[Elecraft] A few questions before ordering the K2 kit...

[jez]

Ken,

much thanks for your reply!
Yes, from my life as SWL I remember there was a russian station broadcasting
time signals (RWM, on 4,996 MHz, 9,996 MHz and 14,996 MHz, just in case
someone else also needs it).

> What do you mean about wanting to learn about how radios work?
I think I have some theoretical background on both blocks you describe (well,
not really that much I'd say, but the general building blocks, LC circuits
or antenna basics are not that new to me). The connection between theory and
practice (or also the practical experience itself) is what I'm missing so far.

OK, the K2 manual will say put R132 here and C93 there, I won't be able to
even understand half of the K2 after building it (and probably it would be
quite frustrating in case I'd try it), but I expect to get a few more basic
understanding from it.

The combination K3 + simple radio for the basics maybe would make more sense
in the long run - but on the other hand I'm still a ham beginner, and maybe
it's a better idea not to start with a top notch radio and instead make my
first steps with the smaller K2 until I'm more sure of what direction of
amateur radio I want to go.

Thanks alot for the reading tips! I've even found a german translation of the
Elmer 101 manual one on the website of the german Elecraft distributor, I'll
definitely have a look into that one.


73,
Thomas




----- Original Message -----
From: ml-node+5256477-438326115-578630 at n2.nabble.com (Ken McGuire [via Elecraft])
Sent: 05.07.2010, 08:19:54
Subject: Re: A few questions before ordering the K2 kit...


> What do you mean about wanting to learn about how radios work?  There are
> multiple levels of knowlege of this.  First of all, there is the "big"
> building blocks - for example, what is an intermediate frequency.  Also
> there is the small scale side as well - as in inductor X and Capacitor Y
> will form an LC circuit to do Z.  In building the K1 and K2, I learned a
> lot
> about the first but not so much about the second.  Yes, I put the pieces
> together and the scematic is there for me to digest if I want, but it gets
> so detailed that I want to ask why each part is there...

> To get the second type of knowlege, I am aware of two resources - I have
> not
> gone through the process with either one, but have heard good things about
> both.  First is the Book _The Electronics of Radio_ which goes through
> building a NorCal 40a kit.  The other one is the QRP-L Elmer 101 which
> goes
> through the Small Wonder Labs SW-40.  If this is the type of detail
> knowlege
> you want, then you might want to look into these more.

> But if it is just the fuctional blocks information, I while the K3 is
> no-solder, I can't believe that there isn't quite a bit you can learn
> about
> what board plugs into what, etc.  Since assembly is faster, you might miss
> it because it goes by so fast, but I can't believe it wouldn't be there.
> On
> the other hand, I don't know the K3.

> But if I were looking now instead of in 2001 when I got my Elecrafts, I
> would probably get the base K3 and either of the "simpler" radios I
> mentioned to get the real basics.  On the other hand, I have enjoyed my K2
> over the years and hardly would call it a mistake.


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