[Elecraft] Ruggedness of the K2 Vs. other rigs for emergency field use

[phoon.usinet]

Gentleman and Ladies,

I recently owned a 756 Pro II here at 9000 feet up in the Rockies.  Had some
breakfast in dull sunlight and snow flurries.  Was using a GP vertical. When
I returned and hit the key to transmit on 15 meters, Xmit went dead.

Icom service slapped me on the wrist, and said static had damaged driver
Xistor, and several diodes in the Xmit chain.  It was my fault. I never saw
or heard any sparks. And the Rcvr continued to work fine.

After factory repair, Xmit went dead a second time same day I put it back on
the air in a clear sky.  The Pro II was on the repair bench 8 times longer
than it was ever on the air!

Was very lucky to get my money back, so I am considering the K2  and other
rigs as main station rig, and for field use.

I work with Red Cross Hams in Colo. who can be sent to forest fire sites
anytime in the summer (or winter), and a rugged and reliable 5 to 6 lb. HF
rig with 10 to 20 watts out, SSB and CW, mainly on 40M,  is required.

Here are questions I would like K2 members to comment on:

1)  How well protected is the K2 front end against static discharges when
the rig is used in the field?

2)  When damaged from static, what components have K2 owners had to
replace/repair?  What trouble shooting methods were used to find K2 problems
caused by static?

3)  Fellows and the manual say the SGC 2020, American made transceiver, used
all over the world in the field, marine, and aircraft, is particularly
rugged, and can take static and general "banging around" better than any
other HF rig designed for field use.

 http://www.rigpix.com/mischam/sgc_sg2020_manual.pdf

Yet this rig has notorious problems:  Poor Rcvr dynamic range, less than
great sensitivity. Warm up drift. You have to install a Heil element and
mods to get maximal talk power with it's otherwise excellent VOGAD circuit.
Once done, it is said to be a great "talker", though, on SSB. Has PBT. Now
available with second generation DSP. Draws 400 Ma on Rcvr relay clacks on
QSK CW. Latest review (7/12/2003) is from a missionary-ham in Bolivia:

http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/424

Has any K2 owner had the chance to compare the SGC 2020 to the K2 in
demanding field use?  Which rig is the better choice, when ruggedness is the
key factor?  Is it better to accept the less than great Rcvr in the 2020, to
get the "protection" and "ruggedness", rather than go with a K2?

4)  Several other options are making my life miserable.  How does the K2
stack up in terms of field-use ruggedness with the FT 897, the new Argonaut
V from Ten Tec, and the New Icom 703?  Opinions, ideas, criticisms,
whatever, will be much appreciated.

Ten Tec will allow me a 30 day trial, but it does not look like 30 day
trials are available for the other rigs (K2, SGC 2020, Argonaut V, IC 703),
in order to get first hand comparisons to see how MY brain, eyes, ears and
hands react to each rig.

I am hearing disabled, with major high frequency loss.

Yes, I enjoy QRP CW most of all, but also have to have good SSB talk power
and ruggedness up to 13 or 20 watts for field use.

Tks,

Peter, VE1CHS
phoon@attglobal.net