New K2 build
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I have taken advantage of Elecraft’s National Hobby Month offer and now have a K2 plus KSB2 SSB Option, KNB2 Noise Blanker, KAT2 20W Internal ATU to build.
My query is: do I build first the K2 transceiver as CW only, then add in the options as completed? From reading the manuals, components have to be removed from the completed K2 before the addition of some options. It seems a shame to undo work. Old blogs mention a Rework Eliminator kit which would have been a solution to my dilemma, but these are long since discontinued. So, do I build first and add options later? I'd be pleased to hear from other K2 builders. I must add a huge kudos to both Elecraft and UPS - California to Scotland - 46 hours from ordering to delivery! What service! Thank you. Bruce GM4BDJ ______________________________________________________________ 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 Message delivered to [hidden email] |
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Hi Bruce,
You're gonna' love building this kit! I just finished my 3rd one, plus the 100 W amp and tuner, and I have been having a lot of fun with it the last week or so. Yes, you want to build the basic cw kit first, then add options but if you read the SSB kit's manual (and the others), it shows you where you can add a few components during the initial build, so a ton of rework isn't necessary when you want to add SSB. The rework eliminators were a nice addition, but not necessary. I used them on the first one, but not this time. I've finally finished and installed all of the K2's options, and there was no complicated rework for any of them - that was my experience, anyway. There is great support on this list, and at least in my experience, nobody will criticize you for dumb questions - at least in public ;) Enjoy, and don't be shy about asking for help. 73, Jim KO5V Edgewood, NM "I have taken advantage of Elecraft’s National Hobby Month offer and now have a K2 plus KSB2 SSB Option, KNB2 Noise Blanker, KAT2 20W Internal ATU to build. My query is: do I build first the K2 transceiver as CW only, then add in the options as completed? From reading the manuals, components have to be removed from the completed K2 before the addition of some options. It seems a shame to undo work. Old blogs mention a Rework Eliminator kit which would have been a solution to my dilemma, but these are long since discontinued. So, do I build first and add options later? I'd be pleased to hear from other K2 builders. I must add a huge kudos to both Elecraft and UPS - California to Scotland - 46 hours from ordering to delivery! What service! Thank you. Bruce GM4BDJ" ______ ______________________________________________________________ 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 Message delivered to [hidden email] |
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In reply to this post by Elecraft mailing list
Bruce,
Yes, build the K2 first - there is a point where the manual tells you that you can add such things as the Front Panel components for the KSB2, and headers for other options. Do NOT attempt to add parts of the K60XV option until you have finished building and testing the basic K2. There are not really many parts to remove - C167 for the KSB2 plus 2 jumpers (which can be cut if you prefer. For the K160RX only a jumper removal and the addition of 3 capacitors. For the KNB2, one jumper and remove 3 resistors. The KAF2 requires only 2 jumpers to be removed (those cannot be cut), and the K60XV requires only the removal and replacement of one capacitor. You must have done something to expedite that order - UPS Ground delivery here in the US is usually 5 to 7 days unless it is to the same state or one adjacent where the delivery is next day to 3 days. 73, Don W3FPR On 1/20/2019 1:32 PM, Bruce McCartney via Elecraft wrote: > I have taken advantage of Elecraft’s National Hobby Month offer and now have a K2 plus KSB2 SSB Option, KNB2 Noise Blanker, KAT2 20W Internal ATU to build. > > My query is: do I build first the K2 transceiver as CW only, then add in the options as completed? > > From reading the manuals, components have to be removed from the completed K2 before the addition of some options. It seems a shame to undo work. > > Old blogs mention a Rework Eliminator kit which would have been a solution to my dilemma, but these are long since discontinued. > > So, do I build first and add options later? I'd be pleased to hear from other K2 builders. > > I must add a huge kudos to both Elecraft and UPS - California to Scotland - 46 hours from ordering to delivery! What service! > ______________________________________________________________ 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 Message delivered to [hidden email] |
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In reply to this post by Elecraft mailing list
Bruce...
Congratulations! Don is the one to answer your specific question(s). I'm just glad for you and the fun you're about to have. It's just a great radio, and I'm sure that, in the end, you will be much more than satisfied with yourself and with the radio. ...robert On 1/20/2019 18:32, Bruce McCartney via Elecraft wrote: > I have taken advantage of Elecraft’s National Hobby Month offer and now have a K2 plus KSB2 SSB Option, KNB2 Noise Blanker, KAT2 20W Internal ATU to build. > > My query is: do I build first the K2 transceiver as CW only, then add in the options as completed? > > From reading the manuals, components have to be removed from the completed K2 before the addition of some options. It seems a shame to undo work. > > Old blogs mention a Rework Eliminator kit which would have been a solution to my dilemma, but these are long since discontinued. > > So, do I build first and add options later? I'd be pleased to hear from other K2 builders. > > I must add a huge kudos to both Elecraft and UPS - California to Scotland - 46 hours from ordering to delivery! What service! > > Thank you. > > Bruce > > GM4BDJ > ______________________________________________________________ > 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 > Message delivered to [hidden email] > -- Robert G Strickland, PhD ABPH - KE2WY [hidden email] Syracuse, New York, USA ______________________________________________________________ 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 Message delivered to [hidden email] |
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In reply to this post by Elecraft mailing list
Hello Bruce --
I have built three K2s, with almost every accessory and option there is other than the transverters. I agree with all who have advised that the K2 be finished first and, except for the indicated KSB2 bits, then do the add-ons later. My reason for doing it that way was to be able to troubleshoot problems if any emerge. Having the options in would have complicated that for me. So I built the K2, tested and aligned, and then added each option, testing as I went along. The rework isn't difficult. And if you enjoy building a kit like this - which you will - doing that is just more of the fun. If you don't already have one, buy a solder sucker. The hand-held spring-loaded vacuum types are inexpensive and help greatly to clean out through-holes when something is removed. Hakko sells one for about 18 USD. Ted, KN1CBR ------------------------------ Message: 7 Date: Sun, 20 Jan 2019 18:32:07 +0000 From: Bruce McCartney <[hidden email]> To: [hidden email] Subject: [Elecraft] New K2 build Message-ID: <[hidden email]> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8 I have taken advantage of Elecraft?s National Hobby Month offer and now have a K2 plus KSB2 SSB Option, KNB2 Noise Blanker, KAT2 20W Internal ATU to build. My query is: do I build first the K2 transceiver as CW only, then add in the options as completed? From reading the manuals, components have to be removed from the completed K2 before the addition of some options. It seems a shame to undo work. Old blogs mention a Rework Eliminator kit which would have been a solution to my dilemma, but these are long since discontinued. So, do I build first and add options later? I'd be pleased to hear from other K2 builders. I must add a huge kudos to both Elecraft and UPS - California to Scotland - 46 hours from ordering to delivery! What service! Thank you. Bruce GM4BDJ ------------------------------ ______________________________________________________________ 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 Message delivered to [hidden email] |
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I did one K2... started in ‘99 and finished in 2010. There was an addition to the house and a move of the shack in between. I had to write my own assembly manual to include all the mods, changes, and accessories. Worked when I turned it on. No reworks. I like the sound better than the K3.
Chuck KE9UW Sent from my iPhone, cjack > On Jan 21, 2019, at 8:55 AM, Dauer, Edward <[hidden email]> wrote: > > Hello Bruce -- > > I have built three K2s, with almost every accessory and option there is other than the transverters. I agree with all who have advised that the K2 be finished first and, except for the indicated KSB2 bits, then do the add-ons later. My reason for doing it that way was to be able to troubleshoot problems if any emerge. Having the options in would have complicated that for me. So I built the K2, tested and aligned, and then added each option, testing as I went along. > > The rework isn't difficult. And if you enjoy building a kit like this - which you will - doing that is just more of the fun. If you don't already have one, buy a solder sucker. The hand-held spring-loaded vacuum types are inexpensive and help greatly to clean out through-holes when something is removed. Hakko sells one for about 18 USD. > > Ted, KN1CBR > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 7 > Date: Sun, 20 Jan 2019 18:32:07 +0000 > From: Bruce McCartney <[hidden email]> > To: [hidden email] > Subject: [Elecraft] New K2 build > Message-ID: <[hidden email]> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8 > > I have taken advantage of Elecraft?s National Hobby Month offer and now have a K2 plus KSB2 SSB Option, KNB2 Noise Blanker, KAT2 20W Internal ATU to build. > > My query is: do I build first the K2 transceiver as CW only, then add in the options as completed? > > From reading the manuals, components have to be removed from the completed K2 before the addition of some options. It seems a shame to undo work. > > Old blogs mention a Rework Eliminator kit which would have been a solution to my dilemma, but these are long since discontinued. > > So, do I build first and add options later? I'd be pleased to hear from other K2 builders. > > I must add a huge kudos to both Elecraft and UPS - California to Scotland - 46 hours from ordering to delivery! What service! > > Thank you. > > Bruce > > GM4BDJ > > ------------------------------ > > > ______________________________________________________________ > 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 > Message delivered to [hidden email] 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 Message delivered to [hidden email]
Chuck, KE9UW
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I wonder if 11 years is a record?
Ted, KN1CBR On 1/21/19, 9:03 AM, "hawley, charles j jr" <[hidden email]> wrote: I did one K2... started in ‘99 and finished in 2010. There was an addition to the house and a move of the shack in between. I had to write my own assembly manual to include all the mods, changes, and accessories. Worked when I turned it on. No reworks. I like the sound better than the K3. Chuck KE9UW Sent from my iPhone, cjack > On Jan 21, 2019, at 8:55 AM, Dauer, Edward <[hidden email]> wrote: > > Hello Bruce -- > > I have built three K2s, with almost every accessory and option there is other than the transverters. I agree with all who have advised that the K2 be finished first and, except for the indicated KSB2 bits, then do the add-ons later. My reason for doing it that way was to be able to troubleshoot problems if any emerge. Having the options in would have complicated that for me. So I built the K2, tested and aligned, and then added each option, testing as I went along. > > The rework isn't difficult. And if you enjoy building a kit like this - which you will - doing that is just more of the fun. If you don't already have one, buy a solder sucker. The hand-held spring-loaded vacuum types are inexpensive and help greatly to clean out through-holes when something is removed. Hakko sells one for about 18 USD. > > Ted, KN1CBR > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 7 > Date: Sun, 20 Jan 2019 18:32:07 +0000 > From: Bruce McCartney <[hidden email]> > To: [hidden email] > Subject: [Elecraft] New K2 build > Message-ID: <[hidden email]> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8 > > I have taken advantage of Elecraft?s National Hobby Month offer and now have a K2 plus KSB2 SSB Option, KNB2 Noise Blanker, KAT2 20W Internal ATU to build. > > My query is: do I build first the K2 transceiver as CW only, then add in the options as completed? > > From reading the manuals, components have to be removed from the completed K2 before the addition of some options. It seems a shame to undo work. > > Old blogs mention a Rework Eliminator kit which would have been a solution to my dilemma, but these are long since discontinued. > > So, do I build first and add options later? I'd be pleased to hear from other K2 builders. > > I must add a huge kudos to both Elecraft and UPS - California to Scotland - 46 hours from ordering to delivery! What service! > > Thank you. > > Bruce > > GM4BDJ > > ------------------------------ > > > ______________________________________________________________ > 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 > Message delivered to [hidden email] ______________________________________________________________ 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 Message delivered to [hidden email] |
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In reply to this post by Elecraft mailing list
Bruce,
I built mine in 2001, and as far as I remember I had the same situation with the options. Since you have the options, sneak-preview into them and read what and how the parts have to be removed. Then you get an idea how to install them in a way you can removed them without putting harm to the main pcb. One obvious measure is to not push down the resistors or jumpers to the pcb, rather leave some space. Happy building! Gernot DF5RF K2 #2328 (+KAT,KBAT, KSB,KNB,KDSP,KXV60,K160RX,my own buffered IF-out with a Softrock RX Lite attached, my own Keyout) Am 20.01.2019 um 19:32 schrieb Bruce McCartney via Elecraft: > I have taken advantage of Elecraft’s National Hobby Month offer and now have a K2 plus KSB2 SSB Option, KNB2 Noise Blanker, KAT2 20W Internal ATU to build. > > My query is: do I build first the K2 transceiver as CW only, then add in the options as completed? > > From reading the manuals, components have to be removed from the completed K2 before the addition of some options. It seems a shame to undo work. > > Old blogs mention a Rework Eliminator kit which would have been a solution to my dilemma, but these are long since discontinued. > > So, do I build first and add options later? I'd be pleased to hear from other K2 builders. > > I must add a huge kudos to both Elecraft and UPS - California to Scotland - 46 hours from ordering to delivery! What service! > > Thank you. > > Bruce > > GM4BDJ > ______________________________________________________________ > 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 > Message delivered to [hidden email] ______________________________________________________________ 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 Message delivered to [hidden email] |
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In reply to this post by Edward A. Dauer
I think so. Wayne thought I may have a record for the shortest build @ 26 hours. But I think Don would easily beat that with all his experience and skills. We have both concurred, however, that with the time that has passed neither of us have the speed of the 1990's. Such is aging.
73, Bill K9YEQ https://wrj-tech.com/ -----Original Message----- From: [hidden email] <[hidden email]> On Behalf Of Dauer, Edward Sent: Monday, January 21, 2019 12:37 PM To: hawley, charles j jr <[hidden email]> Cc: [hidden email] Subject: Re: [Elecraft] New K2 Build I wonder if 11 years is a record? Ted, KN1CBR On 1/21/19, 9:03 AM, "hawley, charles j jr" <[hidden email]> wrote: I did one K2... started in ‘99 and finished in 2010. There was an addition to the house and a move of the shack in between. I had to write my own assembly manual to include all the mods, changes, and accessories. Worked when I turned it on. No reworks. I like the sound better than the K3. Chuck KE9UW Sent from my iPhone, cjack > On Jan 21, 2019, at 8:55 AM, Dauer, Edward <[hidden email]> wrote: > > Hello Bruce -- > > I have built three K2s, with almost every accessory and option there is other than the transverters. I agree with all who have advised that the K2 be finished first and, except for the indicated KSB2 bits, then do the add-ons later. My reason for doing it that way was to be able to troubleshoot problems if any emerge. Having the options in would have complicated that for me. So I built the K2, tested and aligned, and then added each option, testing as I went along. > > The rework isn't difficult. And if you enjoy building a kit like this - which you will - doing that is just more of the fun. If you don't already have one, buy a solder sucker. The hand-held spring-loaded vacuum types are inexpensive and help greatly to clean out through-holes when something is removed. Hakko sells one for about 18 USD. > > Ted, KN1CBR > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 7 > Date: Sun, 20 Jan 2019 18:32:07 +0000 > From: Bruce McCartney <[hidden email]> > To: [hidden email] > Subject: [Elecraft] New K2 build > Message-ID: <[hidden email]> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8 > > I have taken advantage of Elecraft?s National Hobby Month offer and now have a K2 plus KSB2 SSB Option, KNB2 Noise Blanker, KAT2 20W Internal ATU to build. > > My query is: do I build first the K2 transceiver as CW only, then add in the options as completed? > > From reading the manuals, components have to be removed from the completed K2 before the addition of some options. It seems a shame to undo work. > > Old blogs mention a Rework Eliminator kit which would have been a solution to my dilemma, but these are long since discontinued. > > So, do I build first and add options later? I'd be pleased to hear from other K2 builders. > > I must add a huge kudos to both Elecraft and UPS - California to Scotland - 46 hours from ordering to delivery! What service! > > Thank you. > > Bruce > > GM4BDJ > > ------------------------------ > > > ______________________________________________________________ > 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 > Message delivered to [hidden email] ______________________________________________________________ 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 Message delivered to [hidden email] ______________________________________________________________ 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 Message delivered to [hidden email] |
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Bill,
My real advantage is that I no longer have to read in detail to follow the assembly steps, but if you are doing it for the first time, do read carefully and completely as you are working. My first one (Field Test) took me 34 hours. There is no shame in taking 60 hours or more to build a K2 - proceed at your own comfortable pace, it is not a race, and going faster often leads to extended troubleshooting or an expensive repair because of build errors. I can no longer work as fast because of hand tremors. It has gotten bad enough that I have decided not to take on any new build or repair jobs. I will be continuing to provide support on this reflector. Yes, it is a part of getting older! 73, Don W3FPR On 1/21/2019 6:24 PM, Bill Johnson wrote: > I think so. Wayne thought I may have a record for the shortest build @ 26 hours. But I think Don would easily beat that with all his experience and skills. We have both concurred, however, that with the time that has passed neither of us have the speed of the 1990's. Such is aging. > ______________________________________________________________ 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 Message delivered to [hidden email] |
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Oh, Nooooo! Say it isn't so, Don!
Sorry to hear this news. It's been about a generation of your supporting hams with their legacy Elecraft radi!os through builds, upgrades, and repairs. I'm glad I got my K2 A-to-B upgrade from you before this decision. I wish you many more years of helpful activity on the reflector. 73 Jay K3BH On Mon, Jan 21, 2019, at 18:36, Don Wilhelm wrote: > I can no longer work as fast because of hand tremors. It has gotten bad > enough that I have decided not to take on any new build or repair jobs. ______________________________________________________________ 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 Message delivered to [hidden email] |
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