[Elecraft] Build options for K1-4????

[Morrow, Michael A.]

Steve wrote:

> Just ordered a K1-4 kit. Building it for portable and backpacking
> use.....mainly.
>=20
> What are your opinions on 17 vs. 15 band selection and the=20
> 80khz vs.150 kHz VFO range.

For hams in ITU region 3, where the 40m CW band runs from 7 to 7.15 MHz, =
I think the 150 kHz (180 kHz, typically) VFO span option is great.  =
There's even the possibility for a cross-mode QSO in the first 15 to 20 =
kHz of the 40m phone band, since the K1 receiver operates in LSB mode, =
and the widest CW filter bandpass setting is wide enough to get fairly =
intelligible voice reception.  (You might even want to copy some of the =
short-wave broadcasting in the evening.)  If you choose the 15m option, =
you can cover most of the 15m CW band as well.  Plus, on the 30m band, =
you'll be able to tune down to 10 MHz WWV.

I find there to be no tuning difficulties associated with the 150 kHz =
VFO option.  I did put some layers of home-cut felt washers behind the =
VFO knob to provide a slight amount of resistance to VFO knob turning.

> Also how do you like the internal antenna tuner option & what=20
> antenna do you use it with?

The KAT1 is great!  It's almost essential, especially for an =
all-in-one-box backpack rig.  For an antenna, I use a dipole.  I've had =
very poor results with verticals in side-by-side comparisons in the =
field.  Plus, a dipole usually takes up much less space when stowed =
away.

I have the KBT1 internal battery and the KTS1 tilt-stand, but I removed =
the KBT1 after using it for 18 months.  I didn't like potentially =
leaking batteries which were awkward to re-charge in the K1, plus the =
original K1 speaker sounds much better than the very small KBT1 speaker. =
 The next revision of the K1 PCB would profit from accommodating a =
two-pin polarized connector at the rear, just like the speaker =
connector, that could be used to connect/disconnect the KBT1 quickly.  I =
also rarely use the KTS1.  It is a little **too** versatile, when all I =
need is something to prop the K1 up at an angle.  I would be interested =
in buying, were one ever available, a **simple** fold-down wire bail =
type of front stand, attached by the four screws that are under the =
front panel.

73,
Mike / KK5F