[Elecraft] 80M Preamp request

[G3VVT at aol.com]

Preamps are handy to boost the performance of radios with poor front end  
sensitivity or for use with antennas with poor efficiency. However one has to be  
extremely careful that the addition of one does not actually degrade the  
performance of the radio.
 
The K2 with it's built in preamp switched on seems to on a par with the  best 
radios at present available in the market on this score with an extremely  
sensitive RX front end. I would also have thought the ambient noise level  on 80 
and 160m in a greater part of the world unless you intend moving to  
somewhere like Antactica would have largely negated the benefits of almost all  
preamps. Without being extremely careful with the gain and type of preamp you  are 
adding could have an adverse effect on the performance of your K2.
 
The normal problem is how do sort out the wanted signals from the ever  
increasing layer of electronic smog that is emanating from modern  electrical and 
electronic appliances, particularly on 80/160m?
 
Bob, G3VVT
K2 #4168