date:20070808

[Elecraft] Advice concerning Update to K2

2007-08-08 Thread C WEAVING

I am still fairly new to Ham radio. Last year I purchased an old K2 Seriel No. 
638 with Firmware 1.04A and I/O 1.02. This rig is a basic model , CW only with 
the ATU. It suits me fine as low power CW is my main mode of operation.
   
  I have just purchased a firmware update to Rev. 2.04 and 1.09 on Ebay???
   
  I have reviwed the Elecraft website for update info, and feel reasonably 
comfortable doing the updates, but erring on the side of caution---so little 
point in updates that improve ssb.
   
  Now what to do??   I have considered each of the following.
   
  1. Do nothing---leave well alone.
   
  2. Just add the Software updates.  Is this useful on its own ?
   
  3. Add software updates and minimal hardware updates that improve CW 
operation.
   
  4. Add Sotware updates and Elecraft  Kit to Update Rev A to Rev B.
   
  5. As per 4 , but include any other useful updates.
   
  Others have been this way before, so hopefully there is an Elmer who can 
recommend a suitable approach. I have followed this forum for about 9 months 
and continue to be amazed at the help and encouragement postings produce.
   
  Thank you.
   
  Colin M3WCK
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Re: [Elecraft] Advice concerning Update to K2

2007-08-08 Thread Don Wilhelm

Colin,

My recommendation is that you do *all* upgrades. You will not be
disappointed with the performance when all is done.

In addition to the changes listed in the K2 A to B instructions (do even
the optional ones), add the keying waveshape change. put in a new set of
IF crystals (7 for base K2 and 7 for SSB board). If you want to change
the SSB filter width to the newer 2.4 or optional 2.6 kHz width, order
the KSB2CAPKT. During the process, check the turns ratio on T7 and if
it is not the newer 20:5 turns, change it. Those changes should produce
a K2 that behaves like a new one.

If there is nothing wrong with your K2 (it was a good performer in its
original state), then you can just change the firmware and gain the new
functions it adds, the older K2s are fully supported (BUT, sometimes the
old sidetone source does not work reliably and you have to do that
change - see the KIO2 or KPA100 manual Control board changes). If you
choose to do any of the upgrades, I suggest that you go all the way with
it while you have things apart.

73,
Don W3FPR

C WEAVING wrote:

I am still fairly new to Ham radio. Last year I purchased an old K2 Seriel No.
638 with Firmware 1.04A and I/O 1.02. This rig is a basic model , CW only with
the ATU. It suits me fine as low power CW is my main mode of operation.

I have just purchased a firmware update to Rev. 2.04 and 1.09 on Ebay???

I have reviwed the Elecraft website for update info, and feel reasonably comfortable doing the updates, but erring on the side of caution---so little point in updates that improve ssb.

Now what to do?? I have considered each of the following.

1. Do nothing---leave well alone.

2. Just add the Software updates. Is this useful on its own ?

3. Add software updates and minimal hardware updates that improve CW operation.

4. Add Sotware updates and Elecraft Kit to Update Rev A to Rev B.

5. As per 4 , but include any other useful updates.

Others have been this way before, so hopefully there is an Elmer who can recommend a suitable approach. I have followed this forum for about 9 months and continue to be amazed at the help and encouragement postings produce.

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[Elecraft] KX1?

2007-08-08 Thread Brett gazdzinski

Well, since the K3 is delayed, I have been fighting the
idea of a KX1 to build to fill the pre K3 time.

If I ever got good at the code, I would actually use
it portable, as we go hiking a lot, and I like motorcycle
camping.

But I was thinking it might be good for when I am in the den
and the wife is watching TV. I don't watch much TV (the news),
and running a wire to the KX1 would allow me to tune in
some CW for practice.

Kind of crazy to spend all this money at Elecraft though,
the K3 with most options is going to kill the wallet, but
I do love their stuff so.

The last NE602 rig I had (emtech) generated a LOT of hiss
in the chips. Is the KX1 the same?

The Emtech worked very well, but I got tired of listening
to all that hiss over time.

Funds wont allow me to get all the options, so I would
start with the base radio and add the other 
bands and antenna tuner later.
I know its better to do it all at once, but the total
KX1 package is quite expensive.

Anyone want to buy a new Yaesu VX-7R in black?

Brett
N2DTS

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[Elecraft] USB Support - K3, K2?

2007-08-08 Thread Charles Allison

John,

I think that is a very small fee per device or may be per some sort of
assignment ID codes to be kept unique.

Primarily the USB standards cater to the mass production market.  Most of
the options for a design expect thousands of units to be produced in a
production run.  The USB interface is a nasty little complicated thing and
requires a large investment in study time to get familar with it.  Also,
there's no telling for just how long a time it will remain valid.  It is a
product of the modern PC age.  The serial interface is slow and cumbersome
and lacks many standards which tend to constrain things rather than help
sometimes.  It predates personal computers and to some extent, predates
computers, going back to the days of the teletype.  While not offering high
speed and not being suitable for transferring large amounts of information
quickly, it can be superior to the USB in some ways - specifically - wired
interfaces for distances longer than 10 or 20 feet.  For some 'secondary'
hardware  standards like RS485 instead of RS232, it can provide interfaces
in excess of 1000 feet.

Although USB style to RS232 interface devices may eventually become
specialty products not found at the local computer store due to a lack of
need from most users, they should remain around as specialty items.  If
RS232 is suitable for the job, then it might even be a safer bet than USB to
use for a product that should be expected to be around for a decade or more
rather than the typical life expectancy of 10 weeks for the usual computer
junk.  Most of my USB/serial ports were from the office supply place and
labeled as USB interfaces for PDAs.  I'm sure there are better suited ones
for RF environments and probably cheaper ones too.  But as long as USB
survives, they should provide me with the ability to connect to real devices
I need, such as radios, telescopes, TNCs, and gizmos that I can build and
program PCs to operate without having to read several hundred pages of barf
just to do something simple - like a dual azimuth antenna rotator
controller.  Such a homebrew project is impractical with USB, if not
virtually impossible, with most options having development kits that would
cost more than buying a commerical rotator in the first place.

As for USB, it's the best thing that's happened to RS232 serial ports since
willard  gates succeeded in getting the native ones banned because now
there's no seriously low limit as to how many you can stick on your PC and
they are the size of a pigtail cable with a long connector housing on the
end.  What's more, they are finally well supported as serial port devices by
the OS.

best regards,

Charles
wb5izd

Date: Tue, 07 Aug 2007 13:23:26 -0400
From: John Huggins [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] USB Support - K3, K2?
To: Richard Kent [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Cc: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net
Message-ID: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

I am not sure, but can point to one example that does include a USB
chip in its design that takes care of the conversion from USB to
serial.  It is the WinKeyUSB interface from K1EL.  It is quite possible
the purchase of the chip might pay such fees indirectly.  If it does the
fees must be low as the cost of the kit is under $50.

Richard Kent wrote:

I thought I heard or read that including an USB controller into a piece of
equipment requires one to pay a licensing fee to the organization that
maintains the USB definition. If this is true that could be why many
devices
do not include USB compatibility. The cost may be too much for the number
of
devices to be sold. Anyone know for sure??

Rick Kent WD8AJG



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