[Elecraft] Frustration: The demise of the KAT2

[Tim and Nancy Logan]

Hi folks - 

I'm generally very, very positive about Elecraft and the K2, but the
more I ponder the new amp (which I ordered happily today!), the more I
feel abit frustrated. I've all along had the impression that part of the
concept was for existing K2 owners to be able to build the amp and
install it in an EC2 enclosure along with a higher power ATU. This
separate amp and ATU could be turned off or on from the K2 control
panel. I was expecting a high power ATU to follow the amp and, with
luck, at some point a face plate for the EC2.

If I undestand things correctly now, there will not be a separate
hi-power ATU that is designed to fit in the EC2 case. I also understand
that the K2/100 can operate as a QRP or QRO rig. Rather there will be a
separate ATU that runs both QRP and QRO. I still have not heard from
Elecraft what the full range of this ATU will be. Many ATU's will not
activate unless they have a certain minimum wattage. I do not know yet
if the new ATU will include the capabilities of the KAT2 as well as the
higher power ATU. I certainly hope it does.  

So as I see it, the final result will be two highly compact boxes that
can operate QRP or QRO. I like that idea (wish I knew that was the idea
in the beginning), but I have to admit that this sort of renders the
alternate lid with battery power and KAT2 useless unless you like to
hike with a QRP rig or have a once a year need for a self contained QRP
field rig - neither of which I really suspect I will need. If my K2/100
goes to the field it goes with an external gelcel that I can use a smart
charger on or, for QRO, my killer solar battery setup. The alternate
lid, battery, and ATU were not necessarily cheap and for many of us I
suspect, are now out of the equation and have to be chalked up as money
down the tubes. 

There's no doubt I love these products and love what the genious of Eric
and Wayne have produced - but has it struck anyone else that part of the
original K2 (for those non backpacker types) has just become a wasted
investment? And it seems a shame because that little QRP ATU is a
dynamite tuner if not just plain cute!. Please do not accept this as
excessive whining - only a bit of a pebble in my shoe. I'm curious if
others have had this thought? 

Thanks for listening. Regards, Tim NZ7C