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Elecraft K2

This page was last updated : 28-Mar-23 15:30:02

In July 2022  I got my hands on a used Elecarft K2 (RFBoard _{(2002 Rev B3R) cpu 1.09, Controlboard cpu 2.04R)} with a few options : 

• KAF-2 - Audio filter and realtime clock _{(2001 REV B 1.06)}
• KAT-2 - Internal antenna tuner (with 2 antenna inputs) _{(1999 REV C)}
• KNB-2 - Noise blanker _{(1999 REV D)}
• KSB-2 - SSB unit _{(1999 REV D CPU 2.02)}
• DIY PTT output 

 

The  Elecraft K2 is a modular transceiver, it has even more room to add even more modules like :

• KIO-2 - RS-232C interface and AUX I/O
• K160M 160M and 2nd RX Port
• K60XV - 60m + Transverter Adapter Kit 
• KBT2 Battery

Although it needed some work (for example : the 20m band probably needs alignment because the RX is several S points lower then the other bands, there are a few (undocumented?) MODS etc), but I have used it to listen on the bands (love the quite and clear character of the RX) and made some QSO's with it. It's a bit getting used to especially all the filters, the control options but the manual is helping on that part. 

I'm quite happy with it and asked my self why didn't I buy one years ago as a kit?

Testing the power output with my OZ2CPU digitale RF mW-dBm-mV meter in combination with my 40dB RF sampler.
Power output on all bands seems to be OK.

And as always I couldn't resist to start working on it and also added a few mods / fixes. 

 

Modifications for Elecraft K2

• K2 USB interface, a USB interface with a FTDI adapter to connect you K2 to your computer over USB (incl 3D printed parts)
• K2 BPF aligment with a NanoVNA, using a NanoVNA you can allign the BPF in your K2. 
• K2 won't shut up, on my K2 I couldn't turn down the volume to 0, so I started to dig around why and found it.
• K2 digimodule, I want to use my K2 also with digital modes and for that I needed a inteface which wanted to build into my K2.
• K2 IF adapter, I wanted the qrpproject.de K2 ZF adapter for my Elecraft K2, but unfortunately they stopped at the end of 2022. So I build my own Through Hole version.

More info at RigPix.

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