Well, you need to get the antenna, coax, a key, microphone? I would nix the KPA100, and the DSP, and even the SSB option as you can receive ssb fine on the base K2.
It might be more fun to put up a G5RV and use the low power auto tuner, you can go anyplace on any band that way. If you really want to TRANSMIT the digital modes, I guess you would need the KPA100, but without a tuner, the swr needs to be almost zero, something most multi band antenna's will not do over a useful frequency range on the lower bands. You can receive the digital modes fine with the base K2 I guess. You could build the K2 this year and next year build options, or are you going to build a K2 every year? It seems to me like building a K1 or K2 would teach students a lot more useful info than most of the other stuff in school. Brett N2DTS > > So after all this discussion of the K3, here I am getting ready to > purchase a K2. > > As I think I have mentioned before, I am setting up a science and > technology center in our school, Granite Bay Montessori School. > (http://www.gbmontessori.com) We have received a grant from the ARRL > to help populate the center with equipment including an amateur > station. We have been asked for a list of what we would like and I > have decided to go against the flow and request a K2 kit. (They were > recommending we choose either a Yaesu FT-897, an Icom > IC-706mkIIg, or > a Kenwood TS-570SG.) > > My plan is to have the all the kids work on the kit so that > they have > the feeling of both participation and accomplishment. I also plan to > use the assembly and testing procedures to help cement what they are > learning about electricity. > > The radios mentioned above all fall into the sub $1000 range so that > is a calibration point for what I think we can get away with > spending. So my question here is, if you were going to outfit a K2 > and try to keep the price "reasonable" what would you get and what > might you leave behind. As I see it, the absolute must-have items are: > > 1. the K2 itself (duh); > 2. the SSB module. > > After that it becomes a bit fuzzy. For instance, I would like > opinions as to the need for the KPA-100. Note that if I don't > opt for > the KPA-100 I *will* get the KIO-2. Since I expect to be using this > rig mostly in in the classroom with a matched antenna (I am leaning > toward the GAP Titan DX as I have one and like it), I probably would > not opt for the KAT-2. What about the DSP module? > > The kids are learning the code and I hope/expect that there > will be a > fair amount of CW operation. (The kids actually think that learning > the code will be a cool thing in and of itself. I am using the Code > Quick system with them.) I also expect some SSB and digital (AFSK, > PSK31, MFSK, SSTV, etc.) operation. > > Anyway, I solicit the input from the folks on this list. You have a > lot of experience with the product and can help me make the right > decisions. > > Thanks! > > 73 de Brian, WB6RQN > Brian Lloyd - brian HYPHEN wb6rqn AT lloyd DOT 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 > _______________________________________________ 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
