[Elecraft] XV144 and XV432 : How good are they ?

[Martin DD4UKP]

Hello,

I was looking for informations to extend my Elecraft line by purchasing 
the XV144 Transverter for Contest operations. I found the following 
homepage from DF9IC : http://www.df9ic.de/tech/trxtest/trxtest.html

The K2/XV144 and even K2/TR-144H by DB6NT results seems to be terrible :

"The Elecraft K2 also has a low IF design using conventional VCOs which 
should result in a good LO noise suppression but does not do so well. We 
had two radios on the bench, one from 1999 (DJ5IR) and one from 2004 
(DJ0QZ). This last one was tested on 14 MHz and showed better results 
than the older one on 28 MHz. You may compare the ARRL test results of 
the LO noise that Elecraft publishes on their own website and which is 
closely within our blocking test result (our measured -95 dB RX blocking 
in 20 kHz offset is equivalent to -129 dBc/Hz LO noise). The high level 
of TX noise shows that there seem to be design flaws choosing too low 
signal levels internally. The AGC threshold is ridiculously high 
(subjective impression). I also do not understand why it uses low 
quality ladder crystal filters instead of a filter from monolithic duals 
like other radios does. Overall it was the worst HF radio in the test 
(OK, a 144 MHz IC910H is still worse...)."

Am I just expecting to much from this Transverter or is the K2 as a IF 
for 144 MHz operations not the right rig ?

I'll be happy to read about your experience with the XV144 in heavy 2m 
contest operations.

Sincerely

Martin Rath
DD4UKP / F4UKP