Whats the deal with my K2/100

[W7TMD]

Hello,

  I just purchased a k2/100.I have been just turning down the power till it
says 10 I assume this is 10watts.I have been getting repeated reports that
they can't believe I'm running 10watts QRP. 1 guy just called me a liar all
together! Most these guys are not local but some are. So I thought I better
ask before arguing my QRP status. FYI turned the dial down on my K2/100 till
the display read  0.1 and got a 58 from Idaho to Montana on 160m the
operator would not believe my wattage. I do run a 160m loop for an antenna

So I thought I would ask around am I really doing a watt when the display
reads a watt?

 

73,

Tom-W7TMD

ARCI No. 13512

NAQCC No.4094

SKCC No.6461

Polar Bear No.217

 

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[Steve Ellington]

You are not using a proper "QRP Antenna". Try using a Buddipole or some wire
laying on the ground. That should reduce your signal strength sufficiently
so you won't be called a liar.

Steve
N4LQ
----- Original Message -----
From: "Tom" <[hidden email]>
To: <[hidden email]>
Sent: Wednesday, February 24, 2010 11:46 AM
Subject: [Elecraft] Whats the deal with my K2/100

> Hello,
>
>  I just purchased a k2/100.I have been just turning down the power till it
> says 10 I assume this is 10watts.I have been getting repeated reports that
> they can't believe I'm running 10watts QRP. 1 guy just called me a liar
> all
> together! Most these guys are not local but some are. So I thought I
> better
> ask before arguing my QRP status. FYI turned the dial down on my K2/100
> till
> the display read  0.1 and got a 58 from Idaho to Montana on 160m the
> operator would not believe my wattage. I do run a 160m loop for an antenna
>
> So I thought I would ask around am I really doing a watt when the display
> reads a watt?
>
>
>
> 73,
>
> Tom-W7TMD
>
> ARCI No. 13512
>
> NAQCC No.4094
>
> SKCC No.6461
>
> Polar Bear No.217
>
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 9.0.733 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/2707 - Release Date: 02/24/10
02:34:00

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[Augie "Gus" Hansen]

Tom wrote:
> ...
>   I just purchased a k2/100.I have been just turning down the power till it
> says 10 I assume this is 10watts.I have been getting repeated reports that
> they can't believe I'm running 10watts QRP. 1 guy just called me a liar all
> together!

For the sake of this discussion let's say that someone tells you that
your 100 watt signal red=gisters 20dB over S9. Then, given a reasonably
accurate S-meter, 10 watts would give S9 + 10dB  and 1 watt would yield
S9 - all quite respectable signal levels.

What little contesting I do is usually at 5 watts or less, even on 160
meters, with the best antennas I can deploy on my small city lot.
Results have generally been very good. QRP operating can be frustrating
at times, but it can be very satisfying, especially when you get those
"I can't believe ..." comments. Just smile and move on.

Gus Hansen
KB0YH



__________ Information from ESET Smart Security, version of virus signature database 4892 (20100224) __________

The message was checked by ESET Smart Security.

http://www.eset.com


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[williamsonr]

How about a known good watt meter post rig to confirm what the K2 is indicating.  Basic stuff (of course this will now start a debate over PEP vs. avg., Tol. etc) but you get the idea - you will know that the output power is really within reason.

73

Rodger
N4NRW

---- Original message ----

>Date: Wed, 24 Feb 2010 08:46:53 -0800
>From: "Tom" <[hidden email]>  
>Subject: [Elecraft] Whats the deal with my K2/100  
>To: <[hidden email]>
>
>Hello,
>
>  I just purchased a k2/100.I have been just turning down the power till it
>says 10 I assume this is 10watts.I have been getting repeated reports that
>they can't believe I'm running 10watts QRP. 1 guy just called me a liar all
>together! Most these guys are not local but some are. So I thought I better
>ask before arguing my QRP status. FYI turned the dial down on my K2/100 till
>the display read  0.1 and got a 58 from Idaho to Montana on 160m the
>operator would not believe my wattage. I do run a 160m loop for an antenna
>
>So I thought I would ask around am I really doing a watt when the display
>reads a watt?
>
>
>
>73,
>
>Tom-W7TMD
>
>ARCI No. 13512
>
>NAQCC No.4094
>
>SKCC No.6461
>
>Polar Bear No.217
>
>
>
>______________________________________________________________
>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

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[Bob - W0GI]

<<<< 1 guy just called me a liar all
together! >>>>

I am amazed at how many hams have no idea how power and decibels work. They worry about an amp that only puts out 1200 watts, and will spend a lot of money for an extra 300 watts, that will never be noticed on the other end.

I have used 5 watts many times into a good antenna, and received the same reply.

That said, it would be a good idea to check your output into a accurate watt meter. Also keep in mind that once you get down below 10 watts, many meters are not very accurate.

I built a OHR WM-2 QRP meter, and it is great.

http://www.mtechnologies.com/ohr/wattmeter.htm

[Gary D Krause]

Dude!  It's called K2 MOJO!  Get use to it.  It's a pain in the butt sometimes
but, every K2 comes with it and you just have to live with it.  Since I
upgraded my K2 to a 100 I've started working more SSB.  I get outstanding
unsolicited audio reports all the time.  One guy even compared my K2's audio
to a Kenwood tube rig.  Can you believe that!  ;-)

Gary, N7HTS



On Wed, 24 Feb 2010 08:46:53 -0800
  "Tom" <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Hello,
>
>  I just purchased a k2/100.I have been just turning down the power till it
> says 10 I assume this is 10watts.I have been getting repeated reports that
> they can't believe I'm running 10watts QRP. 1 guy just called me a liar all
> together! Most these guys are not local but some are. So I thought I better
> ask before arguing my QRP status. FYI turned the dial down on my K2/100 till
> the display read  0.1 and got a 58 from Idaho to Montana on 160m the
> operator would not believe my wattage. I do run a 160m loop for an antenna
>
> So I thought I would ask around am I really doing a watt when the display
> reads a watt?
>
>
>
> 73,
>
> Tom-W7TMD
>
> ARCI No. 13512
>
> NAQCC No.4094
>
> SKCC No.6461
>
> Polar Bear No.217
>
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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

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[Mark Bayern]

> So I thought I would ask around am I really doing a watt when the display
> reads a watt?

One quick check that the power control really works would be to
measure the total current input to the K2. If it is 2-4 amps, you can
be positive you're not transmitting 100watts! If the current goes down
as you turn down the power control, you know the power control is
working.

..or.. just power the K2 via the small power connector on the lower
half of the K2's back panel. When you turn it on you should get a
message that there is no power on the PA. Can't go much above 10watts
without the PA.

In truth you're just experiencing the Elecraft 'mojo'. The stuff
works, and works very well!

Mark  AD5SS
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[lstavenhagen]

I'd say part of the K2 Mojo is the RX as well. Part of the reason I'm fixing to go QRO with my K2 with the KPA100 is I can now finally hear sigs that I've not been able to with my previous rigs. Desense and intermod have been unwelcome guests in the past, especially with my 706MKIIG. But now I can seperate the stations who are hard to hear from the ones that're hard to listen to (because they're so loud hi hi) with XFIL....

That said, I did work an OE3 yesterday morning on 15meters with my indoor wire and 10watts, but the lower bands at night are just an impossibility here. I'm going to try to improve the ant as well, but I also want to be able to make more QSO's too hi hi....

Still so far my K2 is practically everything I could have ever wanted in a rig (just needs a little bigger final in the PA now)....

LS

[Ken Alexander-2]

In case you need any help with your decision regarding a KPA100 I can tell you that I finished building and installing mine about 3 or 4 weeks ago and it's the best thing I've done to my K2.  If you built your own K2 then you won't have any problem putting a KPA100 together, and installation and setup couldn't be simpler.

My K2 was QRP for about 4 years.  It teaches you patience and technique.  However, to me, the more QSOs the more fun, especially in contests.  The KPA100 definitely provides that!

Oh, and the heat sink on top of the K2 looks really cool!   8-)

73,

Ken Alexander
VE3HLS


--- On Thu, 2/25/10, lstavenhagen <[hidden email]> wrote:

> From: lstavenhagen <[hidden email]>
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Whats the deal with my K2/100
> To: [hidden email]
> Date: Thursday, February 25, 2010, 2:44 PM
>
> I'd say part of the K2 Mojo is the RX as well. Part of the
> reason I'm fixing
> to go QRO with my K2 with the KPA100 is I can now finally
> hear sigs that
> I've not been able to with my previous rigs. Desense and
> intermod have been
> unwelcome guests in the past, especially with my 706MKIIG.
> But now I can
> seperate the stations who are hard to hear from the ones
> that're hard to
> listen to (because they're so loud hi hi) with XFIL....
>
> That said, I did work an OE3 yesterday morning on 15meters
> with my indoor
> wire and 10watts, but the lower bands at night are just an
> impossibility
> here. I'm going to try to improve the ant as well, but I
> also want to be
> able to make more QSO's too hi hi....
>
> Still so far my K2 is practically everything I could have
> ever wanted in a
> rig (just needs a little bigger final in the PA now)....
>
> LS
>
> --
> View this message in context: http://n2.nabble.com/Whats-the-deal-with-my-K2-100-tp4627023p4632825.html
> Sent from the [K2] mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
> ______________________________________________________________
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>
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> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>

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[lstavenhagen]

Hi Ken,

Yeah I don't really need any convincing, but tnx anyway hi hi. The building thing is really addictive is part of the reason, my soldering station just looks so lonely over there on my operating table and I just have the itch to build more stuff! The KPA100 looks like the most natural next step. I also can't throw any more antenna at the problem due to being in only an apartment and limited to indoor wires etc.

For portable ops which I plan to try this spring/summer, most of the time it looks like I'll be camping right near the truck rather than hiking to more distant place.  So I can still be QRO portable since I'll only have to tote my monster battery over to the tent.

The internal SWR meter will be a real help too and I'll eventually have a use for the RS-232 interface as well.

I still have some decisions to make before I order tho, namely do I want to install the 160 meter add-on along with while I have the heat sink off, and do I also want to get the big antenna tuner which I'm likely going to need after I'm done with the rig. So I'm still thinking these ideas over at the moment too..

tnx es 73,
LS
W5QD