[Elecraft] KDSP2 Findings & Questions

[Mike Ardovino]

Hello All,

Thought I'd post some of my findings with the KDSP2, which was completed
& installed earlier this week.

First, I wish to thank Gary Surrency(of Elecraft technical support fame)
for his quick reply to
my query. My KDSP2 kit arrived with the two low profile
electrolytics(C10,C14), each 10uF, one
rated 16V and the other at 35V. The 35V cap being slightly larger in
diameter than the 16V cap.
I wanted to be sure that the different voltage ratings weren't going to
be a factor in the
operation of the DSP. Gary assured me that it would not and to go ahead
and use the caps as
long as they fit in the allotted space on the PCB.

This was a fun option kit to build, it took me somewhere between 2-4
hours, not really sure due
to a few interruptions along the way. There was much anticipation to
swap the excellent
performing KAF2 module with the KDSP2. This is my first transceiver with
DSP, so I wasn't sure
what to expect. 

Well my first impression is WOW! Using the default settings and with the
Noise Reduction
enabled, listening to CW has become a lot easier on my ears. SSB seems
to work equally as well. 
It sounds very much like the demo .wav files of the KDSP2 in action from
the Elecraft website.
Thumbs up to all involved with its design and implementation.

An interesting anomaly occurred while navigating through the KDSP2
menus. The K2's audio cut
out and I could no longer navigate up or down in the DSP menu. All
functions were restored by
power cycling the K2. I was able to duplicate the problem and found it
to be caused from
ESD(Electrostatic Discharge) into the K2 mic jack. I recalled reading a
note about grounding
the mic jack and performed that mod and am happy to report that this
cured the anomaly. Occasionally
still get ESD shocks here in the shack and it looks like I'll need to
remedy that.

Some questions to the group, to reassure that the KDSP2 wasn't damaged
from the ESD. 
To view the RTC display, do we go through the KDSP2 Primary menu? (e.g..
When in any DSP mode,
tapping "DISPLAY" cycles through Frequency, KDSP2 Primary Menu, and DVM.
Once in the RTC display mode, 
tapping "DISPLAY" then cycles through Frequency, Clock, DVM. I can't
seem to get back to any DSP menus 
from the RTC mode, unless holding "AFIL" or cycling power. If DSP is in
Bypass and RTC display enabled, 
cycling power seems to be the only way to get back to the DSP Pri Menu).
Is this the normal behavior? 
With the KAF2, tapping the display button rotated through freq., time,
DVM. Any help would be much appreciated. Thank you.


Elecraft Digest subscriber,
Mike Ardovino - N2EAB 
K2 2118