[Elecraft] newbie

[Brian Mury]

On Fri, 2004-09-10 at 21:50, Hisashi T Fujinaka wrote:
> On Sat, 11 Sep 2004, Larry Phipps wrote:
> 
> >
> > I'm considering a K2/100, but I have a question about
> serviceability. I'm assuming because it's a kit with no SMT parts that
> everything is accessible for trouble-shooting. Is this true? Can you
> reach all of the important rf component pins from the top with a scope
> probe while the rig is operating?

Yes. You could actually run it with the top and the bottom off and reach
both sides of the board while it's running, though you should only need
to take the top off.

> > My favorite rig I ever had for service was a Drake TR-7, but I don't
> think any current radios use the kind of construction it did. The K2
> looks like my best bet for service in a modern rig. What do you guys
> say?

We say get one, you won't regret it! Of course, asking on the Elecraft
list will probably get you a biased opinion... ;-)  The K2's design
combined with the excellent manual makes it easy to build, and it's easy
to work on if you need to. Plus, I'm a lot less afraid of working on
something I built than a very expensive device that is all SMT and that
I know nothing about.

> > ALso, are there any features I will really miss compared to my
> TS-850S?

I haven't used a TS-850, but I have spent a bit of time on a TS-870. I'm
sure there are some features you'll miss at first, but probably not for
long. I find most of the features I missed at first from my previous rig
I don't really need and no longer miss (much). The K2 doesn't have a lot
of bells and whistles, but it is a really solid radio that works great -
it more than makes up for the missing bells and whistles.

> I have a couple of thoughts about the mods. One one hand, I wish
> Elecraft would respin the PC boards. On the outer hand I'm incredibly

Agreed, but if you buy a new K2, the number of mods is low, and they are
not that difficult to do, so don't shy away from the K2 because of this,
Larry.

-- 
73, Brian
VE7NGR