[Elecraft] Which Mods Are Applicable??

[W3FPR - Don Wilhelm]

Jim,

If you are ordering a new K2 kit, you don't need any of the mods - all the 
'standard' ones are already incoprporated into the design.

If you have (or are buying) and older K2, look first and most at those mods 
that have been incorporated into the current K2 design.  That number is much 
smaller than all the mods published on Sverre's website.  If you have a 
pre-SN3000 K2 that you would like to bring up to date, the best starting 
point is with the A to B mod that is packaged by Elecraft (along with the 
optional mods mentioned in the A to B instructions), incorporates many of 
the earlier changes.  Beyond the A to B mods, the Temperature Compensated 
PLL change, the Keying Waveshape mod, the addition of D40 and D41 for high 
level on frequency signal handling are the additional changes you need to 
bring your K2 up to date - of course, some of the changes require updated 
firmware, but the Elecraft site is helpful in determining what you need.

Many of the other mods listed in Sverre's webpage are additional changes 
that some K2 owners have found helpful because they have had special needs 
or conditions (the European 40 meter bandpass filter changes for instance). 
You should review these carefully while considering whether or not you have 
a similar need or condition with your K2 before applying that mod, and some 
may change the operation of the K2 to suit a particular operator's taste - 
for instance, my mod to separate the CW PTT from the Dot paddle line is not 
desirable unless you have a need to add that function, VHF folks who run a 
sequencer chain may need it, or contest ops who want to use a footswitch on 
CW, or SO2R stations that need to use PTT steering would need that function, 
but the majority of others would only find it bothersome.

I hope that helps a bit with your selection and decisions.
73,
Don W3FPR

----- Original Message ----- 
>
> In trying to cover all be bases before order a K2 with
> many of the bells and whistles I've found reference to
> "modifications."  In reviewing the elecraft website
> I've found a listing of something like 50
> modifications.  Some list serial number applicability.
> Others do not.  The description of some modifications
> seem vague to me at this point.
>
> How does one determine which should/need be purchased?
> If needed why are they not included with the
> appropriate kit?  It appears I could spend a hundred
> dollars or more on modifications to make a new radio
> work.  That could wreck my radio budget.
>