[Elecraft] Re: Contesting with a k2

[Dominik Bugmann]

Tim,

My K2 (QRP and 100W) enjoyed more than 10'000 Contest QSO and is still going
strong. 9'000 in CW, 1'000 in RTTY and 1'000 on VHF/SHF (144Mhz and 10GHz).

Why do I like it: Superb RX and features I need, e.g. QSK, QRP and QRO,
antenna tuner, tunable CW-filters, AF filter, ... and on top of it I
assembled myself. I also use a Ten-Tec Omni VI+ for SO2R, _but_ it wasn't a
kit.
Two comments on the RX. I operated many contests on 2m and until last year
we used a very old FT-225 including a Mutek frontend. Even with an empty
band the RX sounded very noisy. Last year we did some 1:1 comparison. FT-225
against K2 plus DEM transverter. K2 won and heard 15dB more! (I have to
admit the FT-225 was not really optimized. It was overdriven by the
additional preamplifier next to the 4x 11el Yagis ... but that's how we
contested over years ...)
On HF I like to operate 40m. It's more challenging to work DX through
european QRM. No issues with my K2.

If I had more time I would build another K2/100! But first I have to finish
my father's (KPA100 is on my bench), then try spider beam by DF4SA, SO2R on
RTTY, Vertical and DeltaLoop on 40m, ...

73 de Dominik, HB9CZF
http://www.swiss-artg.ch/hb9czf


Hi folks -
I'd like to hear a little feedback from those of you who may do heavy duty
contesting with a K2. I did read the contestor's article a short while back.
I am not a contestor but I am slowly getting the desire to try. The most
common observation I've heard about our K2's in casual conversation is that
no dual (as in sumultaneous like the 756ProII) receive and no manual notch
is a negative for a contest type. If you are an experienced contestor -
could you please share your own impressions of those comments? I don't see
those as the slightest problem - but maybe the contesting environment really
makes a difference?
73/Tim NZ7C