K2 What mods during assembly?

[Jeff Wandling W7BRS-2]

As I wait patiently for my K2 kit to arrive I am wondering if the list
could chime in with opinion about what mods and/or options are best to
install DURING initial construction of the K2?

Before I get the flood of email telling me to  build the stock K2 first
then add the options, I know.  I'm talking about the mods that you wished
you had known about prior to starting K2 building so you could save one or
two rounds of case-opening or old-work mods to the board(s).

I plan on building the K2 stock, plain, first.  Test, calibrate,
etc..  then build and install the SSB option, test, calibrate, etc.. Then
operate it for a while before I think of the PA/AT options.  But browsing
the Elecraft website for the copious mods out there for the K2, I began to
wonder if there was better sense in putting in _some_ of the
critical/important mods to the RF/FP board during initial construction.

If this has already been covered in a FAQ, please accept my apologies for
wasting the bandwidth (and send me the URL to the FAQ? ;-))

Thanks,

-jeff

--
Jeff Wandling DE W7BRS K3 #2105     http://w7brs.com/k3
[hidden email]
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[Don Wilhelm-4]

Jeff,

All the mods that have an 'official' Elecraft blessing are included in
the K2 kit already.
There is also a large list of other 'special purpose' mods that one can
add - for instance one can order the board for my K2 Fixed Audio Output
from Tom Hammond N0SS (www.n0ss.net), or you can build and add my CW PTT
for the K2 if you have need for that.  Many others are in a similar
classification - determine your needs and pick and chose accordingly.
 
One thing I do on a KSB2 build that I would recommend is to ground the
crystals on the sides, near the base - it is not difficult if you plan
the order of mounting the crystals with this in mind and mount the
crystals one at a time, then solder the ground wire.

73,
Don W3FPR

W7BRS wrote:

>
> As I wait patiently for my K2 kit to arrive I am wondering if the list
> could chime in with opinion about what mods and/or options are best to
> install DURING initial construction of the K2?
>
> Before I get the flood of email telling me to  build the stock K2
> first then add the options, I know.  I'm talking about the mods that
> you wished you had known about prior to starting K2 building so you
> could save one or two rounds of case-opening or old-work mods to the
> board(s).
>
> I plan on building the K2 stock, plain, first.  Test, calibrate,
> etc..  then build and install the SSB option, test, calibrate, etc..
> Then operate it for a while before I think of the PA/AT options.  But
> browsing the Elecraft website for the copious mods out there for the
> K2, I began to wonder if there was better sense in putting in _some_
> of the critical/important mods to the RF/FP board during initial
> construction.
>
> If this has already been covered in a FAQ, please accept my apologies
> for wasting the bandwidth (and send me the URL to the FAQ? ;-))
>
> Thanks,
>
> -jeff
>

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[Herman Hardin III]

(snip)
     As I wait patiently for my K2 kit to arrive I am wondering if the list
     could chime in with opinion about what mods and/or options are best to
     install DURING initial construction of the K2?
(snip)

You might want to took at the ReWork Elimanators site at http://unpcbs.com/

They have available what you need to make the mods to the K2 as you build it so that all you have to do is unplug the bypass header module then plug in the K2 upgrade. That way you can unplug say the SSB board plug in the bypass header then trouble shoot what might be the problem.

Herman K2/100 -SN: 6446

[Jeff Wandling W7BRS-2]

Thanks everyone, on both sides of the Pond.  Let me quote part of what I
wrote.

On Sat, 3 Jan 2009, W7BRS wrote:
> [..] But browsing the Elecraft
> website for the copious mods out there for the K2, I began to wonder if there
> was better sense in putting in _some_ of the critical/important mods to the
> RF/FP board during initial construction.

I was trying but failing to zero beat on "mods".

I differentiate a mod from an option.  An Option, in my book is first an
Elecraft accesssory with a Elecraft Part #.   Prime Grade A Option.
That's just my twisted logic.

Next in line under Option I could accept a User-designed board/procedure
that adds capabilities and functionality.  Again, a reproducable change
that comes in the form of a product, board, or well tested procedure that
adds functionality or capability.

After that the word Option dissolves into a muddy sense of whatever you
like.

Now, a Mod, to me is a modification, a hack (good sense of the
word), a kludge (crufty sense of the word), work-around for a known
problem and as a side effect may provide a simple benefit but above
all else is not an Option. The only benefit expected minimally is to
resolve a performance or technical issue with the Stock K2 or Official K2
Option.  The target of a Mod is the K2 or any of the K2 Options.

As far as Mods go, I think Don cleared up that all the Mods are already in
the Kit.  I think that answers the main question I had. There are some
Mods I've been told about that I will double-check on when I get the kit.

I will check out the Rework Eliminator as a possible First Option.

Thanks again,

-jeff

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