EleCraft K2
160-10M
CW/SSB Transceiver
www.elecraft.com
The EleCraft K2 is a full QRP transceiver in a kit form. The basic unit is 10-80m CW only rated for 0-10 watts. The K2 has all the built in features found on most commercial rigs today. Size is about 3" x 8" x 8". The rig is very efficient on power requirements using 10-15v while drawing only about 200 ma. There are options are available for SSB, internal antenna tuner (ATU), noise blanker, internal battery, and 160m. ( options planned ; computer control and a 50w amp )
The kit is not difficult to build. If you can follow directions and solder, most would not have problems. But, it would be advisable to build one or two smaller kits prior. EleCraft has online help / information available and with the email reflector there's help from those that have completed a K2 also.
My K2 (#1213) went together in about 45 hours for the basic kit without any problems. The options ( SSB, ATU, and Internal Battery ) took another 10 hours to complete. As the K2 is being built, there are tests along the way (using built in test gear) to discover mistakes before you get to far into the kit.
In use, it is a very nice rig. The RX is superb (as good as my Kenwood 850) and the TX is clean. The TX puts out slightly over 15 watts on all bands ( most units do about 15w though rated at 10 ). Power drain is low so with the internal battery (2.9ahr) operation is possible for more than 5 hours of normal use at QRP levels. The internal ATU is a pleasure to use. It has a fairly good tuning range and has tune almost anything hooked to it so far ( I accidentally tried to tune a 3 ft piece of coax and wondered why the tuner was having a hard time )
In all, the K2 is a real keeper.... Great rig for a good price and
since
you built it , you can fix it!
Above travel suitcase with K2, PW-1
antenna (Super Antennas), Norcal paddle, and mic. Also the white
wire
bundle on the left side is a 40m (33ft) vertical and 12 radials of 28g
teflon wire. Under the top foam I keep a 25ft coil of RG58 and extra
wire
for antennas. With the internal battery, the K2 can operate almost
anywhere.
Above pic of the K2 on it's first test run in CW mode at 10w
output...
FB!
Operating from Sunken Meadow State Park, ( N. Shore of Long Island
, vehicle is facing North ) N.Y. The K2 is placed on the spare
tire
and a 33ft wire is thrown into the tree. A 12" piece of coax with
alligator
clips connects to the wire while the ground goes to the auto. This
setup
take only about 5 mins to be on the air. Note the white 24g wire from
the
rear of the spare tire into tree... angle of about 45 degrees with a
max
height of 25 ft. The KAT2 built in tuner allows operation on 10-40m
with
less than 1.5:1 swr. It works well enough to contact Japan on 2.5
watts SSB.
Controlling the K2 from a Palm Pilot ; Logging and sending CW
