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K2/100?

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K2/100?

I am considering having a kit builder assemble a K2/100 for me to replace
my current station (see QRZ) Before making the commitment I would like to
chat with someone who owns a K2/100 and hear the PROs and CONs and any
issues. Additionally if there is a K2/100 owner in the Woodinville, WA I would
love a demonstration. Woodinville is 25 miless NE of Seattle.

Please contact me offlist at _ardujenski@aol.com_
(mailto:[hidden email]) .

I will be operating it primarily as a base station but want the ability to
go portable QRP or to be able to operate off battery power during one of
the many power outages.

Thank you in advance for taking a few minutes to share your K2/100
experience with me

Alan KB7MBI
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vk2rq

Re: K2/100?

First I would say though that one of the big reasons to get a K2 is the fun/experiences of building it yourself. If you are farming that out to someone else, then I would be thinking carefully if K2 is the right option, or whether a more modern design radio might fit the bill better (like KX3, K3, or even, dare I say it here, a brand Y/I/K radio)

Assuming you go with a K2, then if you want to take the K2 portable QRP, you need to think about whether you want to install the KPA100 in the same chassis as the K2, or whether you want to put it in a separate enclosure, or maybe even consider a separate amplifier like the KXPA100. Below are some pros/cons of the different options.

KPA100 in same enclosure as K2:
+ one easy convenient fully integrated package
+ if you want to run the radio as QRP, just power it using the coaxial power connector, and the KPA100 is bypassed
- have to lug the heavy KPA100 with you when you go portable
- if you want an ATU, it will need to be separate
- can’t put the 20W QRP ATU in the K2 enclosure (need to swap lids, which is a hassle), battery option, etc. (actually, I would prefer to run the K2 off external LiFePO4 batteries rather than put an SLA inside)

KPA100 in separate enclosure as K2:
+ full integration between K2 and amplifier
+ can leave the KPA100 behind when you go QRP
+ can put a 100W ATU in the same enclosure as the KPA100
+ can also equip K2 with 20W ATU, battery, etc. ready for portable operation
- takes more desk space
- if you want to go QRO portable, you need to take two enclosures
- can’t use the KPA100 with any other radios besides K2

K2 with separate KXPA100 amplifier:
+ can leave amplifier behind when going QRP portable
+ can equip K2 with 20W ATU, battery, etc.
+ flexibility to use the amplifier with other radios, like KX3, FT817, etc.
+ can put 100W ATU in same enclosure as KXPA100
- integration with K2 not quite as good as KPA100/KAT100
- may need to build extra keying circuit
- takes desk space/need to take two boxes for QRO portable

Other people on the list may have further comments based on their experiences (I myself ended up going for the third KXPA100 option, mainly because I had a KX3 already).

73, Matt VK2RQ

> On 19 Dec 2014, at 12:30 pm, Alan KB7MBI via Elecraft <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> I am considering having a kit builder assemble a K2/100 for me to replace
> my current station (see QRZ) Before making the commitment I would like to
> chat with someone who owns a K2/100 and hear the PROs and CONs and any
> issues. Additionally if there is a K2/100 owner in the Woodinville, WA I would
> love a demonstration. Woodinville is 25 miless NE of Seattle.
>
> Please contact me offlist at _ardujenski@aol.com_
> (mailto:[hidden email]) .
>
> I will be operating it primarily as a base station but want the ability to
> go portable QRP or to be able to operate off battery power during one of
> the many power outages.
>
> Thank you in advance for taking a few minutes to share your K2/100
> experience with me
>
> Alan KB7MBI
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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]

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Post: mailto:[hidden email]

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Tim Edmonson

Re: K2/100?

I bought a k2 with every option and a battery pack. I also bought the external at/100 and pa/100 in the "twin" enclosure.

My idea is same as yours qrp/portable with the battery pack and built in tuner then at home with external amp/tuner combo.

I love mine and have completed it to my kenwood TS-590sG that I recently bought.

I have owned the k2 setup a few weeks I got it from a ham about 4 hours away and I drove up to but it.

I believe it is every bit as good a receiver if not better than the TS-590 and way better in HF than my TS-2000.

Buy one you'll love it- even if you don't choose to build your yourself it is still a very capable rig.

I can have any rig in the world I want but I've found myself using the k2 consistently since I got it.

Tim Edmonson
Captain D's
Area partner-Ky
270-978-1014

> On Dec 18, 2014, at 9:22 PM, "Matt VK2RQ" <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> First I would say though that one of the big reasons to get a K2 is the fun/experiences of building it yourself. If you are farming that out to someone else, then I would be thinking carefully if K2 is the right option, or whether a more modern design radio might fit the bill better (like KX3, K3, or even, dare I say it here, a brand Y/I/K radio)
>
> Assuming you go with a K2, then if you want to take the K2 portable QRP, you need to think about whether you want to install the KPA100 in the same chassis as the K2, or whether you want to put it in a separate enclosure, or maybe even consider a separate amplifier like the KXPA100. Below are some pros/cons of the different options.
>
> KPA100 in same enclosure as K2:
> + one easy convenient fully integrated package
> + if you want to run the radio as QRP, just power it using the coaxial power connector, and the KPA100 is bypassed
> - have to lug the heavy KPA100 with you when you go portable
> - if you want an ATU, it will need to be separate
> - can’t put the 20W QRP ATU in the K2 enclosure (need to swap lids, which is a hassle), battery option, etc. (actually, I would prefer to run the K2 off external LiFePO4 batteries rather than put an SLA inside)
>
> KPA100 in separate enclosure as K2:
> + full integration between K2 and amplifier
> + can leave the KPA100 behind when you go QRP
> + can put a 100W ATU in the same enclosure as the KPA100
> + can also equip K2 with 20W ATU, battery, etc. ready for portable operation
> - takes more desk space
> - if you want to go QRO portable, you need to take two enclosures
> - can’t use the KPA100 with any other radios besides K2
>
> K2 with separate KXPA100 amplifier:
> + can leave amplifier behind when going QRP portable
> + can equip K2 with 20W ATU, battery, etc.
> + flexibility to use the amplifier with other radios, like KX3, FT817, etc.
> + can put 100W ATU in same enclosure as KXPA100
> - integration with K2 not quite as good as KPA100/KAT100
> - may need to build extra keying circuit
> - takes desk space/need to take two boxes for QRO portable
>
> Other people on the list may have further comments based on their experiences (I myself ended up going for the third KXPA100 option, mainly because I had a KX3 already).
>
> 73, Matt VK2RQ
>
>> On 19 Dec 2014, at 12:30 pm, Alan KB7MBI via Elecraft <[hidden email]> wrote:
>>
>> I am considering having a kit builder assemble a K2/100 for me to replace
>> my current station (see QRZ) Before making the commitment I would like to
>> chat with someone who owns a K2/100 and hear the PROs and CONs and any
>> issues. Additionally if there is a K2/100 owner in the Woodinville, WA I would
>> love a demonstration. Woodinville is 25 miless NE of Seattle.
>>
>> Please contact me offlist at _ardujenski@aol.com_
>> (mailto:[hidden email]) .
>>
>> I will be operating it primarily as a base station but want the ability to
>> go portable QRP or to be able to operate off battery power during one of
>> the many power outages.
>>
>> Thank you in advance for taking a few minutes to share your K2/100
>> experience with me
>>
>> Alan KB7MBI
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> 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]
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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]

k6dgw

Re: K2/100?

In reply to this post by vk2rq

I run my K2 from a 4S1P LiFePO4 pack. I ultimately sold my KPA100 and
KAT100, I use the K2 QRP-ish in field activities and it is indeed a
hassle. A warning to anyone who does swap the tops:

There are two 2-wire Molex connectors from the KAT2 to the K2 RF board.
One feeds RF to the tuner, the other 12 VDC. The cable lengths from
the KAT2 are such that either cable will reach to either socket on the
RF board. The two connectors are identical. If they are exchanged, the
shield on the coax feeding RF to the KAT2 ends up on the 12 VDC pin.
This should only be done if you decide to re-purpose a power trace on
the board to become a fuse.

73,

Fred K6DGW
- Northern California Contest Club
- CU in the 50th Running of the Cal QSO Party 3-4 Oct 2015
- www.cqp.org

On 12/18/2014 7:21 PM, Matt VK2RQ wrote:

> Below are some pros/cons of the different options.
>
>can’t put the 20W QRP ATU
> in the K2 enclosure (need to swap lids, which is a hassle), battery
> option, etc. (actually, I would prefer to run the K2 off external
> LiFePO4 batteries rather than put an SLA inside)
______________________________________________________________
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]

Phil Wheeler-2

Re: K2/100?

I painted one pair RED on each side; that's
probably saved my K2 a couple of times :-)

Phil W7OX

On 12/19/14 10:56 AM, Fred Jensen wrote:

> I run my K2 from a 4S1P LiFePO4 pack. I
> ultimately sold my KPA100 and KAT100, I use the
> K2 QRP-ish in field activities and it is indeed
> a hassle. A warning to anyone who does swap the
> tops:
>
> There are two 2-wire Molex connectors from the
> KAT2 to the K2 RF board. One feeds RF to the
> tuner, the other 12 VDC. The cable lengths from
> the KAT2 are such that either cable will reach
> to either socket on the RF board. The two
> connectors are identical. If they are exchanged,
> the shield on the coax feeding RF to the KAT2
> ends up on the 12 VDC pin. This should only be
> done if you decide to re-purpose a power trace
> on the board to become a fuse.
>
> 73,
>
> Fred K6DGW
> - Northern California Contest Club
> - CU in the 50th Running of the Cal QSO Party
> 3-4 Oct 2015
> - www.cqp.org
>
> On 12/18/2014 7:21 PM, Matt VK2RQ wrote:
>
>> Below are some pros/cons of the different options.
>>
>> can’t put the 20W QRP ATU
>> in the K2 enclosure (need to swap lids, which
>> is a hassle), battery
>> option, etc. (actually, I would prefer to run
>> the K2 off external
>> LiFePO4 batteries rather than put an SLA inside)