K2 - Erratic SSB output on 160m

Posted by Robin Kiszka on Dec 27, 2009; 6:02pm
URL: http://elecraft.85.s1.nabble.com/K2-Erratic-SSB-output-on-160m-tp4221088.html

Hi -

My K2 has a 160m option as well as the SSB Option. On all bands, 80 - 10m I get good SSB transmission. Using a dummy load and watt meter I can see the SSB transmission is stable and varies between dips of 4-5 watts up to peaks of 13 watts (I'm not using the 100W PA).

This is not the case on 160m. On CW I get a sold 15W out on 160m, but when using LSB I see the watt meter is hovering between 0-2 W, but when I whistle into the microphone it goes all the way up to 15 W. The question is then why is 160m so lacking in response to voice when compared with the other bands that have far more sensitivity. I am using the delivered MH2 microphone.

I have disabled the antenna tuner, but this makes no difference. It's as if the gain from the microphone is not getting through to the 160m option.
 
Any suggestions would be welcome.

Thanks and 73
Robin
OZ6ABM / 5P5R