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K2 purchase question

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bud73

K2 purchase question

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I am planning on purchasing a K2 standard (low power) version of the radio.
I will be operating CW mostly but, will get the SSB option.
My question is how important would it be to also install the DSP option,
KDSP2.
I am interested in any comments relating to the operation of the DSP option
in the K2.
Is it really a cost effective option to add to the existing crystal filters
in the K2.
Thanks for your comments.

Bud,
NY1Z

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Johnny Siu

Re： K2 purchase question

Hi Bud,

I would not order the KDSP2 at the first moment. Just have a feel of a basic K2
first. KDSP2 is not cheap. When you add everything together, you would like to
go for a K3 instead.

I sold the KDSP2 because I don't like the artifact. It is just primitive when
compared with the DSP in K3. Instead I would go for a KAF2 audio filter which
can be obtained in the second hand at a much discounted price. When most
elecrafters upgrade to KDSP2, they are willing to sell the surplus KAF2 at a
very reasonable price. For CW, KAF2 is a very cost effective option.

Just my 2 cents.

Johnny VR2XMC

----- 郵件原件 ----
寄件人﹕ "[hidden email]" <[hidden email]>
收件人﹕ [hidden email]
傳送日期﹕ 2010/9/7 (二) 9:38:09 PM
主題： [Elecraft] K2 purchase question

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I am planning on purchasing a K2 standard (low power) version of the radio.
I will be operating CW mostly but, will get the SSB option.
My question is how important would it be to also install the DSP option,
KDSP2.
I am interested in any comments relating to the operation of the DSP option
in the K2.
Is it really a cost effective option to add to the existing crystal filters
in the K2.
Thanks for your comments.

Bud,
NY1Z

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Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
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Don Wilhelm-4

Re: K2 purchase question

In reply to this post by bud73

Bud,

The IF filters on the K2 are quite adequate for most purposes.
The KDSP2 adds audio DSP filtering which has very steep sided filters,
and has noise reduction capabilities as well which may be a help in some
situations. The normal FL1 position is a Low Pass filter which kills
some of the high frequency hiss in the audio.
An alternative would be the KAF2 which provides a peak response active
filter and a low pass filter that is in-line all the time.

Actually, it is easy to add the KDSP2 or KAF2 later, so if you are
wondering whether the normal K2 IF filters will be adequate for your
needs, just try the K2 without the audio filtering for a while and then
decide if you want to add it.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 9/7/2010 9:38 AM, [hidden email] wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
> I am planning on purchasing a K2 standard (low power) version of the radio.
> I will be operating CW mostly but, will get the SSB option.
> My question is how important would it be to also install the DSP option,
> KDSP2.
> I am interested in any comments relating to the operation of the DSP option
> in the K2.
> Is it really a cost effective option to add to the existing crystal filters
> in the K2.
> Thanks for your comments.
>
> Bud,
> NY1Z
>

______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

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Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

Guy, K2AV

Re: K2 purchase question

In reply to this post by bud73

I'm one of those who wouldn't trade the DSP.

In my case, I took essentially unmodified K2 #1239 and did a full
all-modifications plus A-version mainboard to B-version mainboard
conversion AND added DSP. To be fair, this included a very effective
swap-out of older selectivity crystals, which I did hear making a
significant change. The current selling version of the K3 has had all
of these many changes in for half a decade and you will not experience
the change I did in installing an all mod, A to B + DSP conversion.
Having qualified it that way, I still would say that the DSP took the
radio from an excellent portable device and turned it into a contest
radio. I have used it QRP in the 160 contests without any selectivity
issues. Until the K3, the K2 with the DSP was the best receiver in the
shack.

The K2's variable crystal bandwidth functions as a variable width
roofing filter, and the DSP is capable of slicing out leftover
leftover unwanted audio way down. Having used a pair of filters (400
and 250) in my MP that I was happy with in contests, I set the first
filter as a wide for general use, which I didn't have in the MP, the
2nd and 3rd to mimmick the measured passband of the MP 400/250, and
the fourth for narrow digging in the noise. These settings made it my
favorite for listening around, which I do a lot.

I kept mine battery-enabled, and have the KAT2 and KPA100 in a
separate EC2 enclosure for driving amps.

Up until last night, when I put the IF DSP board swap in K3 #1239, K2
#1239 with the AF DSP had the best RX audio in the shack.

73, Guy.

On Tue, Sep 7, 2010 at 9:38 AM, <[hidden email]> wrote:

>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
> I am planning on purchasing a K2 standard (low power) version of the radio.
> I will be operating CW mostly but, will get the SSB option.
> My question is how important would it be to also install the DSP option,
> KDSP2.
> I am interested in any comments relating to the operation of the DSP option
> in the K2.
> Is it really a cost effective option to add to the existing crystal filters
> in the K2.
> Thanks for your comments.
>
> Bud,
> NY1Z
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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
>