[Elecraft] K2 drif problems?

[Ron D'Eau Claire]

Since I am the one who has to take the responsibility for  starting this
thread again last weekend, I'd like to answer this comment for anyone
interested.

The K2 is a good rig. Not a perfect rig. Not magic. It operates in
strict accordance with the known laws of physics. And that means that it
is FULL of compromises. That's the reason I didn't have to pony up
$1,000,000 to by a K2, so I am NOT complaining about the compromises. 

One of the greatest features of the K2 is the company behind it. Wayne
and Eric are actively working to make it better. And it is very obvious
that they take a lot of clues about how to make it better right off of
this reflector. Even when the improvement doesn't have the broad appeal
they feel it should, they are happy to donate some of their time
counseling and helping ops who want to tweak this or that in their K2's.


How many rigs come with a very talented engineering "Elmer" attached
included in the purchase price? The K2 has two highly visible ones. And
in recognizing them, I don't want to belittle the wonderful work done by
dozens of talented and knowledgeable owners who give of their time to
make the rig a little better and who contribute to this reflector their
ideas and advice almost daily. 

Now that I have added the KPA100 to my K2 I have two troublesome issues:
1) On some bands the rig drifts more than I'd like a signal from AC7AC
to be drifting around the bands and 2) The fan makes too more noise than
I want to hear in the shack. I am pursuing remedies to both issues. I am
using the resources of the Elmers 'attached' to my K2 and the help of
many others on this reflector to devise solutions. One of the great
things about the internet - compared to the work I did decades ago in
tinkering with my old rigs - is that we have a virtual "club meeting" of
owners and interested ops every day to discuss the issues and think
about solutions. Oh, man! What a difference from the weeks and months of
solitary tinkering that went into some rigs in the 1960s and 70's. Time
that was only broken by the monthly club meetings. 

For ANYONE to think for an instant that these messages come from someone
who "regrets" buying a K2 makes me think the writer fails to understand
what Ham radio is all about to me and to a lot of us. We can't see a rig
without wanting to make it a little better. We don't have hardly a
single thing we bought or built ten years ago because we have "evolved"
it into something completely different out of curiosity and an
insatiable desire to try something different.  

It's the process of tinkering, figuring out bad results, and the joy of
seeing good results that is a large part of what makes it worthwhile to
have a Ham license. 

I know that there are many ops who built a "stock" K2 and who would
never think about changing one tiny part of what Elecraft delivered. I
have no quarrel with you and if I ever show a lack of respect for how
you enjoy the hobby, it will be completely unintentional. Ham radio is
about having fun while respecting the other person's rights and
interests.

After 2+ years on this reflector, I have learned to see it as a place to
question how things could be made better and to exchange ideas about how
to accomplish that. I remember complaining about my K2 suddenly QSYing
across the band while keying. A few others noticed it too. Elecraft
discovered the problem and issued a "fix". I remember scratchy audio
controls and I had one too. Elecraft discovered the problem and issued a
fix. I remember truly abysmal received audio quality on SSB upper side
band and found that others here were hearing it too. Elecraft published
a fix. Some of the fixes came from the hard work by Wayne and Eric. Some
came from the hard work of members of the reflector, which were then
carefully tested and verified by Wayne and Eric. And so it goes. To me,
that is a LARGE part of why I spend time on this reflector. It is
certainly a LARGE part of what I enjoy about owning my K2.

I truly apologize to anyone who finds messages questioning shortcomings
of the K2 troublesome. Please understand that if they are coming from
me, they do NOT mean that I regret having purchased a K2. What they
mean, instead, is that I am so very happy to have purchased a K2 and I
am enjoying it more every day. You don't have to understand why I enjoy
tinkering with it. I hardly do myself. But please understand that it is
great fun for me. 

73,

Ron AC7AC
K2 # 1289


In a message dated 12/15/2002 1:09:58 PM Eastern Standard Time, 
belsley@bc.edu writes:

> I suppose there are those who regret getting a K2, but I doubt there 
> are
> many.

Perhaps such persons could offer their K-2 for sale on Ebay. I have
observed 
K-2's for sale, and they bring stiff prices. I suspect there would be
fewer 
for sale if Elecraft had not come out with a new version incorporating
all 
mods. I suspect many of these listings are by happy K-2 owners who want
to 
raise money to buy and build the new version of the K-2.

Jimmy Walker
WA4ILO     
Macon, GA