Upgrade suggestions for the K2.

[LA8OKA]

I'm currently in the process of building my first K2, I started last Thursday and have been building for an hour or two each evening after the kids have been put to bed.
(Small electronic parts and a 1 years old and a 3 year old doesn't mix well together, hi, hi.)
Now my building has come to an halt because the RF-board P1 connector was missing from the bag, (No, it have not been eaten by my daughters, hi, hi!) and while waiting for the part I have been looking into the options available for the K2.
I'm going to equip my K2 for QRP, so I will be getting the internal ATU, battery, RS-232, DSP,160 m and 60 m etc...
The options I ordered with the kit is the SSB board and the mic.
When looking at the options and the basic K2 I think that there are room for more options, these are my suggeistions:
 
USB computer interface:
A computer with a COM-port is difficult to get nowadays, so most of us rely on a RS-232-to-USB converter, I think that such a device can be built right into the K2.
Maybe even with an onboard USB soundcard for digimodes. The USB chips is probably available only as SMD's, but they can be presoldered lik it is on the current DSP.
 
Battery with charger controller:
I think that a LiIon, LiPo or A123 battery with a charger controller built right into the K2 wil enhance portability because of lighter weight and longer endurance.
 
IF DSP:
I think that it is possible to design an IF DSP that can go right into the K2 IF. The biggest problem is if it's feasable to control the IF-DSP with the current Front Panel.
 
I'm sure that the members on this list have more suggestions for a "mid-life upgrade" to the K2, come on, let me hear them, and also please tell what you guys think of my ideas?
 

Best regards,
Martin Storli
LA8OKA
Oslo, Norway
 
ARCTICPEAK's Radio pages!
http://www.arcticpeak.com/radio.htm
______________________________________________________________
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

[CRAIG W BEHRENS]

I agree … and … perhaps having a higher degree of integration with some (modest) amount of functional circuits could add more bang for the buck, help keep the cost down.
Perhaps the direct USB I/F port could be a "stamp card," for example.
Also, how big a deal would it be to add 6-meters?

72/73 & DX,
Craig W. Behrens -- NM4T

> Date: Wed, 14 Sep 2011 15:25:28 +0100
> From: [hidden email]
> To: [hidden email]
> Subject: [Elecraft] Upgrade suggestions for the K2.
>
> I'm currently in the process of building my first K2, I started last Thursday and have been building for an hour or two each evening after the kids have been put to bed.
> (Small electronic parts and a 1 years old and a 3 year old doesn't mix well together, hi, hi.)
> Now my building has come to an halt because the RF-board P1 connector was missing from the bag, (No, it have not been eaten by my daughters, hi, hi!) and while waiting for the part I have been looking into the options available for the K2.
> I'm going to equip my K2 for QRP, so I will be getting the internal ATU, battery, RS-232, DSP,160 m and 60 m etc...
> The options I ordered with the kit is the SSB board and the mic.
> When looking at the options and the basic K2 I think that there are room for more options, these are my suggeistions:
>  
> USB computer interface:
> A computer with a COM-port is difficult to get nowadays, so most of us rely on a RS-232-to-USB converter, I think that such a device can be built right into the K2.
> Maybe even with an onboard USB soundcard for digimodes. The USB chips is probably available only as SMD's, but they can be presoldered lik it is on the current DSP.
>  
> Battery with charger controller:
> I think that a LiIon, LiPo or A123 battery with a charger controller built right into the K2 wil enhance portability because of lighter weight and longer endurance.
>  
> IF DSP:
> I think that it is possible to design an IF DSP that can go right into the K2 IF. The biggest problem is if it's feasable to control the IF-DSP with the current Front Panel.
>  
> I'm sure that the members on this list have more suggestions for a "mid-life upgrade" to the K2, come on, let me hear them, and also please tell what you guys think of my ideas?
>  
>
> Best regards,
> Martin Storli
> LA8OKA
> Oslo, Norway
>  
> ARCTICPEAK's Radio pages!
> http://www.arcticpeak.com/radio.htm
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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

     
______________________________________________________________
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