[Elecraft] Elecraft KRC2 band decoder/controller in action

[Rick Tavan]

Great job on the KRC2, Jack!  I enjoyed working with you and the other 
FTers. The process of requirements definition and evolution during field 
test was exemplary. I wish other companies would pay half as much 
attention to customer input.

For anyone who remains puzzled, here are two examples of ways I am using 
the KRC2:

In Saratoga, I connect an Ameritron five position remote coax switch and 
a PC. I have separate feedlines for 80-40-20-15-10 connected to the 
relay box at the top of the tower and a single feedline to the shack. In 
a contest, I can type in a frequency or hit the Band Up or Band Down 
functions on the computer keyboard and the K2 and antenna switch follow 
automatically. My amp doesn't have auto bandswitching, so I do have to 
rotate its bandswitch and dial in tuning presets. When the PC is off, 
the antennas simply follow the K2 Band Up and Band Down buttons. 
Occasionally I operate a WARC band. I could jumper the appropriate WARC 
band outputs in the KRC2 to lines for the other antennas, but since I 
like to experiment with these non-resonant antennas, I prefer to Hold F1 
or F2 on the KRC2 to step the relay box down or up through the antenna 
inventory. I intend to build an LED box like the one Wayne mentioned to 
serve as an indicator of selected antenna and drive it with the sink 
drivers of the KRC2. I also plan to use the XV1 output line to control a 
SPDT coax relay switching the K2 antenna connector to either the HF 
feedline or my XV50 transverter.

In Truckee, I can connect a Dunestar 600 multi-band bandpass filter to 
the sink drivers of the KRC2 and a WX0B Six Pack dual-radio antenna 
switch to the source drivers. I also connect a PC which, as above, need 
not be in use all the time. The amp is auto-bandswitched (RF sensing). 
When operating SO2R, I use the Rig 2 rotary switch on the Six Pack 
control box to ensure that Rig 2 doesn't "own" the antenna that the K2 
is requesting. All of the high bands (20-17-15-12-10-6) are served by a 
SteppIR beam, so those outputs get tied together. I can Hold F1/F2 to 
select the vertical as an alternate. Auto-switching the BPFs is a great 
front-end and filter saver. Some day the TS-930 at Rig 2 will be 
replaced by something more digitally aware (another K2?) and I'll have 
full auto switching of both BPFs and antennas.

To save time when changing QTHs, I plan either to connectorize my KRC2 
with Molex pigtails or just build another. This is an extremely 
versatile box that will become even more indispensable as its 
programmability features evolve.

73,

/Rick N6XI

Jack Brindle wrote:

> This proves that Wayne has been working way too hard on the KX1 and a  
> few other things. The KRC2 indeed is shipping. Elecraft will gladly  
> accept orders, and you can actually be building one of these highly  
> versatile tools within a few days!  Maybe even sooner if you have it  
> shipped 'Yesterday Express'. ;-)
>