[Elecraft] Convince me?!!

[Jessie Oberreuter]

On Mon, 11 Feb 2002 ham_tech@juno.com wrote:

> I need to be convinced that the Elecraft K2 is better than both the
> FT100d and FT817??? Can 15W get out as about the same as 50 or 100W??


     I'd say it comes down to what you are trying to accomplish.  I own a
706m2, an FT100D, numerous 10-20w single band rigs, and a four band K1.  
I was going to get a K2, but between the K1-4 and the 706, I'm pretty
happy.  Here's how I divvy up rigs and operating:

FT100D	Don't bother.  I bought this rig specifically for my VW Passat b/c
	it fits the dash and matches the color scheme :).  I would NEVER
	recommend it for a general purpose rig.  The firmware is buggy,
	the menu system is hell to navigate, the keyer and QSK adjustments
	are less than useful, and the fans are too loud to operate over.
	2k2 from the factory and I still had to mod around a firmware bug.

706m2	This rig has proven an excellent investment.  It spends most of
	its time on my office desk set to 20-30w on HF for cw.  For CW, I
	almost consider this QRO!  This rig also goes w/ me on almost all
	field activities.  For Field Day, it fits side by side w/ its ATU
	in a computer bag w/ room for a G5RV and all cables.  For VHF
	contests, I replace the ATU with a 220 rig.  I turn the power up
	once in a rare while for a sked.  A dedicated base rig w/out the
	menus and fans would be nice, but if you can only have one rig,
	its a fine choice!  

K2	To me, a K2 vs a 706 is a tough call, and I'd likely go w/ the
	706 -- the rx is good enough, the form factor makes rugged packing
	easier, and the extra bands make for fewer rigs to on a given
	trip.  OTOH, if I took contesting more seriously or did more HF
	SSB, I'd pick up a K2 w/out a second thought.  The built in
	battery and ATU in the K2 is a big win.  Were I packing to my
	contest site, I'd take the all-in-one K2 over the 706.

K1-4	I adore this little rig.  It goes with me on all of my trips, and
	when I'm not camping or out of town, it lives at my bedside.  I
	was planning on getting a K2 until the four band module came out.
	Now, the K1 is pretty much all I need.

Various	I have quite a variety of smaller single band rigs: MFJ 94xx,
	Radio Shack 10m, etc.  On VHF cw/ssb, 10-20w is a lot of fun!  I
	really don't work much HF SSB, so I have no idea if 15w is really
	a problem.

FT817	For CW work, get a K1-4.  Smaller, lasts longer on a charge, built
	in ATU, etc.  For SSB, I'd be more likely to throw one of my
	single banders in a backpack than an 817, but your milage may
	vary.  I've known 2-3 people who love them, and I have a friend
	who will likely pick one up soon as he has the money.  W/out a
	tuner, tho, decent multi-band portable gets to be work.  If I were
	serious about packing a mutli-band CW/SSB rig, I'd get a K2.