[Elecraft] K2 & KPA100

Mon May 20 21:43:12 2002

It is almost impossible to exactly zero beat with the K2 because of 10
Hz frequency steps.  Because of this you have less than one chance in
ten of hitting the exact frequency.  But you should hear a
whosh/moan/groan on either side of the desired signal.  Something like
the whosh/moan/groan that you hear in the last few rows of the jets with
engines on either side of the tail. If you have a (or can get or use the
trial period) PSK program plug the speaker/phones into the sound card
and look at the display.  You will see the side tone stay at the same
frequency and the received signal move as you tune.  Note the sound
affects as you get near and then cross.  Go back and forth several times
to get the knack of it. If you Still don't hear it adjust the volume.
(Side tone and carrier should be the same color in the waterfall and the
same height in a spectrum.  WWV is also a good idea but listen when
there is no tone as it will cause confusion.  

Rich

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Joe Randle
Sent: Monday, May 20, 2002 7:27 PM
To: Elecraft Reflector
Subject: [Elecraft] K2 & KPA100

Well guys. I'm finally going to put my two cents worth in:

1.  When I do purchase the KPA 100 for my K2, I am going to get an EC-2
to put it in. I know the K2 with KPA 100 installed will still work QRP
as well as QRO, but I want to be able to take the K2 along whereever I
go. I also want the advantage of having the internal tuner and internal
battery.
      I don't mind having a separate cabinet at the home station, but
the fun of owning a K2 is being able to take it out in the back yard,
put it on the picnic table, plug in an antenna and start operating!  No
external power supply and no external tuner! Just a mike or a key/paddle
and a portable antenna!  That's part of the K2 Mojo!

2.  Thanks for the explanation on zero-beating. I still can't seem to
hear that "third" tone that is the difference between the cw signal
pitch and the sidetone pitch. Back when I had to use crystal control, I
just called CQ and then tuned around to see if I got an answer. When I
heard my call being sent, I just tuned him for a BFO pitch that was
pleasing for me to copy. I had my K2 built by W1HYV because I have
"shaky" hands and did not feel like I could do a good job building it. I
didn't want to mess up a good kit! Maybe someone could help me learn how
to tune CW correctly. I believe I could match the received pitch with
the sidetone pitch. I just can't hear the "whoosh, whoosh, whoosh" or
whatever it is you are supposed to hear!  Help!

     Thanks in advance for helping someone who is not a technical or
electronics guru!

                            Joe Randle, K5EUY
                            Fort Wayne, Indiana

--- StripMime Report -- processed MIME parts ---
multipart/alternative
  text/plain (text body -- kept)
  text/html
The reason this message is shown is because the post was in HTML
or had an attachment. Attachments are not allowed.
Please post in Plain-Text only.---
_______________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list: [email protected]
You must be a list member to post to the list. 
Postings must be plain text (no HTML or attachments). 
See: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Elecraft Web Page: http://www.elecraft.com