum for your unselfish assistance to Ham
community.

73, Nick VK2DX 
Sydney - Australia.
-- 
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Re: K-2: my perosnal experience

Guy, K2AV
In reply to this post by VK2DX

----- Original Message -----
From: "VK2DX" <[hidden email]>

> ...The bit that I enjoy the most is winding of toroids.

You must have had ill-understood dreams of something calling out to you
"Kaye Tooooo,   Kaye Tooooo".

Now you understand.

Anybody explain MoJo to you?

73, Guy


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Re: K-2: my perosnal experience

David Pratt
In reply to this post by VK2DX
In a recent message, VK2DX <[hidden email]> wrote ...
[snip]
>However from the mechanical perspective the kit surpassed all expectations.
>The quality of instruction manual, PCBs, relays, connectors, individual
>components is just amazing.
>Everything fitted together perfectly and I got the radio working in a first
>go!
>The bit that I enjoy the most is winding of toroids.
[snip]

Congratulations, Nick, you have found what everyone else who has built a
K2 have discovered.  The K2 is certainly a Mojo to which we owe Elecraft
our grateful thanks.

Have hours of fun and DX.

73
David K2 #1583
--
David G4DMP
Leeds, England, UK
------


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Re: K-2: my perosnal experience

RobertG
In reply to this post by VK2DX
Hello, Nic...

Happy New Year to you and yours.

Yes, the K2 is the ultimate experience in kit building. My #5957 is the
prime radio here. I've added the 100w amp, SSB, noise blanker, and DSP.
All work as advertised. I agree with your observation about the
production design. When every hole, screw and fitting fell into place,
perfectly, I "almost" didn't care how the radio actually performed. It
was a joy just to watch it come together without a single problem. I've
built stuff before, my own and others, and I've never seen anything that
comes close. The K3 people - unless they first had a K2 - just don't
know what they're missing <g>.

...robert

VK2DX wrote:

> The K-2 was ordered on December 17th and No. 6653 arrived 3 days later.
> I have to say I did not know what to expect- I was just looking for
> 'something' to keep me busy during the summer holiday (I am located in
> Australia).
> Well let me just say that I got my money worth of pleasure
> even before the radio was completed!
>
> I am a master watchmaker by trade so I can not comment on electronic aspect
> of K-2.
> However from the mechanical perspective the kit surpassed all expectations.
> The quality of instruction manual, PCBs, relays, connectors, individual
> components is just amazing.
> Everything fitted together perfectly and I got the radio working in a first
> go!
> The bit that I enjoy the most is winding of toroids. I love the magic
> of radio "getting alive", especially when LCD flashed Elecraft for the first
> time.
> And most importantly I've learned a lot!
>
> Since English is not my first language, I'll keep this rapport brief.
>
> I took 175 photos of assembly process,
> including on-air test :http://vk1aa.com/K2/k2.html
>
> The very first contact made was with JE1RZR over the distance of 9,250 Km on
> 14,054 MHz. (Manabu was operating K-2/100 !). Few minutes later under rather
> poor band condition I also worked FK8DD, BV7, ZL1. Just after my sunset, I
> had a lovely QSO on 40m with another JA1 and ZL2- all with 5W out into
> home-made vertical antenna.
>
> I would like to thank Wayne and Eric for such a wonderful experience
> and to many of you on Elecraft forum for your unselfish assistance to Ham
> community.
>
> 73, Nick VK2DX
> Sydney - Australia.

--
Robert G. Strickland PhD ABPH - KE2WY
[hidden email]
Syracuse, New York, USA
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