K2 Question

[vk3dbd]

On behalf of a friend (in Australia) who is thinking of a K2,  can anyone
give an approximate idea of the time needed to build a K2 kit

Better still has anyone got a K2 to sell (In Australia)

73   David VK3DBD
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[Kevin Luxford]

Dear oh dear, David, that really is like asking, :How long is a piece of
string?"

You will find that the time taken varies enormously, from the
experienced people who have built several K2s to those of us who struck
problems, got disheartened, put everything away for a year or so, only
to get a bright idea of where the problem may lie, take it out, find the
problem and happily finish it off.

It all depends upon what time one has available.  A retired person could
easily build a K2 in a couple of weeks or less, I believe.  I think
someone on this list built one in a weekend.  However, IMHO it is not a
speed contest.  There are no prizes for being the fastest builder.  My
advice is, take your time and enjoy the process.

Make sure you have the right tools.  Take the time to identify all the
packages and all the parts and take a careful inventory.  Let Elecraft
know straight away if there are any parts problems.  Resistors are on a
bandolier in the order in which they should be used, but the capacitors
are a different story.  I am my pharmacist's third best customer, so I
have many empty pill bottles with tight fitting lids.  Others may do
things differently, but I found that doing a bin sort (i.e. putting all
capacitors of a particular capacitance and voltage rating into one pill
box, and marking the value and rating with a felt pen) really helped.

Follow the instructions to the letter.  Tick each component off as it is
installed.

Do look at the two products on the site http://www.unpcbs.com/ as they
can make life a lot easier.

As you are a VK3, feel free to call me - I am listed in the callbook - I
have built two K2s and feel I have learned a thing or two along the way.

Buying a K2 is OK, but the number on the used market in VK would be
fairly small.  Buying a pre-built one from overseas exposes you to
possible workmanship problems and also deprives one of the challenge of
assembling a truly great radio - and one which the owner will be able to
maintain.

73
Kevin
VK3DAP / ZL2DAP

David Dunn wrote:

> On behalf of a friend (in Australia) who is thinking of a K2,  can anyone
> give an approximate idea of the time needed to build a K2 kit
>
> Better still has anyone got a K2 to sell (In Australia)
>
> 73   David VK3DBD
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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
>
>  

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[Don Wilhelm-4]

David,

If he plans 32 to 40 hours for the basic K2, he will be in the
ballpark.  Options also take time, but not nearly as long as the base K2.
It is not difficult, but there are many parts.  The instruction manual
covers all the details, so if he can solder well and follow written
instructions, he should have no difficulty.  The K2 goes together just
like any other kit - one part at a time, but there are a lot of parts.

73,
Don W3FPR

David Dunn wrote:
> On behalf of a friend (in Australia) who is thinking of a K2,  can anyone
> give an approximate idea of the time needed to build a K2 kit
>
> Better still has anyone got a K2 to sell (In Australia)
>
>  
>
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[Rick Evans-7]

David,

  Forty hours spread over two weeks to build the basic K2 and two small
option boards would be a fair estimate.

   It was more fun to build than I expected.  The instruction manual is
fantastic, (nearly) all the parts fit perfectly, and the entire project is just
quite clever.  Build a section, test a section, laugh out loud when it works
perfectly. Repeat.

Then afterwards, when he meets a K3 owner he can tell them about the
good old days:

... Spoiled whipper-snappers ...
... Uphill, both ways ...
... In the snow ...
... wearing just a pair of shoes ...
... while being chased by dinosaurs ...

73,
Rick Evans, KG4FER
Orlando, FL

On Tue, Dec 22, 2009 at 2:10 AM, David Dunn <[hidden email]> wrote:
> On behalf of a friend (in Australia) who is thinking of a K2,  can anyone
> give an approximate idea of the time needed to build a K2 kit
>
> Better still has anyone got a K2 to sell (In Australia)
>
> 73   David VK3DBD
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[Gary Hvizdak]

> Tue Dec 22 02:10:48 EST David Dunn (VK3DBD) wrote ...
> can anyone give an ... idea of the time needed to build a K2 kit ...

David,

    It sounds like your friend is more interested in having a K2 rather than
building one.  In that case I suggest that he enlist the assistance of a
builder-for-hire, least he rush and make a mistake.

    Whether he builds it himself, gets one second-hand, or has one custom-
built for him -- I would urge that he obtain one assembled using the "Option
Ready" assembly method promoted by <http://www.unpcbs.com/>, as this will
dramatically simplify the subsequent installation of option internal
expansion modules (which he can also obtain pre-assembled from a builder-
for-hire).

73 & Happy Holidays,
Gary  KI4GGX
K2 #4067
unpcbs.com webmaster

P.S. See <http://www.unpcbs.com/hire/> for a short list of quality builders-
for-hire.

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