Congratulations Paul: My K2 is set for 3.8 amps. I don't recall how close that is to getting an overcurrent. I have the KPA100 amp on mine so it may not need to run the low-power section as hot as it might barefoot. I'd not be worried if 4.5 amps does the job for you.
NOTE: It is NOT recommended to run the K2 over 10 watts PEP sideband. It won't hurt the K2, but distortion level rises above the 10 watt PEP level the output stages are designed for. Of course, putting the "pedal to the metal" isn't a problem on CW. What's the serial number of your K2? If it's < 3000, do you know of the volume control mod was done to it? The earlier K2's (like my S/N 1289) had a different volume control circuit that used the control as a shunt resistance across a balanced audio line. That works well enough, but it was found that many controls started to sound scratchy quite soon with only normal wear. Elecraft redesigned that circuit to use the volume control in a more normal circuit that avoids that problem. As a bonus, the modified circuit also exhibits the logarithmic response other volume controls do. If it hasn't been modified, or if you aren't sure, you can tell by looking at the p-c board for some jumpers that were required. Details of the mod are documented on the Elecraft site in an application note. See: http://www.elecraft.com/Apps/K2_AF_pot/K2_AF_gain_app_note.htm Check to see if that mod has been made before changing the pot. At S/N 3000 the PC boards were updated to incorporate that change, so you won't see the mod if you have a newer K2. That's one of the hidden features in the K2. You don't have to dump your existing rig and build a new one to keep "current". An early K2 has the ability to demonstrate every feature and meet ever spec that a just-delivered K2 meets. As improvements and changes have been made, Elecraft has documented each one and, if significant parts were required, produced an upgrade kit for those owners who wanted to update their older rigs. I wonder if your appreciation of the sound has to do with the somewhat "softer" shoulders on the K2 filters, compared with many of those in other rigs. I've never liked the sound of the extremely steep-sided filters. They modulate noise and signals hanging across those stopband frequencies and produce artifacts in the bandpass. They're nice if one feels it's critical to "cuddle up" to an S-9 signal a few Hz away without hearing it, but I find that's important so seldom that I'd never give up the nice sound of what I consider the "really good" K2 filters for that ability. I'll admit that I "cut my teeth" on the bands with receivers that were 6 kHz wide and being a good op meant that one could copy a CW QSO while hearing several other QSO's in the same bandpass. SSB isn't so critical since it become unintelligible noise as one moves far enough off-frequency. At least these we don't hear the howling cacophony of wall-to-wall carrier hetrodynes that dominated the phone bands half a century ago! Ron AC7AC -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Paul Webb Sent: Saturday, October 01, 2005 4:11 PM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] New K2 Owner and a few questions Hi All Just to say Hello, I asked a few days ago if anyone wanted to do a deal with a ft857/icom 703 for a K2 well, I had many offers to sell me a K2 so many thanks to all the people that made the offer. In the end I bought one from a member of the list and have today had chance to play with it. I have a FT1000MP Mk5 Field here in the shack and have been doing side by side tests with the K2 I must say I am very surprised by how well this little radio works, First SSB, it seems just about on par with the MP ,if anything many signals sounded nicer to listen to on the K2! Now CW Well I was shocked! The MP is loaded with all the Yaesu filters, Has DSP filtering too, I found a weak signal and switched between the two radios, every time the K2 was better, the MP sounded hollow on Cw, well that's the best way I can describe it, but the K2 just sounded solid , I know which radio I will turning on first now! NOW THE QUESTIONS What current level is set on most K2 to avoid the Hi Cur warning, I get it on a whisle, I have just for now set it to abou 4.5Amps and it seems ok with that. ( 15 watts o/p ) I have a little noise on the vol pot when I turn it, a friend has the same on his K2, is there a good way of cleaning the pot? Well that's about it (for Now) One very happy K2 Owner 73 Paul M0BMN -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.344 / Virus Database: 267.11.9/116 - Release Date: 30/09/2005 _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
