[Elecraft] K-2: my perosnal experience

[Robert G. Strickland]

Hello, Nic...

Happy New Year to you and yours.

Yes, the K2 is the ultimate experience in kit building. My #5957 is the 
prime radio here. I've added the 100w amp, SSB, noise blanker, and DSP. 
All work as advertised. I agree with your observation about the 
production design. When every hole, screw and fitting fell into place, 
perfectly, I "almost" didn't care how the radio actually performed. It 
was a joy just to watch it come together without a single problem. I've 
built stuff before, my own and others, and I've never seen anything that 
comes close. The K3 people - unless they first had a K2 - just don't 
know what they're missing <g>.

...robert

VK2DX wrote:
> The K-2 was ordered on December 17th and No. 6653 arrived 3 days later.
> I have to say I did not know what to expect- I was just looking for
> 'something' to keep me busy during the summer holiday (I am located in
> Australia). 
> Well let me just say that I got my money worth of pleasure
> even before the radio was completed! 
> 
> I am a master watchmaker by trade so I can not comment on electronic aspect
> of K-2.
> However from the mechanical perspective the kit surpassed all expectations.
> The quality of instruction manual, PCBs, relays, connectors, individual
> components is just amazing.
> Everything fitted together perfectly and I got the radio working in a first
> go!
> The bit that I enjoy the most is winding of toroids. I love the magic
> of radio "getting alive", especially when LCD flashed Elecraft for the first
> time.
> And most importantly I've learned a lot!
> 
> Since English is not my first language, I'll keep this rapport brief.
> 
> I took 175 photos of assembly process,
> including on-air test :http://vk1aa.com/K2/k2.html
> 
> The very first contact made was with JE1RZR over the distance of 9,250 Km on
> 14,054 MHz. (Manabu was operating K-2/100 !). Few minutes later under rather
> poor band condition I also worked FK8DD, BV7, ZL1. Just after my sunset, I
> had a lovely QSO on 40m with another JA1 and ZL2- all with 5W out into
> home-made vertical antenna.
> 
> I would like to thank Wayne and Eric for such a wonderful experience
> and to many of you on Elecraft forum for your unselfish assistance to Ham
> community.
> 
> 73, Nick VK2DX 
> Sydney - Australia.

-- 
Robert G. Strickland PhD ABPH - KE2WY
rcrgs at verizon.net.usa
Syracuse, New York, USA