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Reviews For: Elecraft K2 & K2/100

Category: Transceivers: HF Amateur HF+6M+VHF+UHF models - non QRP <5W

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Review Summary For : Elecraft K2 & K2/100
Reviews: 262MSRP: 599. USD
Description:
SSB/CW 160-10M HF Transceiver Kit
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.elecraft.com
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
002624.8
WO7T Rating: 2005-01-29
Superb for $$$ Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Not to mention the pride of building
N4GI Rating: 2005-01-29
Ok for what it is Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
- PTT and "dot" line are shared (huh???)
- no RIT zero detent or clear
- changing CW pitch means filter realignment
- no FSK
- optional filters? nope. (Hope you like what they give you)
- no band data out (that's $179 more)
- pricey! (a used 1000mp costs less)

I compare the K2 to that piece of pottery that we all made in elementary school... It wasn't that pretty, it had some flaws. It worked, but not necessarily any better than anyone elses'. However, everyone's mom thought their kids' was the best in the world because YOU worked so hard on it.

It's hard for some to see any fault in something they spend so much time building.

N4GI
W5EZY Rating: 2005-01-28
Fantastic radio! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I built my K2 in the summer of 2003, not really knowing what to expect as a result. You see, I had been QRT for about 15 years and was unfamiliar with all the new rigs. But when I saw the K2 and read the reviews, I had to have one. I'm an old Heathkit builder and was disappointed to find Heath had ceased to exist. I was a bit skeptical about the review comments on how great the receiver is in this radio. The kit went together without a hitch and was great fun to build, in spite of the little tiny parts at times. It worked perfectly the first time. And let me tell you, the receiver is everything they say it is. I also have a Yaesu FT-857 and it doesn't even come close to the receive performance of the Elecraft. I later added the KPA100 amplifier, which only made the radio even better. I have a 2 element quad at 65' and if I can hear it, I can work it. Anyone thinking about building a K2/100, don't hesitate; you won't regret it. I have my second one on order right now and can't wait to get started.
K4NVJ Rating: 2005-01-27
I love this radio! Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
The K2/100 does everything I want it to do. It is fun to build and fun to operate. I began with the basic K2 in April, 2004. The amount of time I have to spend on ham radio is limited, so it has taken awhile to complete to this point. I have the K2 with SSB, 160M, NB and now the 100 watt options. I'm currently working on the 100W antenna tuner.

I have worked slowly and carefully, checking everything as I go along. Everything has performed to specification upon completion. The thrill of completing the kits, putting power to them and then seeing them work exactly as they are supposed to; it is indescribable.

The hard part, once you have the basic radio operating, is in deciding what to do. Get on the air and operate, or continue constructing the different options.

The Elecraft experience is really something special. Building, operating, meeting other K2 owners on the air, sharing the camraderie through the email reflector; there is nothing else like it in ham radio today. If you are not yet a member, get with it. It is a great radio to build and a great radio to operate.

I love it!
W9CW Rating: 2005-01-27
Excellent Performer Time Owned: more than 12 months.
A previous poster wrote: "but just how good can a single conversion Rx be?" In one word, superlative! Properly designed and applied, a single-conversion receiver can outperform multi-conversion designs with today's available technology. In the case of the K2, it is properly designed and applied. Elecraft has done an extraordinary job in creating a product that exudes high-performance receiver dynamics. With excellent gain distribution and proper termination of its high-level doubly-balanced mixer, the design team at Elecraft proves the "pros" of a single-conversion design. Carefully listen to many multi-conversion receivers as to IF and mixer noise, lack of IF filter ultimate rejection, strong signal handling, single-tone and two-tone dyanamic range with very close-in signal spacing, i.e. less than 1kHz, and birdies, you will soon appreciate a well executed single-conversion design such as the Elecraft K2.
WA2JJH Rating: 2005-01-27
Nothing else like it! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Ultra low noise RX. 12W out. Except for the low audio output on RX, this rig holds it's own.

Save time and get the pre-wound torroids. One can start it as a SSB/CW basic rig. Add only features you want.

Plenty of room to build in your own circuits.

Very unique single conversion RX. Uses monolithic xtals, instead of the large 8 pole filters.

The audio filter is great. NB is a good design.
You can have this rig inexpensive, by avoiding the
add ons that are expensive.

For example $89 buys you the SSB module with its own 7 pole varaiable filter and audio proc.

The DSP,100Wamp,and ATU are pricey. I am going to build my own.Same with the battery option.

There is enough room to build in a UHF/VHF radio. If one wanted that.

Love the built in keyer, I might get the RS-232 interface. I can then use the K2's superior RX with my pegasus 100W out.

Bottom line is that you can put together a rig you want, rather than buying a $2000 rig that is a compromise.





N2WN Rating: 2005-01-27
Fun and competitive Time Owned: more than 12 months.
This is a fun unit to build, even the toroids! Extremely helpful support from Elecraft and the reflector, the whole experience leaves you with a real sense of accomplishment. The equipment is easy to fix, should something bad occur. Excellent "ears" and competitive, I use mine for CW contesting. It isn't easily swamped by close in signals. I liked the first one so much, I bought a second. Older rigs can be upgraded to match the latest configuration.

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Earlier 5-star review posted by N2WN on 2004-09-21

I built and used my first K2/100 a bit over a year ago. This was after a 20+ year haitus from Ham Radio. I was a bit worried about small parts and soldering skills. The manual (free download) is clear and concise. I bought the pre wound toroids for the K2, to quell my fears about winding them (groundless, the toroids were actually very easy to wind). The kit went together smoothly and worked correctly the first time on. I also built the KAF2, the 160M module, the SSB adapter, KAT100, now the DSP unit. The modifications (Elecraft improves the unit often based on customer requests and observations) keep even the older units up to date, and are easy to implement overall. I enjoyed it so much I'm starting on kit #2. The receiver has beat every Yaesu or Kenwood I've owned. I have 78 countries on 80M, basically because I can hear them now. A great, fun and upgradable rig. The reflector is excellent, great bunch of helpful folks and it just enhances the Elecraft experience.
K2TA Rating: 2005-01-26
This little rig kicked my Orion out of the shack Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
The KPA-100 was easy to build in one weekend. I had purchased it as an unbuilt kit used and it was not up-to-date as far as revisions/mods went. Elecraft sent me the firmware, parts upgrade and errata sheets for free!!!

Support from the Elecraft e-mail group is fantastic with hams who are very generous with their time and talents.

I then built the KAT-100 auto-tuner and mounted it in a non-traditional manner to the bottom of the K2/100 so that I had a single 100W transceiver with an auto-tuner built in.

It was 1/4 the size of my Orion.

I used to show off how good the Orion was during contests/DX pileups. Guests to the shack were impressed. But every time we would tune the K2/100 to the same weak station we could copy it as well. After a few demos like that I began to wonder why I would need two radios. One had to go. The sheer size and weight of the Orion plus its requirement to dump a carrier to retune the auto-tuner every time I changed bands in the middle of a contest lost out to the compactness of the K2/100 with the double band memory auto-tuner.

Here are some pics of the K2/100 with the KAT-100 attached...
http://www.k2ta.com/k2plus1_front2.jpg
http://www.k2ta.com/k2plus1_leftside.jpg
http://www.k2ta.com/k2plua1_back2.jpg

This is the perfect 100W radio to take on your mini-DXpedition..easily fits into your carry-on bag to store with your laptop in the overhead compartment on your next flight to the Carribean.

I kept the Orion PS (An Astron with a Ten-Tec sticker slapped over the Astron logo) and power the K2/100 with it.

The K2/100/KAT-100 is my main station radio, my mobile radio, my portable radio and my QRP radio.

General coverage? I use cigarette pack sized Sony SW-100 that sits on top of the K2/100 for synchronous AM / FM-Stereo / and SW. No compromise performance from both receivers.
LA1PHA Rating: 2005-01-26
It's not cheap , but performance and fun is top class! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
This Rig is great both for cw and ssb.
My K2 basic is over 12 months old and has everything install except DSP/audiofilter.
KPA100 was installed reacently.

In cw this rig make up with the best.
Even if the qsk isn't very fast the rig is quiet.
No relays slamming in there.
I have a IC-706 so I know how that's like.
Reciever is not so noicy as the kenyacom rigs I have had in the past. Only TS830S is near or even with the K2/100.
Some report that K2 isn't a ssb radio??
Find the right mike ( I use MH2) and use some more time tweeking OPT1 FL1 filter and you will find out that this rig in fact is great on ssb.
I haven't done any mods on my KSB2(ssbcard).
I did have a qso with a friend on 80m and he said my audio was great.
I moved out to my car and got the IC706MK2g on the air. I have always had good reports on my 706.
This time my friend said that the K2 sounded better.

But to have a summary and why I don't give this nice rig a 5!

POSITIVE
1. Reciever performance
2. Current drain
3. Build it myself ( BIG pluss)
4. On air experiense and reports

NEGATIVE
1. KPA100 (late model) do jump to much in power output. Hard to drive an amp when power jump up and down 10-15 watts.
2. Fan is to noicy. Sound like a take off!! Does the job.
3. Doesn't remember mode independent in VFO A/B.
4. K2/100 is not likely a backpackers choise so the AF amp could draw some more current.
The audio is not to low , but very week signals could use more audio out.
Wish there could have been an audio amplifier integrated in KPA100.

This rig is with no doubt a keeper in my opinion.
And as mentioned by others , elecraft mailinglist and the people at elecraft will guide you through any problem you( not likely ) face during construction.

CU on air.
Tom LA1PHA

VA2VYZ Rating: 2005-01-26
A must !!! Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I build the KPA100 during the summer of 2004. It is really well made and design.

It give me a 100W on SSB/CW. The great performance is equal to all excellent product from Elecraft.

A must if you need more power than QRP... QRO with the KPA100 is really neat !!! Built to be use in every condition (or so)... You can operate also mobile with it. The KPA100 has been deisgned to use all the advantage of the K2... redondant DC power let you switch instantly in QRP when the KPA100 run out of power.

I built the KPA100 in the same enclosure of my KAT100. So this way, I can keep and use my QRP and QRO setup as I wish.

I put a few photos on my website if people want to see what it looks like using this configuration.

http://homepage.mac.com/jfmenard/PhotoAlbum29.html

Don't forget to mention that Elecraft provide EXCELLENT customer support.... Also a great discussion group improves your building experience to the MAX !!!


J-F / VA2VYZ



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Earlier 5-star review posted by VA2VYZ on 2004-06-16

First of all, at the beginning I bought the K2 for ham radio electronic learning. I'm green in electronic and I would like to know more about it.

Time goes on, and bit by bit, I realize that this rig is awsome and work really great !!! I built the first part of the K2 (the basic kit) and it works like a charm !!!

I compared it with my Kenwood TS-2000 and I can tell you now that both rig seems to be pretty equal..... even if I surely think that the K2 is a little but superior...

I have a excellent quality K2 that have the possibility to use DSP, I/O, 100w PA, and more, more, more.... This radio will never be finished for me....

Always add something, tweak this, tweak that... the rig that everyone could build like they want it to be !!!

No words are so strong for me, to tell you how much I appreciated the support from Elecraft, the quality of their products.... it's almost a new ham family I've been part of now !!!

73 and good DX to all K2's owners.