K2/100 and TenTec Centurion amplifier

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K2/100 and TenTec Centurion amplifier

Steve Jackson-5
For the ham who wanted to know about hooking up his K2/100 to a TenTec QSK amplifier ...

I just did a 100 Q  S&P 'session' for CQWW CW, using The World's Most Experienced Elecraft (a.k.a. K2 #0771, now at 65k hours power-on and counting) and a TenTec Model 422 Centurion amplifier.  

(This is my usual configuration here, not new for this event.)  With the multipliers, my 100 Qs tally to 27,090 points, if you are wondering, and not all of the Qs were made QRO either.  With the sun so uncooperative, however, even serious mojo has its limits.

My K2/100 keying output connects via a single 3' RadioShack molded-connector, shielded RCA patch cord to the PTT/VOX connector on the amplifier.  The front switch is set to select that connection.

I experience no hot-keying -- and use full break in on the K2, or at least as fast as it'll go, and 30 WPM is not atypical.

FWIW ... the amplifier's occasionally odd input impedance is 'smoothed off' by the KAT100, located in between the rig and the amp.

Another 'trick' would be to have an external keyer connect to the 'key in' jack on the amp, and then have the 'key out' connection made to the key line on the rig, with the amp's switch set to 'QSK' mode.  Such a connection would only be useful for CW, of course.  My setup works for phone as well, no swapping wires.

I plan to use this TenTec amp with the K3 I will one day buy, and then upgrade the amp to the Elecraft solid state kW+ model when they become available, all pending available funds of course!

Steve KZ1X/4
owner of the World's Most ... well, you know ...


* * *
I've been on this reflector for over 8 years.

What happened to Nils, El Gringo Errante?  



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