[Elecraft] K2 #2646 now complete!

[Steve Holton]

I have now completed K2 #2646 which I purchased at Dayton. It now is in 
it's "final" QRP version with all options, except 160M, installed and 
working. I have had it on the air since it reached it's first useable form 
in June - had to take a "real life break" for July and most of August :(
I've now started on the KPA100 which I expect to have finished next week.
Ultimately I plan to put the KPA100 in the EC2 I have along with a KAT100 
when it appears. This will give me a "quick disconnect" QRP/portable rig 
and a 100 watt base rig with just plugging and unplugging cables.
Some comments and observations:

Inventory the parts - I found this both helpful in identifying and locating 
parts. Makes life, for me, a lot easier during assembly. I use a 
compartmented tray for hardware, connectors etc. I use scrap blocks of 
Styrofoam to hold the parts with leads  (resistors, caps, diodes, etc) 
labeled with strips of paper taped to the foam.
With the K2, KSB2, KNB2, KAF2, KBT2, KAT2, KIO2, KPA100 I found no missing 
parts except for the base K2 which was missing one part, and on close 
inspection one defective part (a 2x18 pin female connector turned out to be 
a 2x17.5 pin), the KAF2 had a "equivalent" RTC chip that turned out not to 
be that equivalent - the replacement arrived yesterday to complete the QRP 
K2. Discovered in inventory, replacements arrived promptly before needed.

Instructions - I found them very complete and well thought out. They are in 
the sequence they're given for a reason. When it says don't solder yet they 
have a reason ;) In assembly steps it pays to read ahead a bit to avoid the 
"I know what they want me to do now" syndrome - only to find you didn't 
really know two steps later.

Toroids - Much ado about very little! I had now problem with them. Actually 
quit enjoyable. I used the solder blob method with no problems. That is 
until I got a Hakko de-soldering gun - a new definition of "point and 
shoot"  - almost instant strip & tin.

Tools: Good lighting - I also build ship models so the model table had good 
lighting and one of those fluorescent lit magnifying lamps - for me an 
essential. Temperature controlled soldering iron. Anti-static wrist strap. 
Thin solder. The usual suspects for small tools. And now, while by no means 
necessary, the Hakko 808. Which is a bit like a garage door opener  - once 
you have one you'll never want to be without one again!

Problems: I basically had none of any consequence. In the very first 
segment I somehow managed to bend/break on of the front panel switches so 
that it failed to make good contact - easy to find, easy to fix. put one 
Cap. in the wrong hole - found it almost immediately. No other problems 
until the final module (the KIO2) when I goofed and put the control board 
mod in the wrong place. Again the troubleshooting tips led quickly to the 
cause.

Overall I'm impressed with the kit. A lot of fun, learned a lot, got a 
great rig for a good price, getting hooked on QRP and portable operation. 
The support from Elecraft and this list has be simply excellent.

Once I finish the KPA100, will be starting another "complete" K2/KPA100 for 
a fellow ham who has been admiring mine, but doesn't fell his eyesight is 
good enough. A  group of fellow hams met once a week for breakfast and I 
have been bringing in the K2 from time to time as it progressed for "show 
and tell" and it's been getting lots of ooohs and aahhs.

The KPA100 and the soldering iron call....
73 and hope to see some of you on the air
Steve N1NB