[Elecraft] Frustration: The demise of the KAT2

[Charles Greene]

At 01:04 AM 5/31/2002 -0700, Tim and Nancy Logan wrote:
>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.

---snip---

Tim,

You are just considering one option which you have decided fits your 
picture of a ideal rig.  I personally like the K2 as a QRP rig, and at the 
present time I am not even considering the K2PA.  I already have a 100 watt 
rig; a bit old but works fine.  It doesn't have a built in antenna tuner 
either.  Also the K2 doesn't have built in transverter(s).  If that is what 
you want, there are a few rigs on the market that have 100 watts and cover 
1.8 MHz through 440 Mhz.  Also there's the original option of exchanging 
the top cover when you want a 100 watt rig.  I heard a new option today of 
placing your 100 watt amplifier in the trunk of your car when you go 
mobile.  I'll bet some guys even buy two K2PAs and keep one at home and one 
in the car.  Nice thing about the K2; it has a lot of options.  Why don't 
you see if you can sell the parts you don't want?


73, Chas, W1CG