Elecraft › [K2]

K2 lifespan

Classic

List

Threaded

18 messages Options

Lane-2

K2 lifespan

Hi,

Hope this list is for questions like this, apologies if not. Never
used an Elecraft, thinking about getting a K2, and was wondering what
people thought about it, especially at this time, 11 years later.
Looks like it came out in 2000? I like the reviews and I don't think
I'm advanced enough for a K3 so, just wanted to hear what others
though about the life on this rig. Will it be replaced anytime soon?

Thanks,
______________________________________________________________
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

Don Wilhelm-4

Re: K2 lifespan

Shane,

Yes, this list is especially for questions of that nature.

The Elecraft K2 is a great transceiver. Yes, it is an 11 year old
design, but the receiver performance is still near the top of the
Sherwood list. Will it be replaced? - never. It m\ay be superseded,
but it will not be replaced (a bit of a "play on words"). The K2 may be
a mature product, which means that you will see few (if any) upgrades or
changes from what it is now, but if the feature set of the K2 is
sufficient for your needs, then the K2 will fill your requirements for
some long time to come.

If you are looking at a K2 fully fitted out with all options, then the
price may approach the basic K3, and the K3 becomes the better dollar
value, but if you are looking for a transceiver without all the "bells
and whistles", a K2 may be your answer.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 3/23/2011 11:05 PM, Shane wrote:

> Hi,
>
> Hope this list is for questions like this, apologies if not. Never
> used an Elecraft, thinking about getting a K2, and was wondering what
> people thought about it, especially at this time, 11 years later.
> Looks like it came out in 2000? I like the reviews and I don't think
> I'm advanced enough for a K3 so, just wanted to hear what others
> though about the life on this rig. Will it be replaced anytime soon?
>
> Thanks,
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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
>

______________________________________________________________
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

W1SBY

Re: K2 lifespan

On 3/23/2011 10:41 PM, Don Wilhelm wrote:
>
> If you are looking at a K2 fully fitted out with all options, then the
> price may approach the basic K3, and the K3 becomes the better dollar
> value, but if you are looking for a transceiver without all the "bells
> and whistles", a K2 may be your answer.
Don, you missed one important feature/value. The fact that you can say
"I built it myself".
That feature weighed heavily when I chose the (fully loaded) K2.

73 de Allen, W1SBY
______________________________________________________________
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

73 de Allen, W1SBY

Byron Servies

Re: K2 lifespan

In reply to this post by Lane-2

Hi Shane,

I bought a K2 for myself this past Christmas and am building it now (I
just finished my session for the evening, in fact). I have used K3's
at other stations and they are wonderful; I have no doubt that at some
point I will own one. Like you, I had the concern about longevity of
the K2, but in the end my requirements were more fully met by the K2
than the K3.

In late 2009 I sold all of my appliances (except 2 HT's and a mobile
in my vehicle) and bought a K1. The build experience was fantastic, I
learned a lot about how the radio worked by looking at the schematics
as well as the parts, and it forced me to learn CW if I wanted to get
on the air! This year, I'm building the K2 system to expand both my
understanding of more complex tranceivers and my stations
capabilities. SSB and more bands will be very welcome.

The traditional nature of the K2 kit appealed to me after my K1
experience. My operating needs can be met by either the available
options or 3rd party modifications, and the size of the finished
product will fit my shack better than a K3 just now. Someone else will
have to comment on performance (mine is still mostly in parts bags,
after all), but the K2 has already provided me with hours of pleasure
and I haven't even powered it on yet!

Will it be replaced? Well, it has, by the K3. I would not put it past
Elecraft to come out with another small kit radio, but probably not a
traditional full-feature radio kit like the K1 or K2.

A KX3 SDR-based trail radio that uses cell phone DSP chips? That I
could see them doing.

My 2 cents,

73, Byron N6NUL

K1 #2799
K2 #7077 (in progress. Unboxing video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFiXSuTiCmU)
Most mini modules
----
- Northern California Contest Club
- CU in the 2011 Cal QSO Party 1-2 Oct 2011
- www.cqp.org
______________________________________________________________
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

Leroy

Re: K2 lifespan

In reply to this post by Lane-2

My K2 is still my favorite and most used radio. Just before this email
I was building the K60XV option so I can add the XV50 tranverter I just
ordered.
It's a QRP machine. I'm mostly CW, but its fun to get on SSB and astonish
the QRO ops with 10 watts. Most don't know until you tell them.
I also have the K1 and the KX1, they are as high quality and fun.
The workhorse is my K2.

Its been a fun run that’s not over for me.

Leroy Marion, AB7CE K2 SERIAL NUMBER 40

-----Original Message-----
From: Shane
Sent: Wednesday, March 23, 2011 9:05 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: [Elecraft] K2 lifespan

Hi,

Hope this list is for questions like this, apologies if not. Never
used an Elecraft, thinking about getting a K2, and was wondering what
people thought about it, especially at this time, 11 years later.
Looks like it came out in 2000? I like the reviews and I don't think
I'm advanced enough for a K3 so, just wanted to hear what others
though about the life on this rig. Will it be replaced anytime soon?

______________________________________________________________
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

George Thornton

Re: K2 lifespan

In reply to this post by Byron Servies

I have owned both the K2 and K3.

The K2 is a perfectly capable HF radio, near (but not at) the top in
receiver performance. The most fun part of the K2 was assembling the
kit, and I learned a lot from the experience.

The K2 has advantages in price, small size and low power consumption.
For average radio use it is more than enough.

That being said, the K3 is by far the better radio. Significantly more
effective and sensitive receiver, many more features and options.

Development will continue with the K3 whereas the K2 is probably for the
most part going to stay as it is.

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email]
[mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Byron Servies
Sent: Wednesday, March 23, 2011 8:59 PM
To: Shane
Cc: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K2 lifespan

Hi Shane,

I bought a K2 for myself this past Christmas and am building it now (I
just finished my session for the evening, in fact). I have used K3's
at other stations and they are wonderful; I have no doubt that at some
point I will own one. Like you, I had the concern about longevity of
the K2, but in the end my requirements were more fully met by the K2
than the K3.

In late 2009 I sold all of my appliances (except 2 HT's and a mobile
in my vehicle) and bought a K1. The build experience was fantastic, I
learned a lot about how the radio worked by looking at the schematics
as well as the parts, and it forced me to learn CW if I wanted to get
on the air! This year, I'm building the K2 system to expand both my
understanding of more complex tranceivers and my stations
capabilities. SSB and more bands will be very welcome.

The traditional nature of the K2 kit appealed to me after my K1
experience. My operating needs can be met by either the available
options or 3rd party modifications, and the size of the finished
product will fit my shack better than a K3 just now. Someone else will
have to comment on performance (mine is still mostly in parts bags,
after all), but the K2 has already provided me with hours of pleasure
and I haven't even powered it on yet!

Will it be replaced? Well, it has, by the K3. I would not put it past
Elecraft to come out with another small kit radio, but probably not a
traditional full-feature radio kit like the K1 or K2.

A KX3 SDR-based trail radio that uses cell phone DSP chips? That I
could see them doing.

My 2 cents,

73, Byron N6NUL

K1 #2799
K2 #7077 (in progress. Unboxing video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFiXSuTiCmU)
Most mini modules
----
- Northern California Contest Club
- CU in the 2011 Cal QSO Party 1-2 Oct 2011
- www.cqp.org
______________________________________________________________
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
______________________________________________________________
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

Jim Rogers, W4ATK

Re: K2 lifespan

In reply to this post by Lane-2

I have a K3 and just recently bought a K2 for the shack, my second K2. I messed up and sold the first one.

73s Jim
On Mar 23, 2011, at 10:05 PM, Shane wrote:

JIM ROGERS, W4ATK
[hidden email]
http://web.me.com/jimrogers_w4atk
K3/100 P3
K2/10

______________________________________________________________
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

Will - AI4VE

Re: K2 lifespan

In reply to this post by Lane-2

"If you are looking at a K2 fully fitted out with all options, then the
price may approach the basic K3, and the K3 becomes the better dollar
value"
This was the reason that after building the K1 I changed my original plans to follow with the K2 and bought a K3 kit instead. I love the K3. It's easily the best transceiver I've ever owned (or probably ever will), but I missed the build experience of the K1 and so after six months I ordered a K2/10. Although the design is 10+ years old, sales are apparently still reasonably strong. That said it, is a mature design and already some manufacture discontinued discreet components have been replaced with SM circuit packs. I was worried that continued K2 production would eventually not be economically feasible and didn't want to miss out on building what I believe has become a true American classic. I've added the Noise Blanker, analog Audio Filter, Tuner, and Battery Pack which make the rig a joy to use in the field whether it's the back yard, local park, or mountain top. No regrets - thank you, Elecraft.
Will - AI4VE

______________________________________________________________
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

Lane-2

Re: K2 lifespan

Are you really learning anything from the assembly process. My career
in not at all in hardware, I'm totally 100% a software person, and
though I understand the concepts at a high level … after I saw how
many pieces came w/ this radio … I started looking to see if the
factory would build it.

Putting pieces together as if I were coloring by number just because
the blue component goes in slot 1 isn't how a radio works (at least
that's what I think I'm hearing), in fact, it's the anti-learning
formula. So that's my main point in this question now … how much will
I understand from assembling the radio? I don't care to know that blue
goes in A1, or these wires always assemble in this way, or here's what
an LED is … I mean, actual understanding of the fundamentals. How much
are any of you taking away from this that don't have an electronics
background?

I saw James's post on how he messed up and sold his first one. I'd
much rather have a quality rig and not something I took target
practice at while trying to learn to assemble (at least not for this
kind of money). I can buy $40 junk and do the same thing.
______________________________________________________________
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

Don Wilhelm-4

Re: K2 lifespan

Shane,

Yes, the K2 assembly instructions will not lead you to an understanding
of the circuits - it is more mechanical to get the task accomplished.
However, for those adventuresome souls who want to understand their K2,
the Alignment and Test sections are an opportune time to study the
schematics and obtain an understanding of what is going on. This is not
spelled out in the manual, but a bit of study of the schematics will
reveal the workings of the K2 to those who are willing to "go the extra
mile" and see what the circuits are doing.

In the most basic form, the schematics indicate which components are
connected to what other components, but for those with a basic
understanding of amplifiers and other circuits, the combination of the
Block diagrams and the schematics will give an understanding of the
circuits operation.

It does take some study and/or some prior education. The ARRL Handbook
is a great resource for the elemental circuits.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 3/24/2011 7:33 PM, Shane wrote:

> Are you really learning anything from the assembly process. My career
> in not at all in hardware, I'm totally 100% a software person, and
> though I understand the concepts at a high level … after I saw how
> many pieces came w/ this radio … I started looking to see if the
> factory would build it.
>
> Putting pieces together as if I were coloring by number just because
> the blue component goes in slot 1 isn't how a radio works (at least
> that's what I think I'm hearing), in fact, it's the anti-learning
> formula. So that's my main point in this question now … how much will
> I understand from assembling the radio? I don't care to know that blue
> goes in A1, or these wires always assemble in this way, or here's what
> an LED is … I mean, actual understanding of the fundamentals. How much
> are any of you taking away from this that don't have an electronics
> background?
>
> I saw James's post on how he messed up and sold his first one. I'd
> much rather have a quality rig and not something I took target
> practice at while trying to learn to assemble (at least not for this
> kind of money). I can buy $40 junk and do the same thing.
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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
>

k6dgw

Re: K2 lifespan

In reply to this post by Lane-2

On 3/24/2011 4:33 PM, Shane wrote:
> Are you really learning anything from the assembly process.

Yes, I did, but certainly not everything. Electronics sort of left this
OF in its dust about the time of integrated circuits, digital signal
processing, and several others that I won't mention. But I did learn
the building blocks of my K2, even if I didn't understand how all the
blocks actually did their jobs. And, I learned where they all were in
the radio, I figured out how to get the IF filters the way I wanted
them, and I'm glad I did it.

> Putting pieces together as if I were coloring by number just because
> the blue component goes in slot 1 isn't how a radio works (at least
> that's what I think I'm hearing)

Well ... I was born without any color vision so it wasn't "coloring by
number" for me Poor choice of parents I guess, although my total
cholesterol is very low and is made up of mainly the "good stuff", good
choice of parents, I'm told. My K2 kit contained resistors all taped
for auto-insertion in order. I still checked them, but my wife didn't
have to tag all those little guys. It was a nice move by Elecraft, and
for me, if you've seen one resistor, you've pretty much seen them all. :-)

So that's my main point in this question now … how much will
> I understand from assembling the radio?

As much as you want to.

I don't care to know that blue
> goes in A1, or these wires always assemble in this way, or here's what
> an LED is … I mean, actual understanding of the fundamentals. How much
> are any of you taking away from this that don't have an electronics
> background?

Well, come on Shane, building a kit radio is not supposed to be 4 years
of EE and math. Trust me, "actual understanding of the fundamentals" is
a very hard 4 years. I don't seem to harbor the "construction pride"
that others rightly do, but when I fire up my K2 on a summit somewhere
or in a field situation, I have a good sense of what the controls do,
how to use them, and why they work. I understand the blocks in the ALC
power control, and thus what happens when I adjust the power control. I
really don't care about how the control changes the bias voltage or
current on Qxx so that this all happens. And, I've never understood
directional couplers.
>
> I saw James's post on how he messed up and sold his first one. I'd
> much rather have a quality rig and not something I took target
> practice at while trying to learn to assemble (at least not for this
> kind of money).

Hmmm ... I read James' post to mean, "I messed up *by* selling my first
one."

73,

Fred K6DGW
- Northern California Contest Club
- CU in the 2011 Cal QSO Party 1-2 Oct 2011
- www.cqp.org
______________________________________________________________
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

Jim Wiley-2

Re: K2 lifespan

In reply to this post by Lane-2

Shane -

I understand what you are saying, but there may be more you can do. For
example, building the kit does indeed give you insight on how it works,
how it is aligned (tuned up), and how the parts look and feel and fit
together. Not unimportant by any means. You gain lots of confidence
for when it comes time to repair of modify the thing - - But as the
Ronco ads used to say, "There's more!!"

If you really want to get inside the nuts and bolts of your radio, look
into purchasing a book called "The Electronics of Radio", by David
Rutledge. This book is available from various vendors, including
Amazon.com (no connection). The book breaks down each circuit and how
it works, and you really learn something. The book is designed to be
used while building (or at least having available for testing) a Norcal
40A

Here is the blurb from the Amazon page:

_______

This innovative book provides a stimulating introduction to analog
electronics by analyzing the design and construction of a radio
transceiver. The author provides essential theoretical background at
each step, along with carefully designed laboratory and homework
exercises. This structured approach ensures a good grasp of basic
electronics as well as an excellent foundation in wireless
communications systems. The author begins with a thorough description of
basic electronic components and simple circuits. He then describes the
key elements of radio electronics, including filters, amplifiers,
oscillators, mixers, and antennas. In the laboratory exercises, he leads
the reader through the design, construction, and testing of a popular
radio transceiver (the NorCal 40A), thereby illustrating and reinforcing
the theoretical material. A diskette containing the widely known circuit
simulation software, Puff, is included in the book. This book, the first
to deal with elementary electronics in the context of radio, can be used
as a textbook for introductory analog electronics courses, or for more
advanced undergraduate classes on radio-frequency electronics. It will
also be of great interest to electronics hobbyists and radio enthusiasts.

______

As far as I know, the 40A is still available from vendors such as
Wilderness Radio. Designed by Wayne Burdick, of Elecraft fame, too.
<grin> This may be the answer to what you are looking for. The book
is in the $55 range, the transceiver in the 150's plus postage. An
excellent investment if you want to really understand what is going on.

The Wilderness Radio Norcal 40A page is at:
http://www.fix.net/%7Ejparker/wilderness/nc40a.htm
<http://www.fix.net/%7Ejparker/wilderness/nc40a.htm>

But, don't give up on building a K2. The build is enjoyable, and you
end up with one of the nicest little sets around.

- Jim, KL7CC

Shane wrote:
> Are you really learning anything from the assembly process. My career
> in not at all in hardware, I'm totally 100% a software person, and
> though I understand the concepts at a high level … after I saw how
> many pieces came w/ this radio … I started looking to see if the
> factory would build it.
>
>
______________________________________________________________
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

Tom McCulloch

Re: K2 lifespan

In reply to this post by Lane-2

Yep - me too seen one resistor seen them all !

When she was younger that's how my daughter help me build my rigs -
"Honey now find me the red-blue-green- gold one" She felt useful (and
she was) and I enjoyed her company. Now she's grown and gone so I use a
multi-meter. When I built my K2 she was in college and when she came
home on break I asked her to label the inductors and we had fun reminiscing.

Tnx fer reminding me of that.

Tom WB2QDG
K2 1103

> Well ... I was born without any color vision so it wasn't "coloring by
> number" for me Poor choice of parents I guess, although my total
> cholesterol is very low and is made up of mainly the "good stuff", good
> choice of parents, I'm told. My K2 kit contained resistors all taped
> for auto-insertion in order. I still checked them, but my wife didn't
> have to tag all those little guys. It was a nice move by Elecraft, and
> for me, if you've seen one resistor, you've pretty much seen them all. :-)
>
>

______________________________________________________________
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

k0wa@swbell.net

Re: K2 lifespan

In reply to this post by Lane-2

Shane....

I am not at EE or a Computer Programmer....but I do love electronics and
computers. What ham radio has taught be over the last 46 years is that I can
learn by 1) reading a book, 2) doing the project., and 3) trial and error. I
love to figure out how it does work. Take some time and "read the manual" and
look at the schematic. Follow the receive signal through the RX until it comes
out the speaker. Look how the schematic starts the CW or SSB signal and how it
goes through the chain of circuits through the amplifier - tuner - to the
antenna port. Do all this BEFORE you put it together. Then, when you start
putting your K2 together, you will know what is going on when you are "stuffing"
parts on the board. You can also print out the schematic and mark off or
highlight each part you put on the board. That way you can follow along from
the physical and the theoretical.

But, a K2 is not an electronics course. But, it is a way to learn if you take
the time to read the manual first, figure out the schematic, and understand the
theory behind what the engineers were doing. It is quite simple. Even a person
with a BS in Liberal Arts did it...understood it...and learned a lot from the
experience.

It is quite interesting how the engineers put the K2 together. It really is an
engineering marvel...from the electronics to the mechanical structure. The
software is really good....using multiple micro-processors that is rather
clever.

I learned so much putting my K2 together about solid state electronics...when my
high school schooling taught be hollow state electronics or tubes. Buy a new
ARRL Handbook and follow along.

I try to learn something everyday about something. Learning is life long.....

Lee Buller K0WA
BA Radio and Television
MS Journalism and Mass Communication
PHD School of Hard Knocks

In our day and age it seems that Common Sense is in short supply. If you don't
have any Common Sense - get some Common Sense and use it. If you can't find any
Common Sense, ask for help from somebody who has some Common Sense. Is Common
Sense divine?

Common Sense is the image of the Creator expressing revealed truth in my mind.
- John W. (Kansas)
______________________________________________________________
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

Byron Servies

Re: K2 lifespan

In reply to this post by k6dgw

Hi Shane,

Fred has it exactly right:

On Thu, Mar 24, 2011 at 5:04 PM, Fred Jensen <[hidden email]> wrote:

> So that's my main point in this question now … how much will
>> I understand from assembling the radio?
>
> As much as you want to.

If you just stuff the boards with the parts, you will still end up
with a nice radio but perhaps not learn much. My personal goals are
met by finding the overall circuit in the schematic and looking that
up in one of my electronics books (I, too, work in software but my
degree is in general engineering. It has been a long time since
college).

Most of the circuits are duplicated many times (filters, etc.) and I
do not attempt to figure out specific details of each one, so I don't
spend all that much time with my nose in a book. My goal is to get to
the concepts 1 step below the block diagram; that's all. For me, this
is fun. Ham radio is a hobby, after all, and it is supposed to be
fun.

This thread started out with a question of whether the K2 will be
replaced and if it is still a good radio. I think that question has
been answered affirmatively, but that by itself won't tell you if you
should buy a K2 or if you would enjoy building one.

What will be the most fun for you?

Another option to consider if you conclude that a K2 would provide you
with the most fun, but you don't want to build it yourself, is to hire
one of the regular builders from this list to do that for you. There
are several with tons of experience.

73, Byron N6NUL
----
- Northern California Contest Club
- CU in the 2011 Cal QSO Party 1-2 Oct 2011
- www.cqp.org
______________________________________________________________
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

aj4tf

Re: K2 lifespan

In reply to this post by Lane-2

On Thu, 2011-03-24 at 12:00 -0400, [hidden email]
wrote:

I agree. The kitbuilding of the K2 was the main reason I went with it
and not the K3.

73,

David AJ4TF

> Message: 23
> Date: Wed, 23 Mar 2011 22:47:52 -0500
> From: "Allen Wisbey, W1SBY" <[hidden email]>
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K2 lifespan
> To: [hidden email]
> Message-ID: <[hidden email]>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
>
>
>
> On 3/23/2011 10:41 PM, Don Wilhelm wrote:
> >
> > If you are looking at a K2 fully fitted out with all options, then the
> > price may approach the basic K3, and the K3 becomes the better dollar
> > value, but if you are looking for a transceiver without all the "bells
> > and whistles", a K2 may be your answer.
> Don, you missed one important feature/value. The fact that you can say
> "I built it myself".
> That feature weighed heavily when I chose the (fully loaded) K2.
>
> 73 de Allen, W1SBY
>
>
> ----------------------------

Eric Champine

Re: K2 lifespan

Hi all.
I also agree with David. Building the K2 kit is what I was looking for the
most. It is FUN to build. It has all the features I need and am going to
use. While I am building the kit I do learn some stuff but if I make a
mistake and have to fix and test parts, that is when I learn a lot IMHO. I
build the K1 a little while back and the build was awesome but the learning
part for me was also the setup as stated by others.
As far as life span goes. There are many, many older rigs out there with
tubes and such that are still in use and probably will be for many years to
come. As far as the K2 goes, if it has the features on it that I need, and
it keeps on working. I'll use it for life. I believe it is selling good so
they should be selling the K2 for quite some time I would imagine. I have
only been licensed for about 3 years but an enthusiasts for some time now
and the reasons I just stated is why I went with the K2 myself. I believe
The K2 has a very nice life span left and I hope to use it till I am old and
gray :-) Actually the gray has started two years ago! I also love when I
show off my kits that I build to family, friends and hams. They are all so
amazed that I could build something like the K1 and the many other kits that
I have built and they all work properly. I hope to soon finish the K2 and
amaze them with that awesome little rig too. Just my two cents.

73 de W2EEC

Eric

On Fri, Mar 25, 2011 at 5:43 AM, david <[hidden email]> wrote:

> On Thu, 2011-03-24 at 12:00 -0400, [hidden email]
> wrote:
>
> I agree. The kitbuilding of the K2 was the main reason I went with it
> and not the K3.
>
> 73,
>
> David AJ4TF
>

Curt Milton

Re: K2 lifespan

In reply to this post by Lane-2

Shane

perhaps you are reading that folk are as passionate about their K2's as those
that have K3's - likely for differing reasons. If you think about the rigs we
had 15-20 years ago - both rock! I have owned a K2 for > 10 years, and enjoyed
operating a K3 twice at field day. both are rather compact rigs vs. the big
boxes that many (but not all) contest enthusiasts like.

to some, whether the rig was built in a factory or your kitchen table doesn't
matter. Others of us grew up reading QST when a large percentage of the
population built their rigs - either from a kit or from parts from a disposed TV
set.

I figure lifespan of sale will depend upon when Elecraft runs out of parts for
it, and even then a mixed thru-hole SMT hybrid could be conceived (maybe!).

I especially enjoy my K2 on CW - the variable crystal filter can be configured
to act similar to a four-position DSP when well aligned - and the receive audio
for CW sounds nice and clean. now that I think about it, the rig I have with
DSP is almost always set for 300 or 400 Hz when doing CW.

When 'old technology' has the right virtues it works fine.

73 Curt

PS - maybe when field day rolls around someone will have an Elecraft rig that
you can try ! or ask what hams in your local club might have that you could try
on a visit.

----- Original Message ----
From: Shane <[hidden email]>
To: [hidden email]
Sent: Wed, March 23, 2011 11:05:05 PM
Subject: [Elecraft] K2 lifespan

Hi,

Hope this list is for questions like this, apologies if not. Never
used an Elecraft, thinking about getting a K2, and was wondering what
people thought about it, especially at this time, 11 years later.
Looks like it came out in 2000? I like the reviews and I don't think
I'm advanced enough for a K3 so, just wanted to hear what others
though about the life on this rig. Will it be replaced anytime soon?

Thanks,
______________________________________________________________
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

______________________________________________________________
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