Remote KPA-100 Kit

[Ci Jones]

I have researched putting my KPA-100 in a seperate enclosure and running my  
K-2 in its original mode. However, what seems to me to be a simple project of  
extending cables and plugging them in when I need the amplifier is very  
complicated according to the reflector. I am not very good at this, but was able  
to complete the Elecraft kits due to their excellence.
 
If some one (hopefully Elecraft) could make up a kit for remoting the  
KPA-100, I would be very appreciative, and I would buy it. My bet is that a lot  of
others might buy it also. For my purposes, I just need to use the amplifier  
without changing the case and be able to go back to using the rig QRP (unplug  
the amplifier).
 
Is my only alternative to order more of that multi-colored cable and other  
plugs and connectors from Elecraft and run the whole mess out the back of the  
case of both the K-2 and the EC2 I need to buy? Thanks for anyone's help...72,
 Ci
 
Ci Jones,  WU7R (K-2/100 #4615, K-1 #933, KX-1 #957)
FISTS #10789
NAQCC #306
ARCI  #12163
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[Bob Nielsen]

On Dec 1, 2005, at 2:13 PM, [hidden email] wrote:

> I have researched putting my KPA-100 in a seperate enclosure and  
> running my
> K-2 in its original mode. However, what seems to me to be a simple  
> project of
> extending cables and plugging them in when I need the amplifier is  
> very
> complicated according to the reflector. I am not very good at this,  
> but was able
> to complete the Elecraft kits due to their excellence.
>
> If some one (hopefully Elecraft) could make up a kit for remoting the
> KPA-100, I would be very appreciative, and I would buy it. My bet  
> is that a lot  of
> others might buy it also. For my purposes, I just need to use the  
> amplifier
> without changing the case and be able to go back to using the rig  
> QRP (unplug
> the amplifier).
>
> Is my only alternative to order more of that multi-colored cable  
> and other
> plugs and connectors from Elecraft and run the whole mess out the  
> back of the
> case of both the K-2 and the EC2 I need to buy? Thanks for anyone's  
> help...72,
>  Ci

There's  a much easier--

http://www.kk7p.com/k2kpa100.html

You will probably want to add a KIO2 (although there is an  
alternative listed on those web pages).  A custom cable need to be  
constructed, but that beats making extenders for the ribbon cable,  
etc.  I haven't done this yet (I have all the parts), but many on  
this refelector have built theirs this way.  When unplugged from the  
external KPA100, you have a standard K2 (with the exception of one  
larger inductor).

Another way of doing this is shown at <http://home.pacbell.net/ 
johngreb/k2_100_in_ec2.pdf>.

Good luck!

73, Bob N7XY

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[Don Wilhelm-3]

Ci,

Some folks seem to make a mountain out of a molehill IMHO.  If you order the
KAT100 that fits into the EC2 enclosure, all the 'hooks' for mounting the
KPA100 in the same enclosure are already on the KAT100 board, it is just a
matter of plugging it in.

All that is required to operate the KPA100 remotely (without the KAT100-2)
is a short piece of coax with BNC connectors and a short special cable with
DE-9 male connectors on each end (pins 1, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 connected at
each end).  The cable plugs into the AUX I/O jack on both the K2 and the
KPA100 - everything else is optional and can be added at the builders
discretion.

I mounted a BNC connector in the rear lower panel of my EC2 and soldered one
of the large headers (like the AUX RF header) onto the back of it, and I
just plug the input RF coax into it when mounting the KPA100 - even that is
not necessary, one could snake a piece of RG174 coax out the back of the EC2
with a small notch in the rear panel and solder the KPA100 end directly to
the circuit board.  There are several workable possibilities, but none need
to be complex.

Of course, the base K2 needs to have the KIO2 installed if you want to do it
this 'easy' way, and the 15 uH miniature inductor on the KIO2 Aux board
should be changed to one that can handle increased current - a small toroid
is usually recommended.

When one also desires to connect a computer to the K2 (or K2 plus KPA100),
you must add a tail going to the computer from the K2 end of the DE9 cable
that connects the K2 and KPA100, but that is nothing more complex than
wiring a similar cable for use with the KAT100 or any of the transverters.
If you do not intend to add the computer connection, the short cable between
the K2 and KPA100 is all that is required.

73,
Don W3FPR

> -----Original Message-----
>
> I have researched putting my KPA-100 in a seperate enclosure and
> running my
> K-2 in its original mode. However, what seems to me to be a
> simple project of
> extending cables and plugging them in when I need the amplifier is very
> complicated according to the reflector. I am not very good at
> this, but was able
> to complete the Elecraft kits due to their excellence.
>
> If some one (hopefully Elecraft) could make up a kit for remoting the
> KPA-100, I would be very appreciative, and I would buy it. My bet
> is that a lot  of
> others might buy it also. For my purposes, I just need to use the
> amplifier
> without changing the case and be able to go back to using the rig
> QRP (unplug
> the amplifier).
>
> Is my only alternative to order more of that multi-colored cable
> and other
> plugs and connectors from Elecraft and run the whole mess out the
> back of the
> case of both the K-2 and the EC2 I need to buy? Thanks for
> anyone's help...72,
>  Ci
>
> Ci Jones,  WU7R (K-2/100 #4615, K-1 #933, KX-1 #957)
> FISTS #10789
> NAQCC #306
> ARCI  #12163
>

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[Gary G7USC]

Following on from this :)
I have the KPA 2 to build for my K2.
The plan is to have it set up remotely in due course with the KAT 100 (initially the KPA will be in the K2). The ATU and remote enclosure will be the next step in my evolution of this lovely little radio.
Must think of a name for mine at some point :)
I normally have mine connected to a pc for logging etc. As I couldn't imagine nowadays not having this faclity and what I have read on the archives seems to suggest that if you remote it all that you lose this option.
Is it possible to remote the KPA 100 and KAT (100 watt version) and still have PC control as well?

73 Gary G7USC

[Don Wilhelm-4]

Gary,

You do *not* lose the computer connection when the KPA100/KAT100 are
located in a separate enclosure.
The cable to be constructed is exactly the same as the one shown in the
KAT100 manual.  The connector that connects to the K2 (KIO2 option) has
2 cables coming out of it - one goes to the KPA100/KAT100 and the other
cable goes to the computer.

The only thing that is lost is the ability to connect the computer to
the KPA100 connector, one must connect to the computer from the KIO2.

73,
Don W3FPR

Gary G7USC wrote:

> Following on from this :)
> I have the KPA 2 to build for my K2.
> The plan is to have it set up remotely in due course with the KAT 100
> (initially the KPA will be in the K2). The ATU and remote enclosure will be
> the next step in my evolution of this lovely little radio.
> Must think of a name for mine at some point :)
> I normally have mine connected to a pc for logging etc. As I couldn't
> imagine nowadays not having this faclity and what I have read on the
> archives seems to suggest that if you remote it all that you lose this
> option.
> Is it possible to remote the KPA 100 and KAT (100 watt version) and still
> have PC control as well?
>
> 73 Gary G7USC
>  
>  

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[Gary G7USC]

Cheers for that Don, thought it might be me misreading/misunderstnding :)
The web page link earler also cleared it up for me as well.
Thank you for the replies every one much appreciated.

This really is a great little rig, as usual also excellant support :)

73 Gary G7USC