[Elecraft] Tom, Eric, and Wayne re Frustration: The demise of the KAT2

[Tim and Nancy Logan]

Hello Tom! 

Thanks for the note. To tell you the truth I'm really sorry I posted
that note and I sent a subsequent note suggesting that we end the
thread. It was a rather silly post on my part. I must admit though, I
found out some things I did not know regarding the ATU etc. I know that
I will keep the QRP top for vacations where it's not practical to haul
extra power supplies and tuner boxes around - just the K2 and the MP1 or
a wire. Remind me to never send a whiney post at 2am!

Eric and Wayne - sorry for such a dumb post on such a great product.
Need my butt kicked!

73/Tim Logan NZ7C

Tom Hammond N�SS wrote:
> 
> Tim:
> 
> I'm taking this OFF-REFLECTOR because some of it should not be discussed
> where just anyone can read it... esp. the FCC, and Ten-Tec...
> 
> >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.
> 
> As a result of FCC rules and regulations governing the manufacture ans sale
> of  external amplifiers, Elecraft cannot offer an "EXTERNAL" 100W amplifier
> for the K2. They MUST offer it as an INTERNAL amp.
> 
> However, there's nothing to stop OWNERS from installing the amp externally,
> in  an EC2 case, or other enclosure of their choice. The FCC doesn't
> prohibit US from moving it, but they DO prohibit Elecraft from advertising
> or selling it AS an external amp. As a result, they cannot appear to
> support this type of installation, even though it can be done.
> 
> There WILL be a new 100W (possibly 150W) ATU coming out... and pretty
> soon.. hopefully by the end of September, which will support the KPA100
> option regardless of whether it's installed internally to the K2 OR externally.
> 
> Since Elecraft cannot support a remotely installed amp, they will probably
> not be able to offer a front panel which appears to support external
> controls for the amp either, however, I'd certainly expect them to offer a
> faceplate for the KAT2-100 IF such remote controls are required.
> 
> Expect the KAT2-100 to fully support both the K2 and the K2/100 configurations.
> 
> >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.
> 
> I suspect you can always sell off your KAT2... there's always someone out
> there who wants one.
> 
> However, I'd bet you'll find more chances that you now anticipate when it's
> be nice to take the K2 portable, but without the KPA100.
> 
> >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?
> 
> I'm about as far from a backpacker as one can get. But I will take my K2
> (QRP) with me a lot in the future... and on only a few trips will I take
> the amp. So I've got just what I'm looking for... of course, that's only
> me, and I recognize that we each are different situations.
> 
> 73,
> 
> Tom Hammond   N0SS