[Elecraft] K2 vs Pegasus as an HF Remote Base

[w4chl@mindspring.com]

Dear Elecraft listserve readers,

This may be an unusual request, but here goes. 

Our middle school club (PARC, see rtpnet.org/parc) is setting up an HF 
Remote Base (HFRB) among other projects. The former HF rig at the station 
was an IC-706 which we didn't think was a good radio for the HFRB. It had 
a habit of getting quite warm under modest phone use and we have arranged 
to place it at the local county EOC.  In the meantime, we had settled on a 
TenTec Pegasus as an affordable alternative to provide such an experience. 
Now it appears that a K2 might fit the bill as well. 

I have one extended loaner of a Pegasus, and that is working out 
reasonable well. There is experience in KA3ODJ's setup and port of the 
W4MQ code is underway.  However Dan KE6D appears to have at least as 
functional a remote control setup so a port of the W4MQ code is possible 
(as that common GUI and the associated user controls are welcome additions 
to an HFRB).

Just a couple of questions:

? Is the K2, especially a K2/100, a good candidate for HFRB ? 
   - is there an adequate heat sink for running 100W as HFRB ? 
   - is there an xmit timeout feature to limit xmit and protect rig ?
   - are there any front panel controls not available remotely ?
   - are K2/100 amp controls available remotely ?

Appreciate feedback and input, TenTec Pegasus and K2 seem to be in about 
the same price range and if sales at our next hamfest are good we could 
afford a K2, perhaps look to upgrade later to a K2/100.

Cheers & 73s de Mark W4CHL
Chapel Hill NC  USA   http://rtpnet.org/parc


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