[Elecraft] !Lightning Strikes!

[k4wtf@enterzone.net]

On Fri, 16 May 2003, Deke Lightfoot wrote:

> Good luck with the insurance company, my stuff all ended up under the
> deductible for repair.  You may not be so lucky and have much more
> costly damage.


I'm pretty sure we're going to be over the deductable now.  When I
returned from Dayton, I decided that it would be nice to operate a bit
since it wasn't storming and I was sure that there would be activity on
most every band.

Powered up the K2/100.  It powers up but, the relays now have a mind of
their own, the KAT100 doesn't power up like it's supposed to when I power
up the K2.  The rig makes no RF and is deaf as well.

The TS-2000 makes RF and seems to hear things but, it is a bit flakey as
well.  For example, it will jump into "SPLIT" mode all by itself.

In my haste to get the KAT100 on the air, I had used the power supply from
my ICOM charger. (It had the same coax power connector and provided 12V
@1A)  This was faster than running out and getting some zip-cord to make a
power connector for the KAT100 with the coax connector on one end and the
APP on the other end to plug into the RigRunner.

Well, I had forgotten all about this so, while EVERYTHING else was
isolated from power and antennas, this power supply was still plugged into
AC and into the KAT100 which was, of course, connected to the K2 via RF +
KIO connections and also to the TS-2000 via an RF switchbox that selects
either the K2/100 or the TS-2000 to be connected to the coax that goes
outside to the remote antenna switch.

I haven't checked the rest of the radios yet.  I was too heartbroken last
night that my K2 was toasted to continue doing anything.  The TS-2000 can
be replaced, as can anything else that was cooked.  I don't have the time
any more to rebuild a K2 w/ KPA100, KSB2, K160M and a KAT100.  Besides the
fact that the K2 blows my other rigs away, the "value" (to me) of the rig
was that I had built it.  %$^#&*%#^* #%^&*# %#^%#*^&#%^!!!!!!!

Now for the big question.  Has anyone gone through this with your K2?  Is
the replacement cost the cost of the options alone or is there allowance
for either your time to build it or paying someone else to build them for
you?  I mean, seriously.  My K2 had been aligned by Gary @Elecraft and was
a FULLY FUNCTIONAL rig.  Boxes of components just aren't the same.

Oh well, time to continue the inventory of cooked items.

73 de John - K4WTF