K2 first on-air test
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I just completed a K2 and the KPA100. Sincere thanks to Don and others who
answered my questions, and to Scott at Elecraft who was very quick to resolve a couple parts issues for me. So I decided to run it in the VA QSO party this weekend as its first serious on-air test. I used the rig for CW operating and some SSB listening for openings only (SSB module not installed yet). The rig works extremely well. The receiver is great, as many here already know. The memory keyer is a wonderful addition to my station. The standard CW and SSB filters did a fine job for me, and RIT and tuning functions were fine (smooth and comfortable). I only had one minor issue and one issue that I will need to resolve. The minor issue is that the stand is too high to use if you are constantly tuning the bands. A "center" position would be helpful. The big issue for me is one that we discussed before. The fan is terribly loud. In a CW contest it runs almost full time. I don't know how some people can say it does not annoy them. I couldn't operate SSB with this fan running in the shack. I don't want to start another long fan discussion, but I can't ignore this. I will try some of the fan fixes that have been suggested here. 73, Tom KG3V _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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Tom,
There is "half-height" stand available ... I have one under my K2. I can't give you the number, but check the website. 73! Ken Kopp -K0PP [hidden email] _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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In reply to this post by Tom Zeltwanger
> I only had one minor issue and one issue that I will need to resolve. The minor
> issue is that the stand is too high to use if you are constantly tuning the > bands. A "center" position would be helpful. >From the Elecraft website: ETS15 Tilt Stand 1.5" $14.00 While this tilt stand won't do much to reduce your fan noise, it will certainly lower the front of the K2. :) Mark AD5SS _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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In reply to this post by Tom Zeltwanger
Tom,
Congratulations on your success. There is a half-high tilt stand available from Elecraft that may work for you. I tried it and find that it does work, but for me is about 1/2 inch too low, so I put a piece of 1/2 inch plywood under it. As far as the fan noise, it should not be THAT loud. You may want to check your fan mounting - loosen the screws and test it with the screws only finger tight. If you beefed them down too much, you can distort the fan body and it will get noisy. If it quiets down with the screws finger tight, snug the mounting screws up only enough to compress the lockwashers - the spring in the lockwashers will keep the screws from loosening more. If your fan is running all the time, first check the CAL tpa parameter - the setting should match the current temperature of the heatsink. Then check to be certain the fan is set to 'Normal'. 73, Don W3FPR Tom Zeltwanger wrote: > <snip> > I only had one minor issue and one issue that I will need to resolve. The minor > issue is that the stand is too high to use if you are constantly tuning the > bands. A "center" position would be helpful. > > The big issue for me is one that we discussed before. The fan is terribly loud. > In a CW contest it runs almost full time. I don't know how some people can say > it does not annoy them. I couldn't operate SSB with this fan running in the > shack. I don't want to start another long fan discussion, but I can't ignore > this. I will try some of the fan fixes that have been suggested here. > > 73, > > Tom KG3V Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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Don,
Thanks for the suggestions. I will try what you suggest. This fan really ROARS! So maybe I did go overboard with the tightening of the hardware. I hope so. In a CW contest, I am transmitting about 50% futy cycle for 45 minutes at a time. So it gets pretty warm. The fan was on Norm, but I am driving it hard at full output power. Thanks also to the others for the additional suggestions. This really is one great rig. One of the best points is that there is actually the possibility of changing/improving what is not to the liking of an individual operator. 73, Tom KG3V Quoting Don Wilhelm <[hidden email]>: > Tom, > > Congratulations on your success. > > There is a half-high tilt stand available from Elecraft that may work > for you. I tried it and find that it does work, but for me is about 1/2 > inch too low, so I put a piece of 1/2 inch plywood under it. > > As far as the fan noise, it should not be THAT loud. You may want to > check your fan mounting - loosen the screws and test it with the screws > only finger tight. If you beefed them down too much, you can distort > the fan body and it will get noisy. If it quiets down with the screws > finger tight, snug the mounting screws up only enough to compress the > lockwashers - the spring in the lockwashers will keep the screws from > loosening more. > > If your fan is running all the time, first check the CAL tpa parameter - > the setting should match the current temperature of the heatsink. Then > check to be certain the fan is set to 'Normal'. > > 73, > Don W3FPR > > Tom Zeltwanger wrote: > > > <snip> > > I only had one minor issue and one issue that I will need to resolve. The > minor > > issue is that the stand is too high to use if you are constantly tuning > the > > bands. A "center" position would be helpful. > > > > The big issue for me is one that we discussed before. The fan is terribly > loud. > > In a CW contest it runs almost full time. I don't know how some people can > say > > it does not annoy them. I couldn't operate SSB with this fan running in > the > > shack. I don't want to start another long fan discussion, but I can't > ignore > > this. I will try some of the fan fixes that have been suggested here. > > > > 73, > > > > Tom KG3V > _______________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Post to: [hidden email] > You must be a subscriber to post to the list. > Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): > http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm > Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com > _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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