K2 s/n 1769

[RichA]

Every so often the Ham Radio Gods smile upon me.

So here I am sitting in Wilkes-Barre, PA, after journeying 850 miles from the Atlanta area to attend our family reunion last Saturday. Due to the heavy rains the Susquehanna river had gone to flood stage and the Wyoming Valley was harder hit this time than in the 1972 Agnes Flood!! The river crested in W-B at 42.66 ft! The highest ever recorded. This flooded the lower areas that were not well protected by the US Army Corps of Engineers levies that were built after the 72 flood and then reinforced and heightened about 4-5 years ago. Everyone was told by the Luzerne County EMA that the levies would hold up to 41 feet. However, they never told anyone about the 3 ft "fudge factor" that they had included back in 2005!! So even if the river exceeded the 41 ft height the levies would contain it up to 44 ft.

OK, so here I am sitting in the hotel room, bemoaning the fact that the reunion was cancelled. Its raining like unto a female bovine urinating on a planar surface of a non-synthesized mineral nodule, so I called a buddy of mine whom I Elmered about 20 yrs ago. After a little ham radio talk he wanted to know if I wanted to buy his partially built K2? Price: $350!! Man, I couldn't get to my wallet fast enough!!! The rains stopped! The sun came out and shown upon my face! I had achieved Nirvana!!!

I picked up the rig and the "extras" on Monday. The radio was completed....lacking only the final alignment. In addition to a fully assembled K2 he had purchased the ATU, NB, 160M/RX and the SSB options! None of these had been built and were still in their plastic baggies! So basically I got about a $1000 worth of radio for $350. This is a good thing! I had sold my last K2 to afford our to move from PA to GA about 3 yrs ago. I had regretted that decision for the last three years. Now, with this rig and the options I can add the DSP, and the I/O boards.

The firmware will have to be upgraded, as I am sure that this radio, bought around 2001 or 02 has the original firmware. I have a "new" K2, and will have it on the air as soon as I do the final alignment and put the rest of the case together. I can take my time with the options and get back into some serious building for a change!

Man, I LOVE this hobby!!!

73
Rich Arland, K7SZ
Bent Dipole Ranch, Dacula, GA
"Cogito Ergo CQ" ("I think therefore I HAM")
Author: "The ARRL's Low Power Communications, the Art and Science of QRP" (all 3 editions)
Editor: "QRP POWER", QST Magazine (Jan 2000 to Dec 2003)
Editor: "The Learning Curve", CQ Magazine
Editor: "The Beginner's Column", CQ-VHF Magazine



     
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