[Elecraft] K2 QRO or Not?

[Jessie Oberreuter]

On Tue, 4 May 2004, KI7V (John) wrote:

> Hello all,
>
> I currently have a basic K2 (no options).  This is my one and only rig.
> I've been considering purchasing the 100W and SSB option to have the power
> when needed as we slide down hill in the current sunspot cycle.  There are
> options here, such as purchasing a used 100W rig for the cost of the
> upgrades or proceed with the K2 upgrades?  Was wondering how many would
> recommend the SSB and 100W option for the K2?  It would also be interesting
> to see how many people use their K2 as their primary rig.

     My QRP K2 is my primary rig; my 706m2 is now dedicated to VHF ops.
I have the SSB option and tho I rarely use it, I none-the-less consider it
a fundamental component.  I like running QRP and I love operating from the
field, so I find the QRP K2 w/ internal ATU ideal.
     The QRO K2 is slick, and the matching high power ATU completes the
station nicely.  These two units together are not much larger than a
706+ATU and are considerably smaller than most of the high end rigs with
similar features. IMHO, there is no point in putting your money into a
separate rig just to get the extra watts.  Spend the money on the K2 PA.

     My first HF rig was a 706m2.  It had the right footprint and was a
better radio than any of my friends had, so I thought it was a good
investment.  Then I built a K1 and found the K1 beating the crap out of
the '06 when it came to noisy band conditions.  The 706 would turn to mush
while the K1 just kept going!  That year, I brought both rigs along for
Field Day and ended up doing virtually all of my operating on the K1.  I
switched over to the 706 a few times when 5w wasn't cutting it, but the
extra power rarely helped and the mush was intolerable.  It wasn't long
before I was building a K2.
     The next year, we ran an all QRP Field Day and the K2 was simply
amazing!  I knew I was going to have no trouble at all on the CW side, but
then I ran my Sunday morning 20m SSB slot.  The melee that had always been
impenetrable was transformed into a practically pleasant experience!
     This year, we are running QRO again, but I'm going to be on the QRP
K2 and will likely do just as well as any of the others.  To be honest, I
half considered bringing the 706 along and programming up some kind of
duplexer so I could use the K2 as the RX and the 706 as the TX for my SSB
slot, but then came to my senses :).
     A separate $400 QRO rig won't do you any good once your ears have
been spoiled by the K2 -- spend that money on the PA.