[Elecraft] RE: KAT2, why did it take me so long?

[Steven Pituch]

Hi Dave and All,
That's why I have my KPA100 and KAT100 in the EC2 case.  The KAT2 has =
been
in the K2 top lid for 5 or 6 years and never had a problem.  No reason =
to
remove it from the K2.  This way I can go back to the pure QRP K2/KAT2
operation in a minute by removing 3 or 4 cables between the K2 and the =
EC2
case.  It=92s the best of both worlds.

The only extra I had to add was the KIO2, but since I love to work PSK31
it=92s a natural addition.

Regards,
Steve Pituch

-----Original Message-----
From: elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of David A.Belsley
Sent: Monday, August 01, 2005 5:56 PM
To: Elecraft Reflector
Subject: [Elecraft] KAT2, why did it take me so long?

I just got back from my annual trek to Martha's Vineyard, but operating =
the
K2 was a bit different this year.  My home qth situation does not
accommodate an ATU very well, so I avoided getting the KAT2.  And, of
course, once I added the KPA100, that issue seemed to become moot.

However, when I'm at the Vineyard, I put the original lid back on to the =
K2
and operate qrp.  I use my slingshot to throw a 112' wire into a tree =
(the
other end is anchored to the lightning rod on the end of the converted =
barn)
and I pitch a 33' counterpoise out the loft window.  I used to tune this
with an MFJ 934 tuner with artificial ground.  This worked very well on
80-10.  But then I began thinking: if I am going to use the original lid
only under these kinds of circumstances, maybe it makes sense to add the
KAT2.  Which is what I did.  And, boy, yes!!!  I sure don't know why I
didn't do it earlier.

Because I built the ATU just shortly before leaving and didn't have much
time to test it except to see that it was working, I lugged along the =
MFJ
box, just in case, and the MFJ-259, which is very useful in finding =
initial
settings without using the K2's power.  Well, that was a waste of space. =
 I
could have left those boxes at home, as well as an assortment of cables =
and
a coax switch.  The KAT2 tuned that same antenna set up (I added a =
second
16' cp) fantastically well on all bands 160-10 (1.1-1 or better).  I =
just
wish the bands were in as good shape as the KAT2 behaved.

Although it tuned top band, I wondered just how well I would be able to =
get
out.  I tried twice and made good contacts both times, once getting a =
599
from K9DX in IL (of course, he was about 30 db over s9, running a kw and =
an
appropriate top-band antenna).  Add to that the fact that the settings =
are
remembered, so switching bands merely required pushing the band button, =
and,
wow, who could ask for more.  I sure don't know why I didn't do it =
earlier.

best wishes,

dave belsley, w1euy
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