[[Elecraft] Digipan not available...]

[Julian, G4ILO]

I would advise doing the SSB board mod that allows you to use the ALC to
limit the output power, although it was personally a bit of a nightmare for
me due to lifting a couple of pads while attempting to remove a couple of
the components that have to be replaced.

As you say, the audio output required to produce 5W output varies
considerably from band to band, and even within the filter passband. If you
use PSK a lot, it's only a matter of time before you forget to check the
power output meter and end up overheating the finals. Those PA retaining
screws get quite hot after 3 or 4 minutes at 5W, although the bottom of the
K2 as a whole is only just warm.

73,
--
Julian, G4ILO. (RSGB, ARRL, K2 #392)
Homepage: http://www.qsl.net/g4ilo

"Ron D' Eau Claire" <rondec@easystreet.com> wrote:

[snip]

The solution to both issues is to set the POWER control to 10 watts, but
set
the audio drive to the K2 so it only makes 5 watts output, MAX. That keeps
the power down where the K2 should not overheat, and having the POWER
control up at 10 watts ensures that the ALC circuit won't activate at 5
watts out.

Of course, the audio level to produce 5 watts output will vary with the
band
in use, because the overall gain of the r-f circuitry in the K2 varies from
band to band, being lower, typically, on the higher bands. So I had to
reset
my audio level from the PC whenever I changed bands.