[Elecraft] Elecraft K2 with (big MAYBE) Ten-Tec 2m transverter

[k6se@juno.com]

Daniel, KG4DNI wrote:

"I may have interest (big MAYBE) in building a Ten-Tec 2m transverter.

I don't know much at all about using SSB, AM on the VHF and UHF bands.  I
mostly use my 2m to talk on repeaters, which require tones to activate
them on TX and autopatches.  Does the ten-tec transverter offer a DTMF
pad input or a place to insert that audio into the transverter or
Elecraft K2, so I can work repeaters?  Is there a way of doing this, or
would it be better for me to get a Amateur Radio Single/Dual
transceiver??"
==========
A VHF transverter merely converts the VHF received signals to an HF
frequency you can tune on your HF receiver.  It also converts the HF
frequency output of your HF transmitter to the VHF frequency.  That's all
it does.

Using a Ten-Tec VHF transverter with an HF transceiver offers you all of
the features of the HF radio, except for the amount of power transmitted
on the VHF band.  The Ten-Tec transverter requires 5 watts input at a
10-meter frequency to yield about 8 watts of 2-meter RF out of the
transverter.

Unless the HF radio you use has CTCSS encoding built in (I'm not aware of
any that do), you won't be able to access repeaters that require a PL
tone.  Also, the HF radio must be capable of transmitting and receiving
narrow-band FM to talk on the 2-meter repeaters with the transverter.

As far as DTMF is concerned, you would have to build an outboard DTMF pad
for use with your HF transceiver to generate touch-tones.

For the price, the Ten-Tec 6m and 2m transverters are hard to beat.  They
are a convenient way of extending the frequency coverage your HF radio
while maintaining all of the HF radio's features.  I built a Ten-Tec
6-meter transverter a couple of years and had a ball with it with my
FT-1000MP.  With a simple 6m ground plane antenna about 15 feet high, I
worked 36 states and 6 countries with that 8-watter in about two months
until the novelty wore off.

Transverters should work quite well with the K2 also.

73, de Earl, K6SE