[Elecraft] K2 and Digital Modes

[Tom Hammond]

Gary:

>I'm thinking of buying the kit for the K2 with the 100 watt PA. I 
>will mainly be operating on Digital modes such as PSK 31 MFSK 16 
>RTTY and Hellschreiber. I will be using a Tigertronics SL 1+ 
>interface but was wondering if there are any known problems with the 
>K2 and any or all of these modes before I buy the Kit and start building.

The KPA100 is a nice 100W amp, BUT it is NOT rated for 100% duty 
cycle in digital (continuous-duty carrier) modes. In fact, were it 
me, I'd probably not run it at more than about 40W output if I was 
using it on a digital mode.

You COULD probably run it at somewhat higher output IF:

  1) You remoted the KPA100, as MANY(!) have done, to a separate EC2
     enclosure, AND

  2) IF you took steps to BLOW A LOT of air across the heatsink.

At higher continuous duty output power levels, I'd want to pass a
LOT of air across both the TOP and the BOTTOM (between the PC board 
and the heatsink) of the heatsink.

Cheers,

Tom Hammond