[Elecraft] Looking at Elecraft kits

[w6jd at comcast.net]

Anyone who has listened to Kevin run the Sunday Elecraft net can attest to the fact that he has become quite proficient in the art of CW!

Doug
W6JD

-------------- Original message -------------- 
From: Kevin Rock <kevinrock at earthlink.net> 

> Welcome to you Steve, 
> I would like to add a few comments to what Ron has stated. I purchased my K2 
> in 2001 before I knew very much code at all. I bought the SSB module because I 
> thought I would use that mode frequently. After a very pleasant building 
> experience I sat down to listen to the bands with my modest antenna. I 
> purchased a set of paddles so I could practice CW to gain the next level 
> license. I found the K2 was a very nice code practice oscillator. Learning CW 
> starts as two processes: sending and receiving. The K2 has an excellent 
> receiver so I could listen to CW the way it is really sent and 'copy' as much as 
> possible. I could listen to the W1AW CW broadcasts and copy their machine 
> sending. Next I would put the K2 in the "TEST" mode and send to myself from a 
> newspaper or text book. Somehow or another sending page after page of code 
> helped my ear hear more accurately. After about six months of this I went to 
> the local VE session and passed Element 1. It took some prodding by the very VE 
> who had given me the test to get on the air for real. Once again my steady K2 
> was up to the task; unlike the shakey operator at the key ;) I managed to get 
> his call sign and RST, the rest is lost to history. Even though the swamp 
> cooler was on high and it was a rather cool day for Albuquerque I was soaked 
> through. Nothing like trial by fire! I have gotten marginally better over the 
> years since then. The two modes of CW: listening and sending have merged into a 
> single method of conversation. I still use my K2 for code practice and for 
> listening to folks 'chat' via CW. It was a great training instrument and serves 
> me well in weekly use. You will have fun all along the path toward your goal of 
> working CW in the woods. 
> 73, 
> Kevin. KD5ONS 
> 
> P.S. The SSB unit is still in the rig but has only been used twice! 
> KJR 
> 
> -----Original Message----- 
> >From: Ron D'Eau Claire 
> >Sent: Apr 13, 2007 8:55 AM 
> >To: steve at przepiora.org, Elecraft at mailman.qth.net 
> >Subject: RE: [Elecraft] Looking at Elecraft kits 
> > 
> >I strongly recommend the K2, Steve. 
> > 
> >Adding the options when you want is very simple. The K2 was designed to be 
> >built just that way and it's a trivial exercise to install options after 
> >you've built, tested and used the basic K2. The K2 is designed to be taken 
> >to bits in a few minutes, should you ever want to do that, but the modules 
> >are added with a minimum of fuss-and-bother without doing a lot of heavy 
> >disassembly. Usually they involve adding a header to a pc board where the 
> >module will plug in and cutting or removing a jumper that you installed 
> >during the initial build to bypass the module until you add it. 
> > 
> >Some of those options are perfect for your style of portable work - such as 
> >the optional built-in antenna tuner and battery that mount in the removable 
> >top cover. With them, all you need is a key and some wire to use for an 
> >antenna to go portable. If you decide you'd like a 100-watt K2/100 in the 
> >future, you can add the KPA100. It, too, is in a removable lid that replaces 
> >the "QRP" top that may contain your portable battery and tuner. So a couple 
> >of minutes - at the most - to swap top covers and your K2 is either a 
> >world-class home station or a self-contained world-class portable station. 
> > 
> >Congratulations on the license, Steve! You'll have a world of fun with your 
> >Elecraft rig on the HF bands. When the bands are open for DX, it's literally 
> >a "world" of fun! 
> > 
> >73, 
> > 
> >Ron AC7AC 
> > 
> > 
> >-----Original Message----- 
> > 
> >Hello All, As a newly licensed tech, I am looking around for radio's. I am 
> >interested in the Elecraft kits, but am debating whether to get the KX1 and 
> >then an older used radio for home or to just get a K2. 
> > 
> >I do a bit of camping and hunting, over the course of a year probably spend 
> >about a month in the woods but none of it is hiking so extreme portability 
> >isn't that much of an issue. It might be in the future and I will get a KX1 
> >for that, but right now it would be a matter of dragging a car battery to a 
> >table at most 50 feet. 
> > 
> >The fact is budgets being what they are, I probably can only afford a basic 
> >K2 right now. I am trying hard to learn the code and I am slowly progressing 
> >so it may seem like a waste to buy a basic K2 now without knowing code, but 
> >if I do not get it now, I will not be able to afford it again for a while. 
> > 
> >My main concern is if I get a basic K2 without any extras, is it easy to add 
> >things later on? It seems like it would be, but I just want to make sure. 
> > 
> >Thank you, 
> >Steve 
> > 
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