[Elecraft] #5390 Completed - Novice's Reflections on Building a K2

[Wyn Hughes]

For any novices like myself:

Completed K2 #5390 today. Basic 10 - 80 m cw model. No options (yet). Everything tested basically ok. Log records;

Early February 2006: bought in preference to a Tentec Argo V (high current draw on the Argo, not suitable for light /P, clinched it for the K2)

Feb - April 2006: slow, rather nervous and self questioning lead up to the actual build. Read the manual and did basic inventory of parts. Built the Ngen for soldering practice. Bought a decent temp controlled soldering station and desoldering gun (China made). Bought Kester 44 solder from Mouser. Lots of research on internet and ARRL handbook re soldering, and components last iron I used was a 100 watt for PL259 plugs and amp building. Practice soldering and desoldering for small solid state parts. . Sorted components into large number of plastic boxes with compartments for like types. This made the job seem less daunting from a psychological viewpoint.

April 30, 2006 - started on the Control Board build then Front Board. Took 5 days solid work, over a couple of weeks, time permitting. All tested ok.
(Soldering the ICs not as hard as it sounded. However, required a high magnification illuminated desk lamp, plus a new pair of reading spectacles. Only had to use the desoldering gun a couple of times, but it was worth the money). Experienced quite a lot of backacke, prefer to solder 'up close and personal' with the magnifier, easier to detect/avoid solder errors.

However much care you think you take, errors will occur. Good organization and method helps and for a novice like me, was essential. Finished the RF Board 40 meter rx about a week ago. Surprised that it worked first time. (I could not hear the 'birdie' on 7000 khz until the BFO had been set as per the manual. Don't automatically assume there is an error immediately. Check and double check. If tired, put the kit away until next time).

July 9, 2006: Completed. Tested basically ok. Very responsive on receive. I even listened to the BBC on 21660 relay from Singapore with a 5 ft wire antenna on the floor. Saved me turning on the IC-781.

Total number of days worked on: 20 days (including the 5 days to finish the Control/Front boards). Some days were short (an hour), many like yesterday were long and arduous.

Time taken to build? Not sure, would guess minimum 60 hours, probably closer to 80 hours.

Issues? Power output on 28 mhz was a little low on the internal K2 meter yesterday, about 8-9 watts. The internal meter was reading up to 15 watts out on all other bands. Expert K2 buildern locally suggested rewiding T2 - too tired to do that now. 'Prodded' T2 a few times (tried to tidy it up/elevate it a bit more off the board). Hooked up the Bird 43 today with a 50 watt slug. Noted that power readinggs on all bands today were a little lower, according to the K2 internal meter. However, on the Bird 43, there is 9 watts out indicated on 28 mhz and up to12 - 13 watts out on other bands, depending on the band. Probably not too much wrong, but may rewind T2 and maybe T3 for experiment in due course.

Also managed to scuff off the paint very slightly about 1.5mm x 1.5mm on the front panel cover at the curve on the top, despite thinking I was lsietening to the advive in the manual to watch out for that. Will get some touch up paint from Elecraft.

Was it worth it? Time will tell. I don't think anyone would want to build the K2 as a commercial venture, only for the pleasure of doing so. I will try some /P, which is what I kot the K2 for, in the next couple of weeks. Quite an experience building the K2, still have some backache. Overall, a positive experience. I suspect the K2 project may also serve a slightly different purpose from that which it was acquired for. Instead of just using it as a utilitarian /P radio, it will serve as a self-educational radio. I always wondered what transistors and ICs actually did, now I have a slightly better idea.

Cheers and 73 from Hong Kong,

Wyn, VR2AX (ex VS6UK), GW3YGH