[Elecraft] Build a K1?

[Steve Banks]

Rod-

In 1994 I had been long-dormant in hamming...about 15 or 20 years, in fact.
The last thing I built was in the early 90s--a Heath SA-5010 keyer, which I
used to build up enough CW speed to pass the Extra-Class code element at
20wpm (plus the written element, of course).  Prior to the keyer, I'd built
and operated numerous Heathkits, but I'd sold them all a long time ago in
order to take care of critical details like career and family. (My building
appetite all started with an HBR-16 Receiver in the early 60s.)  I don't
consider myself an expert builder, but I'm very methodical and thorough
about the stuff I build, and that seems to pay off for me.

Using my license and hitting local VHF repeaters was fine with an HT I
purchased after I retired, but I still felt a strong urge to reenter the HF
bands.  The Small Wonder Labs and Elecraft ads in QST (I'd rejoined ARRL)
caught my attention and I was hooked.

I assembled the PSK20 (a dandy little Xcvr BTW), exercized it on 20m PSK for
a lot of Qs and then followed up with my K2 (S/N 1599).  I found (and still
am finding) the K2 experience to be a very rewarding and educational one;
the Elecraft reflector and website were, and still are, a gold mine of help
and information.  Any mode on the K2 is a ton of fun, but I find CW to be
the most enjoyable.

I suspect you'd find either the K2 or the K1 to be very doable kits; both
are superb performers.  They are outstanding products with equally
outstanding instruction manuals and a support staff which is legendary.

Go for either one; you won't regret either choice.

73

Steve Banks
K0PQ
K2 S/N 1599


Hi all,
I've been lurking around the list for a while now. My interest in CW and QRP
has recently been re-ignited by the purchase of a FT817 which I like.
However, I'm getting the urge to build something and I like the idea of a
K1. It's been a long time ( the mid 80's) since I last built someting, a
Pac-Comm TNC-200, so I'm thinking, should I build something like a Small
Wonder SW+ or a Wilderness SST as a warm up?
        Here's hoping some one on the list "might have been there, done
that".

73,

Rod VK3CBO