Anyone who has listened to Kevin run the Sunday Elecraft net can attest to the fact that he has become quite proficient in the art of CW!
Doug W6JD -------------- Original message -------------- From: Kevin Rock <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Welcome to you Steve, > I would like to add a few comments to what Ron has stated. I purchased my K2 > in 2001 before I knew very much code at all. I bought the SSB module because > I > thought I would use that mode frequently. After a very pleasant building > experience I sat down to listen to the bands with my modest antenna. I > purchased a set of paddles so I could practice CW to gain the next level > license. I found the K2 was a very nice code practice oscillator. Learning CW > starts as two processes: sending and receiving. The K2 has an excellent > receiver so I could listen to CW the way it is really sent and 'copy' as much > as > possible. I could listen to the W1AW CW broadcasts and copy their machine > sending. Next I would put the K2 in the "TEST" mode and send to myself from a > newspaper or text book. Somehow or another sending page after page of code > helped my ear hear more accurately. After about six months of this I went to > the local VE session and passed Element 1. It took some prodding by the very > VE > who had given me the test to get on the air for real. Once again my steady K2 > was up to the task; unlike the shakey operator at the key ;) I managed to get > his call sign and RST, the rest is lost to history. Even though the swamp > cooler was on high and it was a rather cool day for Albuquerque I was soaked > through. Nothing like trial by fire! I have gotten marginally better over the > years since then. The two modes of CW: listening and sending have merged into > a > single method of conversation. I still use my K2 for code practice and for > listening to folks 'chat' via CW. It was a great training instrument and > serves > me well in weekly use. You will have fun all along the path toward your goal > of > working CW in the woods. > 73, > Kevin. KD5ONS > > P.S. The SSB unit is still in the rig but has only been used twice! > KJR > > -----Original Message----- > >From: Ron D'Eau Claire > >Sent: Apr 13, 2007 8:55 AM > >To: [EMAIL PROTECTED], [email protected] > >Subject: RE: [Elecraft] Looking at Elecraft kits > > > >I strongly recommend the K2, Steve. > > > >Adding the options when you want is very simple. The K2 was designed to be > >built just that way and it's a trivial exercise to install options after > >you've built, tested and used the basic K2. The K2 is designed to be taken > >to bits in a few minutes, should you ever want to do that, but the modules > >are added with a minimum of fuss-and-bother without doing a lot of heavy > >disassembly. Usually they involve adding a header to a pc board where the > >module will plug in and cutting or removing a jumper that you installed > >during the initial build to bypass the module until you add it. > > > >Some of those options are perfect for your style of portable work - such as > >the optional built-in antenna tuner and battery that mount in the removable > >top cover. With them, all you need is a key and some wire to use for an > >antenna to go portable. If you decide you'd like a 100-watt K2/100 in the > >future, you can add the KPA100. It, too, is in a removable lid that replaces > >the "QRP" top that may contain your portable battery and tuner. So a couple > >of minutes - at the most - to swap top covers and your K2 is either a > >world-class home station or a self-contained world-class portable station. > > > >Congratulations on the license, Steve! You'll have a world of fun with your > >Elecraft rig on the HF bands. When the bands are open for DX, it's literally > >a "world" of fun! > > > >73, > > > >Ron AC7AC > > > > > >-----Original Message----- > > > >Hello All, As a newly licensed tech, I am looking around for radio's. I am > >interested in the Elecraft kits, but am debating whether to get the KX1 and > >then an older used radio for home or to just get a K2. > > > >I do a bit of camping and hunting, over the course of a year probably spend > >about a month in the woods but none of it is hiking so extreme portability > >isn't that much of an issue. It might be in the future and I will get a KX1 > >for that, but right now it would be a matter of dragging a car battery to a > >table at most 50 feet. > > > >The fact is budgets being what they are, I probably can only afford a basic > >K2 right now. I am trying hard to learn the code and I am slowly progressing > >so it may seem like a waste to buy a basic K2 now without knowing code, but > >if I do not get it now, I will not be able to afford it again for a while. > > > >My main concern is if I get a basic K2 without any extras, is it easy to add > >things later on? It seems like it would be, but I just want to make sure. > > > >Thank you, > >Steve > > > >_______________________________________________ > >Elecraft mailing list > >Post to: [email protected] > >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: [email protected] > 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: [email protected] 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
