[Elecraft] K2 and KX3 with A/B switch

[Graziano Roccon]

Hello Don,

thanks for your attention.
I measured the power output meny times with two different meters, one with PEP function and one without.
In both cases i can see the differences between the K2 and the other radios.
On the same meter where i read 60-70 watts with the K2, i can read 90-100 watt with the K3s.
I know that can be an average reading but in any case with the K2 is always lower by at minimum a 30%.

This is not so important, i use the K2 in CW where is a top performer and where i think is the best radio for that mode.
I was just asking to myself how get the maximum power, so i don't need to change radio when i see a new one in SSB on the cluster ;-)
I am quite sure that on a very strong SSB pile up, i will never pass with the K2.
Instead, in CW i always do all i can hear and sometimes the K2 hear signals that other radios loose in the noise.

My best regards, Graziano IW2NOY

PS
I read with many interest your article on AGC Settings for K3 on your site.
Thanks for writing it.

> Il 2 novembre 2017 alle 12.42 Don Wilhelm <donwilh at embarqmail.com> ha scritto:
> 
> 
> Graziano,
> 
> How are you measuring the power output in SSB?  If an external 
> wattmeter, you are likely driving it to full PEP power.
> 
> I test the SSB operation on each K2 I repair to be certain the PEP is 
> the same as the CW response at full power.  I use an oscilloscope to 
> determine that.  An external wattmeter will only show about 50 to 60% of 
> the full PEP.
> 
> Run the SSB C menu parameter to 3:1 and try it.  If you are using an 
> electret microphone (Elecraft or Icom), the SSB A parameter at 1 should 
> be sufficient, but if using a dynamic microphone, a setting of 2 is good 
> for the higher output microphones but 3 may be needed for those with low 
> output.
> 
> 73,
> Don W3FPR
> 
> On 11/2/2017 7:24 AM, Graziano Roccon wrote:
> 
> > The K2 have only SSB and CW.
> > Althoug in CW is the better, in SSB maybe not.
> > 
> > I agree with you that "strangely" the audio from the K2 is nicer despite the tight filter, but i still find difficult to push out ALL the watt in SSB.
> > Comparing the K2 to my other radios, included the K3s, i can see that the K2 never reach the maximum output power in SSB. I tried different microphone and settings, but i always get no more than 60-70% of the maximum power in the best conditions.
> > This is the only point of regret with my beloved K2.