[Elecraft] Getting ready to order K2

[Brett gazdzinski]

This was a good usable rig for very little money,
not sure if they are still selling the entire kits
or just the boards, or what, but for $80.00, it
was a well working radio, and easy to build.



 http://emtech.steadynet.com/nw.shtml



All the verticals I ever used had VERY narrow bandwidths
on the lower bands, my butternut has about 40kc on 80 and if I add 
the 160 coil, that's about 10 khz before the swr is high!
Maybe the gap stuff works different?


Its great the kids show ANY interest is anything other
than TV or video games. In my day, I built a 6SN7 regen
out of the encyclopedia we had (world book).
Next was a 6146 xtal transmitter.
What fun!

I cant say I think I learned anything in school after about
5th grade....even science class was dull!

Sounds like you are doing great work.


Brett
N2DTS



> 
> On Jun 12, 2007, at 4:49 AM, Brett gazdzinski wrote:
> 
> > Well, you need to get the antenna, coax, a key, microphone?
> 
> Yes, sorry, I should have indicated that I also have on my list of  
> equipment:
> 
> 1. a GAP Titan DX 80M-10M vertical antenna;
> 2. 40M of RG-213 or LMR-400 coax;
> 3. assorted connectors;
> 4. a bencher iambic key;
> 5. a straight key (I have a J-38 I have just restored).
> 
> I had forgotten a microphone but will probably get a good cardioid  
> dynamic mic.
> 
> > I would nix the KPA100, and the DSP, and even the SSB option as
> > you can receive ssb fine on the base K2.
> 
> I understand but I want the kids to have the opportunity to operate  
> voice and digital modes too.
> >
> > It might be more fun to put up a G5RV and use the low power
> > auto tuner, you can go anyplace on any band that way.
> 
> I may be limited in horizontal space to do that.
> 
> > If you really want to TRANSMIT the digital modes,
> 
> Yes.
> 
> > I guess
> > you would need the KPA100, but without a tuner, the swr
> > needs to be almost zero, something most multi band
> > antenna's will not do over a useful frequency range
> > on the lower bands.
> 
> I have a GAP Titan DX that was given to me. I was skeptical at first  
> but now am a believer. It has amazing bandwidth with lower SWR.
> 
> > You can receive the digital modes fine with the base K2 I guess.
> >
> > You could build the K2 this year and next year build options,
> > or are you going to build a K2 every year?
> 
> Well, the K2 will be the school rig. Some of the kids have expressed  
> an interest in building their own stations. This is why I am  
> introducing CW early as QRP CW is certainly the least expensive way  
> for a kid to have his/her own station. I will probably pick out an  
> inexpensive QRP transceiver kit for them to build. Since the school  
> usually pays for projects like this the K1 might be a bit out of  
> reach. (Hey Wayne! Do you have a good educational discount? :-) I am  
> leaning toward something like the Small Wonder SW+ transceiver kits  
> and let the kids build their own enclosures in wood shop.
> 
> > It seems to me like building a K1 or K2 would teach students
> > a lot more useful info than most of the other stuff in school.
> 
> Ah, you understand where I am going with this then.
> 
> Brian Lloyd                         3191 Western Drive
> brianl AT lloyd DOT com             Cameron Park, CA 95682
> +1.916.367.2131 (voice)             +1.270.912.0788 (fax)
> 
> There is a time to laud one's country and a time to protest.  A good  
> citizen is prepared to do either as the need arises.
> 
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>