[Elecraft] K2 Transmit Audio

[Don Wilhelm]

Ken,

The K2 is actually quite good on SSB.  Through the CAL PLL menu, you have
the ability to adjust the BFO (also carrier injection oscillator) and place
the audio response most anywhere within reason.  This adjustment can be
tailored to your particular voice.

The stock K2 filter bandwidth is 2.0 kHz, but if you want a wider filter,
John Grebenkemper, KI6WX has worked up changes to the SSB filter capacitor
values to produce a 2.2 or a 2.5 kHz passband (and a 1.9 kHz too).  I
believe Elecraft will provide the capacitors for this change on request (and
for a fee of course), or they are available from Mouser.  The wider bandpass
allows less critical tuning when 'surfing the bands', and I prefer the 2.2
kHz width as a compromise between fidelity and the extra 'punch' offered by
the narrower bandwidths.  Others prefer the wider 2.5 kHz bandwidth -
fidelity seems to be the rage these days, but I recall a time when the
narrower 1.8 kHz Collins mechanical filters were considered the 'very best'
by seasoned SSB ops - make your own choices.

The only down side of the K2 for SSB is lack of anti-vox, but that really
doesn't seem to bother most folks.  The audio gain is nicely matched for the
Elecraft mics, but other lower output mics may require a bit of extra
amplification (the Heil HC-4 and HC-5 elements for example).  An easy to
implement mic preamp is shown on the Elecraft Builder's Resource page.

73,
Don W3FPR

----- Original Message ----- 

Let me ask my question again a little more clearly. I am considering
purchasing a K2 and want to know how well the SSB transmit audio works. How
clear is it on the receiving end? It seems that most K2's are used primarily
for CW and that most posts on here are in that regards. I plan to use it fow
both CW and SSB and want to be sure of how well it performs on both.