[Elecraft] Rookie help cry : A or B PCB , version C or D , firmware 2.01 or 2.04 ?

[Don Wilhelm]

Peter,

Yes, there is a lot of information for anyone on revision levels.
First let me say that any K2 will work great if properly constructed and
aligned.  I would never say that the older ones are inferior to the newer,
that is too strong a word.

Any older K2 can be fully upgraded to the newest level at moderate cost, and
the changes are done without a large number of components added to the
boards (it will still look very neat when completed).  I have K2 SN 20 that
has been fully upgraded, and I am not only pleased with it, I am quite proud
that it performs as well as a new one.

The K2 major revision levels are only 2 - those below SN 3000 are "A" and SN
3000 and above are "B".  This is the major change in the boards because all
changes that had been added up to SN 3000 were included on the board
layouts.

Beyond SN 3000 there have been only 3 changes.  The PLL Temperature
stability (thermistor board), the Keying Waveshape change, and the added
diodes for Extremely Strong Signal Handling.  Each option carries its own
revision level too, but there have not been as many changes on the options
as on the base K2.

The manual revisions have been more numerous and is now at Revision F.

Firmware changes have been made to enhance operation and to support added
hardware.  The 2.01 firmware will have most all the current functions
included, but will not support the Keying Waveshape change nor the addition
of the K60XV (the firmware must be upgraded if these changes are added to a
K2).

My recommendation for a SN 2004 K2 with 2.01 firmware would be to first ask
if the A to B upgrade has been added, and also ask if the IF crystals have
been changed.

The specifications for the crystals were tightened with Elecraft's vendor
and the new crystals have been used since SN 2560.

If you purchase this K2, you may want to bring it up to date, and you are
able to do that with the mod kits offered by Elecraft.  Many, many K2s have
already been upgraded. How much additional effort is required to bring it up
to the current level depends on how many previous mods have been added - the
cost to fully upgrade even a very low serial number is in the range of $75
to $200 depending on how much option firmware is upgraded.  Each of the
options have their own firmware revision levels, but not all need to be
changed during an upgrade.  The specifics would have to be addressed one by
one.

I am sorry that I can not provide a single answer for you.  The fact that
the K2 is so easily upgraded makes your question complex to answer.  I hope
I have provided some information details that will help with your decision.

73,
Don W3FPR


> -----Original Message-----
>
> Being brand new to the K2 I got confused about the revions C D E F.
> As well as about the " A " and " B"  PCB.
> As well as about the firmware v2.01 and v2.04.
> .
> I searched on Elecrafts site as well into the archives but cannot
> resolve my
> questions properly.
> Please help.
>
> 1.
> Does ( a S/N 2004 with the ) " A " PCB ( is this Rev C ? ) offer serious
> drawbacks compared to the newer " B " PCB ( is this Rev or E ? ) ?
>
> 2.
> Does firmware v2.01 offer serious desavantage compared to v2.04 ?
>
> 3.
> If Rev C with firmware 2.01 would be essentially inferior to the
> B PCB with
> version D and firmware 2.04 what is the cost and trouble for updating ( if
> possible at al... ).
>
> 4.
> Do the DSP option and the RS232 option work properly in the " A ", board
> with the C version under firmware v2.01 ?
>
>
> I tried to check lists of differences between the " A / B " PCB as well as
> between the 2.01 and the 2.04 firware version, but really got
> lost onto the
> oververwelming documentation.
>
> I would be grateful for any comments.
> On that basis I must decide to buy a " A " PCB with v2.01 or not.
>
> Peter, PE1E
>
>