[Elecraft] K2 S/N 7012 lives!

[Alan Davenport]

>> I had not built a kit of any size
>> for nearly 30 years when I built a Heathkit stereo. One of my first thoughts
>> upon opening the box was "what have I got myself into!?"

>Boy, do I hear that!  It had been 20 years for me, so I started out
>with a DL1 just to remember how to use my nice soldering station.  On
>the K1 you build the 4 band filter board first, and I thought that
>took forever until I started on the RF board.  At one point, after
>installing 60 components, I realized the board was still basically
>empty!

Certainly true. When I was sorting the capacitors I filled up and entire egg 
carrier (of the kind used for camping trips) and still had caps left over! When 
I reached the page where you have to install a large amount of caps I felt I 
would never be done. I just took it slow and steady but it felt like I had a 
bottomless supply of caps that kept replenishing themselves!

>I would take breaks occasionally to build a mini-module so that I
>could actually finish something. They have come in extremely handy in
>the year since.

>This contest season a club member has loaned me a full coverage radio,
>which I will need.  So it's time for some K1 modifications!  I want to
>put in the K6XX CW tuning indicator and am considering trying to
>interface a Z10000 buffer to interface with a softrock for panadapter
>use.

I don't think I will be putting any mods in for a time. Someday I am sure but 
once it is done (I have ATU and SSB boards to finish) I think I will just USE it 
for a while before risking another calamity!

>> I bought the radio for QRP backpacking. I have been using an FT-817. The
>> thing is, the K2 is so nice I don't know if I can bring myself to take it
>> outside on a hike!

>Definitely take it on a hike!  You will like it even better, I'm certain.

Oh I will. I will just have to come up with a good way of protecting it when it 
is in my pack. 


73 de Al, W2GZN