Wouldn't a Softrock Ensemble II receiver for less than $80, feeding a
soundcard, and some free SDR software, be a much cheaper but effective
answer?
The K2 appears to have a 4.9152MHz IF, so using an Ensemble II, with it's
Si570 tuned to 4.9152MHz, should work fine. Then, you feed the Ensemble II
I/Q outputs to either an internal sound card if stereo, or inexpensive USB
sound card (like an iMic?) if not. Rocky, PowerSDR-IF, SDR#, or other SDR
software will provide the spectrum display. If an iPad or iPhone, use iSDR.
I'm not sure if Tony Parks has a rock-bound Softrock that is close enough to
the 4.9MHz IF of the K2. If so, that's an even cheaper answer.
I would definitely put a buffer stage like the Clifton Labs mentioned
earlier, in the rig. Not only does it buffer the IF output of the K2, it
also prevents interference getting back into the K2 from the Ensemble or
Flex 1500 LO. QSD-based receivers are known for generating RF signals on
the carrier frequency BACK OUT the antenna port.
Seems like using a Flex 1500 just to provide a QSD-based demod/display is a
little like towing a Hummer behind your Suburban in case the Suburban breaks
down. And if you ever accidentally transmit on the Flex 1500 back into the
K2 - uh-oh. Having a "spare" rig could be handy though.
73, Terry, WB4JFI
-----Original Message-----
From: Michael Babineau
Sent: Thursday, August 29, 2013 10:22 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Will the K2 and KX3 work with the P3?
Bruce et al :
Using N4PYs RCP (or maybe even DDUTIL) it is possible to slave a Flex-1500
off
of a K2, or other radio, to use it as a Pan Adaptor. So for about the price
of just a
Pan Adaptor (P3 or LP-Pan) you can actually get a Pan Adaptor (Flex-1500)
that can also
be used as a transceiver. I guess that it depends on what you are looking
for, but if you can live without the
K2s full break-in on CW, the Flex-1500 just by itself makes a pretty
formidable little radio.
The point I was trying to make is that given the base price of the K2, how
many people
are going to want to almost double the price by adding a P3 as Pan-Adaptor?
I guess that it depends
on how "tricked-out" your K2 is. If you already have DSP, KPA100 then maybe
it makes some sense.
I am not saying it is wrong to do so, it is just that there a lots of other
Pan Adaptor options, some lower
cost and others similar cost but offering more flexibility. It really comes
down to wants, needs and the users budget.
Personally I looked at this option myself (I love my K2) and decided that
the P3 or LP-Pan options
didn't compute "dollar-wise" for me and if I really wanted SDR, buying a
Flex-1500 to go along with my
K2 works out better for me. (Selling my K2 isn't an option).
So my comment regarding the original post is, before adding support for the
K2/P3 to an existing
control program, the author (Tom VA2FSQ) might want to assess whether this
is something that users are
really going to want to do frequently enough to justify the time and effort
for the new software development.
Given that the WIN4K3 software is targeted specifically at Elecraft
products, then maybe the answer
is that the K2/P3 combination should be supported anyway, just for WIN4K3
product completeness.
It is possible to make a P3 work with a K2.
Cheers
Michael VE3WMB
From: "Bruce Beford" <[email protected]>
Date: August 28, 2013 7:50:38 PM EDT
To: <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Will the K2 and KX3 work with the P3?
Yes, but it would -still- be a Flex-1500, not a K2 with panadapter...
Bruce, N1RX
To get back to the original question, I am not sure how many people would
want to add a P3 to a K2 ? For the price of the P3 (or even an LP-Pan) you
could pick up a new Flex-1500.
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