[Elecraft] Changes from 100 watts to 10 watts

[N2EY@aol.com]

In a message dated 12/30/02 4:28:33 AM Eastern Standard Time, g4ilo@qsl.net 
writes:

> I'm not
>  happy with the insinuation that a K2 without the 100W PA is incomplete. The
>  only thing there's room for in my K2's case is the transverter module;
>  adding the PA would entail tossing out the battery pack and the KAT2, and I
>  have no desire to build or pay for a PA that I neither want nor need.
>  
My K2 has KAT2 and KAF2. Maybe I'll go for the noise blanker at some point. 
It's neither "complete" nor "incomplete".

>  It's a pity that Elecraft didn't choose a different model number for the
>  higher powered model, to emphasise the difference between them, and so that
>  those of us who choose to run low power aren't made to feel that our K2's
>  are somehow inferior or incomplete.

Nobody's K2 is "inferior or incomplete". K2 and K1 are SYSTEMS, thus the name 
appears in all the related products. System consists of the basic 
transceiver, to which can be added various options as desired or needed. Some 
options are incompatible with others - the KIO2, KAT2 and KBT2 are 
incompatible with the KPA100, for example. 

One "best" implementation of the K2 system is to put the KPA100 and KAT100 in 
a separate EC2 enclosure, that can be quickly dis/connected to the K2. QRP 
for the field, QRO for home. 

But Elecraft cannot sell such a system because FCC won't certify it. (As if 
illegals will spend $4/watt for an amplifier that will only work with one 
rig!).

Perhaps at some future date, Elecraft will conside offering the K2 innards in 
a bigger case that can hold every possible option at once. 

73 de Jim, N2EY