K2 Performance question

[K4JQV]

Dear Group;

As I use my beloved K2 - and keep adding options - I wonder...
Since it is a kit, and one I did not build, how can I be sure it is giving the best performance in terms of sensitivity? Is there an easy way to determine if it is giving its all?
I know a test lab would work, which unfortunately I lack, and I can do some sensitivity comparisons with my other rigs, but short of a full re-alignment is there anything?

BTW I have no reason to believe it is anything but great!

73;
Jacob K4JQV
Lexington, KY

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[Andrew Moore-3]

Jacob - there are a couple references on the net to K2 calibration
procedures - I think tom/N0SS's site had one; there are possibly others.
 If you follow the steps, you can dial in your K2 very nicely.  I do this
once every couple years but I think it's worth it to know that the K2 is
tuned up pretty well.  It's nothing too horribly technical, just takes some
time. It really helps to have a reference signal generator and wideband
noise generator, such as the Elecraft XG2 (signal ref) and N-gen (wideband
noise generator), and software such as Spectrogram to aid in filter
alignment.

--Andrew, NV1B
..

On Tue, Jan 3, 2012 at 10:10 PM, jacob chambers <[hidden email]>wrote:

> Dear Group;
>
> As I use my beloved K2 - and keep adding options - I wonder...
> Since it is a kit, and one I did not build, how can I be sure it is giving
> the best performance in terms of sensitivity? Is there an easy way to
> determine if it is giving its all?
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[Don Wilhelm-4]

Jacob,

Short of testing, there is not much I can say to answer your questions.  
You can just trust, or you can obtain instruments to measure.

I would suggest that you obtain a low level signal generator such as the
Elecraft XG3 or XG2 to make MDS measurements (using the techniques and
calculations shown in the manual) to determine if your K2 sensitivity is
"up to par".

The other answer is "to trust" -- the K2, when the bandpass filters are
properly aligned and L34 is adjusted for the best S/N ratio will be a
"hot" receiver.  So if your construction practices  were "by the book"
and your alignment procedures were all within tolerance - then you will
have a K2 that performs quite well, and likely exceeds specifications.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 1/3/2012 10:10 PM, jacob chambers wrote:

> Dear Group;
>
> As I use my beloved K2 - and keep adding options - I wonder...
> Since it is a kit, and one I did not build, how can I be sure it is giving the best performance in terms of sensitivity? Is there an easy way to determine if it is giving its all?
> I know a test lab would work, which unfortunately I lack, and I can do some sensitivity comparisons with my other rigs, but short of a full re-alignment is there anything?
>
> BTW I have no reason to believe it is anything but great!
>
> 73;
> Jacob K4JQV
> Lexington, KY
>

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