I have finished the basic K2 and a couple of the modules (160m, Noise Blanker, Internal Battery).
After losing the negotiations with the XYL for an 80m outdoor dipole, I installed a 40m (66ft) dipole in the attic where almost 40 feet of it is straight with ~13-14 feet on each end folded back and down towards the eaves on the front of the house. Not the ideal antenna, but better than nothing! The tricky part was routing the feedline — the 450 ohm ladder line requires stand-offs to keep it from coming into contact with things. All in all, I think I managed this pretty well. Works quite well as a receiving antenna. I run it to a W1CG low power Balun that sits just behind the radio with a short RG-58 patch cord for the last 8″ or so.
I still have three more modules left to build: The Automatic Antenna Tuner, the SSB module, and the Audio Filter Module. The ATU would be enough to get me on the air using CW, but I’m not yet there proficiency-wise…I have to keep practicing the code — I want to get there… but it’s all a matter of determination and practice. The short term goals are to finish the three modules that will at least get me on the air using SSB. I’ll post an update once I’m there.
73 John / AB1HJ
I’ve managed to squeeze in some time to start building my K2 kit. So far I have build the control board, the front panel, and have made it through 2 out of the 3 parts for the RF board. After the first part of the RF board assembly, the control board, front panel and rf boards are plugged together to do some basic tests on the built in instrumentation, the band selecting relays, the optical encoder and such. I just finished Part II of the RF board assembly (lots of toroid winding) and ran through the initial alignment procedures (all except for calibrating the frequency counter – Since I don’t have a standard, I’ll have to do that against WWV 15.000 MHz once I add that band – Part II only gets you receiving on 40m).
I was able to pickup up a loud and clear CW QSO with 20-30 feet of wire stretched out in the basement. It was at a speed I could have copied — except for that I’m only on the 21st character (out of 44) in learning morse code. This has definitely given me additional incentive to keep learning the code — you need to know all the characters to listen in! When the QSO was over, the operator when back into high gear (I’m guessing closer to 20 WPM) – I understood the “CQ CQ CQ de” but then couldn’t copy the call sign :-(
OK, back to building (and morse code practice!)
73 John / AB1HJ
I’ve been wicked busy on my current project, but have managed to spend some of my un-wind time getting ready to build this rig. I updated the manual with the supplied Errata document — at first I thought they gave me two copies by accident, but by the time I got done with the scissors and tape, the remains of the first one looked like confetti so I’m sure the second is no accident :-)
I’m also going through the parts inventory, and while it’s 99.9% complete, I have found a few discrepancies: a 10k resistor that should be 100k, 3 missing 150pF caps, and a few questionably identified parts. I’ll run my list by Elecraft when I’ve finished goning through the whole lot.
Can’t wait to dive in and start building this thing so I can get on the air! Though I still need to figure out what I can do for an antenna (or antennas :-) Will probably start of with some temporary installations of wire antennas until I find something that works well enough.
73,
-john, AB1HJ
Or I will be as soon as I can get a station wacked toghether!
In mid May, after ~3 weeks of study, I sat for the Ham radio exams, and passed all three with flying colors (34/35, 34/35, 49/50). Two weeks later, I am now AB1HJ (that’s Alpha Bravo One Hotel Juliett), Extra Class. I had started with an outdated copy of the Technician class manual, then found and printed the question pools for Technician, General and Extra. I but clunky to study from. I then googled and found HamTestOnline and immediately subscribed. That was the way to go — I highly recommend it. I took the exams given by the Boston Amateur Radio Club and it took about an hour to take all three. As I worked through them, I was entirely confident — I was fully prepared.
The FCC dropped the requirement to learn the Morse Code, but I’m still having a go at it anyhow…I’m using Just Learn Morse Code and am on the 20th character at 12 WPM.
As I write this, I am waiting for my kit for an Elecraft K2 to arrive…and then I need to find the time to build it and come up with a stealthy antenna that won’t overly offend the XYL ;-) I’ve already upset her enough by discovering yet another new hobby…
I’ll do my best to keep a record of my progress here!
73,
-john, AB1HJ