K2 and KPA100

[Gary D Krause]

I've had my K2 (6113) for two years now and it has pretty much become my
primary rig.  I work mostly CW.  I have worked some SSB with it and have been
given some good unsolicited audio reports.  Sometimes I would like to have a
little more power for SSB which is why I am now considering installing the
KPA100.  I would like to get some feedback from those of you that have the
KPA100 and what your experience has been with it.  Does it meet your
expectations?

Thanks,
Gary, N7HTS



______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

[Lee Buller]

Gary,

I have the KPA100.  It meets and exceeds my expectations.  It is a fun kit to build and it is fun to integrate into the k2.  It is tough and have used in on CW and SSB in contest mode.

I would suggest also, that you build a small 10 db audio amplifier to help drive the K2 a little harder with your mic.  You can use a 2N2222 amplifier and run it off 9 volt battery.  Works quite well for me and helps give a little more to the SSB signal.  Remember, don't over drive, but the amp will help. 

That is my story and I am sticking with it.

Lee - K0WA


In our day and age it seems that Common Sense is in short supply.  If you don't have any Common Sense - get some Common Sense and use it.  If you can't find any Common Sense, ask for help from somebody who has some Common Sense.  Is Common Sense divine?

Common Sense is the image of the Creator expressing revealed truth in my mind. -  J. Wolf

______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

[George Blahun Jr]

Gary:
      I couldn't be happier with my K2/100.  It went together easily  
and has performed flawlessly in the month or so I have had it.  You  
really lose nothing by installing it, as you can still turn the power  
down to whatever level you chose.  On air reports have been excellent  
and the only limiting factor here now is the sunspot number.

George
______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

[Ron D'Eau Claire]

Yep. It works great, no pain no strain no hassle of any sort.

It drops off line as the power is reduced back into the range of the basic
K2.

If you have your K2 set up with the battery pack and/or KAT2 mounted in the
top cover, going "QRP" with the battery or tuner installed is an fast, easy
swap of tops. The KPA100 unplugs and comes off with ease and the original K2
top goes on in its place. Takes about two minutes to do the swap.

Some fellows who don't want to touch anything but cables to take their
K2/100 into the field as a QRP rig have mounted their KPA100 into an
external enclosure. There are application notes and information on how to do
that on the Elecraft web site.

Ron AC7AC

-----Original Message-----
...I am now considering installing the
KPA100.  I would like to get some feedback from those of you that have the
KPA100 and what your experience has been with it.  Does it meet your
expectations?

Thanks,
Gary, N7HTS


______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

[Ron D'Eau Claire]

Lee K0WA wrote:

I would suggest also, that you build a small 10 db audio amplifier to help
drive the K2 a little harder with your mic.  You can use a 2N2222 amplifier
and run it off 9 volt battery.  Works quite well for me and helps give a
little more to the SSB signal.  Remember, don't over drive, but the amp will
help.  

That is my story and I am sticking with it.

-------------------------------------

That was true for me using a dynamic mic with the K2 in either QRP or QRO
configuration, but switching to a electret element fixed that.

Once you have enough audio to make the ALC respond, you have all the audio
your rig can use. More just risks distortion as Lee points out.

If you're using SSB with your basic K2 now and are happy with the results,
you won't need any more audio when running the KPA100. It just amplifies the
RF. It has nothing to do with the audio.

Ron AC7AC


______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

[Robert Wood]

The KPA100 is a "Must have" addition for the K2

K0WA comment on SSB for the K2 is right on - the KPA100 will work better if
the K2 is reworked by the owner on the SSB board/input

73 Robert

----- Original Message -----
From: "Ron D'Eau Claire" <[hidden email]>
To: "'Gary D Krause'" <[hidden email]>; "'Elecraft Reflector'"
<[hidden email]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 20, 2009 4:26 PM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K2 and KPA100


Lee K0WA wrote:

I would suggest also, that you build a small 10 db audio amplifier to help
drive the K2 a little harder with your mic.  You can use a 2N2222 amplifier
and run it off 9 volt battery.  Works quite well for me and helps give a
little more to the SSB signal.  Remember, don't over drive, but the amp
will
help.

That is my story and I am sticking with it.

-------------------------------------

That was true for me using a dynamic mic with the K2 in either QRP or QRO
configuration, but switching to a electret element fixed that.

Once you have enough audio to make the ALC respond, you have all the audio
your rig can use. More just risks distortion as Lee points out.

If you're using SSB with your basic K2 now and are happy with the results,
you won't need any more audio when running the KPA100. It just amplifies
the
RF. It has nothing to do with the audio.

Ron AC7AC


______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html 

______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

[Don Wilhelm-4]

Robert,

That statement is not a consideration for the KPA100 or without the KPA100.
The additional mic gain *may* be required for *some* microphones - most
notably those with Heil HC4 or HC5 elements which have about 10 dB less
output than most other ham microphones.
Other low output dynamic microphones may also need ampliication.
Note that the additional amplification is needed for these microphones
whether or not the KPA100 is installed.
If the microphone is an electret type element (needing the bias
resistor), then additional mic gain is not required.

Check on 10 meters using a dummy load - I suggest setting the
compression (SSBC menu parameter) to 3:1.  Set the K2 to display ALC -
if any bars are illuminated, you have adequate mic gain.  Do not
overdrive the mic input unless you want to create the "CB" syndrome of
"All Controls Full Right" and have your ham neighbor endure the
resulting splatter.

73,
Don W3FPR

Robert Wood wrote:
>
> K0WA comment on SSB for the K2 is right on - the KPA100 will work better if
> the K2 is reworked by the owner on the SSB board/input
>
> 73 Robert
>  
>
______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html