Elecraft

Suggestions for newbie HF Operator

Classic

List

Threaded

5 messages Options

Matthew D. Pitts

Suggestions for newbie HF Operator

Good evening all,

I am currently looking into buying an Elecraft K2 for my first HF Radio.
My question is this; what configuration is the best to start out with
for a Technician Class Ham like myself? Obviously, I feel confident
enough in my ability to build it, or I would be spending the money on a
commercially assembled radio. I also have downloaded all the manuals and
looked through them to get a general idea of what tools are needed to
build the various assemblies.

Matthew N8OHU

_______________________________________________
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

Craig Rairdin

RE: Suggestions for newbie HF Operator

At a minimum you need the SSB option unless you plan to operate only CW.

If you're going to operate SSB you should consider the KPA100. QRP phone is
not impossible or unheard of, but it's not as easy as CW.

I like the antenna tuner, but that's optional depending on your antenna
situation.

Beyond that, everything is optional.

Craig
NZ0R
K2/100 #4941
K1 #1966
KX1 #1499

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email]
[mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Matthew D. Pitts
Sent: Tuesday, January 02, 2007 4:08 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: [Elecraft] Suggestions for newbie HF Operator

Good evening all,

I am currently looking into buying an Elecraft K2 for my first HF Radio.
My question is this; what configuration is the best to start out with
for a Technician Class Ham like myself? Obviously, I feel confident
enough in my ability to build it, or I would be spending the money on a
commercially assembled radio. I also have downloaded all the manuals and
looked through them to get a general idea of what tools are needed to
build the various assemblies.

Matthew N8OHU

_______________________________________________
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

James A-2

RE: Suggestions for newbie HF Operator

In addition, I would check out the rework-eliminator, http://www.unpcbs.com/

I am building a K2 right now and like the way it is going together with this
product.

Jim
KA2RVO
K2 #5919

>From: "Craig Rairdin" <[hidden email]>
>To: "'Matthew D. Pitts'" <[hidden email]>,<[hidden email]>
>Subject: RE: [Elecraft] Suggestions for newbie HF Operator
>Date: Tue, 2 Jan 2007 17:05:06 -0600
>
>At a minimum you need the SSB option unless you plan to operate only CW.
>
>If you're going to operate SSB you should consider the KPA100. QRP phone is
>not impossible or unheard of, but it's not as easy as CW.
>
>I like the antenna tuner, but that's optional depending on your antenna
>situation.
>
>Beyond that, everything is optional.
>
>Craig
>NZ0R
>K2/100 #4941
>K1 #1966
>KX1 #1499
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: [hidden email]
>[mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Matthew D. Pitts
>Sent: Tuesday, January 02, 2007 4:08 PM
>To: [hidden email]
>Subject: [Elecraft] Suggestions for newbie HF Operator
>
>
>Good evening all,
>
>I am currently looking into buying an Elecraft K2 for my first HF Radio.
>My question is this; what configuration is the best to start out with
>for a Technician Class Ham like myself? Obviously, I feel confident
>enough in my ability to build it, or I would be spending the money on a
>commercially assembled radio. I also have downloaded all the manuals and
>looked through them to get a general idea of what tools are needed to
>build the various assemblies.
>
>Matthew N8OHU
>
>_______________________________________________
>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

_______________________________________________
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

Leigh L. Klotz Jr WA5ZNU

Re: Suggestions for newbie HF Operator

Administrator

In reply to this post by Craig Rairdin

Matthew,
The SSB option is also useful for PSK31 and other digital modes, and
wouldn't require the KPA100 amplifier. As a Technician, you might be
interested in http://wa5znu.org/psk31 if you haven't already read about
digital modes. It is a handout I did for out Field Day "get on the air"
station a couple of years ago.
Leigh/WA5ZNU
On Tue, 2 Jan 2007 3:06 pm, Craig Rairdin wrote:

> At a minimum you need the SSB option unless you plan to operate only
> CW.
>
> If you're going to operate SSB you should consider the KPA100. QRP
> phone is
> not impossible or unheard of, but it's not as easy as CW.
>
> I like the antenna tuner, but that's optional depending on your antenna
> situation.
>
> Beyond that, everything is optional.
>
> Craig
> NZ0R
> K2/100 #4941
> K1 #1966
> KX1 #1499
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: [hidden email]
> [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Matthew D. Pitts
> Sent: Tuesday, January 02, 2007 4:08 PM
> To: [hidden email]
> Subject: [Elecraft] Suggestions for newbie HF Operator
>
>
> Good evening all,
>
> I am currently looking into buying an Elecraft K2 for my first HF
> Radio.
> My question is this; what configuration is the best to start out with
> for a Technician Class Ham like myself? Obviously, I feel confident
> enough in my ability to build it, or I would be spending the money on a
> commercially assembled radio. I also have downloaded all the manuals
> and
> looked through them to get a general idea of what tools are needed to
> build the various assemblies.
>
> Matthew N8OHU
>

N2EY

Re: Suggestions for newbie HF Operator

In reply to this post by Matthew D. Pitts

In a message dated 1/2/07 5:08:37 PM Eastern Standard Time,
[hidden email] writes:

> Good evening all,

Greetings!

>
> I am currently looking into buying an Elecraft K2 for my first HF Radio.
> My question is this; what configuration is the best to start out with
> for a Technician Class Ham like myself? Obviously, I feel confident
> enough in my ability to build it, or I would be spending the money on a
> commercially assembled radio. I also have downloaded all the manuals and
> looked through them to get a general idea of what tools are needed to
> build the various assemblies.
>

The first question is: how do you intend to use the rig? CW, SSB, data modes?
Home-station-only or maybe some portable/battery op? Computer control or
standalone? QRP only or QRO-capable?

Once those questions are answered, the options to get are pretty obvious.

--

You might also consider upgrading to General or Extra while you're at it.
Doing so will get you a lot more bands and modes on HF! The General written is
only 35 questions and not much more technical than the Tech written.

73 es GL de Jim, N2EY

_______________________________________________
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