[Elecraft] K2 for a newbie HAM

Craig Rairdin craigr at laridian.com
Wed Aug 8 18:11:58 EDT 2007


There are a couple important things to do:

1) Get the right equipment. Read the information at the Elecraft site and
get a real soldering station with a variety of tip sizes and an adjustable
temperature control. Get the right solder. Get one of those spring-loaded
solder suckers for fixing your mistakes. The bulb-shaped ones don't work.
(If you can afford a real desoldering station then that's even better, but
it's overkill.)

2) Read everything you can find at the Elecraft site about proper soldering
technique. Order a minikit or two to assemble first -- maybe the dummy load,
which is dirt-simple and is useful for tuning the radio when you're done.

If you have a good soldering iron -- not the fixed-temperature cheap Radio
Shack model -- and you have a good idea what you're doing, you should be OK.

You'll need some kind of magnifying glasses or one of those lights with the
magnifying lense built in. And you'll need something to deal with static --
like a static mat and ground strap all properly grounded.

Good luck and have fun!

Craig
NZ0R
KX1 #1499
K1 #1966
K2/100 #4941
K3/100 coming soon!

-----Original Message-----
From: elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of John Jolley
Sent: Wednesday, August 08, 2007 4:43 PM
To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
Subject: [Elecraft] K2 for a newbie HAM


Folks - 

I am very new to amateur radio and have a question - am looking at my first
rig and leaning towards a k2 (would begin without the additional 100W's).  

I do not have much experience with electronics but am (in general) very
handy - is this something that someone with little to no experience can do
if they are careful?  Or is assembling the kit probably not a good way to go
for someone with limited experience.

Any opinions are appreciated in advance - 

Thanks!

John Jolley - KD8FKC - Columbus, Ohio

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