[Elecraft] Opportunity for a few more K2/100 Field Testers

[Eric Swartz WA6HHQ - Elecraft]

Hi,

We are beginning the Field Test of the K2/100 radio this week (K2 + KPA100
integration kit). Several of those who had previously asked to be Field Testers
have had to drop out for personal reasons. As a result we have room add a couple
more K2 owners as Field Testers in this group. Please email me at
eric@elecraft.com with 'K2/100' included in the subject line if you are
interested, if we missed you in our original FT notification or if you have any
questions regarding the FT. (Please don't post FT questions to the Elecraft
list.)

We ask that you build your KPA-100 and test it as quickly as possible (hopefully
in  7-10 days.) We must be in production with the K2/100 before Dayton (May 16th
- our lives depend on it.. :^0, so time is of the essence. 

The KPA100 retail price will be $349 plus shipping. Field Testers will receive a
discount.

We will be adding the K2/100 items to the web order form later this month. We
will notify everyone here and on our web site (and via direct email for those
who have asked to be notified for the K2/100 previously) when we do this and are
ready to take orders. Please don't call and try to place an order before then.
(Lisa is buried in Field Tester order paperwork!)

Here is some general information on the K2/100 and the Field Test:

The "K2/100" refers to the completed K2/100 100 W radio. The "KPA100" part
number refers to the The K2/100 integration kit which completes your K2 as a 
K2/100. (This parts kit is an internal integral part of the K2/100 as 
manufactured by Elecraft and will not work with other radios.) Customers who 
order a K2/100 will receive a base K2 with the KPA100 integration kit, along 
with any other options they have ordered. (KSB2, KAT2 etc.)

The KPA100 internal parts kit includes the following K2/100 parts: 

- Built in RS232 computer control interface
- SWR and power monitoring circuitry (accurate at high and low power)
- Supervisory microcontroller with fault detection 
  (high SWR, TEMP, Current etc.)
- Diode switched high power T/R 
- Heatsink (replaces existing K2 top cover; no change in outside dimensions).
- Internal speaker (mounted to the heatsink). Same as the current K2 speaker; 
  no need to remove the speaker from your original K2 top cover.
- and 100W internal components

The purpose of this field test is to both verify the design and operation of the
K2/100 and to make sure the assembly manual is accurate and as easy to use as
possible. We have included a wide range of skill levels in the Field Test crew
in order to get a good feel how builders of all levels will do with the kit.


Here is our current schedule:

We have had complete K2/100s in operation for several months. Eric has been
running extensive tests both at home and mobile with his K2/100 with great
reports.

To date our main delay has been waiting for delivery of the production version
extruded aluminum heat sinks. (We are using machined heatsinks in our
prototypes.) These parts are now scheduled to arrive this week. We are
kitting the KPA100s in advance waiting for their delivery. During this time we
are also finalizing the KPA100 FT manual and the FT firmware.