[Elecraft] New Rev B K2

[k6se@juno.com]

Don, KD5NDB wrote:

"This is all of the normal stuff we have been adding to the bottom of the
K2 with a few more minor changes. ALC, 10 meter bandpass filter mod, 2nd
xtal filter mod, sinewave sidetone mod, sidetone source mod, audio pot
mod, VFO drift mod, BFO drift mod.

All of this is now part of the circuitry of the Rev B boards but can
easily be added to the Rev 'A' board as most of us have done."
==========
I've done the 2nd xtal filter mod which required cutting a trace on the
RF board.

The audio pot mod required cutting traces on the RF board, on the Control
board, and on the Front Panel board.  Jumper wires had to be added to
each of the three PC boards.

The sidetone source mod (required for the I/O kit or the KPA100 kit)
required cutting traces and installing jumper wires on the Control board.

KD5NDB says the mods can "easily be added", which is debatable.  It
certainly wasn't easy in my case, and I'm a NASA-certified solderer and
have been building kits since 1955.

Although the mods improve the K2, they remove the professional appearance
of the inner workings of the radio by those unsightly jumper wires and
added parts.  New K2 builders who receive the new boards should be
extremely thankful that they won't have to do these mods and ruin the
internal appearance of their radios.

The new kits with Rev B boards may prompt many K2 owners to buy a new kit
to replace their adulterated K2s.  I know I'm tempted to, and may do just
that if the VFO/BFO mod kit(s) alleviate temperature drift to within
reason (I'll soon know).

Wayne announced an "complete update kit", which I'm all ears about, but
wonder how it can be done without replacing all three affected boards
(RF, Control and Front Panel) and their components??

73, de Earl, K6SE