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Looking at Elecraft kits

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Stephen Przepiora

Looking at Elecraft kits

Hello All, As a newly licensed tech, I am looking around for radio's. I am
interested in the Elecraft kits, but am debating whether to get the KX1 and
then an older used radio for home or to just get a K2.

I do a bit of camping and hunting, over the course of a year probably spend
about a month in the woods but none of it is hiking so extreme portability
isn't that much of an issue. It might be in the future and I will get a KX1
for that, but right now it would be a matter of dragging a car battery to a
table at most 50 feet.

The fact is budgets being what they are, I probably can only afford a basic
K2 right now. I am trying hard to learn the code and I am slowly progressing
so it may seem like a waste to buy a basic K2 now without knowing code, but
if I do not get it now, I will not be able to afford it again for a while.

My main concern is if I get a basic K2 without any extras, is it easy to add
things later on? It seems like it would be, but I just want to make sure.

Thank you,
Steve
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Darwin, Keith

RE: Looking at Elecraft kits

The K1, KX1 and K2 are different radios that serve different purposes.
The K2 is the better performing of the 3 and a bare bones K2 is a very
well equipped top performing rig. I'm a CW op and my K2 has only the
SSB adapter and 100 watt PA as options. I use an outboard audio filter
to kill some of the hiss and clean up the sidetone and I'm quite happy
with the setup. The K2 is good enough to serve as a person's only rig
for base use.

Options are easily added to the K2 after it is done. Many options do
require you to make simple mods to the K2 (adding components, replacing
components) but those mods are clearly outlined in the documentation
that comes with the relate option.

If you'd rather not do the rework at the time an option goes in, then
you could go with the Rework Eliminators during the initial kit build.
This approach has you making all the option mods to the K2 from the
start. Later, when you add the option, you just build the option and
plug it in. But be careful, the Rework Eliminators add complexity to
the initial K2 build and can make debugging more difficult since the rig
doesn't match the official K2 documentation. It is very important that
you follow directions exactly. If you do, you're rewarded with a much
more "final" K2 that you don't have to touch again.

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email]
[mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Stephen Przepiora
Sent: Friday, April 13, 2007 9:58 AM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: [Elecraft] Looking at Elecraft kits

Hello All, As a newly licensed tech, I am looking around for radio's. I
am interested in the Elecraft kits, but am debating whether to get the
KX1 and then an older used radio for home or to just get a K2.

I do a bit of camping and hunting, over the course of a year probably
spend about a month in the woods but none of it is hiking so extreme
portability isn't that much of an issue. It might be in the future and I
will get a KX1 for that, but right now it would be a matter of dragging
a car battery to a table at most 50 feet.

The fact is budgets being what they are, I probably can only afford a
basic
K2 right now. I am trying hard to learn the code and I am slowly
progressing so it may seem like a waste to buy a basic K2 now without
knowing code, but if I do not get it now, I will not be able to afford
it again for a while.

My main concern is if I get a basic K2 without any extras, is it easy to
add things later on? It seems like it would be, but I just want to make
sure.

Thank you,
Steve
_______________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Post to: [hidden email]
You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.):
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Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm
Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
_______________________________________________
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Ron D'Eau Claire-2

RE: Looking at Elecraft kits

In reply to this post by Stephen Przepiora

I strongly recommend the K2, Steve.

Adding the options when you want is very simple. The K2 was designed to be
built just that way and it's a trivial exercise to install options after
you've built, tested and used the basic K2. The K2 is designed to be taken
to bits in a few minutes, should you ever want to do that, but the modules
are added with a minimum of fuss-and-bother without doing a lot of heavy
disassembly. Usually they involve adding a header to a pc board where the
module will plug in and cutting or removing a jumper that you installed
during the initial build to bypass the module until you add it.

Some of those options are perfect for your style of portable work - such as
the optional built-in antenna tuner and battery that mount in the removable
top cover. With them, all you need is a key and some wire to use for an
antenna to go portable. If you decide you'd like a 100-watt K2/100 in the
future, you can add the KPA100. It, too, is in a removable lid that replaces
the "QRP" top that may contain your portable battery and tuner. So a couple
of minutes - at the most - to swap top covers and your K2 is either a
world-class home station or a self-contained world-class portable station.

Congratulations on the license, Steve! You'll have a world of fun with your
Elecraft rig on the HF bands. When the bands are open for DX, it's literally
a "world" of fun!

73,

Ron AC7AC

-----Original Message-----

Hello All, As a newly licensed tech, I am looking around for radio's. I am
interested in the Elecraft kits, but am debating whether to get the KX1 and
then an older used radio for home or to just get a K2.

I do a bit of camping and hunting, over the course of a year probably spend
about a month in the woods but none of it is hiking so extreme portability
isn't that much of an issue. It might be in the future and I will get a KX1
for that, but right now it would be a matter of dragging a car battery to a
table at most 50 feet.

The fact is budgets being what they are, I probably can only afford a basic
K2 right now. I am trying hard to learn the code and I am slowly progressing
so it may seem like a waste to buy a basic K2 now without knowing code, but
if I do not get it now, I will not be able to afford it again for a while.

My main concern is if I get a basic K2 without any extras, is it easy to add
things later on? It seems like it would be, but I just want to make sure.

Thank you,
Steve

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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

dave.wilburn

Re: Looking at Elecraft kits

In reply to this post by Darwin, Keith

The new "companion" document from Rework Eliminators places all of the
information (that from Elecraft, and that from RE) in one document.
This eases the complexity considerably. But "if" you are
troubleshooting a problem that goes through one of the connections, or
sections that are mod'ed then you will have to keep track of it, as you
would if you were working with an Elecraft with the added options. I
tripped up while using them, by missing a step (my own fault). But they
never caused any problems while troubleshooting and I am glad I used
them. I just purchased the 160m option, and just completed the SSB
option. In both cases, all I have to do is unplug the RE board, and
plug in the new ones and continue with the integration.

David Wilburn
[hidden email]
K4DGW
K2 #5982

Darwin, Keith wrote:

> The K1, KX1 and K2 are different radios that serve different purposes.
> The K2 is the better performing of the 3 and a bare bones K2 is a very
> well equipped top performing rig. I'm a CW op and my K2 has only the
> SSB adapter and 100 watt PA as options. I use an outboard audio filter
> to kill some of the hiss and clean up the sidetone and I'm quite happy
> with the setup. The K2 is good enough to serve as a person's only rig
> for base use.
>
> Options are easily added to the K2 after it is done. Many options do
> require you to make simple mods to the K2 (adding components, replacing
> components) but those mods are clearly outlined in the documentation
> that comes with the relate option.
>
> If you'd rather not do the rework at the time an option goes in, then
> you could go with the Rework Eliminators during the initial kit build.
> This approach has you making all the option mods to the K2 from the
> start. Later, when you add the option, you just build the option and
> plug it in. But be careful, the Rework Eliminators add complexity to
> the initial K2 build and can make debugging more difficult since the rig
> doesn't match the official K2 documentation. It is very important that
> you follow directions exactly. If you do, you're rewarded with a much
> more "final" K2 that you don't have to touch again.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: [hidden email]
> [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Stephen Przepiora
> Sent: Friday, April 13, 2007 9:58 AM
> To: [hidden email]
> Subject: [Elecraft] Looking at Elecraft kits
>
> Hello All, As a newly licensed tech, I am looking around for radio's. I
> am interested in the Elecraft kits, but am debating whether to get the
> KX1 and then an older used radio for home or to just get a K2.
>
> I do a bit of camping and hunting, over the course of a year probably
> spend about a month in the woods but none of it is hiking so extreme
> portability isn't that much of an issue. It might be in the future and I
> will get a KX1 for that, but right now it would be a matter of dragging
> a car battery to a table at most 50 feet.
>
> The fact is budgets being what they are, I probably can only afford a
> basic
> K2 right now. I am trying hard to learn the code and I am slowly
> progressing so it may seem like a waste to buy a basic K2 now without
> knowing code, but if I do not get it now, I will not be able to afford
> it again for a while.
>
> My main concern is if I get a basic K2 without any extras, is it easy to
> add things later on? It seems like it would be, but I just want to make
> sure.
>
> Thank you,
> Steve
> _______________________________________________
> 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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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

Kevin Rock

RE: Looking at Elecraft kits

In reply to this post by Stephen Przepiora

Welcome to you Steve,
I would like to add a few comments to what Ron has stated. I purchased my K2 in 2001 before I knew very much code at all. I bought the SSB module because I thought I would use that mode frequently. After a very pleasant building experience I sat down to listen to the bands with my modest antenna. I purchased a set of paddles so I could practice CW to gain the next level license. I found the K2 was a very nice code practice oscillator. Learning CW starts as two processes: sending and receiving. The K2 has an excellent receiver so I could listen to CW the way it is really sent and 'copy' as much as possible. I could listen to the W1AW CW broadcasts and copy their machine sending. Next I would put the K2 in the "TEST" mode and send to myself from a newspaper or text book. Somehow or another sending page after page of code helped my ear hear more accurately. After about six months of this I went to the local VE session and passed Element 1. It took some prodding by the very VE who had given me the test to get on the air for real. Once again my steady K2 was up to the task; unlike the shakey operator at the key ;) I managed to get his call sign and RST, the rest is lost to history. Even though the swamp cooler was on high and it was a rather cool day for Albuquerque I was soaked through. Nothing like trial by fire! I have gotten marginally better over the years since then. The two modes of CW: listening and sending have merged into a single method of conversation. I still use my K2 for code practice and for listening to folks 'chat' via CW. It was a great training instrument and serves me well in weekly use. You will have fun all along the path toward your goal of working CW in the woods.
73,
Kevin. KD5ONS

P.S. The SSB unit is still in the rig but has only been used twice!
KJR

-----Original Message-----

>From: Ron D'Eau Claire <[hidden email]>
>Sent: Apr 13, 2007 8:55 AM
>To: [hidden email], [hidden email]
>Subject: RE: [Elecraft] Looking at Elecraft kits
>
>I strongly recommend the K2, Steve.
>
>Adding the options when you want is very simple. The K2 was designed to be
>built just that way and it's a trivial exercise to install options after
>you've built, tested and used the basic K2. The K2 is designed to be taken
>to bits in a few minutes, should you ever want to do that, but the modules
>are added with a minimum of fuss-and-bother without doing a lot of heavy
>disassembly. Usually they involve adding a header to a pc board where the
>module will plug in and cutting or removing a jumper that you installed
>during the initial build to bypass the module until you add it.
>
>Some of those options are perfect for your style of portable work - such as
>the optional built-in antenna tuner and battery that mount in the removable
>top cover. With them, all you need is a key and some wire to use for an
>antenna to go portable. If you decide you'd like a 100-watt K2/100 in the
>future, you can add the KPA100. It, too, is in a removable lid that replaces
>the "QRP" top that may contain your portable battery and tuner. So a couple
>of minutes - at the most - to swap top covers and your K2 is either a
>world-class home station or a self-contained world-class portable station.
>
>Congratulations on the license, Steve! You'll have a world of fun with your
>Elecraft rig on the HF bands. When the bands are open for DX, it's literally
>a "world" of fun!
>
>73,
>
>Ron AC7AC
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>
>Hello All, As a newly licensed tech, I am looking around for radio's. I am
>interested in the Elecraft kits, but am debating whether to get the KX1 and
>then an older used radio for home or to just get a K2.
>
>I do a bit of camping and hunting, over the course of a year probably spend
>about a month in the woods but none of it is hiking so extreme portability
>isn't that much of an issue. It might be in the future and I will get a KX1
>for that, but right now it would be a matter of dragging a car battery to a
>table at most 50 feet.
>
>The fact is budgets being what they are, I probably can only afford a basic
>K2 right now. I am trying hard to learn the code and I am slowly progressing
>so it may seem like a waste to buy a basic K2 now without knowing code, but
>if I do not get it now, I will not be able to afford it again for a while.
>
>My main concern is if I get a basic K2 without any extras, is it easy to add
>things later on? It seems like it would be, but I just want to make sure.
>
>Thank you,
>Steve
>
>_______________________________________________
>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

w6jd

RE: Looking at Elecraft kits

In reply to this post by Stephen Przepiora

Anyone who has listened to Kevin run the Sunday Elecraft net can attest to the fact that he has become quite proficient in the art of CW!

Doug
W6JD

-------------- Original message --------------
From: Kevin Rock <[hidden email]>

> Welcome to you Steve,
> I would like to add a few comments to what Ron has stated. I purchased my K2
> in 2001 before I knew very much code at all. I bought the SSB module because I
> thought I would use that mode frequently. After a very pleasant building
> experience I sat down to listen to the bands with my modest antenna. I
> purchased a set of paddles so I could practice CW to gain the next level
> license. I found the K2 was a very nice code practice oscillator. Learning CW
> starts as two processes: sending and receiving. The K2 has an excellent
> receiver so I could listen to CW the way it is really sent and 'copy' as much as
> possible. I could listen to the W1AW CW broadcasts and copy their machine
> sending. Next I would put the K2 in the "TEST" mode and send to myself from a
> newspaper or text book. Somehow or another sending page after page of code
> helped my ear hear more accurately. After about six months of this I went to
> the local VE session and passed Element 1. It took some prodding by the very VE
> who had given me the test to get on the air for real. Once again my steady K2
> was up to the task; unlike the shakey operator at the key ;) I managed to get
> his call sign and RST, the rest is lost to history. Even though the swamp
> cooler was on high and it was a rather cool day for Albuquerque I was soaked
> through. Nothing like trial by fire! I have gotten marginally better over the
> years since then. The two modes of CW: listening and sending have merged into a
> single method of conversation. I still use my K2 for code practice and for
> listening to folks 'chat' via CW. It was a great training instrument and serves
> me well in weekly use. You will have fun all along the path toward your goal of
> working CW in the woods.
> 73,
> Kevin. KD5ONS
>
> P.S. The SSB unit is still in the rig but has only been used twice!
> KJR
>
> -----Original Message-----
> >From: Ron D'Eau Claire
> >Sent: Apr 13, 2007 8:55 AM
> >To: [hidden email], [hidden email]
> >Subject: RE: [Elecraft] Looking at Elecraft kits
> >
> >I strongly recommend the K2, Steve.
> >
> >Adding the options when you want is very simple. The K2 was designed to be
> >built just that way and it's a trivial exercise to install options after
> >you've built, tested and used the basic K2. The K2 is designed to be taken
> >to bits in a few minutes, should you ever want to do that, but the modules
> >are added with a minimum of fuss-and-bother without doing a lot of heavy
> >disassembly. Usually they involve adding a header to a pc board where the
> >module will plug in and cutting or removing a jumper that you installed
> >during the initial build to bypass the module until you add it.
> >
> >Some of those options are perfect for your style of portable work - such as
> >the optional built-in antenna tuner and battery that mount in the removable
> >top cover. With them, all you need is a key and some wire to use for an
> >antenna to go portable. If you decide you'd like a 100-watt K2/100 in the
> >future, you can add the KPA100. It, too, is in a removable lid that replaces
> >the "QRP" top that may contain your portable battery and tuner. So a couple
> >of minutes - at the most - to swap top covers and your K2 is either a
> >world-class home station or a self-contained world-class portable station.
> >
> >Congratulations on the license, Steve! You'll have a world of fun with your
> >Elecraft rig on the HF bands. When the bands are open for DX, it's literally
> >a "world" of fun!
> >
> >73,
> >
> >Ron AC7AC
> >
> >
> >-----Original Message-----
> >
> >Hello All, As a newly licensed tech, I am looking around for radio's. I am
> >interested in the Elecraft kits, but am debating whether to get the KX1 and
> >then an older used radio for home or to just get a K2.
> >
> >I do a bit of camping and hunting, over the course of a year probably spend
> >about a month in the woods but none of it is hiking so extreme portability
> >isn't that much of an issue. It might be in the future and I will get a KX1
> >for that, but right now it would be a matter of dragging a car battery to a
> >table at most 50 feet.
> >
> >The fact is budgets being what they are, I probably can only afford a basic
> >K2 right now. I am trying hard to learn the code and I am slowly progressing
> >so it may seem like a waste to buy a basic K2 now without knowing code, but
> >if I do not get it now, I will not be able to afford it again for a while.
> >
> >My main concern is if I get a basic K2 without any extras, is it easy to add
> >things later on? It seems like it would be, but I just want to make sure.
> >
> >Thank you,
> >Steve
> >
> >_______________________________________________
> >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