+++++++++++++++++++ See also K2 Using RF Gain versus AF Gain versus NB2 +++++++++++++++++++ Date: Sun, 16 Jun 2002 22:54:14 -0700 From: Wayne Burdick Organization: Elecraft To: ham_tech at juno.com Cc: kc4kgu at ENTERZONE.NET, elecraft at mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] Re: an Elecraft frequency? Yes: 28.715 MHz > Is there a frequency on any of the bands, 80-10m that Elecraft > owners [hang out on] ... 28.715 MHz is as close as it gets to an Elecraft daytime calling frequency. We established this some 2 years ago. During the day, if I'm not using my K2 for anything else, I leave the rig tuned there. When 10 meters is open, it's a great coast-to-coast band even at QRP levels and with simple antennas. When 10 meters is closed, your best bet is 14.060, 7.040 MHz, and other standard QRP calling frequencies. If you have a K2/100, remember to use QRP when using these frequencies; you can go back to QRO if you move the QSO elsewhere. 73, Wayne N6KR +++++++++++++++++++ Date: Thu, 07 Mar 2002 07:03:59 -0600 To: "Dave Sergeant" , elecraft at mailman.qth.net From: Tom Hammond =?iso-8859-1?Q?N=D8SS?= Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K2 #2498 First impressions Hi Dave: >4. Instant 'wish list' - to be able to cycle through the filters in reverse >order, ie not to need three pushes to go back to 400Hz from >100Hz. Perhaps though I >could code the PF1 and PF2 switches to do this? If I recall, you can ARRANGE the order of the filters any way you wish. However, you may not 'back up'... you must still step thru all of them to get back to the previously-selected one. Of course, if you used only two bandwidths, you could merely program FL1 & FL3 to the same B/W and FL2 & FL4 to the same B/W, then you really COULD jump between the two B/Ws with a single press of the button. You can also disable one (or more) of the filters, so you select to have 2, 3, or 4 B/Ws available. > - to increase the spacing between the tuning knob and the power knob, > to prevent me accidently moving the power knob. I, too develop 'fat fingers' at times. Fortunately, I've since learned (pretty well) to stay away from the POWER pot. And... generally, merely 'bumping' it only changes it a couple 1/10ths of a watt, so it's been no big problem for me. Have fun, Tom Hammond N0SS ++++++++++++++++ Date: Thu, 07 Mar 2002 07:34:01 -0800 From: Wayne Burdick Organization: Elecraft To: Dave Sergeant Cc: elecraft , Steve Rawlings Subject: [Elecraft] Re: first impressions Thanks for your comments, Dave. > 1. Those of you in the USA say you can use the Preamp all the time. Not so here in > Europe, last night I did get a few intermods from the broadcast stations. However > performance is so much much better than my FT101ZD, and perhaps the only reason you > like to use the preamp is that the band sounds so quiet anyway. If you add a KAF2 option, things will get even quieter. Since I installed the first prototype in my K2, I find that I rarely use the preamp below 15 meters. The passive elliptic low-pass filter removes whatever residual hiss gets by the second crystal filter. And oh, by the way, you also get a UTC clock/calendar with this option ;) > 2. Having eventually managed to get the bfo alignment correct, all cw filters > (normal and reverse) are working fine. Not so happy with the ssb filters, but that > is a minor problem as I won't be installing the ssb option. The CW filter, while tunable over a wide range, is optimized for narrow bandwidths. SSB filter bandwidths set up using this filter are going to be narrow and will have quite a bit of passband ripple. If you like wider bandwidths for casual tuning, or if you want to listen to a lot of SSB and AM, you might still want to put in the SSB option. You can set any of your CW filters to use the wider filter on the KSB2. > 4. Instant 'wish list' - to be able to cycle through the filters in reverse > order, ie not to need three pushes to go back to 400Hz from 100Hz. You can't go in both directions, but as Tom mentioned, you can turn any of the filters off. If you really only need 400 and 100 Hz, use FL1 for 400, FL2 for 100, and set FL2 and FL3 OFF using CAL FIL. If you add the SSB option, you'll want to have three setups: FL1 = OP1, FL2 = 400, FL3 = 100. This is exactly what I use. > Perhaps though I could code the PF1 and PF2 switches to do this? Not with the present firmware. 73, Wayne N6KR ++++++++++++++ Reply-To: From: "Ron D' Eau Claire" To: "Elecraft" Subject: RE: [Elecraft] A/B Date: Fri, 12 Apr 2002 20:00:42 -0700 > I've been trying to set up on my K2 vfo A on one freq on LSB and vfo B on > another freq on CW and operate SPLIT...it will do it if both freqs are in > the same mode,say LSB but not if the modes are different...is this > correct? > > ..72/73 - Bruce (VE5RC+VE5QRP) It'll go into split, but at whatever mode you have selected last. That is, the mode selection affects BOTH VFO's. Ron AC7AC K2 # 1289 ++++++++++++++++++ Subject: RE: [Elecraft] K2 # 2448 queries Date: Wed, 24 Apr 2002 15:17:59 -0400 To: , "Nicholas Lokuciewski" , From: Bill Coleman On 4/2/02 4:50 PM, Ron D' Eau Claire at rondec at easystreet.com wrote: >For SSB or AM phone, you want it to react fairly quickly so >that it will turn down the gain quickly when a strong signal appears, and >then it will quickly bring up the gain of the receiver if the signal fades. >For that use, the "FAST" setting is usually best. I generally prefer the "SLOW" setting for SSB, although I sometimes use the "FAST" setting when listening to weaker signals in the vicinity of strong QRM. (My TS-430S only uses a slow AGC setting on SSB) >So, for CW, a "Slow" setting is provided that will cause the AGC >to wait a brief period before it brings the gain up at the end of each dot >or dash. That will prevent the "pumping" effect on most signals, while still >allowing the AGC to follow slower changes in the signal levels due to QSB. For really strong CW signals, I prefer a "SLOW" setting, because the AGC attack produces a harsh click-like sound at the leading edge of the CW elements. For other CW work, "FAST" works pretty well, especially on weak signals. (My TS_430S only uses a fast AGC setting on CW) >If your read the older texts for proper receiver operation back when CW was >the dominant mode in Ham communications, you will see that nearly everyone >ran the audio gain up pretty high - set just below the level where the audio >amplifier's background noise became noticeable - and used only the r-f gain >control to adjust the volume. That's because those old-time radios didn't have an AGC at all, and those that did had one that was only suitable for AM receiption -- not for CW or SSB! Don't forget that the preamp and attentuator can be used to make signals more palatable to the AGC as well! But I'll agree that the RF gain is the most underused control. Bill Coleman, AA4LR, PP-ASEL Mail: aa4lr at arrl.net Quote: "Not within a thousand years will man ever fly!" -- Wilbur Wright, 1901 ++++++++++++++++ Date: Thu, 28 Nov 2002 09:12:01 -0800 From: Wayne Burdick Organization: Elecraft To: Christoph Rheker Cc: elecraft at mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] Comparing the K2 to other rigs: background noise Christoph Rheker wrote: > ... My TS870 sounds in most cases like > there is some kind of life on the bands. For example, during > evenings on 15/20m there is always some kind of background noise. > When I switch to my K2, there is no such thing! Chris, the K2 is quieter than the TS870 because it has a single I.F. and less overall gain. Because of this, really low-level band noise won't activate the K2's AGC. (The TS870 is probably "in the AGC" with normal band noise, even on 10 meters, because of all of the excess gain.) But I want to make sure I understand what you mean by "no such thing" in reference to band noise. When you connect a resonant antenna to your K2 on any band, including the higest bands, you should hear an increase in background noise. This should be true even when there's no unusual atmospheric noise on the band. Of course the effect will be much more dramatic if you're using a wide filter bandwidth. I'll give you an example, using a test I just did on two different K2s: 1. Switch to one of the highest bands (15 m up), USB (FL1 = OP1 = about 2.1 kHz bandwidth). 2. Disconnect the antenna. 3. Connect an AC voltmeter (DMM set to lowest AC volts scale) across the headphone jack (use a plug only, no headphones) 4. Turn AF GAIN and RF GAIN all the way up, and turn the preamp ON. 5. The AC voltmeter should indicate around 20-30 mV RMS or higher. This is the baseline (no antenna) noise, generated within the K2 itself. It will be on the low end of this range if you have a KAF2 audio filter installed, or if you use the CW filter rather than the filter on the KSB2. The narrower the filter setting, the lower the voltmeter reading will be. 6. Connect a resonant antenna, preferably the lowest-noise antenna available for the selected band. 7. The AC RMS voltage should go up by a factor of two (6 dB) or more. (If it goes up a lot more than this, it could be because there's a signal on the frequency you're tuned to, or because there's a lot of atmospheric noise.) I did this test on two different K2s. On the one with a KAF2 installed, the noise on 10 meters went from 20 mV to 50 mV RMS when the antenna was connected. On another K2 with no KAF2, and using the CW filter set for 2.20, the noise went from 35 mV to 70 mV RMS. If you do this test and discover, for example, that both the antenna off and antenna on conditions show much lower AC voltages at the headphone jack, you could have a problem with your K2. Try turning AGC off (hold PRE/ATTN and AGC together) and see if the results differ significantly. If it turns out that the AGC threshold is set too low, you can cure this by reducing the value of R1 on the Control board. If the signal amplitudes are too low even with the AGC threshold set correctly, it could be due to excess loss in the band-pass or crystal filters. If you do the same test on the TS870 you'll no doubt see larger antenna off/on figures due to the much greater gain in the receive path. But this is to be expected; the K2 design aims for both good sensitivity and low current drain, so low-current devices are used at every stage, and there are far fewer stages. > One problem with I don't like is the S-Meter activation issue. With my > antennas I often get S7 S-Meter readings without any "real" signal > present. Yes, I have done the RFC11 mod. No, I have not done the mod > to the front-end band pass filters. Another item on my list. The narrower filters should help quite a bit. 73, Wayne N6KR ++++++++++++++++ Date: Sun, 01 Dec 2002 10:59:55 -0600 To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net From: Tom Hammond =?iso-8859-1?Q?N=D8SS?= Subject: [Elecraft] K2/100 w/KAT100 - Something you may find Good Morning Folks: I trust everyone had a good Thanksgiving... This morning, I made a change to my K2 (actually REMOVED a mod!). When I returned it back to service, I already DC applied to the KAT100, so I just plugged power into the K2 and then the heavy DC leads to into KPA100, and went about my merry way. Jumped down to 10M (from 20M) and hit the TUNE button... NOTHING HAPPENED...! KAT100 indicated a 1.5:1 SWR which should have been ample to initiate a re-tune when TUNE was pressed. Went into MENU | ATU and found the setting was displaying "ATU --". Went into EDIT mode and cranked on the knob to set the ATU setting to "AUTO"... no go... the only response I got back was "PA ANT 1". Checked to ensure that the PA WAS being recognized... and it was. But still no ATU action. So I did what no self-respecting user would do... I went to the KAT100 MANUAL! And there, in the TROUBLESHOOTING section, was my answer... By powering up the K2 (and possibly the KPA100) while the KAT100 WAS already powered, but before the KPA100 had full power to it, I apparently put the K2 into a situation where it didn't want to recognize that the KAT100 was present. It's one of those 'timing' thangs (sic)...! I stumbled back into the shack, and turned the K2 off and back on... VOILA! Everything began working AS ANTICIPATED this time. Moral of the story... follow Elecraft's suggestions for the proper order of powering up your rig once you have a bunch of options installed. That being, power to the KAT100 first, then power to the KPA100 (if it's gonna be used) and THEN turn on the K2. This should always work correctly. Though some other scenarios will generally work as well, there's always that off-chance that the power-up timing issue might raise it's ugly head. 73, Tom N0SS ++++++++++++++++ Date: Tue, 10 Dec 2002 22:07:36 -0800 From: Wayne Burdick Organization: Elecraft To: Elecraft Subject: [Elecraft] K2 operating tip: Fine RIT One of the features in the revision 2 K2 firmware that often gets overlooked is Fine RIT. We added this tuning mode primarily for PSK31 operators, providing a way to dial in one filter to within a few Hz of another in receive mode. This allows the use of one wide and one narrow filter setting in data modes, preventing the loss of characters when switching between them. But Fine RIT is also very useful in CW mode and when tuning AM broadcast stations. CW: I frequently use Fine RIT when I've selected a narrow CW filter, either FL4 or AF2 (KAF2) or both. Once the narrow filter is selected, just turn on Fine RIT by holding RIT and XFIL together. The RIT/XIT offset control can then be used to adjust the received pitch in 1 to 3 Hz increments, depending on the band. Tapping XFIL will toggle between FL1 and the narrow filter, bypassing the others. Fine RIT can be turned off by holding RIT + XFIL again. AM: If you like listening to shortwave broadcast stations or, like me, DXing in the high end of the AM band (with the 160 m adapter installed), Fine RIT is a big help. It's especially useful when listening to music or with strong stations, since a mis-tuned carrier can greatly impact the quality of the demodulated signal. With Fine RIT, you can zero-beat signals precisely. (Without it, you have only 10-Hz steps, which may leave you with a fluttering 5 Hz or so "beat note" modulating the carrier.) To use Fine RIT for tuning in AM signals, make sure you have both FL1 and FL2 set up for OP1 (the crystal filter on the SSB adapter). We recommend optimizing the BFO for FL2 in receive mode and the BFO for FL1 in transmit mode--this is explained in the KSB2 manual. Once you have FL2 selected and have the AM station tuned in as closely as possible, turn on Fine RIT (RIT + XFIL), then fine-tune the carrier frequency using the RIT/XIT offset control. 73, Wayne ++++++++++++++++ To: rondec at easystreet.com, elecraft at mailman.qth.net Date: Sun, 12 Jan 2003 11:13:52 -0800 Subject: Re: [Elecraft] A couple items of possible interest... From: k6se at juno.com Ron, AC7AC wrote: "With the K2 in SPLIT, moving the transmitter to the receive frequency is done by just hitting A=B and I'm done! Then I can tune the receiver around all I want using the MAIN tuning control and the transmit frequency stays put. I don't have to mess with the tiny little RIT knob." ========== This is the way I always do it on any rig when CQing in a contest, because not everybody seems to know how to zero beat and it's far easier to tune with the VFO knob to find callers than with the RIT knob. Good info, Ron! 73, de Earl, K6SE +++++++++++++++++++ From: "George, W5YR" To: "John Harper AE5X" , Cc: Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K2 and split operation Date: Fri, 7 Feb 2003 16:49:34 -0600 John, I too am accustomed to the mode of operating you describe with my Icom PRO2. But the K2 will allow you to get around having only a single filter. Work SPLIT as usual only when you want to listen to the other VFO to check where the pileup is, just press and hold the A/B button with your finger and turn the tuning knob with your thumb. You can easily and quickly tune around the pileup with the narrower filter and hear what you want to hear. Release the button and you are back listening to the DX. Many of us use this technique for Fox Hunting with 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!" ----- Original Message ----- From: "John Harper AE5X" To: Cc: Sent: Friday, February 07, 2003 4:31 PM Subject: [Elecraft] K2 and split operation > I've had the pleasure for the past week to have a borrowed K2 to operate with and, having read all the rave reviews, was really looking forward to chasing some DX and enjoying the receiver that gets all the high marks. The rig sure is a pleasure to operate, I've had some great ragchews with it and am considering ordering one with all the trimmings that are important to me: 160m option, 100w amp & noise filter. > > But there is one thing that bothers me and I'm wondering how difficult a solution would be (firmware, hardware?). My main interest in this hobby is chasing DX on CW. Most of the rarer countries and DXpeditions operate split. The best way I've found to work these stations is to have a very narrow filter selected for my receiving VFO (tuned to the DX station). This way, I hear only the DX station and not all the stations calling him 1 or 2 kHz up when he is really listening up 5-10 kHz. For my transmit VFO, I like a wide filter so that I can listen on that VFO periodically to find the stations that the DX is answering. This VFO needs to be wide for that reason - sometimes the stations (domestic) getting answered by the DX is 2 or 3 kHz away from where I'm listening or from the last station worked by the DX. With a narrow filter, it is impossible to hear these stations getting worked and therefore to know where to tune to where the DX is now listening. > > Is there any way (now or in the future) to have different filters selected for the A and B VFOs? > > Thanks and 73, > > -- > John Harper AE5X > 80 Meter DXing & Outdoor QRP: http://www.ae5x.com +++++++++++++++++++++++++ Date: Fri, 07 Feb 2003 15:24:14 -0800 From: Vic Rosenthal Organization: Transparent Software To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K2 and split operation John Harper AE5X wrote: > > Most of the rarer countries and DXpeditions operate split. The best way I've found to work these stations is to have a very narrow filter selected for my receiving VFO (tuned to the DX station). This way, I hear only the DX station and not all the stations calling him 1 or 2 kHz up when he is really listening up 5-10 kHz. For my transmit VFO, I like a wide filter so that I can listen on that VFO periodically to find the stations that the DX is answering... > Is there any way (now or in the future) to have different filters selected for the A and B VFOs? --------------------- Aha, someone ELSE wants this! And George, W5YR wrote: > Work SPLIT as usual only when you want to listen to the other VFO to > check where the pileup is, just press and hold the A/B button with > your finger and turn the tuning knob with your thumb. You can easily > and quickly tune around the pileup with the narrower filter and hear > what you want to hear. The problem is that it's very hard to scan a 20 KHz pileup with a 200 Hz filter quickly enough to find the guy that the DX is working before it's too late. Remember, every lid on the planet is calling, even though the DX station is trying to work only one. By the way, because of the delay to activate the 'hold' functionality, I prefer to tap the button once to switch VFO's and then tap it again to go back. Vic K2VCO +++++++++++++++ From: "Richard Stasiak" To: Date: Sat, 8 Feb 2003 09:43:36 -0500 Subject: [Elecraft] K2 and split operation . For my transmit VFO, I like a wide filter so > that I can listen on that VFO periodically to find the stations that > the DX is answering. This VFO needs to be wide for that reason - > sometimes the stations (domestic) getting answered by the DX is 2 or 3 > kHz away from where I'm listening or from the last station worked by > the DX. With a narrow filter, it is impossible to hear these stations > getting worked and therefore to know where to tune to where the DX is > now listening. > > > > Is there any way (now or in the future) to have different filters > selected for the A and B VFOs? This is a timely post for me. I recently added the 100 w PA to my K2 and now am using the K2 and my QRO amp to chase dx and dxpeditions. Previously I have used my FT1000mp to do this. The dual receive capability of the mp allows one to have independent filter settings selected for each of the receivers and monitor both receivers at once (using stereo headphones, one signal in each ear). This is a tremendous feature, which obviously cannot be duplicated with one K2. However, my questions to the group are. Can it be done with two K2s? Has anyone put together a 2 K2 dxing station? How does one mute the K2 that is being used as the receiver? Is is possible to send VFO info from one K2 to the other? Meanwhile my 1000mp forlornly sits next to my K2 and waits for the next dxpedition. 73 Rick VE3MM +++++++++++++++ From: Unifiedtx at aol.com Date: Sat, 8 Feb 2003 23:44:39 EST To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] CW in Test Mode Just thought I would mention to K2 owners....keep in mind that whenever you put your CW in TEST mode and forget that you did and switch to a sideband mode; the sideband L or U will blink. You might think something is wrong because you are not going to get any power output when you hold the TUNE button in. You have to go back to C mode and get out of TEST mode before the sideband modes as well as the CW mode will work. Roy Morris W4WFB KAT100-1, K2/100 #2225 ++++++++++++++++ From: bills4570 at att.net To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net Date: Sat, 01 Mar 2003 18:18:11 +0000 Subject: [Elecraft] Solved: Sick K2 following A to B mod Hi there, I'm almost embarassed to take up the list's time with this, but I suffered over it, and if it saves someone else some time, I think it's worth it: A couple months ago, I performed the A to B mod on K2 serial number 2715. When I finished, I found that I had intermittant audio performance due to an incomplete trace cut. I stepped back through my steps on the audio pot mod and found and corrected the problem. After that, I was never completely sold on the receive performance, but I had changed antennas during the A to B mod, and I attributed the poor receive performance to the compromise antenna (aren't they all!), and to a downturn in the band conditions. One Saturday morning, I was scratching for a PSK-31 QSO, and found that others could hear me fine, but that I couldn't copy them! Now that was a switch for a low power addict like myself! One chap, who I could not hear, was kind enough to send me a signal report by e-mail. I dragged another transceiver out of storage and started doing some receive performace comparisons. I found that the K2 receiver was practically dead. On PSK, the waterfall was filled with signals using the Brand X tranceiver, but the K2 showed only the 3 strongest ones. Hmmmmmmm...... I spent the day tearing the K2 apart and checked each and every step of the A to B mod. I re-flowed each and every solder joint that would have anything to do with receive sensitivity. There was no improvement. The K2 sat there on my bench with a taunting smirk on it's front panel for a few more days, while I broke the arms off my Wayne and Eric voodoo dolls. Yesterday, I took the top off to do some signal tracing. #2715 is equipped with the internal ATU, which is removed with the top. I began wondering how the RF signal could be introduced without the antenna connections in the top cover. I decided to try the original connector, which was capped off....... no luck. On a whim, I connected the antenna to the receive only connector, which came with the 160 M kit. Wow, the receiver spang to life! You know the rest of the story........ Sheeeeesh! I had never checked the menu selections for the receive antenna, and the K2 was set up with the receive antenna "on". That meant that the receive path through the Ant 1 and Ant 2 connections was disconnected except on transmit. A quick re-configuration of this feature brought the K2 back to it's hot receiving self. The "Rant OFF" selection must be done for each band unless you WANT to use a seperate receive antenna (like on 160, for instance). It had been a major case of "OPERATOR ERROR" the whole time. I had become used to the features I used most often, but forgot about the many other useful features which make the K2 such a great rig! Hope this post helps someone to avoid this problem. -- Bill Schwantes, W7QQ ++++++++++++++++++++++ From: "Guy Olinger, K2AV" To: paule at sfu.ca, elecraft at mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] reflections on the WPX contest Date: Wed, 2 Apr 2003 14:57:26 -0500 Had no problems using vfo A, vfo B and split mode for this. Enter split mode Set vfo A to receiving frequency. pick vfo B. Set vfo b to transmitting frequency. pick vfo A. Transmit. Go back and forth between vfo A and vfo b to see what is on your transmit frequency. But only transmit when vfo A is picked. Once you get used to it, it's a piece of cake. There are some subtleties you gain using a setup like that on an MP, but the K2 certainly services the essential needs of split operation. 73, Guy. K2AV > > From: paule at sfu.ca > Date: 2003/04/02 Wed PM 02:06:40 EST > To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net > Subject: [Elecraft] reflections on the WPX contest > > Had a great time in the WPX contest last weekend, but one > thing it brought out was how helpful dual receive capability > is on 40 SSB. I know that apparently there are no plans for > a "super rig" with such capability. . . but was wondering if > it might be possible to find a way to run two K2's in a fashion > that would allow such a facility. . . muting and protecting > the front end of the "second" receiver are just a couple of issues > that come to mind. . . > > Any other thoughts on this subject out there??? > > cheers, Paul - VA7NT ex VE7CQK - email: paule at sfu.ca > "Those who hear not the music. . . think the dancers mad." +++++++++++++++++ Date: Thu, 03 Apr 2003 21:42:41 +1200 From: Ron Willcocks To: Elecraft Reflector Subject: [Elecraft] Using SPLIT on the K2 Hi all, With regard to some of the postings recently about using the SPLIT function on the K2, I guess you all know you can press (and hold) REV when working split and tune the "B" VFO up/down looking for where the DX stn is working "up" ??? Just press the button and while holding it run the VFO up/dwn with yer thumb....works much the same as swapping A/B but allows you to alter the tuning on VFO "B" at as required. Ok...you already knew that?.....Just a thought... Cheers.....Ron ZL1TW ++++++++++++++++++ From: "Wallace, Andy" To: "'Ron Willcocks'" , Elecraft Reflector Subject: RE: [Elecraft] Using SPLIT on the K2 Date: Thu, 3 Apr 2003 07:48:31 -0500 > -----Original Message----- > From: Ron Willcocks [mailto:ron_w at clear.net.nz] > > With regard to some of the postings recently about > using the SPLIT > function on the K2, I guess you all know you can press (and > hold) REV when > working split and tune the "B" VFO up/down looking for where > the DX stn is > working "up" ??? Additionally, you can hold the LOCK button on the receive (DX station) frequency and then you won't accidentally lose him when you swap back and forth. REV still allows you to move the transmit freq. Very handy! Look up FAST PLAY in the manual -- I also find that very handy to use for calling the DX station. I just program my call in to one of the memories and then it's just one button push to try to break the pileup. All kinds of flashing things on the display at that point - something tells me Wayne and Eric like pinball. :-) Andy +++++++++++++++++++ Date: Thu, 03 Apr 2003 11:25:50 -0500 To: Leroy Buller , Elecraft Reflector From: Hank Kohl K8DD Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Operating Split with the K2 I noticed the lag in the VFO display switching .... and also if I had my mouth going the instant I hit the footswitch the stations on the other end would come back to "the 8deltadelta". After a few of these I noticed that the wattmeter was not moving until the third syllable of the "kiloeightdeltadelta". So I started to give the footswitch a half second lead time over the mouth and more stations got the kilo. 73 Hank K8DD At 4/3/2003 06:31 AM -0800, Leroy Buller wrote: >In last weekends, WPX contest on 40...you have to run split to talk to >some stations. Of course everyone knows this...but here is the real question. > >When I was doing this and working the stations, the LCD seemed to be a >little behind when going from receive to transmit or from B to A VFO. I >suspect that the switch between the two VFOs is fast but the update to the >LCD is slow because of processing power? Is that the case? > >Lee - K0WA ++++++++++++++++++++ Reply-To: From: "Ron D'Eau Claire" To: "'Elecraft Reflector'" Subject: RE: [Elecraft] Operating Split with the K2 Date: Thu, 3 Apr 2003 08:55:52 -0800 That'll appear in CW at times too, depending upon what you have just = done. The K2 controls power with a "feedback" loop that senses the output = power level and compares it to the level that you've requested with the POWER control.=20 Under certain circumstances the K2 will set the transmit power to = minimum. While you are receiving the logic has no way to detect that you have something above minimum power selected. When you start transmitting, = there can be a very short but finite delay while the K2 starts transmitting, = the power control logic notes that the power is too low compared to what you have "requested" with the POWER control, and it brings the power up to = that level.=20 It happens very quickly, but a quick operator can get a couple of = syllables out (or a dit or dah in CW) before the power control circuitry catches = up.=20 The same can happen when reducing power. If, for example, you change the power from 100 watts to 5 watts and hit the key or speak into the mic, = you will see a brief surge at 100 watts until the power control reacts and adjusts the output accordingly.=20 Ron AC7AC K2 # 1289=20 -----Original Message----- From: elecraft-admin at mailman.qth.net = [mailto:elecraft-admin at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Hank Kohl K8DD I noticed the lag in the VFO display switching .... and also if I had my = mouth going the instant I hit the footswitch the stations on the other = end -- snip -- +++++++++++++++++ Date: Thu, 3 Apr 2003 09:51:17 -0800 (PST) From: Leroy Buller To: Elecraft Reflector Subject: [Elecraft] Split Operation again K8DD gives an interesting account of the lag while running split. If your running VOX instead a footswitch...that would be a problem. No wonder everyone I called as for the WA station of the A station. HMMMMMM. I wonder if there could be a software tweak on that in a future release. Lee - K0WA +++++++++++++++++ From: "Guy Olinger, K2AV" To: , "'Elecraft Reflector'" Subject: RE: [Elecraft] Operating Split with the K2 Date: Thu, 3 Apr 2003 12:54:05 -0500 If that is so (have no reason to doubt you) then that is an issue. It needs to remember the last setting on the band/mode to begin with, not start from scratch. Might this be a firmware issue? > > From: "Ron D'Eau Claire" > Date: 2003/04/03 Thu AM 11:55:52 EST > To: "'Elecraft Reflector'" > Subject: RE: [Elecraft] Operating Split with the K2 > > That'll appear in CW at times too, depending upon what you have just done. > The K2 controls power with a "feedback" loop that senses the output power > level and compares it to the level that you've requested with the POWER > control. > > Under certain circumstances the K2 will set the transmit power to minimum. > While you are receiving the logic has no way to detect that you have > something above minimum power selected. When you start transmitting, there > can be a very short but finite delay while the K2 starts transmitting, the > power control logic notes that the power is too low compared to what you > have "requested" with the POWER control, and it brings the power up to that > level. > > It happens very quickly, but a quick operator can get a couple of syllables > out (or a dit or dah in CW) before the power control circuitry catches up. > > The same can happen when reducing power. If, for example, you change the > power from 100 watts to 5 watts and hit the key or speak into the mic, you > will see a brief surge at 100 watts until the power control reacts and > adjusts the output accordingly. > > Ron AC7AC > K2 # 1289 +++++++++++++++++++++