Elecraft

KPA100 Elimination?

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Matthew D. Pitts

Re: KPA100 Elimination?

I am leaning that way as well, since I will want the option of running
100 watts available. It would be nice if, in a future update to the
firmware, we could leave the cables connected and have the K2 detect the
state of the KPA100/KAT100 combination automatically.

>

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Tom Zeltwanger

RE: KPA100 Elimination?

In reply to this post by ni0c

Does this option alow better cooling? I was a little surprised to hear comments
that make it sound like working RTTY might really overheat the unit.

I am building a K2/100 now and will stay the course, but I would be interested
in hearing more. A 100w amp and tuner in a box might indeed be a nice way to
keep the basic QRP rig separate.

73,

Tom KG3V

Quoting Chuck Guenther <[hidden email]>:

> Thanks to Don, W3FPR, for clearly delineating what is required to put the
> KPA-100 in a separate enclosure. I'm certainly leaning in that direction,
> and somehow the Elecraft Web site doesn't spell out these details very well.
>
>
> BTW, the reason I'm considering the 100 watt amplifier is because day after
> day I'm finding I copy weak CW signals on 80 meters better with the K2 than
> the Omni 6, Option 1 loaded with mods and filters.
>
> 73,
> Chuck NI0C
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Chris Kantarjiev K6DBG

RE: KPA100 Elimination?

In reply to this post by Fred (FL)

I've always planned to extend my QRP K2 with a KPA100/KAT100 in
a separate EC2 - this would let me pack up my barefoot K2 for
/p operation without much nuisance, and still run QRO when desired.

I figure that's at least 12-18 months away, given the other projects
I have lined up. If Eric and Wayne were to put together a KPA400/KAT400
combination that fits in an EC2 and interfaces the same way, I
would almost certainly buy it, instead!

I'm in no hurry to do this - I'm having lots of fun with QRP - but
I see the value in being able to run QRO at times.

73 de chris K6DBG
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Dave Van Wallaghen

RE: KPA100 Elimination?

Happy Holidays to all:

To all those looking to split the KPA100 into an EC2 enclosure, take a look
at Lyle's website: http://www.kk7p.com/k2kpa100.html
It contains a very detailed explanation and lots of pictures of how to do
it. The first part describes placing the KPA100 in an EC2 enclosure by
itself, and as Don alluded to, there is some modification of the enclosure
to allow the cables to pass from the K2 to the EC2 enclosure.

The second option shown is putting the KPA100 in an EC2 enclosure along with
a KAT100. With this option all of the connections for power and RF can be
accomplished internally and with the addition of a KIO2 board in the basic
K2 makes for a very clean interface between the two boxes.

In my case I chose to add a KIO2, KAT2 and KBT2 battery option to my basic
K2 and then placed my KPA100 with my KAT100 into the EC2 enclosure. My goal
was to enable me to unplug a few cables and take my K2 on the road or simply
plug it all back in and I'm QRO again. I found the process to be nice and
clean and seems to work very well. There is a mod to L1 on the AUXBUS board
to the KIO2 that should be performed as well.

For those who are looking to do this before you buy the KPA100 & KAT100
options, it will be much more cost effective to do it at the onset instead
of how I did it after the fact.

At the same time I also added a SmartCharger to run and charge the basic K2
as detailed on Don Wilhelm's web site. It provides enough power to run the
K2 in receive mode and then top off the internal battery after transmitting
use in way that is good for the battery. This option is a cheap version for
me to still operate in a temporary power outage situation (QRP of course).

If anyone has any questions, contact me off list and I'll answer all I can.
So far I'm pretty happy with the setup and I think it looks good too. Maybe
one of these days I'll put up a small website and put up some pics.

Dave, W8FGU
K2 #5099

> -----Original Message-----
> From: [hidden email] [mailto:elecraft-
> [hidden email]] On Behalf Of Chris Kantarjiev
> Sent: Tuesday, December 26, 2006 7:55 PM
> To: [hidden email]
> Subject: RE: [Elecraft] KPA100 Elimination?
>
> I've always planned to extend my QRP K2 with a KPA100/KAT100 in
> a separate EC2 - this would let me pack up my barefoot K2 for
> /p operation without much nuisance, and still run QRO when desired.
>
> I figure that's at least 12-18 months away, given the other projects
> I have lined up. If Eric and Wayne were to put together a KPA400/KAT400
> combination that fits in an EC2 and interfaces the same way, I
> would almost certainly buy it, instead!
>
> I'm in no hurry to do this - I'm having lots of fun with QRP - but
> I see the value in being able to run QRO at times.
>
> 73 de chris K6DBG
> _______________________________________________
> 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

Joseph Reed-2

Re: KPA100 Elimination?

In reply to this post by Fred (FL)

Dave,

It really isn't necessary to change out L. John, KI6WX also has a web site that outlines the process for remoting the KPA100/KAT100 and his conclusion was L1 didn't need to be changed. After almost a year of operation not having changed L1, I have had no problems.

Joe N9JR

----- Original Message ----
From: Dave Van Wallaghen <[hidden email]>
To: [hidden email]
Sent: Wednesday, December 27, 2006 1:41:34 PM
Subject: RE: [Elecraft] KPA100 Elimination?

Happy Holidays to all:

In my case I chose to add a KIO2, KAT2 and KBT2 battery option to my basic
K2 and then placed my KPA100 with my KAT100 into the EC2 enclosure. My goal
was to enable me to unplug a few cables and take my K2 on the road or simply
plug it all back in and I'm QRO again. I found the process to be nice and
clean and seems to work very well. There is a mod to L1 on the AUXBUS board
to the KIO2 that should be performed as well.
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Tom Zeltwanger

RE: KPA100 Elimination?

In reply to this post by Dave Van Wallaghen

Thanks for this link and your comments. I really like this idea but was hoping
to just build the K2/100 and use it for awhile, then repackage it. Now it sounds
like that may be a bad idea.

I do wish the KPA100/KAT100 would work with any rig, but I guess you can't have
everything. The idea of a little separate portable QRP rig is very appealing to
me (someone who has never worked QRP).

Guess I have to order a KIO2 after all!

73,

Tom KG3V

Quoting Dave Van Wallaghen <[hidden email]>:

> Happy Holidays to all:
>
> To all those looking to split the KPA100 into an EC2 enclosure, take a look
> at Lyle's website: http://www.kk7p.com/k2kpa100.html
> It contains a very detailed explanation and lots of pictures of how to do
> it. The first part describes placing the KPA100 in an EC2 enclosure by
> itself, and as Don alluded to, there is some modification of the enclosure
> to allow the cables to pass from the K2 to the EC2 enclosure.
>
> The second option shown is putting the KPA100 in an EC2 enclosure along with
> a KAT100. With this option all of the connections for power and RF can be
> accomplished internally and with the addition of a KIO2 board in the basic
> K2 makes for a very clean interface between the two boxes.
>
> In my case I chose to add a KIO2, KAT2 and KBT2 battery option to my basic
> K2 and then placed my KPA100 with my KAT100 into the EC2 enclosure. My goal
> was to enable me to unplug a few cables and take my K2 on the road or simply
> plug it all back in and I'm QRO again. I found the process to be nice and
> clean and seems to work very well. There is a mod to L1 on the AUXBUS board
> to the KIO2 that should be performed as well.
>
> For those who are looking to do this before you buy the KPA100 & KAT100
> options, it will be much more cost effective to do it at the onset instead
> of how I did it after the fact.
>
> At the same time I also added a SmartCharger to run and charge the basic K2
> as detailed on Don Wilhelm's web site. It provides enough power to run the
> K2 in receive mode and then top off the internal battery after transmitting
> use in way that is good for the battery. This option is a cheap version for
> me to still operate in a temporary power outage situation (QRP of course).
>
> If anyone has any questions, contact me off list and I'll answer all I can.
> So far I'm pretty happy with the setup and I think it looks good too. Maybe
> one of these days I'll put up a small website and put up some pics.
>
> Dave, W8FGU
> K2 #5099
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: [hidden email] [mailto:elecraft-
> > [hidden email]] On Behalf Of Chris Kantarjiev
> > Sent: Tuesday, December 26, 2006 7:55 PM
> > To: [hidden email]
> > Subject: RE: [Elecraft] KPA100 Elimination?
> >
> > I've always planned to extend my QRP K2 with a KPA100/KAT100 in
> > a separate EC2 - this would let me pack up my barefoot K2 for
> > /p operation without much nuisance, and still run QRO when desired.
> >
> > I figure that's at least 12-18 months away, given the other projects
> > I have lined up. If Eric and Wayne were to put together a KPA400/KAT400
> > combination that fits in an EC2 and interfaces the same way, I
> > would almost certainly buy it, instead!
> >
> > I'm in no hurry to do this - I'm having lots of fun with QRP - but
> > I see the value in being able to run QRO at times.
> >
> > 73 de chris K6DBG
> > _______________________________________________
> > 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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> Post to: [hidden email]
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