[Elecraft] K2 carry handle and QRP TX alignment

[Ethan Miller K8GU]

All,

I breathed life into K2/10 #7372 (love that serial number) last night.
 This is going to be fun little radio despite being a 15-year-old
design!

I noticed one thing that I wanted to ask the assembled experts here:
When peaking the TX BPF capacitors, there was a perceptible and
easily-found peak; but, if I got off the peak too far, the transmitter
power would increase rapidly to >10 watts as I tuned in the wrong
direction.  This must be normal or expected?  I did not monitor the
transmitter spectrum while doing this, so I don't know if it's a loud
spur that's normally suppressed or an amplifier somewhere is
conditionally-stable?

Secondly, and perhaps most importantly since the radio appears to be
stable in the face of the previous question, any suggestions for a
side carrying strap?  In the archives, it appears that the IC-706
handle was popular.  What about the handle for the FT-450?  (I have to
place an order with Vertex Standard for some small parts for a Yaesu
HT and it would be nice to make the order worth their while by
ordering a handle at the same time.)

Thanks/73,

--Ethan, K8GU/3.

[obligatory (e) brag line: K3/100 #6714 - K2/10 #7372]
-- 
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