[Elecraft] "discovering" Elecraft

[Francis Belliveau]

This IS a great end-of-year thread!

My story covers a longer time span that those heard so far.

I had been a ham for about 15 years with only an HW-8 for HF work.  It was
all that I could afford when I got started.  After the family had been well
started and things had been settled I decided it was time for a better rig.
I mostly wanted an improved receiver and more bands.  I had even started
thinking about building my own portable rig.  It seemed to me that multiple
bands with low power consumption and portability were things that I wanted
and nobody was design rigs with that in mind.  I also had little available
funds.  I then saw the QRP-Plus in QST and started saving for one.  That
took a few years and when I was ready, they were no longer in production.

Next, lamenting about this on the local repeater, I got pointed at the
SGC-2020 which was in the making.  That looked like it would fit my needs.
It was more expensive, but I was still saving so I ordered one and waited
for them to hit the production line.  Well that got delayed.  Then came the
announcement that they would only come with a 90 day warranty.  I knew that
I would not be abel to find the time to use the rig enough in 90 days to be
sure all was okay, so I cancelled the order.

Again lamenting to friends at a local club I was told about the K2.  This
rig was also not yet in production, but the description went well beyond my
wildest dreams.  I made the call, and placed my order.  Again I waited about
a year for the field tests to be completed and the production run to begin.
I ended up with serial number 314.  Technically the third in the PI series
as my friend noted to me.  Actually the first in the series to be
recognizable as such.  I am looking forward to hearing from the next member
of this small club, the owner of serial number 3141.  It will be a long time
before this small group is expanded, but I hope my rig will still be
functioning if Elecraft ever makes K2 s/n 31415.  Likely a replacement model
will come along first.

Operating?  Well I still get very little time for HF but when I have
operated I have much enjoyed the rig.  I am still using a straight key since
I cannot make the paddles work well enough to get three consecutive
characters correct.  SSB is not yet functional as I experienced the last
time I tried using the rig.  That was Field Day 2002.  I expect that in the
next few weeks I will begin using the rig a bith more and then will open it
up for the big upgrade to Rev-B.  The needed parts are expected to ship
today along with a new microphone that will make setting up SSB easier since
the one that I have shorts the element unless the PTT button is held.

That's my story.  Almost 20 years waiting for the perfect rig before my K2
was born.

73 & Happy New Year to all.

Fran, KA4FRH
K2 s/n 314