[Elecraft] Re:New Crystals or Not

[George, W5YR]

You will have them after I do my crystal installation and run a new set of
SpectroPRO spectra to compare with the original set for all filter settings
and modes. This is a professional audio analysis program suite that
provides much higher resolution and spectral detail than SpectroGram, so
quantitative comparisons should be available and useful.

My K2 is #489 with the original -20 xtals so I expect substantial
improvement. Some mods have been made but everything will be brought up to
current "standards" as part of the filter crystal replacement.

On the other hand, anyone pleased with the current performance of his/her
K2 should weigh the pros and cons of making the mod: time, cost, potential
damage, etc.

My take is that based upon my baseline spectra, even though my K2
superficially sounds "good" and is acceptable as it is, I expect that the
new filters will make it much better, especially for SSB operation.

Thus, I am willing to accept the cons in anticipation of the pro's!   <:}

73/72, George    
Amateur Radio W5YR -  the Yellow Rose of Texas
In the 57th year and it just keeps getting better!
Fairview, TX 30 mi NE of Dallas in Collin county EM13qe
K2 #489      Icom IC-765 #2349     Icom IC-756 PRO  #2121

WA9GQT@aol.com wrote:
> 
> Hello to All!
>       I  think we need to determine a good method of checking the spec's on
> our various K2's before we get the soldering stations hot and risk component
> damage.
>       I have K2 SN 1900 which has the 4.91-0195 crystals in it.  I have done
> the 2nd XFil SSB mod(with 100pF & 5.6K resistor update) and the KO0B CW
> filter ultimate rejection mod. I was also one of the initial K2's with the AF
> Gain Mod.
>       I use my K2 on both CW & SSB, almost 50/50. I seem to have enough audio
> and am very pleased with CW & SSB.  I get wonderful reports on both modes.  I
> wonder just how much my K2 would benefit by replacing all my SSB and CW
> crystals.
>       We need good spectrogram parameters to be able to determine just how
> much improvement our K2's will receive from replacing all of the crystals.
> Thanks for the info.
> 
> 73,
> 
> Rod WA9GQT  K2 SN 1900
>