[Elecraft] Hearing disabled K2 newbee quests.

[phoon.usinet]

Gentlemen:  Thanks very much for clearing me up on the amp keyer issues =
with the K2, and sending me to the amp keying circuit.

I'm Peter, a Colorado and FLA resident much of the year, but VE1CHS =
(Canadian Lifetime Certificate), 62 year old hearing disabled ham.  I =
have enjoyed QRP CW and SSB contacts in the past 30 years.  The hearing =
disability (bilateral) is much like Rush Limbaugh, and is consistently =
progressing and worsening, but we can't really predict how fast. Mine =
appears to be slower than Rush's. My hearing loss includes loud tinitus =
(high frequency ringing), which interferes with my ability to hear, and =
hearing loss at these freqs which include typical CW/SSB freqs:

25 db down at 250 Hz
35 db down at 500 Hz
50 db down at 750 Hz (typical cw side tone)
60 db down at 1000 Hz
85 db down at 2000 Hz

I can talk to people only if I am 3 feet away, with hearing aides, and =
watch lip movement.  My days as a ham appear to be numbered, but, on the =
bright side, I've got great health otherwise, and am broadening out to =
enjoy other less hearing dependent hobbies (including backpacking).

However, I am considering a K2, which may extend ham radio capability =
for a while.  I know that this whole business of hearing is subjective, =
and I risk not succeeding.  However, I will weigh reflector members' =
comments before I commit to a K2 (if I do so at all).  I know that there =
is a lot of building ahead if I do, but I have scratch built 2 and 6 M =
rigs in the past.  The benefits of the K2 may make it worth it for my =
hearing.

Have trouble with SSB, but may be able to do some SSB with proper =
earphones.  The doctor tells me that not only do I have trouble hearing, =
but I also have trouble processing the information component of aural =
speech, and very likely, my CW speed will always be limited to about =
10-15 WPM.  I can certainly live with that.

Listening to a CW dx signal, I was able to hear the pile-up, but not the =
dx signal!  Though I might occasionally contact a dx station (previously =
a favorite activity), more realistically, I can still for a while yet =
have CW contacts with strong signals, and enjoy QRP/QRO if daytime on 40 =
and short hop with strong (S4 to S9+) signal.

I would like to get the reflector members' ideas and comments on any =
and/or all of the following:

1)  I looked at the Omni 6+, Icom 756 Pro II, but it seems that the K2 =
has superior specs, esp MDS. I have not had the chance to operate a K2, =
an Omni 6 plus, Icom 756 Pro II, and compare them.  Is it possible that =
the DSP features of the Omni 6+ and ICOM 756 Pro II would have important =
benefits in light of my hearing disability?  Or, in your view, with =
custom tuning of the K2 CW and SSB filters, aiming for larger gain at =
the higher audio frequencies (say 650 to 1700 Hz) with the Spectrograph =
software, might I be able to achieve much the same results with the K2?

2)  Have studied over the Spectrograph program and the comments for =
aligning filters.  But it is not yet clear if I can choose a CW side =
tone in my hearing sweet spot of about 400 Hz.  Can I set the BFO and =
side tone to this frequency, and then align the CW filters around this =
center frequency?

3)  I did find the mod for boosting up the K2 receiver sensitivity by =
about 10db, with some price to be paid on IMD.  Do you think that with =
my hearing difficulty for weak signals, this mod would be acceptable, =
and advisable?  If you have tried it, what are the pros and cons?=20

4)  In looking over the options, it was a bit tough to decide which ones =
to select.  For example, I'm not clear on whether the SSB unit, Ant =
tuner, noise blanker, 160 M addition, CW audio filter, can all go into =
the case all at the same time with the 100 watt amplifier built into the =
cover:

Can you break it down:  If I want to have the regular cover, and QRP on =
the trail, what can fit inside?

Now, If I build the 100 watt amp in the top cover, what can still fit =
inside?

5)  I think that all the noise limiting options, audio filter,  would be =
plusses, and assist my hearing needs.  Would you confirm that I should =
get the KAF2 and KNB2?

6)  One K2 user suggested: "Low distortion high sensitivity head phones =
from AKG made a HUGE difference in signal readability".  Do you happen =
to know what model I should get, and where this company is located?  I =
have a pair of older "army" type headphones, but am not clear whether =
the AGK or some other brand, would be a substantial improvement over the =
"army" headphones I currently have. I would appreciate recommendations =
from K2 users who use earphones ( Listening to CW or SSB via speakers =
just won't work; I've tried them).

7)  Practical issue: Can the K2 be built so that the 15 watt version can =
be taken into the field, while the 100W cover can be placed on the unit =
when back at the home station?  How hard is it to switch back and forth?

8) Will a regular truck battery (12 V, 200 cranking amps, regularly =
charged, and fused) have sufficient capacity to power the 100 watt =
version of the K2 with the KPA-100?  Or, is it more realistic to power =
down to 30 or 40 watts (with the KPA-100 cover)? I live in the =
mountains, we have frequent power outages, and the danger of forest =
fires, so regular 12 volt operation is very desirable.

9)  The rig is pictured with a large, beautiful "wood color" paddle =
keyer, that Barbara would find aesthetically pleasing, because it =
matches our Lv room wood trim.   What model is that keyer, and who makes =
it?  Other keyer recommendations for the K2?

I realize I am asking members to make some "judgment calls" in =
commenting on these issues, but that is OK, and I will weigh it all in =
the end.

Gentlemen, thank you for your time on my behalf.

Sincerely,

Peter Hoon
VE1CHS (Lifetime Canadian Certificate)
Nederland, Colorado
phoon@attglobal.net

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