[Elecraft] K2 - Revival of a resting one...

[Don Wilhelm]

Jon,

I don't think the serial number information for older K2s is still 
available from Elecraft.

As for the upgrades, I suggest you download the instructions for the K2 
A to B upgrade.  That is only the basic upgrade.  The 1st page of the 
instructions lists several other upgrade kits.  Download the 
instructions for each of them to determine which (if any) have been 
installed on your K2.  Installing all of them will give you a K2 that is 
almost equal to a new K2.

In addition, changing the IF crystals to the current crystals will 
improve the filters on your K2.  If you have the KSB2 board, change 
those crystals as well - Elecraft sells a set of 14 matched crystals for 
the K2 and KSB2 as well as a set of 7 for the base K2 only.
While you have the crystals off the KSB2 board, it is easy to change the 
filter capacitors to extend the filter bandpass from the original 2.1kHs 
to the new 2.4kHz - the capacitor kit is SSBCAPKT.

As far as firmware, upgrade the MCU and KIO ICs to the new version.  The 
only other firmware upgrade that is needed may be the KSB2 which should 
be upgraded if you ever add the KPA100.

The KAT2 wiring change was only valid for a short run of boards when the 
vendor printed the boards upside-down.

Download the KSB2 PSK mod instructions to see if you have the updated 
resistor and capacitor changes - if not, change them.

If all that is done, your K2 will perform like a new one.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 4/12/2018 2:28 AM, Jon wrote:
> Hello all!
> 
> Long time no mailing list...   I have a nice, vintage K2,  that I want 
> to spruce up, tune up, and bring back to it's full MOJO.   Kind of a 
> it's not dead yet,  it's just resting.   Actually, it's been in use, off 
> and on over the years,  am now getting more serious about plying the 
> airwaves.
> 
> Been looking over the various places of K2 lore, for updates and so 
> forth,  Sverre's site, Don's, and of course the Elecraft site.
> 
> First order of business ,  is it possible to have my S/N looked up? 
> Found a database that I don't seem to be in,  found that the Elecraft 
> list archives go back to 2001,  but I'm not finding a post of mine in 
> there,  so hopefully the Elecraft Records Repository would still contain 
> it somewhere. Then I can proudly post it on the bottom of my mails, like 
> it was done back in the day.  ;-)
> 
> Next,  I have a range of boards for it, the NB, SSB, Antenna tuner, 160m 
> antenna, and just built my long languishing KIO2 kit, to bring this 
> K2-10 into the 21 (20th?) century.   I have started to go thru them and 
> see if I have all the mods and etc that should be done on them,  have 
> done many already,  but back about '03-04.  Guess this is just a matter 
> of looking things up,  though I have a few questions there and probably 
> will have more.
> 
> Another next,  I've been having difficulty checking to see which 
> versions of firmware are the latest,  and what the various versions 
> add.  Is there a version change log or something like that?
> 
> Here's what I have so far,  looks like the two main ones are down a 
> bit,  but I don't know what I'm missing,  or if I really need the updates.
> 
> MCU    2.01f
> RF        1.02
> KSB2    1.04
> ATU     1.03 f
> 
> Here's the PCB versions marked on the boards:
> 
> Main     rev A
> Control rev A
> ATU     rev C (note, the board does NOT match the picture of the recent 
> note stating some cut and jumper rework should be done on a rev C)
> NB and 160m  rev D
> SSB    don't have,  will have to yank it to read
> 
> So, the beginning of a journey.   Will greatly appreciate whatever tips 
> and directions I could be pointed in.
> 
> Jon - KA6MOK   K2 #????
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