I just finished my T1 and am trying it out on a trip now with my FT817.
(I have my KX1 as a backup.)
I was confused by the battery clip instructions too, as the diagram for
installing them takes some time to orient. But I figured out that when
installing the battery, the narrow tab goes to
I used Spectrogram to set up my K2's filters. When lining up the
frequency peak with the marker for my preferred sidetone (650 Hz in my
case), the typical display shows the usual bandwidth shape, plus a
relatively sharp (and very narrow bandwidth) spike slightly offset from
the center of the
There are a lot of bad fists out there, but there is NO excuse for what I heard
on 40 meters one day last week while I was at the work bench...A station in
Canton, Ohio was working 7.037...He got a straight key reply to his CQ that was
too weak for me to fully copy...His reply was Your sending
Now that my K2 is just about complete while it's still fresh in my
mind, I thought I'd offer a couple suggestions that might make the
already fantastic manual possibly even a little friendlier. These are
very, very minor, though. The manual makes it incredibly easy to start
from a bag of parts
Those local deviations are noise and averaging setting artifacts. Try to
center your thinking on the mean, down 3 or 6 db. In your picture, that's
the left ?, rather than the right.
Dan / WG4S / K2 #2456
snip
Do I aim for putting the marker on the sharp peak (slightly offset from
center), or the
Andrew,
That spike looks like an actual signal within the passband. It may be some
kind of pickup in the noise generator you are using or on the connecting
cable (coax?), or it could be pickup in the audio path to the computer. It
certainly does not look like any shape that exists in the actual
That wasn't a bad fist, it is caused by bat wet-ware. What a lid.
Dan / WG4S / K2 #2456
snip
His reply was Your sending is choppy, your fist is terrible, and I cannot
copy...73...
/snip
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Jeremiah McCarthy wrote:
There are a lot of bad fists out there, but there is NO excuse for what I heard
on 40 meters one day last week while I was at the work bench...
A station in Canton, Ohio was working 7.037...He got a straight key
reply to his CQ that was too weak for me to fully
I would like to replace the tuning knob on my K2. I have seem several post
here about replacements. Could someone let me know which knob to get and
where I might find one.
Thanks
Brent WB4X
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This is the sort of thing that worries me about working CW. I am all in
favor of practicing before going on the air but what is available out there
to do this? Is there a hardware device software that I can connect a key
to that will send information to a PC to test if I'm sending correctly?
Al.
Mike Markowski wrote:
It's also helpful to know how much extra you have so that when
you make a mistake, you have the info to know whether to cut a fresh
piece or conserve and work with what you've got.
Ain't that the truth.
Just before I succumbed to the flu last month my last act in
In a message dated 4/6/2005 10:31:27 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
This is the sort of thing that worries me about working CW. I am all in
favor of practicing before going on the air but what is available out there
to do this? Is there a hardware device software
Hi Andrew:
I used Spectrogram to set up my K2's filters. When lining up the
frequency peak with the marker for my preferred sidetone (650 Hz in my
case), the typical display shows the usual bandwidth shape, plus a
relatively sharp (and very narrow bandwidth) spike slightly offset from
the
A simple way to test your own fist might be to record (on cassette, etc)
some of your own sending, save it for a few days and then play it back and
see if you can easily copy it. Of the bad fists I have heard, the worst
problem seems to be running letters together, followed by little difference
in
Hi Al,
I used my K2 in test mode and sent the sidetone into the sound card of
my computer. There are various CW readers avaidable, e.g.CwGet (see
google for others). Some of these will show you your keying in a
oscilloscope like display and tend to be very picky when decoding.
I found this
Hi Al:
At 09:30 AM 4/6/05, you wrote:
This is the sort of thing that worries me about working CW. I am all in
favor of practicing before going on the air but what is available out there
to do this? Is there a hardware device software that I can connect a key
to that will send information to a
Hey Al,
Don't worry too much. Fortunately, this lid of which we speak (and lid
I shall continue to call him) is in the minority. Most ops are
fantastic and supportive and will do as much as they can to help your
fist improve--or, at the very least, have a nice QSO with you and be
glad to do it.
Funny story about this. I was at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia.
Great science museum for kids of all ages! They have at least three or four
places where you can try sending some code. One was a spark gap, one was an
old railroad telegraph sender and one used the MFJ-461 or similar.
Hi all,
For anyone having trouble getting on the air with CW, there is an email list
just for you. It is called SOLIDCPYCW and is at:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SolidCpyCW/ .
Its just the thing if you still have butterflies about getting on the air.
We've got newbies, and old timers getting
When I started out as a Novice in 1964, I was advised to start with a straight
key. When I could send well at about 15 wpm, then consider changing over to
some kind of speed key. We didn't have iambics then. I switched to homebrew
solid state keyer, that I built myself, and a Vibroplex
For Sale B model K2/100, SSB, NB, 160, 60, AF $1500
For sale K1-4 40/30/20/15 NB, AT, Battery, Stand, 2 band Board 80/17, TecPac
case $595
Thanks
Don Brown
KD5NDB
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I'm still looking myself. The two I see recommended are for the FT-100 and
FT900. You can get info on the FT-900 knob atit at
http://www.qsl.net/w3fpr/index.htm. I like the size, but I want something
with a recessed finger dimple.
I went to HRO and measured a bunch of likely candidates. The
I am home from work a couple of days assisting my wife
who is recovering from surgery. I have been reviewing
the mods that I have on hand for the K2 (SN 1056). I
am little fuzzy about two
K2 Temperature-Compensated PLL Referencec Upgrade
and
BFO Upgrade Kit BFOMDKT
I have written on the
Current firmware is at 2.04P, since Feb, 2004.
73,
Brian Broggie - W6FVI
Elecraft Parts
Original Message
Subject: [Elecraft] What Firmware version is the K2 currently at? Nt
Date: Sun, 03 Apr 2005 11:23:30 -0600
From: Phil Townsend [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To:
There are a lot of bad fists out there, but there is NO excuse for what I
heard on 40 meters one day last week while I was at the work bench...A
station in Canton, Ohio was working 7.037...He got a straight key reply to
his CQ that was too weak for me to fully copy...His reply was Your sending
is
Al wrote:
This is the sort of thing that worries me about working CW. I am all in
favor of practicing before going on the air but what is available out there
to do this? Is there a hardware device software that I can connect a key
to that will send information to a PC to test if I'm sending
On Apr 6, 2005, at 10:11 AM, R. Kevin Stover wrote:
Jeremiah McCarthy wrote:
There are a lot of bad fists out there, but there is NO excuse for
what I heard on 40 meters one day last week while I was at the work
bench...
A station in Canton, Ohio was working 7.037...He got a straight key
Lee,
The crystals are the same - either will work, but don't use both - save the
other for a spare. Other than that, there is no relationship between the 2
mods.
73,
Don W3FPR
-Original Message-
K2 Temperature-Compensated PLL Referencec Upgrade
and
BFO Upgrade Kit BFOMDKT
I have
Brent,
I have information about the Yaesu FT-900 knob on my website
www.qsl.net/w3fpr, but the phone number is wrong again - I just can't keep
up with Yaesu parts - look them up with a Google search - as of 2 weeks ago,
Yaesu parts were handled by Vertex Standard, 10900 Walker Street, Cypress,
CA
It appears you already have it set correctly. You want the center of the
passband (not an errant peak) to be over the frequency marker.
Now, this having been said, that sharp peak you illustrated, is it there
ALL THE TIME? If so, that's very unusual... and it might indicate that
The
Folks,
It did not take long to deplete my stock of knobs and tires.
You can still get them from Yaesu (see below)
-Original Message-
I have information about the Yaesu FT-900 knob on my website
www.qsl.net/w3fpr, but the phone number is wrong again - I just
can't keep up with
About one year ago when I built a RockMite-40 and was about to try it I heard
somebody calling CQ on 7040 kHz. I quickly plugged in my Bencher paddles to
find that only one side was working and the other side didn't (new stereo 1/8
plug from R.S. was bad). Couldn't find my straight key right
Hi Gentlefolk,
When I was learning the code, back then to get a UK class A licence one
had to pass a mandatory receiving and transmitting test, i used to practice
sending by hooking my straight key up to the serial port of my PC. I had an
excellent canadian program which took the input and
I agree with taping your own fist and then copying from it a few days
later. But do not record someone on the air and send it to them. I think
that will drive folks away from the hobby. Much like showing someone your
work of art oo new piece of fiction; unless you are very comfortable with
I'm gonna' call you Sparky from now on!
By the way, nice story (smile)
Ron wb1hga
CW, an esoteric experience
Mark writes:
(snip) horrified as it was the worst code I think I had ever sent! It
was classic, though, to have a Morse code QSO by literally tapping two wires
together.
I learned CW through a combination of Farnsworth spacing on my CW tapes
and sending in the TEST mode on my K2. Then I passed my test. Scared
silly I did not get on the air using CW until the next summer when the VE
who tested me for element 1 met me at field day. He asked how many
contacts
One op, about a year ago, was so excited to hear the Elecraft Net he
stopped his car and worked me mobile. He did not have a key in the car
but wound up using a piece of zip cord from a pile of junk in the back
seat of his car. He somehow got it stripped and hooked up to his rig.
Then I got
Barring any earth shaking matters personally affecting me in the next 24-36
hours, I will be calling for check-ins tomorrow evening on 30m at 0100z. Look
for us on 10.107.2 +/- 2 kHz. The net will start at about 0100z, and will
hopefully not last any later than 0200z. For those of us who are UTC
I love my KX1 s/n #953, Have had no problems. Elecraft documentation is
the best I've ever seen.
Main use has been working on my CW copy and some SWL while laying in bed
at Odark:30 unable to sleep.
Really appreciate the Keyer Test Mode to practice with the KXPD1.
Elecraft thought of
Paddle? Don't need no stinkin' paddle.
I was at a party one night at the home of KR4W, and a receiver was running
in the background. I heard WG4T (the very first 4-land Amateur Extra
licensee after mine) calling CQ. I just HAD to have him in the log.
The only transmitter Richard had operable was
That wasn't a bad fist, it is caused by bat wet-ware. What a lid.
What exactly is a lid? A derogatory term for someone who asks silly
questions I suppose. Anyone know the origin of the term?
73 Paul ZL3IN
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What exactly is a lid? A derogatory term for someone who asks silly
questions I suppose. Anyone know the origin of the term?
73 Paul ZL3IN
--
You'll get 100 answers at least to that question.
In modern vernacular, a LID is a new operator. Hence he/she is likely to
commit
K2 #4784 is operational on 20 m and below as band condx bad and can't find a
signal to use for alignment on higher frequencies.
Made first 2 QSO's on 40 meters, 1st to fellow K2er W7QC and the second to
ZK1APX, 4500 miles away. Not too shabby. Also could hear a ZS6 on 40, a signal
I could not
Here is the colorful (perhaps more myth than fact) version.
===
Thanks Steve, certainly colourful, and the best I've heard yet, I would
like to think it was true!
73, Deni
F5VJC / GM3SKN
K2 1188
Make RF make QSO/s (Another gem from this
I made a simple 1:1 receive-only balun for 160 meters by winding 9 bifilar turns
of no. 24 enameled wire on an FT37-77 toroid. I connected a 50-ohm resistor to
the output and my MFJ antenna analyzer to the input. On 1.8 MHz it shows a
resistance of 50 ohms, an inductive reactance of 1 ohm,
W6SJ wrote:
Also could hear a ZS6 on 40, a
signal I could not hear on my 756PROII with same antenna. Did NOT try to
work him with 15 w!
Hi Randy,
The path from W6 to ZS on 40 can be really good sometimes. Next time, try it
with 15W, you might be surprised!
--
73,
Vic, K2VCO
Fresno CA
I guess with all these positive stories
about bad fists it won't hurt to put
mine on the air.
de rc kc5wa
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In a message dated 4/6/05 5:10:49 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
What exactly is a lid? A derogatory term for someone who asks silly
questions I suppose. Anyone know the origin of the term?
The tobbaco-can-lid story given by others is the origin, passed down from
Hi Vic
You can use your MFJ to measure the impedance of the balun. Connect one of
of the balun (short both wires together) to the center of the MFJ coax
connector
and the other end, shorted together, to the shell of the connector.
Use the MFJ to measure the impedance of the inductor formed at the
From: Pete, G0PKS.
FWIW: When I was first learning morse using pre-recorded cassettes on a walkman
I quickly become familiar with the content; I then wired the output from a
practice sidetone oscillator to one headphone and the walkman to the other.
You quickly judge whether you are keying
Vic,
If my calculations are correct, YES you should have a good balun. The
reactance of the 9 turns is 809 ohms (AL value is 884 mH/1000 turns,
inductance for 9 turns should be 71.6 uH) which is more than 16 times the
impedance of an antenna feedline of 50 ohms. Greater than 10 times the line
Al,
Here is an old trick taught to me by an Old Timer Navy CW operator. One
of the drills he was taught for getting the rhythm of sending CW is to send
the phrase Bens Best Bent Wire. If sent like this, BensBest Bent Wire,
it sounds like a military cadence. If you tap your foot the beat
In a message dated 4/6/2005 12:57:46 PM US Mountain Standard Time,
[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
Then I found my current CW mentor (I am not sure if he wants to get
mentioned here But Thank you SB!!) He worked with me, and is still
working with me. Got me faster and faster. He weaned me
W3FPR - Don Wilhelm wrote:
If my calculations are correct, YES you should have a good balun. The
reactance of the 9 turns is 809 ohms (AL value is 884 mH/1000 turns,
inductance for 9 turns should be 71.6 uH) which is more than 16 times the
impedance of an antenna feedline of 50 ohms. Greater
In a message dated 4/6/05 12:54:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
I've noticed that happens more often these days as ops get on the air after
learning Farnsworth code. It's wonderful that they are able to learn CW more
easily and enjoy it more quickly, but several ops
Another baby k2 born into the family!
Now for some options!
George NE2I
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passed the first smoke test. pg. 42 in manual.
everything workin ok
ron, kc0tdj
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There are still rooms available in the QRP-ARCI / FISTS
block of rooms for another couple of weeks.
http://www.usol.com/~k8dd/rooms/rooms.htm
72 73HankK8DD
--
'Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their
level then beat you with experience.' -anon
Hi Fellow Elecrafters,
K2 4777 came to life a couple of days ago (Monday)with my 80 mtr loop (used on
all bands) and has since made itself known in MA(80 mtrs), ME(80 mtrs), PA(40
mtrs), TX(40 mtrs), MD(40 mtrs), Switzerland(40 mtrs), Bosnia(40 mtrs) and
Spain(40 mtrs). I was running 10 watts
Hi Leigh:
Despite my tightening the screw on the GND lug with needle-nose, it was
loose after I soldered it. I don't know if it will get loose again.
Perhaps I have the washer in the wrong place.
For what it may be worth, I used a flat washer on BOTH sides of the plastic
case (up against
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