[Elecraft] Just how good is the K2?

[Vic Rosenthal]

Floyd Sense wrote:

> 6. Driving an amplifier:  The K2, with its current level of firmware in the
> K2 and KPA100, can have real problems when activating the antenna relay in
> many amplifiers (and I'm NOT talking about QSK mode).  

Well...I'm not denying that it is a problem, but the problem is in the 
amplifier, not the K2.  There is plenty of delay after the 8r line 
(which operates the amplifier keying) is activated and before RF 
appears.  Ameritron uses slow open-frame relays for t/r switiching, for 
cost reasons.  This problem did not occur with my homebrew or modified 
amplifiers that use vacuum relays, and does not happen with my present 
amplifier that uses PIN diode switching.

The fact is that it is good that the K2 has a fast-acting SWR sensor, 
since an open antenna circuit can produce a high voltage that might 
damage the output transistors in a short time.  I'm sure Wayne knows 
what he's doing in developing a work-around for the problem, but my 
point is that it is a work-around for an amplifier issue, not a K2 problem.

-- 
73,
Vic, K2VCO
Fresno CA
http://www.qsl.net/k2vco