K2 This Afternoon and Other Reflections

[N0EHQ]

Hi everyone. With the weather being bright and sunny and 48 degrees I decided to take the K2 out to the back yard and see how 5 watts and battery power would work in the bottom of the solar cycle.

I mounted my MP-1 on my water meter post with the base off the ground by about 3 1/2 feet. the radials were splayed at roughly 90 degree intervals around the antenna. I fired up the K2 at 5 watts and checked into both the Maritime Mobile Net and the YL System. Got anywhere from 5x5 to 5X9 reports from the east coast, Canada and the southeast from here in south central Iowa. All stations had positive comments on the audio.

The K2 never ceases to amaze me and to think during the building process I was ready to take a sledge hammer to it. Taking a hiatus from building and encouragement from you folks here on the reflector helped me realize a successful build not to mention just simply a great kit from Elecraft. I musn't forget Gary Surrency for finally getting me to see the forest in spite of the trees. I plan to build another K2 one of these days but not sure if I'll sell this one or keep it as a testemant to both my inclination to ineptness and stubborness and still be successful.

Thanks again folks and thanks to the Elecraft support.

73, Ed N0EHQ K2 #4595
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[Joseph Reed-2]

Ed,
   
  Glad you had nice wx and had an opportunity to put your K2 to the task.

  I wonder what radials you were using on the MP-1.  I have found in the past that without 32 1/4 wave (20m) radials the antenna was squat.  I've tried using the MFJ whip, but it is just too much for the tripod mount.
   
  A bigger question to the group, the MP-1 is a nice product and well constructed, but what have other folks done to improve Rr (radiation resistance)?
   
  Regards,
  Joe N9JR
 
Ed Palmer <[hidden email]> wrote:
    Hi everyone. With the weather being bright and sunny and 48 degrees I decided to take the K2 out to the back yard and see how 5 watts and battery power would work in the bottom of the solar cycle.

I mounted my MP-1 on my water meter post with the base off the ground by about 3 1/2 feet. the radials were splayed at roughly 90 degree intervals around the antenna. I fired up the K2 at 5 watts and checked into both the Maritime Mobile Net and the YL System. Got anywhere from 5x5 to 5X9 reports from the east coast, Canada and the southeast from here in south central Iowa. All stations had positive comments on the audio.
 
The K2 never ceases to amaze me and to think during the building process I was ready to take a sledge hammer to it. Taking a hiatus from building and encouragement from you folks here on the reflector helped me realize a successful build not to mention just simply a great kit from Elecraft. I musn't forget Gary Surrency for finally getting me to see the forest in spite of the trees. I plan to build another K2 one of these days but not sure if I'll sell this one or keep it as a testemant to both my inclination to ineptness and stubborness and still be successful.

Thanks again folks and thanks to the Elecraft support.

73, Ed N0EHQ K2 #4595
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[Ken Bessler]

>From: Joseph Reed <[hidden email]>
>To: Ed Palmer <[hidden email]>, [hidden email]
>Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K2 This Afternoon and Other Reflections
>Date: Wed, 22 Feb 2006 18:21:23 -0800 (PST)
>
>Ed,
>
>   Glad you had nice wx and had an opportunity to put your K2 to the task.
>
>   I wonder what radials you were using on the MP-1.  I have found in the
>past that without 32 1/4 wave (20m) radials the antenna was squat.  I've
>tried using the MFJ whip, but it is just too much for the tripod mount.
>
>   A bigger question to the group, the MP-1 is a nice product and well
>constructed, but what have other folks done to improve Rr (radiation
>resistance)?
>
>   Regards,
>   Joe N9JR

Maybe it's the soil conductivity where you are? I used to have a map of
north America
which showed the soil conductivity all over and my QTH (EM17) was as high as
the scale
could go. I've always had good luck with verticals here. My MP-1 (I call it
a MP-1X) is the
standard coil, mount and radials plus 4 additional 50' radials, a Hustler
54" mast and a
MFJ 12' whip. I've been too busy helping my dad recover from a hip
replacement so I
haven't had a chance to try the mods to the MP-1 out yet but the base model
worked
pretty well, even with only the OEM radials and 12 watts.

...just wait 'till I set up my new version with my new 250w amp...maybe
tomorrow?

   73's de Ken KG0WX - Kadiddlehopper #11808,
            Flying Pigs #-1055, Grid EM17iq,
  Elecraft K2 #4913, XG2, 4SQRP Tenna Dipper,
  Heath GD-1B, MP-1(X)antenna & HLA-150 amp.

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