[Elecraft] New (second-hand) K2 owner, what now?

[EricJ]

Hi Daniel,

I'll let others handle the bulk of your questions.  I have two K2's (s/n 
567 and 6911). One QRP, the other with a KPA100. One with the KAF2 and 
the other with the KDSP2. I highly recommend the KAF2. For me, it has 
been very effective. With the KDSP2, I have to be retrained on how to 
use it if I take a lunch break. It works well when I get it set up (that 
was a major undertaking itself), then if I didn't use it, I'd always 
have to look everything up. The KAF2 just works.

The KPA100 is a good choice and works seamlessly with the K2 
(obviously), but if I were considering a KX3 later, I might get the 
KXPA-100 instead. The KPA100 is only good with the K2. You can put it in 
a separate case with the KAT100 tuner like KA4FRH and I did, but it 
still requires the K2 to function.

I'd take KA4FRH's advice on calibration. If it seems to work OK, just 
start using it. Unless something is obviously amiss, don't worry about 
calibration. Once you've used it for awhile, do the calibration with a 
little experience behind you. You'll be better equipped to understand 
what you're doing with the calibration, and know what you want.

Good luck with it. The K2 is still a fine rig for HF work. One of mine 
is ancient, but up to date with mods, so it works as well as the much 
newer one.

Eric KE6US

On 6/17/2019 3:25 PM, Daniel Solano Gómez wrote:
> Hello, all,
>
> My name is Daniel, AG5UT, and I recently purchased a second-hand K2 (#5240) as my first HF rig.  I believe it’s in good working condition—I haved been able to successfully confirm it transmits, but have yet to have a QSO.  It has the following options installed:
>
> * KSB2 (1.08b)
> * KAT2 (1.07)
> * KIO2 (1.09)
> * K160M
>
> I have purchased the KBT2, since I like the idea of taking this car camping and being able to operate without having to be plugged in.
>
> So, I have a few questions:
>
> 1. It seems like since it’s a later serial number, so I shouldn’t need to worry about doing any upgrades of the main system.  Is this right?
>
> 2. I think I also have the latest firmware versions, is this correct?
>
> 3. Is there any type of calibration I should do to make sure everything is fine?  I don’t really have much in the way of test equipment, such as frequency counters, signal generators, or oscilliscopes.  Should I be worrying about this?
>
> 4. Should I consider some of the options I don’t have, i.e. the KNB2 or KAF2?
>
> 5. I see references to a KDSP2, but that no longer seems to be available, is that right?
>
> 6. Any thoughts if getting the KPA100 would be worth it for base station use?  Can it be used externally?  Is it fine to use it with the internal battery installed?  Would it be better to just buy a KXPA-100 in case I ever decide to upgrade to a KX3?
>
> 7. I didn’t get the cable for KIO2.  I mistakenly purchased the W1SERKT thinking it was what I needed.  Would the KUSB the right thing to get?
>
> 8. Are there any questions I haven’t asked, but should?
>
> Thank you for your patience, and I appreciate your help with my newbie questions.  I am super-excited to finally get on the air with HF.
>
> 73,
>
> Daniel, AG5UT
>
>
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