[Elecraft] Just how good is the K2?

[Brendan Minish]

At 19:48 19/01/2004, Floyd Sense wrote:

>2. Software support:  While folks will tell you (as the recent QST review
>did) that you can simply define the K2 to logging and control programs as a
>Kenwood (570 preferred), many of the programs simply won't correctly
>interface with the K2 without unusual operator action.  For example, the
>logging program DX4WIN will talk to the K2 pretty well as a Kenwood.
>However, if you mouse on a DX spot in DX4WIN, sometimes the K2 mode will be
>set incorrectly ( mousing on the spot TWICE sets the correct mode).  I
>understand that this is not seen as a K2 problem, but you won't have that
>problem with DX4WIN with a Kenwood rig.  I've found similar situations with
>other software and the K2.  I expect the differences to eventually be worked
>out as more and more software includes correct K2 support.


As the person who did the software support for the K2 in Dxbase I can share 
with you why this happens ;-)

Back in the mists of time, before band stacking registers or the ability 
for radios to remember the mode or frequency last used on each band, it 
didn't matter in which order software sent commands.

For some reason many software packages seem to set the mode and then set 
the frequency.
The problem with this is that the K2 changes mode on the current band THEN 
changes to the new band as the next command instructs, however it uses the 
mode last used on that band. This in my opinion is the correct behavior 
from the radio since the radio is doing exactly what it is being told to do 
in the order that the commands were sent.

With DXbase and with Writelog you will not have this problem, Hopefully 
once this is explained to the author of your favorite logging package it 
won't take long for 'proper' k2 Support to be added.

Incidentally the TS570 works 100% ok with the commands in the 'correct' order


>6. Driving an amplifier:  The K2, with its current level of firmware in the...


I have never had the slightest problem driving my Acom 1000 with the K2. 
the Acom 1k is a full QSK amp and requires around 70W drive for full 
output, personally I have no need for ALC with this setup.


73
Brendan