Elecraft

K2 Build: Options Advice

Classic

List

Threaded

8 messages Options

Elecraft mailing list

K2 Build: Options Advice

I'm planning to build a K2/10 with the following options:
KNB2
KAT2
KAF2

Is there any disadvantage to building the base K2, then adding the options later?

Thanks,
--ae0mm
______________________________________________________________
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]

EricJ

Re: K2 Build: Options Advice

None at all. Add what you want at any time after the initial build.
You'll have a better idea what you actually want after playing with the
base K2 for awhile.

Eric KE6US

On 5/24/2018 11:44 AM, AE0MM via Elecraft wrote:

> I'm planning to build a K2/10 with the following options:
> KNB2
> KAT2
> KAF2
>
> Is there any disadvantage to building the base K2, then adding the options later?
>
> Thanks,
> --ae0mm
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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]

Don Wilhelm

Re: K2 Build: Options Advice

In reply to this post by Elecraft mailing list

There is no real disadvantage, other than the fact that the base K2 must
work into a 50 ohm load for proper power control and proper PA loading.

For that reason, I would suggest the KAT2 be the first of those options
that you add.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 5/24/2018 2:44 PM, AE0MM via Elecraft wrote:

Elecraft mailing list

Re: K2 Build: Options Advice

Thanks all for the advice. I'm going to build the base K2 first. I'll just have to use resonant antennas or the kxpa100 w/internal tuner until the KAT2 has been added.

--ae0mm

‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ Original Message ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐

On May 24, 2018 3:27 PM, Don Wilhelm <[hidden email]> wrote:

>
>
> There is no real disadvantage, other than the fact that the base K2 must
>
> work into a 50 ohm load for proper power control and proper PA loading.
>
> For that reason, I would suggest the KAT2 be the first of those options
>
> that you add.
>
> 73,
>
> Don W3FPR
>
> On 5/24/2018 2:44 PM, AE0MM via Elecraft wrote:
>
> > I'm planning to build a K2/10 with the following options:
> >
> > KNB2
> >
> > KAT2
> >
> > KAF2
> >
> > Is there any disadvantage to building the base K2, then adding the options later?
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > --ae0mm
> >
> > 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]

David Woolley (E.L)

Re: K2 Build: Options Advice

In reply to this post by Elecraft mailing list

The disadvantage is that you will need to unsolder some components. In
most cases, I think you can destroy the through holes, but there is at
least one case where you have to insert a new value in the old hole.

There used to be a, third party, product, called UnPCBs, which provide a
minimal dummy version of most of the modules, but the sales of the K2
dropped to a level where it wasn't worth another production run for the
PCBs for this.

--
David Woolley
Owner K2 06123

On 24/05/18 19:44, AE0MM wrote:
> I'm planning to build a K2/10 with the following options:
> KNB2
> KAT2
> KAF2
>
> Is there any disadvantage to building the base K2, then adding the options later?
______________________________________________________________
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]

Edward A. Dauer

K2 Build: Options Advice

In reply to this post by Elecraft mailing list

I see no disadvantage.

I have built three, each of which has all of options you are considering. As David says there are some parts that need to be unsoldered, and a couple where the through-holes need to be cleaned up for inserting something else. Nonetheless, when I built mine even though I ordered the options at the same time as the base kit, I finished the base kit completely first, then went back in to add the options. Two reasons -- first, if there were to be a problem somewhere I wanted to be able to analyze it in the least complicated way. So, K2 first, test, then each option and its test. Second -- it's a kit. That's part of the fun.

Ted, KN1CBR
------------------------------

Message: 18
Date: Fri, 25 May 2018 22:06:45 +0100
From: David Woolley <[hidden email]>
To: AE0MM <[hidden email]>, Elecraft Reflector
<[hidden email]>
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K2 Build: Options Advice
Message-ID: <[hidden email]>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8; format=flowed

The disadvantage is that you will need to unsolder some components. In
most cases, I think you can destroy the through holes, but there is at
least one case where you have to insert a new value in the old hole.

There used to be a, third party, product, called UnPCBs, which provide a
minimal dummy version of most of the modules, but the sales of the K2
dropped to a level where it wasn't worth another production run for the
PCBs for this.

--
David Woolley
Owner K2 06123

On 24/05/18 19:44, AE0MM wrote:
> I'm planning to build a K2/10 with the following options:
> KNB2
> KAT2
> KAF2
>
> Is there any disadvantage to building the base K2, then adding the options later?

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

______________________________________________________________
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]

Peter Wollan-2

Re: K2 Build: Options Advice

In reply to this post by David Woolley (E.L)

It's been a long time since I did this, but I remember there are a couple
of connectors for the option boards that can be installed during the main
board assembly, and make a tremendous difference in ease of installing the
options when you get around to it. So there's an advantage in buying at
least some of the options right away -- I think the sideband board, and
maybe the tuner?

If I remember right, the noise blanker has some unavoidable disassembly
when it's installed, but not so much the others.

Peter W0LLN

On Fri, May 25, 2018 at 4:06 PM, David Woolley <[hidden email]>
wrote:

> The disadvantage is that you will need to unsolder some components. In
> most cases, I think you can destroy the through holes, but there is at
> least one case where you have to insert a new value in the old hole.
>
> There used to be a, third party, product, called UnPCBs, which provide a
> minimal dummy version of most of the modules, but the sales of the K2
> dropped to a level where it wasn't worth another production run for the
> PCBs for this.
>
> --
> David Woolley
> Owner K2 06123
>
>
> On 24/05/18 19:44, AE0MM wrote:
>
>> I'm planning to build a K2/10 with the following options:
>> KNB2
>> KAT2
>> KAF2
>>
>> Is there any disadvantage to building the base K2, then adding the
>> options later?
>>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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]
>

Neil Zampella

Re: K2 Build: Options Advice

I just finished my K2 build, with all the options and Agree with Peter,
there if you buy the options now, the K2 manual will point out just when
you should install the various plugs and other components during the
main K2 build.

My advice, all the K2 manuals are online as PDF at the Elecraft
website. I took a look at them prior to ordering my K2, and saw where
the various options are referenced. That made my mind up fairly easily.

For instance, at the end of the Front Panel assembly of the K2, it has a
section for 'uninstalled components'. It lists those component areas
that should not have anything installed, however, it then tells you
that these areas are for the KSB2 SSB adapter, and if you have it, you
should go to that option kit and install these components now, according
to the KSB2 kit instructions. I do advise that you do the inventory
of the KSB2 so you know all the parts are there, get the ones you need
to install on the Front Board, and set the rest aside.

Trust me, getting the ones you listed with the K2 will save you a lot of
time, and desoldering later.

Neil, KN3ILZ

On 5/26/2018 11:18 AM, Peter Wollan wrote:

> It's been a long time since I did this, but I remember there are a couple
> of connectors for the option boards that can be installed during the main
> board assembly, and make a tremendous difference in ease of installing the
> options when you get around to it. So there's an advantage in buying at
> least some of the options right away -- I think the sideband board, and
> maybe the tuner?
>
> If I remember right, the noise blanker has some unavoidable disassembly
> when it's installed, but not so much the others.
>
> Peter W0LLN
>
> On Fri, May 25, 2018 at 4:06 PM, David Woolley <[hidden email]>
> wrote:
>
>> The disadvantage is that you will need to unsolder some components. In
>> most cases, I think you can destroy the through holes, but there is at
>> least one case where you have to insert a new value in the old hole.
>>
>> There used to be a, third party, product, called UnPCBs, which provide a
>> minimal dummy version of most of the modules, but the sales of the K2
>> dropped to a level where it wasn't worth another production run for the
>> PCBs for this.
>>
>> --
>> David Woolley
>> Owner K2 06123
>>
>>
>> On 24/05/18 19:44, AE0MM wrote:
>>
>>> I'm planning to build a K2/10 with the following options:
>>> KNB2
>>> KAT2
>>> KAF2
>>>
>>> Is there any disadvantage to building the base K2, then adding the
>>> options later?
>>>
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> 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]
>>