[Elecraft] "Teaching" the K2

[Todd Fonstad]

Greetings!

This year I allowed myself to be appointed chairperson of the CW operations
for our local radio club's upcoming ARRL Field Day activities. We have about
six very good, competitive CW operators and, sneaky person that I am, I see
this as a perfect opportunity to discard the usual "Yaecomwood" transceiver
in favor of my K2/100 and KAT100.

I believe the others will be delighted with the K2 in the heat of the
battle, but I admit to having some qualms about bringing them "up to speed"
on learning the rudiments of the K2's features. Even an initial look at the
front panel can be fairly daunting to someone who has never seen or used the
radio.

Therefore, we have agreed to meet at my shack sometime in April to become
acquainted with the K2.  Before I reinvent the wheel to discern what
features are most important to teach to the uninitiated, I am turning to
this august body for any recommendations it might have. I would be
especially grateful for comments from those who have "taught" the K2's
operating features for similar purposes. Which aspects do you see as
essential to impart and which can be ignored, at least in an initial
session? What problems have you observed non-Elecraft operators dealing with
during their use of the K2?

I also would like to hear how you dealt with accommodating different
keys/keyers (and possibly different plugs) and headphones, as it is
customary for ops to bring their own. I use a Vibroplex single (non-iambic)
paddle which utilizes the K2's internal keyer, but most of the others use
iambic paddles. There is also the issue of learning some of the menu-edit
functions (for example, setting the sidetone volume which changes with
headphone impedances).

I suppose I could stay awake for the full 24 hours of FD to be sure all runs
smoothly, but then I might as well do all the operating myself which is
definitely not in the spirit of the activity nor is it probable at my
"mature" age!

Posting responses to the reflector rather than in a direct e-mail to me
might be worthwhile to others who are considering a similar "teaching
moment".

Best regards,
Todd
N9NE
Fond du Lac, WI ARC