[Elecraft] K2100 and KAT100 Question

[Dauer, Edward]

I am just about to order my second K2 – principally for the experience of building it, but also to have an additional configuration in the station.  I have a question about using a K2/100 with an existing KAT100 already in an EC2 with another KPA100.

Specifically:  I already have a K2/10 with the internal low power tuner, the KAT2.  And I have a KPA100 with a KAT100 in an EC-2 enclosure.  What I am about to order will be a K2/100, i.e. another K2 with its own internal KPA100.  

There may be occasions when I will need an ATU for that soon-to-be K2/100.  The easiest option would be to build another KAT100 in the low-profile box.  But to lower the total cost I was thinking I might on those occasions use my existing KAT100 in the EC-2.  Can I do so?  The problem is that the existing KAT100 is wired into the existing KPA-100 within the EC-2.  There is an 8 connector ribbon cable, as I recall, conveying power and control data from one to the other.  That makes me wonder whether the KAT100 already tethered to its KPA100 in the EC-2 could work with an outside KPA100 in the new K2/100, without having to open the EC-2 and undo the control line connection every time?

A second question is whether, for the same purpose, I would need a KIO2 in the soon-to-be K2/100, assuming I can use the EC-2’s ATU with it?  The KPA100 in the new K2/100 will have its own RS232.  Will that be sufficient?

Thanks for any insights anyone can offer.

Ted, KN1CBR