[Elecraft] Convince me?!!

Mon Feb 11 10:28:08 2002

Hi, Daniel...

I bought an FT-817, then bought and built a K2.  I've had great fun with
both.

I normally run the K2 at 5 watts, but when needed have cranked it up to 10.
Don't expect 15... you MIGHT get there on some bands, but should get 10 on
all bands.  The difference is miniscule.  Either radio --and a GOOD (not
necessarily big or expensive) antenna installation--  will get you contacts
any time you want to talk, on CW or SSB.  If you're trying to maintain a
sked with specific people across the country on a regular basis, you'll find
neither one will be adequate under poor conditions.  Translation:  I
wouldn't want either as my ONLY HF radio, but when I just want to chew the
rag, I ALWAYS reach for the K2 before my Icom 756PRO and 1500 watt amp.

The K2 is far easier to run than the 817 based on the fact that more
controls are on the front panel on the K2, and more of them are in menus on
the 817.  (The K2 has menus, too, but mostly things you'll set once and
forget.)  The K2 is larger so its controls are MUCH easier to see and
operate.  The K2 also offers things like three switchable crystal filter
settings for SSB and three for CW.  To get two filter settings on the 817,
you must order and install expensive optional filters.  The K2's optional
audio filter is an amazingly good add-on for CW (useless on SSB... too
narrow).

The 817's ONLY advantages, to me, are 1) it goes up to 70cm (I have HTs for
that)  and 2) you can walk around attempting to talk on it if you are so
inclined.  For HF, you REALLY need an external antenna for best results
which means sitting in one place.  For HF portable operation, the K2 still
shines with some 20+hours of listening time on its
optional internal battery vs. only 4 or 5 on the 817.  The K2's battery has
far more capacity and it can be cut down to draw only a fraction of the
817's drain.

I thought I was going to take the 817 on business trips to while away
evening hours in a hotel room. After one trip carrying the 817, power
supply, antenna tuner, some wire for radials, and an ATX Walkabout antenna,
I said never again.  No matter how I tried, I was never able to hear a
single HF signal from inside a hotel room and it was just too much junque to
carry around. Good idea... the implementation just didn't work.  I have
since purchased a Kenwood TH-F6A mini-HT which should receive (my main
interest anyway) HF CW/SSB with a wire hung out the window.  Haven't had the
opportunity to try it yet.

As others have indicated, your primary concern in an HF radio should always
be the best receiver you can find.  While the 817 seemed surprisingly close
to the K2, the K2 still wins in A/B testing.  The difference may only show
up on one of a dozen or so very weak signals.

Bottom line, for me, is... when I get ready to work QRP, I turned on the K2,
not the 817.  I sold the 817 a couple of weeks ago after realizing I hadn't
had it turned on at all in about nine months.

Notice I've confined my remarks to performance.  I haven't mentioned
building the K2 from a kit.  If you enjoy building, as I do, that's another
plus.  If you don't, then you can buy one already built.  There are always a
few hard-core builders who would welcome the chance to sell theirs and build
another.

If I had it to do over --knowing what I've learned from owning both-- I
would go K2 without a thought of an 817.  "Your mileage may vary depending
on your driving habits."

Good Luck... Ed, W5EJ

----- Original Message -----
From: <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, February 10, 2002 5:30 PM
Subject: [Elecraft] Convince me?!!

> Hi there,
>
> I need to be convinced that the Elecraft K2 is better than both the
> FT100d and FT817???
>
> How often do you do repairs?
>
> Can 15W get out as about the same as 50  or 100W??
>
> Daniel
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