[Elecraft] Settings for PSK31 and the K2

[Stephen Prior]

I have been using PSK31 with a number of Japanese transceivers over the past
ten years and have plenty of experience of IMD issues, ground loops and so
on.  

Up until using the K2 I used a TS-480HX (still have it, can't bear to sell
it!) and due to the isolated audio inputs and outputs with that radio I
never bothered with isolation transformers etc. and the IMD was very good.
I would run it at full power as far as the radio's output power setting was
concerned but throttle it back to 30W or so by controlling the level of
audio drive.  

Now, my experience so far with the K2 is that the ALC is somewhat different.
Since I need to limit the output power anyway due to the size of the KPA100
heatsink, am I still better off keeping the output power control on the
front panel of the K2 at maximum and reducing audio drive so that I get
about 30W output, or should I reduce the output power on the front panel to
30W?  With my previous rigs I have always been driven by the necessity to
see no ALC action on the meter.  Is this the same with the K2?

I hope all that makes sense!  I'm not interested in hearing about all the
many interface units available, since that really doesn't address my
question!  If I find I have IMD issues then I shall use an isolation
transformer, but I have found the Mac to be pretty forgiving in that
respect.

An aside to Don... I Got the fixed audio output working with your board, but
only after I'd reversed the orientation of the LM386 - and I tried so hard
to get it right first time!!

73 Stephen G4SJP