[Elecraft] K2/100 or (I hang my head in shame...) Icom 706???

[Ron D'Eau Claire]

You'll find that the K2/100 will make a fine mobile rig based on the
many comments from the reflector over the past year or so. Lots of ops
have mobilled with a barefoot 10 watt K2. 

You MIGHT want to consider an external  amplified speaker depending upon
your vehicle and whether you drive with the windows down, etc. Some ops
report the audio level marginal for noisy environments. Also, an
external speaker like used in the land mobile setups lets you place the
K2 without concern for how the built in speaker is positioned.  

There has been talk about a "remotable" front panel for the K2 some day,
but I have no idea if it's a serious project at Elecraft. Elecraft is
basically a two-engineer company (Eric & Wayne) and they've been a bit
swamped keeping up with the cries from the rabble out here for more
goodies to build. Sometimes I have this picture of all of us standing
around the Elecraft castle walls at night holding our burning torches
while Eric and Wayne hurriedly keep inventing new kits to toss to us and
satisfy our hunger for a few minutes so we won't tear down the stone
walls with our bare hands <G>

Too bad that you see an issue with the XYL over the idea. I'd say that
is the first thing to tackle, but it's way, way beyond the focus of this
reflector. Why not have a relationship in which Ham radio is an
important and welcome part of the fun to both parties?  I can tell you
from experience that the XYL need not be a Ham to enjoy seeing her
husband enjoy the hobby. In this case, something for you to do besides
listen to tunes on long highway trips can improve your safety by keeping
your mind alert. There's lots of concern these days about drivers being
so distracted by their technology - cellular phones - satellite
navigation gear - monster audio systems - etc. - that they do not drive
with proper care and attention. That's absolutely TRUE. But the opposite
is true as well. In situations with little traffic and little for the
driver to do, boredom can be deadly. The human mind requires some sort
of stimulation to stay alert.  Some mobilling on those long drives can
reduce driver fatigue and keep your more alert. 

There are ways to mount mobile antennas on cars these days that do not
require defacing them in any way and the antenna can be removed for
"around town" driving if desired.

Ron AC7AC
K2 # 1289

-----Original Message-----
...itching to try mobile HF ... trying to decide on a radio that can go
mobile but also serve as a base unit, has SSB capabilities and offer
more coverage than my 2 band K1. Anyone out there have any experience
using the K2 or K2/100 as a mobile rig?  (dumb question... can the
K2/100 even be used as a mobile rig???) ...And if anyone has any
suggestions on how to explain OR hide HF mobile antennas from my wife
(and I apologize for the sexist nature of this portion of the email),
I'm all ears.

Steve KD5NSD