[Elecraft] K2: PSK-31 Power Settings

[Bill Coleman]

On Apr 28, 2010, at 11:44 AM, Jon Perelstein wrote:

> What power and volume settings do people use for PSK-31?
> 
> I have a 100w K2 and I use a SignaLink going into the K2's mic jack.  The standard approach that has always been recommended to me is to set the rig's power to full power and then control output power with the transmit volume setting on the SignaLink.  I set my SignaLink transmit volume so that the RF level on the K2 shows about 30 watts (essentially 3 tick marks) when I'm transmitting.
> 
> I've noticed that the K2 gets very hot this way, with the fan going to high high speed. 
> 
> Is that the right way to run the K2, or should I be doing something differently?

I would do the same thing that I do for RTTY. Unless you have some supplemental cooling, I would not set the power level to anything over 30 watts for any length of time. If you add a cooling fan to the top of the K2/100 heat sink, you can safely run 50 watts indefinitely. Note that the K2/100 amplifier is progressively less efficient as the power level is dropped. 

Also note that the K2 transmit gain varies from band to band, so you'll still have to adjust the volume on the SignaLink. You want to adjust it so you are not driving the ALC -- as high as you can go with little or no ALC indication.

It's actually not hard to hit this point using the RF output meter. Turn up the volume until the output stops increasing, then reduce it slightly. 

Bill Coleman, AA4LR, PP-ASEL        Mail: aa4lr at arrl.net
Web: http://boringhamradiopart.blogspot.com
Quote: "Not within a thousand years will man ever fly!"
            -- Wilbur Wright, 1901