[Elecraft] [OT] [OT] [OT] K2a

Mon Apr 14 23:32:43 EDT 2014

Yes.  I can understand your feelings for the K1.  It's the coolest cw 
transceiver you can own.  Not too small - not too big.  Seems like there 
is nothing I can't work with it.  If I can hear - I can work it.  Mine 
has 80, 40, 20 and 17 and the tuner.  A 120' doublet feed with 300 ohm 
twin-lead and I'm set. The tuner can tune it to any of the bands.

I bought one when it first came out.  After a while I sold it.  A few 
years later it dawned on me how perfect it was.  So I built another and 
love it.

Same with the K2.  I built #1920.  Hand it for a few years and good a 
great offer and sold it.  A year later I built another one.  I liked it 
but didn't quite love it enough.  Sold it too.  A few years later I 
realized I just wanted another K2.  Built my third one like a work of 
art.  Now then can place it in the coffin with me when I go.  I'll never 
part with.

I must be a little thick because it seems to take a while for me to 
realize how irreplaceable the K1 and K2 are.

73, Doug -- K0DXV

On 4/12/2014 11:52 PM, EricJ wrote:
> Obviously a lot of thought has been put into evolving the Elecraft 
> lineup. I have everything up to but not including the K3. The K1 is my 
> favorite for some reason. I like how it sounds on CW. I like the 
> relative simplicity and size. The KX1 is a very different radio and 
> very specialized for a smaller niche. I never liked how it tunes, 
> having to continually twist and poke the tiny tuning knob which feels 
> a little wobbly while you're doing all that. I liked the K2 so much I 
> bought two of them. hi. The KX3 doesn't attract me much because if I'm 
> having fun camping or hiking, a radio is kind of a distraction to me. 
> The K1 more than fills the need for a portable radio for the few times 
> I pack it. The KX3 is obviously a very popular choice for many others. 
> But a K3/10 is in my near future for the home shack. Definitely 
> something in their line up for every interest.
>
> Elecraft rigs are the only commercial rigs I have anymore, and when I 
> drop into HRO and spin the dial on the other offerings, I can't even 
> pretend interest. They all feel gaudy and gimmicky. All show and no go 
> as we used to say about custom cars.
>
> Eric
> KE6US
>
> On 4/12/2014 10:04 PM, Robin Bayer wrote:
>> I am still adding to my K2...but just dreaming...I would like to see a
>> center detent on the RIT, a kx3 like display, except green, with both 
>> A/B
>> VFOs displayed. A separate digital in/out like the K3, an updated DAC 
>> with
>> finer resolution... And DSP controls like K3/KX3. I know get a KX3...not
>> yet. Ok I would really dig a P2. Maybe one that also folds up and 
>> rests on
>> top of the radio and when closed acts as a front panel cover. Or 
>> maybe one
>> that slides out from under the radio, has touch screen keyboard, digital
>> decode, and pan adapter. or folds out 4 ways like an SLR screen.
>>
>> I still use my loaded K1 often, but always wanted a 20 turn VFO with a
>> lock. I can't believe someone hasn't made  And 80 or 40 thru 12m on one
>> band board.
>>
>> KX1...like as is it but sometimes miss having 17-12m.
>>
>>
>> Rob
>>
>> KA5QQA
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On Sat, Apr 12, 2014 at 12:40 AM, Michael Poteet <mcpoteet at gmail.com> 
>> wrote:
>>
>>> Having noticed the recent semiannual K4 speculation I wanted to offer
>>> speculation in a different direction.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> The K2 was originally offered as a true kit that, upon completion, 
>>> provided
>>> a radio capable of both home use and trail use.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> The trail/remote and home use capabilities have been supplanted by the
>>> other
>>> radios in the Elecraft stable.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> The only really unique feature of the K2 is that it is a true kit; that
>>> said, it is a bit behind the curve in tech plus it is a major PITB to
>>> "align".
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> I would like to see Elecraft revisit the K2 (well, not exactly):
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> 01) Keep it a kit as much as possible.  So maybe RF and AF sections 
>>> could
>>> be
>>> kits (at least partially).
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> 02) Fully assembled as an option.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> 03) Make the "middle" a high performance SDR; factory assembled and
>>> aligned.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> 04) 6 KHz band pass filter in the first IF with the DSP doing the 
>>> remaining
>>> filtering functions.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> 05) Include a 12 volt to (say) 60 volt conversion to power a "high 
>>> voltage"
>>> RF section.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> 06) 100 watts output.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> 07) No FM but add 6 meters.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> 08) Include Digital Voice as a mode.  Pick one of the Open Source
>>> implementations.  Make it an "App"; Elecraft would maintain the latest
>>> source code and latest "compiled" App; anyone who wished could 
>>> modify and
>>> install their own version; might be an area where Amateurs could 
>>> contribute
>>> something meaningful.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> 09) Competent single receiver (with RIT) but not necessarily (in 
>>> Japanese
>>> radio jargon) "Competition Grade".
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> 10) Very competent transmit (with XIT): no splatter, no clicks, no 
>>> noise.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> 11) Put it all inside a "big" box in the style of the best looking 
>>> piece of
>>> Ham Radio gear ever designed: the Collins 75A4.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> 12) Real "Collins" style knobs , real "bat handle" toggle switches.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> 13) Only a few radio functions need constant, easy access, tie those 
>>> to the
>>> big knobs and toggle switches.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> 14) Note the switches and controls would only tell a DSP or MCU to take
>>> some
>>> action.  I'm not talking multi-pole, multi-gang rotary switches.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> 15) Preassembled wire bundles to attach the front panel controls and
>>> switches to the main unit (with quick disconnect to allow easy 
>>> removal).
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> 16) Add a 5-inch color touch screen display (like my Garmin GPS) in the
>>> middle of the front panel with a nice size, high inertia tuning knob 
>>> for
>>> freq control.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> 17) Put the ancillary functions on the (multi-page) touch screen.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> 18) The touch screen pages should be tab accessible; with user 
>>> definable
>>> pages.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> 19) Embed this all inside the "75A4 Cabinet": nice size box, mostly air
>>> inside but with room to add additional features (maybe even a decent
>>> speaker).
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> 20) This is not meant to be a DXpedition, mountaintop, contest box; 
>>> just a
>>> desktop system that you could turn on with a (toggle) switch, select 
>>> your
>>> band with a rotary switch, select your mode with a rotary switch, 
>>> touch the
>>> tab on the touch screen to verify your audio/keyer/data settings 
>>> then kick
>>> back and operate.  Toggle switches for AGC On/Off, AGC Fast/Slow, Noise
>>> Blanker On/Off, Noise Reduction On/Off, rotary controls for receive
>>> bandpass
>>> width and shift, so on. Touch screen pages to set/adjust the
>>> characteristics
>>> of the Noise Reduction, Noise Blanker, AGC, etc. Switched LCD meter to
>>> provide S-meter, power, audio level, whatever.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> OK, OK, OK.I know it can never happen:
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> 1) No one would want one.
>>>
>>> 2) It would be too big.
>>>
>>> 3) It wouldn't be big enough.
>>>
>>> 4) Elecraft doesn't have the financial resources to develop such a 
>>> device.
>>>
>>> 5) Purchase price would be too high.
>>>
>>> 6) Besides it would take engineering talent away from the 
>>> development of
>>> the
>>> K4, the 1500 watt solid state amp, the VHF to near-infrared 
>>> transceiver,
>>> the
>>> Elecraft EPad, etc.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> But, it would be a really neat rig: very "Retro" look with a high tech
>>> heart.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Mike     W5FTD
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> ______________________________________________________________
>>> Elecraft mailing list
>>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>>> Post: mailto:Elecraft at mailman.qth.net
>>>
>>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>>> Message delivered to rmbayer62 at gmail.com
>>>
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> Elecraft mailing list
>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>> Post: mailto:Elecraft at mailman.qth.net
>>
>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>> Message delivered to eric_csuf at hotmail.com
>>
>>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:Elecraft at mailman.qth.net
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to k0dxv at aol.com
>