[Elecraft] K2 @ FD

[Steve Jackson]

Jim

Actually I had little problem running my K2 for most of the field day on the
internal battery.  Granted I didn't run 24 hours, and I was only S&P.  But
our team did score first place (6A battery), and not for the first time.

I have a large assortment of gel-cells.  My mainstay is a 36 a-H monster,
which I bought new for $30.  Buck sells an even larger (and nicer) one for
only $50, big enough to run an IC706 for the whole FD tour,  I do have a
'706, but for some reason operating it in this way is no longer appealing to
me.    ;-)  Must be the mojo.

I have proabably six of the 7 a-H units, a very popular size.  They are an
excellent compromise between size/weight and capacity, they charge quickly,
and float well on almost any simple circuit.  They are often available for
$5 or so if you shop sharp.  Even brand-new at retail they're a good deal.
I get new ones every 2 or 3 years, and give the "old" ones away.  One of
these (plus the internal 2.9 a-H) ran my K2 for an entire caribbean week
vacation including CQWW.

I use a self-adhesive tiewrap "anchor" about an inch or so aft of the
STA-CONs on my 7 a-H batteries.  The STA-CON to Molex pigtail is
standardized amongst all my radio gear, as it is for all ARES equipment in
the county http://www.qsl.net/w4ez.  I then simply have several lengths of
red/black zipcord to 2.5mm coax plugs, ideal for powering the K2 and other
stuff.

gl 73 Steve KZ1X/4    K2 #771 fully loaded