+++++++++++++++++++ See also 5Mhz Band +++++++++++++++++++ Date: Sat, 06 Oct 2001 08:40:21 -0700 From: Wayne Burdick Subject: [Elecraft] Putting the K2 on 60 m KENNETH ROBERT MCGUIRE wrote: > > Now, I know it will be quite a while before we can get on 60 M, but I > thought that I would take a quick look to see what it would take to put > the K2 on 60 M.... Hi Ken, Once it looks like the band will be opened up, we'll offer a conversion kit that includes new firmware, new components for a 40/60 m low-pass filter, some different capacitors for the VCO, and a small daughter board that plugs into the transverter I/O connector (J13). The daughter board would extend over towards the 40-m band-pass filter so it could switch in additional components to pull the filter down to 5 MHz. C6 in the present 40-m BPF would be replaced with a small female connector to allow the board to plug in at that location, too. Another way to put the K2 on 60 m--without modification--would be with a simple transverter. The current K2 firmware supports three programmable transverter bands from 0-999 MHz, so you could set up one of the three bands as 5 MHz. You can configure the I.F. as 7, 14, 21, or 28 MHz. A single-band transverter of this type would be relatively inexpensive. 73, Wayne N6KR +++++++++++++++++++ Date: Fri, 10 May 2002 17:07:00 -0700 From: Wayne Burdick Organization: Elecraft To: baltimoremd at baltimoremd.com Cc: elecraft at mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] Re: New Band baltimoremd at baltimoremd.com wrote: > Good news for ham radio this week! FCC has proposed going along with > ARRL's request for a new domestic (US-only), secondary HF allocation > at 5.25 to 5.4 MHz. > > Knowing it will be a while before we can actually operate there: > > 1. Can the current K2's operate, even with degredation, on this band? > 2. Plans to offer retro-fit mod/kit for K2s? Hi Tom, We're excited about 60 meters, too. Unfortunately, it will probably at least 1 to 2 years before the band is officially opened. When the time comes, we'll be offering a low-cost upgrade kit for the K2 and K2/100. 60 meter performance will be the same as all other 9 bands. 73, Wayne N6KR ++++++++++++++++++ Date: Sat, 11 May 2002 20:23:10 -0500 From: Mike To: BobDobson at aol.com Cc: elecraft at mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] Re: New Band BobDobson at aol.com wrote: > And who else other than Elecraft would offer such an upgrade? I think Ten-Tec has an ad in this month's QST that says how easy it will be to download a free 60m firmware upgrade for the Jupiter. That seems really goofy to me, since nearly all other HF rig makers provide expanded HF transmit capability in a MUCH MUCH easier manner than through a downloaded firmware upgrade, which is always fraught with danger. > The Big Three, if you were VERY lucky, might let you ship your > radio to them and, for a (high) nominal fee, upgrade it. In all fairness, Kenwood, Yaesu, Icom, and Alinco have been designing their HF radios for the last 20 years to require as little as cutting one or two diode leads and resetting the microprocessor to obtain *complete* transmit coverage *anywhere* from 1.6 to 30 MHz. The best set I've ever seen for accomodating this type of mod is the Kenwood TS-50S, in which the diode to be removed is the only large diode with wire leads on the affected PCB. Thus, the "standard" for ease of obtaining expanded HF transmit coverage was set 20 years ago in rigs like the late 1982 TS-430S and nearly all HF rigs from major makers since. I understand why such a mechanism technically is not applicable to the Elecraft K2, but I've no idea why the Ten-Tec Jupiter (which has general coverage HF receive) needs anything more complicated unless the Ten-Tec people think their customers can't handle a general coverage transmit HF rig without getting into trouble. 73, Mike / KK5F +++++++++++++++++ Date: Wed, 07 Aug 2002 09:17:52 -0700 From: Wayne Burdick Organization: Elecraft To: "Deinhardt, Toby" Cc: Elecraft Reflector Subject: Re: [Elecraft] 5 MHz Hi Toby, The K60XV option will not require the use of the "XVTR I/O" holes in the top cover, so your balun installation is safe. The K60XV will plug into the transverter connector on the RF board, to the right of the 40 and 80 meter band-pass filters. 73, Wayne "Deinhardt, Toby" wrote: > > Hallo Wayne & Co., > > > We're working on a 60-meter option for the K2 (the K60XV), which will > > also include a low-level transveter interface. > > I have installed a Balun in my K2 and do not plan on using a > transverter any time soon. I would like suggest, that the option > should be constructed so that space remains for a balun (which > uses the transverter holes for the balanced line connection) and > if one does not want the transveter interface, one can just leave > out the tranverter bits and pieces. > > vy 73 de toby > -- > DJ7MGQ (ex dd5fz, dg5mgq) > K2 #885 + 160,NB,SSB,ATU,Batt.,AF-Filter > DOK C12, DL-QRP-AG #1717 ++++++++++++++++++ Date: Fri, 18 Oct 2002 21:17:56 -0400 To: qrp-l at lehigh.edu, Elecraft at mailman.qth.net From: Hank Kohl Subject: [Elecraft] Zone 2 DXpedition - 60M update From Zone 2 in the Province of Quebec, we have been approved for 60M Experimental Beacon and Contacts. The UK guys have the permission of the British authorities to contact us on 60M. Although it may not be QRP, we may even get the first Transoceanic Amateur Radio Contact on 60M! If you can hear us .... PLEASE send SWL reports! Callsign: VA2BY Frequencies: 5280 CW 24 Hours 5290 RTTY 0100-0259 Intl, 0300-0599 and 1600-2059 RTTY 5400 LSB 0000-0700Z 5405 LSB 24 Hrs Time Period: Tuesday 10/22 until Friday 10/25. Possible operation on Monday 10/21 (depends on when we arrive) Site Location: Camp 257, 51.3deg N and 77.5deg W. Power: 100 watts/50 watts/10 watts. We have been allowed to make QSOs with US and UK hams, and will look for same in the 0000-0700Z time frame. We will have a beacon on 5280 going from time to time. Signal reports are requested; please send e-mails to RadioToronto at yahoo.com, or to NB1B at arrl.net. Since we will all be in Canada, no acknowledgement will be possible until we return. All QSL requests can go via the VC2C route, or via VA2BY. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I'm not sure how many QRP ops are shooting for WAZ QRP, but here's your chance for Zone 2 on CW .... I will be on or about 7040 next Thursday Oct 24 at 10 PM Eastern Time using K8DD/VE2. Rig will be an Elecraft K2 and I believe the 40 M antenna is going to be a vertical 4-square. I'll stick around until there are no more QRP answers. More info on the TeamZone2 operation VC2C at http://www.qsl.net/teamzone2 AC8W and I will be at the 10M station - give us a call in the contest. 73 Hank K8DD */ Hank Kohl K8DD k8dd at arrl.net */ ARRL TS http://www.qsl.net/k8dd */ MI-QRP - Vice Pres. QRP-ARCI - Director +++++++++++++ Date: Fri, 18 Oct 2002 23:38:28 -0400 To: qrp-l at lehigh.edu, Elecraft at mailman.qth.net From: Hank Kohl Cc: "ZOOM" Subject: [Elecraft] Zone 2 - 60M update Rev. 1.1 From Zone 2 in the Province of Quebec, we have been approved for 60M Experimental Beacon and Contacts. Check http://www.qsl.net/teamzone2 and http://www.qsl.net/teamzone2/5MHz.html for details. ++++++++++++++ From: "Dave Sergeant" To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net Date: Mon, 09 Dec 2002 15:25:43 -0000 Subject: [Elecraft] 60m band in the UK On 9 Dec 2002 at 4:01, K9DC wrote: > ??? 60m would be a U.S. only allocation. There has been some consideration > in the U.K. to a nearby but different frequency band, but those are the only > countries even thinking about it so far. Hardly "all the other countries in > the world..." 'consideration' is not the right word. Since September the UK licencing authority has been issuing special permits to operate in the UK allocation (5 channels at 5.26, 5.28, 5.29, 5.40 and 5.405MHz) which cover the same area of band as the proposed USA allocation. They have issued around 800 of those permits, but have temporarily stopped at the moment to prevent congestion of the band. Strictly speaking this is for an exeriment into NVIS propogation, but to all intents and purposes the UK now has an official amateur allocation in the 60m band. There was an operation under special licence from VA2BY at the end of October who worked several UK operators (but not me!) and was heard at good signals over here. VO1MRC operated under a similar licence at the end of November and more events are promised. Although interest has been expressed from other countries, as far as I know the UK and experimental permits from VE and the USA are the only actual operations at the moment. See my website for details of the 5W VXO transmitter I am using on 60m. I am using the K2 as the receiver with an external receive converter, which works very well. 73s Dave G3YMC dsergeant at iee.org dsergeant at btinternet.com http://www.dsergeant.btinternet.co.uk ++++++++++++++++ Date: Fri, 13 Dec 2002 17:19:02 -0800 From: Wayne Burdick Organization: Elecraft To: Elecraft Cc: qrp , a.smrcka at juno.com, david at kippax.demon.co.uk, g4apo at rhirst.fslife.co.uk, dave at astromag.co.uk, NB1B at attbi.com Subject: [Elecraft] How to put an Elecraft K2 on 60 meters Our K60XV option (60 m + transverter I/O) isn't available yet, and neither is the 60-meter U.S. ham band. But K2 owners in the U.K., who already have limited privileges on this band, want 60 meters yesterday. MARS operation is also possible in this band, and WWV can be received at 5.000 MHz. So we thought we'd provide some instructions for those who want to experiment. 1. The 40 meter band-pass filter must be resonated on 60 meters: Install a DPDT switch on the rear panel, close to the 40-m band-pass filter. The two switch commons should be wired to either side of C6, the top coupling cap in this filter. In the 60 m switch position, a 4.7 pF capacitor should be placed in parallel with C6. From either side of this capacitor to ground, you'll need a 50 pF trimmer and a 47 pF fixed cap, in parallel. The filter will be peaked later. 2. Two memories can be set up for easy 60m/40m access: Turn on the K2 and switch to 40 meters. Select the 1-kHz-per-step VFO tuning rate and tune the VFO down from 40 m to the center of the 60 meter band (~5.3 MHz). Hit A=B to set both VFOs to this frequency, then STORE the setup in a frequency memory (I used #5 since this is 5 MHz). Then tune back up to 40 meters, hit A=B, and STORE this in another memory (#7 makes sense: 7 MHz). Now you can jump to either 60 or 40 meters using RCL. 3. The VCO requires additional capacitance: Use RCL #5 to get back to 60 meters. The PLL will be out of lock because the 40-meter VCO capacitance is too small to allow the VCO to tune down to 5.3 + 4.9 = 10.2 MHz. To get the PLL to lock, you'll have to parallel some 30-70 pF of extra capacitance across C71. Connect a voltmeter to R30, and find a value of C that results in a VCO voltage of 1.5-7.5 V over the desired 60 m segment. Then install a tiny SPST switch on the board which, when thrown to the 60 m position, puts this cap into the circuit. Use very short leads, and if desired, cut an access hole in the bottom cover. (Note: the K60XV will be supplied with two MV209 varactor diodes, D19 and D20, that will work in combination with the K2's new "D19" menu entry to change the VCO tuning range so that it covers both 40 and 60 meters with new VCO relay combinations. You don't need new firmware to use the fixed capacitance method described here. But if you have it, leave "D19" set to "N".) 4. With both the VCO and BPF switches in the 60 m position, align the BPF trimmers on 60 meters. 5. The K2's original 40-m low-pass filter and push-pull PA does a decent job of suppressing the 2nd harmonic on 60 meters, but if you want some extra margin, use the new 40m/60m elliptic low-pass filter components shown in the Revision D K2 manual. This filter is already present in K2s s/n 3000 and up. You're now ready to use the K2 barefoot on 60 meters (up to 15 W). The KAT2 and KAT100 automatic antenna tuners will both work on this band, although the KAT2 f/w has to be at revision 1.06 or higher. Use the ATU menu entry to check the revision. We don't recommend using the KPA100 (100-watt final stage) on 60 meters at this point. Since the KPA100 uses a 40/30 meter low-pass filter, the 2nd harmonic attenuation on 60 meters would be determined solely by the balance of the PA strip. Of course if you have a spectrum analyzer, you can try it and see whether the attenuation is adequate. (Note: The K60XV option will include parts for the KPA100 that will allow its 80 meter LPF to be used on 80 and 60 meters. The K2 will detect the presence of the K60XV and will send the appropriate band-select commands to the KPA100.) That's all there is to it. 73, Wayne N6KR ++++++++++++++ Date: Fri, 13 Dec 2002 17:30:35 -0800 From: Wayne Burdick Organization: Elecraft To: Elecraft Cc: qrp , a.smrcka at juno.com, david at kippax.demon.co.uk, g4apo at rhirst.fslife.co.uk, dave at astromag.co.uk, NB1B at attbi.com Subject: [Elecraft] How to put an Elecraft K2 on 60 meters--KAT2 correction In my posting about putting the K2 on 60 meters, I said that the KAT2 would need revision 1.06 firmware. Actually, this is not necessary for use with the experimental 60 meter modification described. The KAT2 will only need rev 1.06 when the K60XV option becomes available. At that point there will be 10 bands covered by the K2, and older KAT2 firmware only supports 9. The KAT100 already supports 10 bands. 73, Wayne N6KR ++++++++++++++++ Date: Sun, 22 Dec 2002 12:48:44 +0000 To: Wayne Burdick Cc: Elecraft , qrp , a.smrcka at juno.com, g4apo at rhirst.fslife.co.uk, dave at astromag.co.uk, NB1B at attbi.com From: David Pratt Subject: Re: [Elecraft] How to put an Elecraft K2 on 60 meters Wayne's notes of 14 December give details on how the K2 can be adapted to operate on the 5260, 5280, 5290, 5400 and 5405 kHz, 5kHz-wide UK amateur bands available to Class A Licence holders of the required "Notice of Variation". I have carried out the temporary modification to my K2, Serial 01583, and am pleased to give the results of my findings. The double-pole switch arrangement, fitted to the 40m bandpass filter, with its additional 4.7pF top capacitor and the 50pF trimmers paralleled with 47pF, works fine. The trimmers peak on 5.3MHz at around mid-travel. I found the value of the fixed capacitor necessary to parallel the existing C70/C71 in the PLL to be 75pF. In my K2, I find that 82pF is a bit high and 68pF a bit low. The voltage readings at R30 range are between 4.58V and 7.44V from 5260 to 5405 kHz. The full power of 15W is achieved on the 5MHz channels. My KAT2 firmware is version 1.03 and it apparently tunes okay, although I do have an SGC SG-230 Smartuner connected in tandem. I have all the additional components mounted in bird's nest fashion on top of the board and this has not necessitated drilling any holes. However, a slight slip of the soldering iron has caused me to melt a small hole into the cover of relay K1 and I am hoping that this will not cause problems in the future. My K2 is now operating with its top cover removed and precariously positioned on its side to the right of the rig. Naturally, with this temporary mod, my K2 setup is now looking somewhat unprofessional and I am reluctant to let anyone have sight of it. I continue to look forward to the early release of the K60XV as and when it is available. 73 David G4DMP, Leeds UK ++++++++++++++ Date: Fri, 27 Dec 2002 18:28:21 +0000 To: Arnold J Smrcka , Elecraft Reflector From: David Pratt Subject: [Elecraft] How to put an Elecraft K2 on 60 metres In a recent message, Arnold J Smrcka said.... >Hello Dave...Glad to see you tried Wayne's info.. >Just curious....What is the range of the 5meg ... >I need to get down to 5204..That is the Army MARS Right, Arnold, I have done some more tests today and can confirm that with Wayne's temporary mod, the K2 works fine down at 5204kHz (on a dummy load at this end, of course). I have reduced my switched PLL capacitor from 82pf to 68pF and am getting a VCO voltage of 4.06 at 5204kHz ranging to 1.95 at 5405kHz. All my temporary mods are above the main board and I have noted that it is very important to make the PLL connections directly across the solder pads of C71. Initially, I took one connection at the paralleled C70, and this appeared to be the main cause of the chirp I was getting. I have had several more QSOs on 5280kHz today and all have given me good tone reports. Listening to the signal on a receiver, it sounds fine, and I could not wish for a better keyed waveform when viewed on a 'scope. Again, I reiterate, I do regard the 60m mod as very much a temporary measure and I continue to look forward to a more permanent solution in the near future. I don't want to run my K2 with its top off for too long - the dust will get in! 73 de David G4DMP ++++++++++++++ Reply-To: From: "Ron D'Eau Claire" To: Subject: RE: [Elecraft] KRC2 first! Date: Wed, 14 May 2003 17:20:20 -0700 It's a tiny bit of a 60-meter "band" (actually five separate 2.8 kHz wide "channels" for SSB) but a new wrinkle for US Hams: the need to establish Effective Radiated Power rather than simply power output if one wants to exceed 50 watts... Ron AC7AC K2 # 1289 -----Original Message----- Run, don't walk to www.arrl.org and see the news about our new band(s)!... The KRC2 is the first band decoder/antenna switcher to support the new US 60 meter bands!!! -Jack Brindle, WA4FIB +++++++++++++++ From: "Bruce D. McLaughlin" To: "'Chuck Roedel'" , "'elecraft L-serve'" Subject: RE: [Elecraft] [Elecraft]KRC2 first! Date: Wed, 14 May 2003 23:30:44 -0400 With discrete, 2.8 Khz channels, it looks like CW will be either discouraged or not allowed. And even with only 50 watts ERP I suspect propagation would extend over significant territory at night which means that very few simultaneous QSOs will be practical. I sort of doubt that many will be rushing to these allocations, but I guess we will see. I am a member of AF MARS and so my radios could get on those frequencies when they are available. But I think I'm going to do a lot more listening than transmitting, at least until things shake out a bit. On the other hand, I have had a lot of experience operating in the mid to high 4 Mhz region (MARS frequencies). The QRN is every bit as bad as 75 meters in the summer so I don't know how useful the assignments will be with the rather severe power limits imposed, especially if we are really limited to primarily SSB which needs a much better S/N ratio than CW. Bruce - W8FU +++++++++++++++++ Date: Wed, 14 May 2003 20:56:35 -0700 Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KRC2 first! Cc: "'Sandy W5TVW'" , "'Daniel Reynolds'" , "'Thom LaCosta'" , To: "Bruce D. McLaughlin" From: Jack Brindle I think you guys are reading a bit more anti-ham from the FCC into the offering than may really be there. The opposition to the 5MHz allocation came from the military and government folks who now own the band. They are the ones who put the breaks on things. I see the five channels as being a test to see if the hams can behave properly. If they pass the test, then the "owners" will be pressured to give up more frequencies, finally allowing us a contiguous band. It might take a while, though, since the government moves slower than banana slugs in these manners... As for the non-CW bent, it is only fair. i mean no voice is allowed on 30m, so they obviously wanted to balance things out by allowing only 5 phone-only conversations on 60m at a time. Anyone know how closely related the frequencies are to the British 60m allocation? On Wednesday, May 14, 2003, at 08:37 PM, Bruce D. McLaughlin wrote: > As someone who loves and primarily operates CW I think it is obvious > that the FCC considers the mode obsolete. It is no longer in > commercial > use and to all intents and purposes, it is practically dead in the > amateur service. I wouldn't be surprised to see it entirely eliminated > as a license qualification after the upcoming WARC. But I am surprised > that the digital modes will also be affected by the "band plan." If CW > can't be used, I doubt any of the narrow digital modes can either. And > they are not considered "obsolete." With the power limits and the QRN > potential and the narrow frequency space, the digital modes might be > the > most practical use of the allocation but . . . . Of course, this could > be a good band for digital audio. (g) -Jack Brindle, WA4FIB ======================================================================= MacDobs - helping to shift the paradigm for low-cost amateur astronomy. +++++++++++++++++++ Date: Wed, 14 May 2003 22:24:21 -0700 From: Wayne Burdick Organization: Elecraft To: k4wtf at enterzone.net Cc: "Bruce D. McLaughlin" , 'Chuck Roedel' , 'elecraft L-serve' Subject: [Elecraft] remember, you can put a K2 on 60 meters.... k4wtf at enterzone.net wrote: > I'm definately going to be an "early adopter" in this band. Since my > equipment will go there and it won't take too much to put up an antenna > for it, I can't think of a reason why I shouldn't take advantage of it! Go for it, John! You can even with some effort put your K2 on 60 meters even before the K60XV option comes out (later this year, sorry, no dates yet). I posted an application note on this several months ago and some of our UK customers made the mods with good success. Hopefully the mod is posted on our web site somewhere....but I'm out the door for Dayton at 5 AM tomorrow and can't check right now. 73, Wayne N6KR +++++++++++++++++++ From: "George, W5YR" To: , "Thom LaCosta" , "Jack Brindle" , "Daniel Reynolds" Cc: Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KRC2 first! Date: Thu, 15 May 2003 00:35:07 -0500 Organization: W5YR One has to wonder just how effective emergency communications can be on SSB with a limit of 50 watts ERP. While 50 watts into a good dipole will work all over the country and most of the world on some bands, it seems unrealistic to justify these frequencies on an emergency basis and then limit power to such a level, and to SSB at that. I am not a CW fanatic although I do operate a lot of CW and have for nearly 58 years now. But under difficult conditions of QRN and poor propagation, especially during Hurricane Season on paths between the Southern US and the Caribbean, it doesn't add up to restrict operation the way the R&O says. Well, time will tell - I expect that the new channels will see plenty of use once they become available. And if we really and truly stick to the 50 watts ERP - virtually unenforceable by the FCC - it will be even more interesting to see how well they work at that power level. As a QRP operator I applaud the intentional restriction of power. As a responsible SSB operator, I applaud the intentional restriction of transmitted occupied bandwidth. But, if I were ever involved in a "for real" emergency situation, I am not sure how well these restrictions will allow the job to get done. Meanwhile the old faithful IC-765 stands ready to go until something is resolved for the K2. 73/72, George Amateur Radio W5YR - the Yellow Rose of Texas Fairview, TX 30 mi NE of Dallas in Collin county EM13QE "In the 57th year and it just keeps getting better!" +++++++++++++++++ SB QST. ARL $ARLB038 ARLB038 New 60-meter band becomes available July 3 ZCZC AG38 QST de W1AW ARRL Bulletin 38 ARLB038 >From ARRL Headquarters Newington CT June 3, 2003 To all radio amateurs SB QST ARL ARLB038 ARLB038 New 60-meter band becomes available July 3 The new five-channel 60-meter domestic secondary amateur allocation becomes available to US Amateur Radio operators at midnight local time on July 3. The FCC Report and Order granting the allocation was published June 3 in the Federal Register. Federal government users are primary in the 5 MHz band. The FCC has granted amateurs use of five 2.8 kHz-wide channels with center frequencies of 5332, 5348, 5368, 5373 and 5405 kHz. The channels will be available to General and higher class licensees. The only permitted mode will be upper-sideband USB phone, and 50 W ERP is the maximum power allowed. Users of the 60-meter channels should set their carrier frequency 1.5 kHz lower than the channel center frequency. ARRL suggests restricting transmitted audio bandwidth to 200 Hz on the low end and 2800 Hz on the high end for a total bandwidth of 2.6 kHz. ARRL recommends that amateurs considering modifying existing amateur equipment for operation on 60 meters contact the equipment's manufacturer for advice. +++++++++++++++++ Date: Tue, 03 Jun 2003 14:45:07 -0700 From: Wayne Burdick Organization: Elecraft To: Elecraft Cc: qrp Subject: [Elecraft] How to put an Elecraft K2 on 60 meters (updated) Our K60XV option (60 m + transverter I/O) isn't available yet, but it looks like U.S. hams will get limited privileges (USB mode only, 5 discrete frequencies) as of July 3rd. So we thought we'd update and re-post information on how to put the K2 on 60 meters for those who are anxious to try out the band now. K2 firmware does not at present include 60 m in the band map, so the modification works by "sharing" 40-meter components. Note: This modification is recommended for experimentation only, as we have not yet fully characterized the K2 on this band. However, a few hams in the UK have made these changes successfully, and our own initial tests show that performance is the same as on the other bands. 1. The 40 meter band-pass filter must be resonated on 60 meters: Install a DPDT switch on the rear panel, close to the 40-m band-pass filter. The two switch commons should be wired to either side of C6, the top coupling cap in this filter. In the 60 m switch position, a 4.7 pF capacitor should be placed in parallel with C6. From either side of this capacitor to ground, you'll need a 50 pF trimmer and a 47 pF fixed cap, in parallel. The filter will be peaked later. 2. Memories can be set up for easy 60m or 40m access: Turn on the K2 and switch to 40 meters. Select the 1-kHz-per-step VFO tuning rate and tune the VFO down from 40 m to the center of the 60 meter band (~5.3 MHz). Hit A=B to set both VFOs to this frequency, then STORE the setup in a frequency memory (I used #5 since this is 5 MHz). Then tune back up to 40 meters, hit A=B, and STORE this in another memory (#7 makes sense: 7 MHz). Now you can jump to either 60 or 40 meters using the RCL button. Of course you could assign up to 5 memories for use on the new channelized 60-meter assignments. 3. The VCO requires additional capacitance: Use RCL #5 to get back to 60 meters. The PLL will be out of lock because the 40-meter VCO capacitance is too small to allow the VCO to tune down to 5.3 + 4.9 = 10.2 MHz. To get the PLL to lock, you'll have to parallel some 30-70 pF of extra capacitance across C71. Connect a voltmeter to R30, and find a value of C that results in a VCO voltage of 1.5-7.5 V over the desired 60 m segment. Then install a tiny SPST switch on the board which, when thrown to the 60 m position, puts this cap into the circuit. Use very short leads, and cut an access hole in the bottom cover. (Note: the K60XV will be supplied with two MV209 varactor diodes, D19 and D20, that will work in combination with the K2's new "D19" menu entry to change the VCO tuning range so that it covers both 40 and 60 meters with new VCO relay combinations. You don't need new K2 firmware to use the fixed capacitance method described here. But if you have it, leave "D19" set to "N".) 4. With both the VCO and BPF switches in the 60 m position, and a 60-m memory recalled, align the BPF trimmers on 60 meters in RX or TX mode. 5. The K2's original 40-m low-pass filter and push-pull PA does a decent job of suppressing the 2nd harmonic on 60 meters, but if you want some extra margin, use the new 40m/60m elliptic low-pass filter components shown in the Revision D K2 manual. These components are already present in K2s s/n 3000 and up. You're now ready to use the K2 barefoot on 60 meters (up to 15 W). Remember to use upper sideband *only* as we haven't yet convinced the FCC to let us use CW :( The KAT2 and KAT100 automatic antenna tuners will both work on this band, so you can use a 40 or 80-meter antenna or a random wire. DO NOT use the KPA100 on 60 meters unless you have the means to check 2nd harmonic suppression. Since the KPA100 uses a 40/30 meter low-pass filter, the 2nd harmonic attenuation on 60 meters would be determined solely by the balance of the PA strip, which may or may not meet FCC specs. A future modification to the KPA100 will allow use on 60 meters. (Also note the carefully-defined 50-watt power limit on this band. See www.arrl.org for details.) Now: Who will be the first to work all states on 60 meters? (Probably no award certificate....but don't let that stop you!) 73, Wayne N6KR +++++++++++++++ From ARRL Letter... +++++++++++++++ ==>NEW 60-METER BAND TO BECOME AVAILABLE JULY 3! The new five-channel 60-meter amateur allocation becomes available to US Amateur Radio operators at midnight (12:00 AM) local time on July 3. The local time designation means that amateurs in the US territory of Guam likely will be the first to get a crack at the new band. The new band will be a secondary allocation--federal government users are primary--and the first on which the only permitted mode will be upper-sideband (USB) phone (emission type 2K8J3E). The FCC last month announced it would grant hams access to five discrete 2.8-kHz-wide channels instead of the 150 kHz-wide band ARRL had requested and the FCC initially proposed. The League remains optimistic, however, that Amateur Radio eventually may be able to enjoy a band segment with multiple mode privileges at 60 meters. ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ, has said that in the meantime hams will have to be on their best behavior when taking advantage of the limited channelized allocation, open to General and higher class licensees. The FCC has granted amateurs center-channel frequencies of 5332, 5348, 5368, 5373 and 5405 kHz--the last channel common to the amateur experimental operation under way in the United Kingdom . To be "on channel," users of 60 meters should set their transmitted carrier frequency 1.5 kHz lower than the channel-center frequency. In terms of day-to-day operation, the new band is expected to resemble the sort of channel sharing typical on local repeaters. ARRL Laboratory Manager Ed Hare, W1RFI, says hams need to be very careful if they're considering modifying their current transceiver or transmitter for 5 MHz. The ARRL advises that members check with the appropriate equipment manufacturers regarding specific modification information. Some modifications not only may void the warranty but could affect or alter a transmitter's operation in unpredictable ways. "Hams need to be sure that any modifications put them right on the desired channel," Hare said. "Most hams are used to just having to think about band edges, so on other bands, if a mod were a bit 'off,' all operators would need to ensure is that they are not transmitting outside the band." Hare recommended that on 5 MHz amateurs remain within "a few tens of Hertz" of suppressed-carrier accuracy. He also pointed out that hams have a mandate not to have any of their signal occupy spectrum outside the assigned 2.8 kHz channels. Noting that high-frequency audio response can vary considerably from radio to radio, Hare has suggested restricting occupied channel audio bandwidth to 2600 Hz, rolling off below 200 Hz on the low end and above 2800 Hz on the high end. Last-minute opposition to the granting of a band segment at 5 MHz came last year from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), which cited the ongoing spectrum requirements of federal government licensees having homeland security responsibilities. The NTIA administers spectrum allocated to the federal government. A compromise between the FCC and the NTIA resulted in the limited, channelized allocation. The NTIA selected the channels the FCC authorized to minimize the possibility of interference to federal government users, and it dictated the use of USB so that federal government users--who also use only USB--could readily identify amateur stations if necessary. The FCC has set maximum power at 50 W ERP and said it would consider a typical half-wave dipole to exhibit no gain. ++++++++++++++++++