[Elecraft] Who would spend 30 hours+ building an Elecraft K2? (plus: special pricing)
Arthur Lewis
wa8vsj at gmail.com
Fri Jan 26 18:31:44 EST 2018
*I built mine in 1999 and still love it. Your right about the great
performance the K2 or K2/100 do on Field Day. It's the only rig in my
collection that is NOT for sale.*
*73*
*Art WA8VSJ*
On Fri, Jan 26, 2018 at 6:16 PM, Wayne Burdick <n6kr at elecraft.com> wrote:
> Who would spend 30 hours+ building an Elecraft K2? Well, me, for one.
> I built the very first K2, not long after Eric and I sketched out the
> design on napkins right in the middle of Field Day at Henry Coe state park.
> (Some claim this is mythology, but I was there :) That first unit wasn’t
> even painted, and we had yet to design the option modules.
>
> Since then, nearly another 8,000 times someone else has asked that same
> question, concluding that the answer was “yes." It’s worth asking why.
>
> Features?
>
> The K2 is very light in weight for an all-HF-band/multi-mode desktop-style
> rig (3 lbs). The transmitter puts out 15 watts (100 W with the bolt-on
> KPA100 top cover), and the receiver has been proven crunch-proof over many
> subsequent Field Days.
>
> Is that why this little radio--our first product--just refuses to become
> obsolete?
>
> Maybe it's the crisp sound of the 100% analog superhet RX strip. Or the
> continuously tunable, variable-passband 4.9 MHz crystal filter. Or the
> blazingly fast break-in CW.
>
> Could it be ease of operation? The K2 has only the most essential
> controls--excellent for first-time users--and an embarrassingly small
> number of menu entries compared to most modern rigs.
>
> But when I think back on it, now, I believe the real reason for the K2’s
> popularity must be that it’s fun to build. Not just fun, but rewarding:
> transforming several bags of carefully labeled bagged components and
> hardware into a complete ham transceiver, then putting it on the air.
> (Somewhere I have a logbook page that says “First QSO on prototype K2!”
> that I should frame. It was a unique experience.)
>
> Speaking of parts, 100% of those used in the K2 have leads. There’s
> nothing wrong with surface mount construction, but leaded parts are easier
> to handle, harder to lose, and more clearly labeled. This makes for a
> reassuring, enjoyable assembly process, even if you’ve had just a little
> prior experience building.
>
> What got me started on this email was a quick browse through some of the
> over 300 reviews of the K2 posted on eHam.net:
>
> http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/117
>
> The enjoyment and pride of building really shines through. This is why
> Eric and I started the company in 1998, and it’s why we still offer the K2
> only as a full kit. (Yes, you’ll need a good soldering iron. Our tech
> support team will be happy to recommend one if you’re shopping around.)
>
> Many customers have teamed up with their kids or grandkids on the build.
> In my book, this beats letting them binge-watch Netflix all weekend. Even
> if your co-builders aren’t hams (yet), they’ll have great fun helping you
> identify and install parts.
>
> That, in fact, is pretty easy. One of the best things about the K2 is the
> assembly manual:
>
> http://www.elecraft.com/manual/E740001_K2%20Owner%27s%
> 20Manual%20Rev%20I.pdf
>
> The manual is written in tutorial style, including finer points like the
> resistor color code, photos of all parts and modules, and detailed signal
> tracing/troubleshooting instructions. The manual has been refined to the
> point that it’s virtually foolproof. Of course if you have any
> difficulties, you can always ask a question on the Elecraft reflector, day
> or night, or check in with customer support.
>
> For those of you who are just now thinking about tackling the K2, we’ve
> decided to sweeten the deal a little. Consider it an early Valentine’s
> gift. You can find our K2 specials near the top of this page:
>
> http://www.elecraft.com/elecraft_prod_list.htm
>
> I’ll leave you with this photo of two early production K2s. It was taken
> in 1999 from inside a VW van I used to own (the radio is reliable, the van
> wasn’t). S/N 00002, in the foreground, was being operated by Eric, WA6HHQ,
> except that he’s also the photographer. In the background is yours truly,
> complete with a Field-Day’s worth of facial hair and tie-dyed T-shirt,
> operating S/N 00001.
>
> http://www.elecraft.com/wayne_m.jpg
>
> 73,
> Wayne
> N6KR
>
>
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