[Elecraft] QRO Choices

Bill Myers [email protected]
Tue Jan 15 19:46:00 2002


I've had my K2 (#1760) now for a year. 
After many many great QSOs and hours of
enjoyment, I have no desire to change
anything on the K2 - including being
limited to 10 or so watts.  During this
last year, that has been plenty of power
to do what I enjoy most ...

... except I do work with NTS on cw. 
The K2 is a great rig for traffic work! 
The receiver is the best, and its QSK is
great.  Ten watts is fine for district
work, but is marginal for regional and
area coverage (at least in the West.) 
So, I have to conclude that I need more
power for reliable communications night
after night on 80 meters.  I'm looking
for a way to boost power for that one
activity only!

I could (and probably will) wait for the
K2 PA.  Or, I've found a clean Omni V
for a reasonable price that would be
adequate for 80 meter cw.  It would also
be workable to drive an external
amplifier with the K2 and use it only
when needed.  I believe the K2 will
drive the typical amateur KW amp to 200
or 300 watts, and that's more than
enough!  The one requirement is that the
K2's QSK must be retained.  Having never
owned an amplifier, I have no experience
with high power QSK. 

I'd be interested in what experience
others have had with this approach. 
What amplifier brands work, and what
problems are typical with the QSK issue.

Thanks for the inputs,
Bill
K6IFF