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write your own review of the Elecraft K2 & K2/100.
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WB4TJH
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Rating: 5/5
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Apr 20, 2013 09:47
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300 serial number, but still outstanding performance
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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My K2 is a 300 serial number, one of the very first bunch made. It has been totally updated by Alan Wilcox, and has the 160 meter board, SSB option and the noise blanker. I will eventually add some more options, but I have to say my K2 is still the best receiver I have ever owned and it never fails to amaze me with its performance. I have been through many HF radios since I got it, but the K2 remains as solid and fun to operate as the first day I got it. It's truly a KEEPER. The only radios that I would consider replacing it with would be another Elecraft or a TenTec. It's very satisfying to be using a top quality radio that is made in America.
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N4FZ
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Rating: 5/5
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Dec 8, 2012 11:59
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Love it!
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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I bought my K2/100, used, in March, 2012. I am very pleased with it's capabilities, from such a small package. It has an excellent receiver, with filtering, you select what you want, a CW ops dream, easy to program. SSB is great, as well, I use a Kenwood MC-43s mic with mine. I would highly recommend this rig to anyone who wants a high quality, portable HF transceiver! Glad I have one!
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K4YND
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Rating: 5/5
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Sep 30, 2012 15:19
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Fantastic Rig
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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If the K2 was still 599.00. I would be working on a 2nd one. I have been using my K2 10w version for 6 months. It is my main radio and my 100 watters are getting dusty. The only option I have is the internal antenna tuner. I just finished up with Algeria and after a quick fist pump into the air, I thought I would share my pleasure with this radio.
This was my 2nd kit (K1 was the first) and I had very little trouble. Beside the obvoius pleasure of using something you built yourself, I am amazed at how beautiful the radio is. There is a commercial feel to it and it is a CW mans dream. Working split is so simple. Want to hear your competition tap the A/B button. Every control you need is right at your fingertips. Keyer speed, power, and a quick tap gives you four filter settings. Audio output is fine but most of the time I use headphones. With the Antenna tuner, you get an extra antenna connection. Last night I danced back and forth between 40 and 20.
Type K4YND into youtube and you can see mine in action. If I ever scrape up some extra cash, I will invest in the weighted tuning VFO knob. (might have a tough time getting that by the XYL).
73
K4YND
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G4YVM
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Rating: 5/5
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Sep 24, 2012 08:51
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Simply the sweetest I've used
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I'm using a borrowed K2 whilst decide whether to buy my own. Well I think I've decided. The K2 is lovely, very easy audio, clean receiver, just very easy listening.
As for use as a tx, well it's rather boring really; find a station, work a station. If QRM or N, hit one of the many excellent filters and get rid!
It's not a radio for twiddling and fiddling, but for setting and forgetting. I love it, I really do. I've used a fair few rigs from KW2000b though to IC 746 and others, and for CW the K2 is tops.
It's a fun radio.
What's wrong with it? Hmmm, well it won't pour my coffee!
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IW1DFU
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Rating: 5/5
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Dec 10, 2011 03:30
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Amazing Little RIG
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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After more than 3 months, I decided to write somethings about this rig.
I've purchised a K2 after several years thinking about it. What made me thinking so mouch was the high price for a kit. I was ordering a kit from USA when I found an used one. My K2 is a QRP version with internal battery, AF filters and tuner, so is a full optional one :).
I started to chek the rig and then I've made all the allignment procedures. I've found that the previus owner has not made a lot of allignments and then the radio was not able to be the good performer as he expected it has to be.
Now, after some hours spent in tuning and modding, I'm vy please to use this rig.
Let me say that I'm a 99% CW operator, so this review is dedicated to this mode.
On my desk I've also IC746pro (IC7400 in Eu) and a FT1000MKV.
Yes, the K2 has not a lot of features that other two rigs have, but the reciver is so quite, sensible and able to pick up a small signal in the QRM, that sometimes I'd like to use as a first rig in my shack.
Unfortunatly It has only 15 W and sometimes I need more.
I've made a small mods with an internal relay to switch the ptt of my old FL2100Z and so I'm able to run with abt 200W if needed.
one things that you have to keep in mind when you think to compare K2 with some other rig, is that it's solid like a rock.. and this is a radio where you can put your hand inside, modding, and, firs of all, it has inside ALL THE INSTRUMENT TO BE FULLY TUNED.
If you build it by your ownself, you will love it as a son. If you buy an used one, you can find this feeling by tuning and modding, adding some options and so on.
Yes it costs al lot of money for a kit and you are payng the project not only the rig.. But the reciver is something amazing and it has performances comparable with top recivers.
Elecraft on their side, are great. Good service, fast delivery of spare and options, kind and very prompt answers.
I'm apoliged onnly for one thing: I've bought mine ready built... But in the future I'm thinking to build a second one, toaly mine ;).
73 de Fabio, IW1DFU.
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VE3EGA
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Rating: 5/5
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Nov 6, 2011 18:12
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Amazing Radio!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I picked mine up yesterday at a ham-fest, having always wanted to get into the Elecraft experience.
Mine, I discovered was badly out of alignment, but the price was right and it came with a box of unfinished add-on's.. the realignment stumped me at first, but after I found the manual on the Elecraft Website and got stuck in. I was rewarded with a radio that suddenly sprung to life!
it took me all of a Sunday Morning to fix it up (bear in mind this was my first encounter with this radio) and I knew from all the great reviews there was just something just not right with the way it sounded. It turned out to be filter alignment!
A few hours later, I was working FO4BM in the Polynesian Island of Moorea on 10M, I was sold!
The radio was configured originally as a K2/10 with an over sized box containing the 'KAT100' ATU and a '100W amp module.
Well, needless to say as soon as I discovered that this box of 'Meccano' could easily be reconfigured, I constructed the K2/100 in less than a half hour!
The only problem I have is that the KAT100 does not appear to work too well - my MFJ-929 'leaves it in the dust' (regarding lightning tuning speed) just as it did with my LDG Tuner - maybe I will get back to that project later?
Conclusion: The K2 is getting older and with the newly announced KX3, imminent, you can expect to see them being offered for sale - GRAB ONE!
73
Terry
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AC7A
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Rating: 5/5
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Aug 11, 2011 08:16
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The ultimate in QRP transceiver performance!
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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The K2 receiver performance proves to be a marvel even after 12 years after its introduction. I have both the K2/10 and the K2/100. I’ve used the K2/10 since 1999 and it is provides the performance and features I had always wanted in a QRP transceiver. It is my main QRP radio and the radio I use most often. I have had the K2/100 for about 3 or 4 years and the 100W PA is helpful when conditions are marginal, or when contesting.
My experience with the K2 radios can be summed up in saying that I have never been disappointed in the least with their performance. The receiver front-end is nearly bullet proof, yet the noise floor and sensitivity are such that you can always hear the weakest of signals. The selectable bandwidth IF filter settings track wonderfully and the signal loss is minimal as you set the filter to the increasingly more narrow bandwidths. I never lose a weak signal due to filter tracking and/or added attenuation like I’ve experienced with double conversion receivers using cascaded crystal filters. Also, there is something to be said about the signal clarity of an all analog signal path. DSP provides great features and flexibility, but it still doesn’t sound as clean to me as an all analog signal path.
The K2 transmitter in CW mode has been flawless and the break-in characteristics are smooth and transparent in operation. My K2/100 does have the latest firmware which slows the CW edges eliminating any possibility of a wide or clicky signal. I expected the fan would come more often than it does and even in contest mode it seldom does while operating CW at 80 to 100W. I am not a high QSO/min operator so that may be the reason. Since I hardly ever operate SSB I can’t provide a good assessment of the K2 performance in that mode.
Whether you like to assemble your radios or just want high-end receiver performance in a small package the K2 is one to own.
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KL7AC
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Rating: 5/5
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Aug 6, 2011 20:03
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A lot of fun
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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My K2 is number 648 and is my rig of choice when out in the Bush of Alaska. I have all of the options installed save for the 100W amp.
Super nice, antenna tuner plays well with the 80M dipole I lug around. Made several phone patches with the XYL from the middle of nowhere while on my recent Denali Highway Trek.
It is not a super trail friendly radio, kind of delicate. Keep it in a hard side case and it will do the job. Cannot wait for the KX3!
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DF1OE
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Rating: 5/5
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May 30, 2011 03:30
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Fun, Fun, Fun
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I made my K2 #6479 between the years 2008 and 2011. I had not the time i wanted for it but finally now i am enjoying a real cool radio. At this time it is a cw-only radio but i am completing it with some more stuff, e.g. the internal antenna tuner and ssb option.
I am very yery lucky with the little rig. you can get some pictures of it here: http://www.baerenfunk.de
Even i compared it with some other Amateur Radios. First with the old Kenwood TS-50 S. I like old radios, because they have no stacked Menues and just a few buttons and knobs. So, not surprisingly the K2 outperforms the TS-50 S.
Comparing it with a Kenwood TS850-S on a 3el Yagi 12 Meters up - the TS 850S shows me a bit more noise than the K2 does. The K2 shows no problem in working dx with about 10-15 Watts. I think i will get the 100 W amplifier and will put it with the tuner into a second case. Then probably sell the 850, hi.
I tried today a harder Comparison with some actual gear: Compared it with my Yaesu FT897. Antenna situation: In the center at the city of Hannover, Germany with a dipol antenna on 14 MHz. You get a lot of man-made Noise there with the FT 897 - the S-Meter shows a permanent 57-8 reading at the ground floor. The K2 was very calm (noise about 51-2) and i tried to focus on some weak signals with ist. The same Signals could be heard with the FT897, but the K2 outperforns it with its vy good signal-noise ratio. With the FT897 i heard the signal within the noise, but the K2 gives me a signal clear above the noise. And it shows more weak signals than the FT879.
Ok. I had fun building it, i have fun using it, and will have fun completing it.
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KC8LTL
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 16, 2011 16:31
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Best in Class of QRP radios
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I made K2 2030 back in May 2001 and it converted me from a 100W operator who liked to sometimes try QRP into a QRP operator who sometimes will turn up the power. This is the initial product of Elecraft, and it is certainly Elegant Crafting.
RX wise it is a reminder of how clean a single conversion superhet can be. It DOES sacrifice general coverage in order to focus on the Ham bands, but that is where I want to use it. To keep price and parts count down, it uses an adjustable crystal filter, which you can set at different filter widths. This works rather well, but when you switch filters, the signals do shift around a bit. In addition, the shape factor for this filter is not a brick wall. Even the special fixed SSB filter that comes with the SSB option has significant ripple and not the steepest skirts. That said, what it DOES give is excellent close in signal handling - in effect you hear a very small bit of other signals at the appropriate pitch instead of those unheard signals blanking your receiver like they do in many other radios.
On the TX side, it gives more than the full QRP gallon. On CW this power level is often enough for me to work what I can hear. In addition, the QSK works so smoothly you don't notice it, which makes an easy operator experience.
SSB is a different story. While the K2 does have an effective speech processor, there are certainly conditions where you would want more power. But we are rating this as a QRP radio, and I know of no other QRP radio that does as well.
As far as alignment goes, you CAN align it yourself with just a common VOM. It works. If you are REALLY patient, you can get it really close to frequency standards of WWV. But it does drift a bit - you will not win any frequency measuring tests with this rig. On the other hand, it drifts much less than my old TS-520 did. It is much more than usable for CW and SSB operation.
The Basic K2 is 10-80M, CW only. Anything else you want, you have to pay for in the form of additional modules, letting you pay only for the features you want. With the exception of the Real Time Clock, they options I have used have worked quite well. The ATU, in particular, is excellent. I am spoiled by the way it loads up practically anything and remembers settings so when you change bands it instantly tunes it up from remembered settings.
In particular, I have enjoyed the portability of the K2. With the internal battery I can throw a hunk of wire up in the trees or out the window and get on the air from anywhere without needing to plug in for hours. Admittedly there are better "backpacker" radios that will go for days, but that isn't my style of operating. But it works great from a picnic table.
In conclusion I have been a very happy owner of the K2 for almost ten years. It just simply works.
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