I just completed adding the Softrock and Clifton Labs buffer to my K2 and it works nicely! Tony does have a crystal available for the SoftRock Lite II kit so that it works at 4.9152. For about $75 you can have a decent, but not great, panadapter for a K2.
Mike - W0AG [email protected] wrote: >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. >______________________________________________________________ >Elecraft mailing list >Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft >Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm >Post: mailto:[email protected] > >This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net >Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > >______________________________________________________________ >Elecraft mailing list >Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft >Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm >Post: mailto:[email protected] > >This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net >Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[email protected] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
