Brian Fine on your progress with this fine rig. I plan to continue to enjoy my own K2 as the flagship rig of my station!
On PSK31 and digital modes -- you don't need to modify your K2 -- check out the application note posted at elecraft.com. essentially all you need is a stereo cable on receive, a mic connector and a few parts on transmit, and some means to do the T/R switching. The kids will 'resonate' with PSK31 based upon their other PC experiences. Remember to run the K2 at approx half power when doing the digital modes !! I have seen PSK31 at field day, and it tends to be rather tough in the pile-ups -- so calling CQ may be preferred if you run QRP-battery/solar. Meanwhile PSK31 may be ideal for non-contest operating with your youth. This is NOT the ideal time for QRP-SSB ! You just might need that amp. Do check the calendar for kids-day events, as this may charm them more than an array of 599 my state-is reports. And consider scheds to other schools or kids. Here in Maryland, a contact station is KI3DS. 73, curt --- Brian Lloyd <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > OK, We just finished the K2 for our school. I was > planing to teach the > kids to solder and wanted a radio that the kids > could build so I asked > the ARRL for the K2 instead of the low-end Ikensu > (Yaecomwood?) they > were offering. I remember how much I learned from > building Heathkits, > Knight kits, and Eico kits as a kid so I thought we > could do the same > with the K2. > > Construction took much of the school year (October > to April) including > a few dry spells when I sat after school and "slung > solder" just so we > would keep making forward progress. (It was a big > project for 10-13 > year-old kids.) Regardless, the K2, KSB2, and KNB2 > are finished and on- > the-air. The KPA100 is now in the build area and my > "star" builders > (5th graders who think that soldering is just about > as much fun as you > can have) have just unpacked, taken inventory, and > soldered the first > parts. (I took inventory too and couldn't find the > output transistors. > I darned near tore my hair out until I found the > drawer where they had > been carefully, neatly, and incorrectly stored.) We > have 5 more weeks > of school so we are going to have to push to get the > KPA100 done, > especially with all the other end-of-year projects. > (I suspect I will > have to keep the momentum going. Poor me. :-) I > think I have said that > we will be on the air for Field Day using the K2 > with solar power. I > hope to have a couple who will be ready to do some > slow-and-simple CW > QSOs too. Gotta get those multipliers! > > I know everyone is dumping their K2s so they can get > a K3 but, gee- > whiz, the K2 is some good receiver. I *love* this > radio! I have had a > LOT of radios come and go in the shack > (top-of-the-line Kenwood, two > sets of Collins S-Line, several Icom, a Yaesu > station, and a plethora > of Heathkits) and I have to say that, so far, I > think this is my > favorite radio, even at just 10W. The only thing it > is missing (stock) > is a good way to do digital modes. (I have seen the > mod for getting > audio out before the audio amp but not sure how well > it will fit after > getting the KPA100 in there.) > > So, the K3 looks like a superb radio. I want one. > But, compared to > just about everything else, the K2 is still a > winner. > > (For some reason it keeps following me home on the > weekends.) > -- > > Brian Lloyd Granite Bay > Montessori > brian AT gbmontessori DOT com 9330 Sierra > College Blvd. > +1.916.367.2131 (voice) Roseville, CA > 95661, USA > > http://www.gbmontessori.com > > I fly because it releases my mind from the tyranny > of petty things . . . > Antoine de Saint-Exupéry > > PGP key ID: 12095C52A32A1B6C > PGP key fingerprint: 3B1D BA11 4913 3254 B6E0 CC09 > 1209 5C52 A32A 1B6C > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > 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 > ____________________________________________________________________________________ Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ _______________________________________________ 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
