[Elecraft] SO2R thoughts

[Richard Thorne]

Steve,

I'm going through the same exact issue as you.  I currently have the 
K3/P3/KAT500/KPA500 combo with a MK2R+ connected to it.

I already have an Ameritron AL-1200 for a backup amp (I'm working 
anything I can hear with my K Line so I took the AL-1200 off line for now).

My plan is to get a 2nd rig and use my loaded K3 as the main radio in 
combination with the AL-1200 amp.  Since, in theory, I won't be jumping 
around band to band with the main run rig tuning the AL-1200 won't be 
that big a deal.

Now to your question on a 2nd rig.  I went through the same exact 
analysis as your doing comparing the K3, KX3 and TS-590.  After 
researching the KX3 it's lacking FSK and there is no direct support from 
Microham for the rig, so I crossed it off the list.  By the time you get 
the KX3/amp combo you start approaching the cost of a basic K3.  I 
joined the Yahoo group for the TS-590 and there are a lot of issues, 
apparently, with power spikes when the rig first transmits.  That would 
probably trip the KPA-500, the Expert amp or one of the high end auto 
tune tube amps.   I really gave the TS-590 some serious thought for the 
2nd rig since top contester N2IC uses a pair of them, but he's driving 
manual tune tube amps.  So I've crossed the TS-590 off of my list.

I've decided to target another basic K3 for my 2nd rig.  I won't get 
many options.  Probably just the rig with a couple of 8 pole filters to 
start with.  I really think there is an advantage of having two 
identical rigs from an operational stand point.

Now if I can just come up with some hardware to share my current antenna 
system (a couple tribanders on the same tower and monoband antennas on 
40, 80 and 160) between the two rigs.  The triplexers (for 10,15,20) on 
the market are interesting but my 500 watt station is caught in the 
middle.  There are 200 watt triplexers and 1.5kw triplexers with prices 
of a few hundred $'s a a few thousand $'s. I do have room for a 2nd 
tower,  so I'll have to go through a cost and operational comparison of 
triplexers or a 2nd tower with antennas.

I picked up a used Acom 2s1 t/r switch I may experiment with.  It won't 
give me a true SO2R station but it will at least allow me to use two 
rigs with one antenna system/amp for now.

In the mean time I'm having a blast with my K line.  I worked VU4K on 
10m and 15m ssb the last two evenings.

Rich - N5ZC


On 3/27/2014 9:25 PM, Stephen Bloom wrote:
> Hey all:
>
> I've been the owner of a K3, KAT500, and KPA500, and a Microham MK2R+  for
> about 9 months now.  Love em all.  The one additional thing I wanted was a
> Legal Limit amp (I'm a fairly active contester).  Bought an Expert 2K-FA and
> just put that online.  So far so good.  The one clear downside to the 2K-FA
> is ...that it is loud (actually quieter than most High Power amps but still
> loud).
>
> With that said ...and given the fact that the Expert Amp SO2R isn't really
> SO2R (second antenna is rx only) ...I'm going to pair a second rig with the
> KPA500 and use it as a backup contest rig and as main for non contest Qs
> where I don't need the extra 3DB.  Right now the second rig is a Kenwood
> TS2000 ...which isn't really a contest or DX quality transceiver.  The three
> options I'm mulling over are ..
>
> 1)  another K3 ...Upside:  SO2R is most intuitive with identical xcvrs,
> plays well with KPA500/KAT500, identical cabling  ...Downside:  Expensive,
> It's more fun to have different rigs to play with, and like others, I find
> the K3 can be kind of "harsh" to listen to for many hours.
>
> 2)  Kenwood TS590 ...Upside:  Biggest bang for the buck (IMO) contest
> capable xcvr, Good audio ..Downside:  Looks like it has a weird audio codec
> (meaning not the standard Kenwood).  I see that N1MM works with it ...but I
> wonder about other software plus the MK2R+.
>
> 3) KX3+KXPA100(+existing KAT/KPA500) ..Upside:  The KX3 really intrigues me.
> In a perfect world ...the Second Rig would be one I could easily take
> portable.  The Sherwood reviews seem to indicate that the KX3 rcv
> performance is comparable to the K3, and I'm a real fan of Elecraft in
> general.  Downside:  Clearly there is no technical reason one couldn't chain
> all this together, but I wonder if anyone actually has done it, and if there
> were any configuration issues
>
>
> Any input would be appreciated.
>
> Thanks and 73
> Steve KL7SB
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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 rthorne at rthorne.net
>