[Elecraft] Changes from 100 watts to 10 watts

[k4wtf@ENTERZONE.NET]

On Sat, 28 Dec 2002 n4so@juno.com wrote:

> This is a critique of the Elecraft K2/100
> 
> Here are approximate changes on the NCDXF beacon
> going from 100 watts to  .1 watts.   The station is 4U1UN
> New York City on 28.200.   Antenna is a 4 element beam.
> 
> S9   100 watts
> S8    10 watts
> S5    1 watt
> S3    .1 watt

That is very informative.  What radio did you make these measurements
with?  How is it calibrated?


> You are invited to listen to the NCDXF/ IARU beacon
> network and listen for yourself the actual change in
> signal level as the beacon goes fm 100 watts to 10 watts, 1
> watt and 100 mW, and then you can ask yourself if
> the 100 watt amplifier you just built, tested, and paid
> $$$$ for is worth it.

Actually, I only paid $$$ for it, not $$$$ and as for the answer to that
question: It's an overwhelming YES.  Don't get me wrong.  I operate QRP as
well and enjoy doing so but, is the fit hits the shan and I need to use my
K2 for emergency communications of some kind, you can bet your britches
that I'm going to have the power knob full clockwise.  Add to that the
fact that I got the enjoyment of sorting, building and aligning the amp
and it is worth every cent and more.


> In day to day operation, the idea of a K2 at 100 watts is questionable
> and you guys that are building the amplifiers or thinking about
> building the add-on units need to examine this further.

Charles, you are certainly entitled to your own opinion.  Your opinion
that I should unsubscribe from the elecraft list, one that you have sent
to me OVER AND OVER AGAIN, on the other hand was not welcome.

I think that you will find that more often than not, people use the power
knob to make up for inefficient feedline/antenna systems.  They're not
forcing you to build a KPA100.  Why should you begrudge them theirs?

> The smart guys are ones with the K2 left at the original QRP levels.

I'll put my SAT, ASVAB, and IQ test scores up against yours any day.  My
bet is that even there, you'll be QRP and I'll be QRO.

Insulting someone because they choose to _COMPLETE_ their K2 by adding the
100w finals is rude, crude and socially unacceptable.

You seem to have the attitude that it is your way or the highway.  Guess
what Bud?  This is the _real_ world.  People are going to have different
tastes, differing opinions and different solutions to problems.  You
solution to an inefficient antenna system may very well be to build a
better antenna system (and brag about it in your signature) while someone
else, who has antenna restrictions imposed on them will simply have to
settle for turning the power knob clockwise.

Narrowmindedness won't win you any friends among the enlightened or
intellectual.  Are you certain that you want to grouped with the remaining
population?

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PS. Do we absolutely HAVE to swallow an advertisement from your quasi-ISP
every time you post a message?


73 de John - K4WTF
Elecraft K2/100 SN#2490 100w 160m-10m CW/SSB transceiver 
Elecraft KAT100 150w Autotuner 
Kenwood TS-2000 160m-10m, 6m/2m/440M/1.2G All-Mode transceiver 
Kenwood TH-D7A(G) 2m/440M transceiver w/APRS
Kenwood TM-D700A 2m/440M transceiver w/APRS
Alinco DR-135TP 2m FM transceiver (digital voice enabled, of course!) 
ICOM IC-T81A 6m/2m/440M/1.2G transceiver 
MFJ-989C 3kw antenna tuner 
RF Applications RFD 3kw digital RF power/VSWR meter 
Ameritron Al-811H 160m-10m 800w PEP amplifier 
Ameritron RCS-8V remote coax switch 
Heil Goldline GM-5 studio microphone, shock-mounted on an articulating arm 
Heil HM-10 studio microphone with HC-5 element 
Heil BM-10 headset/boom microphone with HC-5 element 
Heil MH2 Hand microphone for the Elecraft K2 
Behringer MDX2200 Composer Pro Audio Interactive Dynamics Processor 
Behringer DSP2024P Virtualizer Pro 24-bit Multi-Engine Effects Processor 
Behringer Eurorack MX1604A 16-channel Mic/Line Mixer 
Sangean ATS 818 FM/LW/MW/SW receiver 
RS PRO-76 handheld scanner 
HP 1Ghz PC with dedicated 128K TCP/IP circuit to our High Security
Datacenter (HSDC) in downtown Columbus, OH. 
West Mountain Radio RIGblaster plus transceiver to computer interface 
West Mountain radio RIGRunner Anderson PowerPole power distribution center 
Bencher CW paddles 
ClearSpeach Digital DSP speaker 
MFJ-269 HF/VHF/UHF SWR Analyzer 
Sony MDR-7506 headphones 
C&C Instruments OSC-1030 30Mhz oscilloscope 
Leader LDC-824S 520Mhz Digital Counter 
540-ft 160m full-wave loop.
75m double-bazooka
75m dipole
40m dipole
20m dipole
17m full-wave loop
15m dipole
12m full-wave loop
10m dipole
6m/2m/440Mhz vertical
1.2Ghz 8-element yagi
2.4Ghz 8-element yagi
7ft 10Ghz parabolic


(Wow!  I see why you brag about your beam now.  That was fun!)