[Elecraft] New K1 on the way - Band Module Questions

[David Yarnes]

Hi All,

I sure agree with Rick's comment.  I liked my K1 from the 
outset, but not nearly as much as I have since I finally got 
the 4 band board installed!  As nicely designed as the K1 
is, swapping band boards got to be a real pain.  Personally, 
I would never recommend that someone only buy a 2 band board 
unless they were absolutely, dead certain they weren't going 
to want to upgrade later.  Of course, initially the 4 band 
board wasn't available.  Some folks may be put off by the 
fact that 17 isn't the CW band that 40, 30, and 20 can be, 
but when 17 is good, it's really good!  So, if you decision 
about getting the 4 band board is tempered by uncertainty 
about 17 meters, I'd suggest you add it to your system. 
Even while propagation was falling off the face of the earth 
this past year or so, I worked a lot of good DX on 17 
meters.

I've also been less than thrilled with the internal battery 
option in either the K1 or the K2.  I think it's better to 
forgo that option, and just use outboard power sources. 
That way, you have more flexibility about what size power 
source you provide, and the rig doesn't get weighed down 
with batteries.  Probably a lot of folks will disagree with 
that, but it's strictly personal preference.  You still have 
to have "the weight" somewhere, but with external power you 
can pack it separately, like "checked luggage" vs. 
"carry-on".

The internal ATU option is a tricky decision.  I have it in 
both the K1 and K2, but the T1 is a super alternative.  If 
you have both rigs, or other rigs (like an FT-817 maybe?), 
the T1 can solve a lot of problems.  If I was really 
pinching pennies (which I seem to be doing more of these 
days!), I might have just let the T1 be my sole tuner option 
for QRP stuff.  If you have any kind of collection of QRP 
rigs, you will probably want the T1 anyway.  It's a great 
little tuner.

Dave W7AQK




----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Rick Dettinger" <k7mw78 at gmail.com>
To: "Gary W. Marklund" <gary at marklund.com>
Cc: <elecraft at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Friday, July 24, 2009 10:36 PM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] New K1 on the way - Band Module 
Questions


>I am not sure if you are planning to change the two band 
>modules often
> but if you are, I think it would be better to use an 
> external tuner
> like the T1 rather than the optional internal tuner.  It 
> makes module
> swapping much easier.
> The K1 wasn't really designed for frequent module changes 
> and its not
> just a matter of plugging a new one in, like with the 
> Sierra.  If you
> have the internal tuner installed, it needs to be removed 
> to change
> band modules.  I have often thought that if one could get 
> along
> without the internal batteries, the speaker and the tuner, 
> that there
> would be room for more bands on a larger board or multiple 
> boards.
> But this would require switching changes to the firmware. 
> Not
> something for mere mortals to play around with.  Enjoy 
> your new K1.  I
> sure like mine.
>
> 73
>
> Rick Dettinger    K7MW
>
>
> On Jul 24, 2009, at 8:13 PM, Gary W. Marklund wrote:
>
>> Thanks, Sandy and Don. Looks like the two-band modules 
>> will give me
>> the
>> flexibility I want. Can't wait to get started. USPS 
>> tracking shows it
>> has arrived and been processed through the Phoenix 
>> sorting facility.
>> I'll have my kit tomorrow!
>>
>> Gary
>> KJ7RT
>>
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