[Elecraft] K1 #2973 on the Air

[Doug Person]

I'm happy and proud to announce that K1 #2973 is on the air.  It went 
together perfectly.  I made 3 errors but found them immediately.  
Everything worked perfectly the first time.

I'm honestly not much of a cw op.  Nonetheless, operating the K1 is a 
real pleasure.  It is quite a delightful little package to work with.  I 
have my choice of rigs with a K2 and a K3 as well.  But the sense of 
accomplishment from a perfect build and a superb sounding receiver is 
incomparable.  I built the K2 as well (my third) and it is, in my 
opinion, as good as a cw transceiver ever needs to be.  The K1 is an 
excellent stablemate.

I'm saying this to encourage anyone contemplating a K1 to go for it. Its 
about as good a kit-building experience as can be had.  Big enough to 
offer a challenge but not overwhelming.  The K2 is a pretty big kit and 
I can see first-timers being a little intimidated by it.  I think the K1 
is the perfect first-timer's kit.

For some reason I get just a little extra kick out of a contact on the 
K1.  Maybe just its cool size.

73, Doug -- K0DXV