Hello, Eric. The K2/100 is a full-power, high performance, contest-grade
radio. Its receiver is better than the "big rigs" including my own
FT-1000MP. The QSK is outstanding as is the transmitted voice quality.
You can turn the power down to QRP levels wth a front-panel control and
the 100w amp is bypassed completely so the rig runs fine off batteries
at 0-10w. It weighs 5 pounds, fits into a corner of your suitcase and
runs fine off a 20A switching PS. Customer support via an Internet
reflector, Website, support staff and the principals themselves is so
far beyond anything available from any other vendor that it is really in
a class by itself. It is a kit in the finest Heathkit tradition but the
resulting product quality is far superior compared to current
competition. For those who lack the skills, interest or time to build,
there are professional builders available to help out. In the field, the
K2 set records on every band when Team Vertical took it to 6Y for the CQ
WW CW 2001, a bunch of single-band QRP entries in the same room. Then
the 100w version came out and three of them made half the total Q's in a
record-setting multi-multi from the same location in the 2002 CQ WPX CW
driving various KW amps. It is rapidly becoming the rig of choice for
expeditions and is a pleasure to operate at home. There is really no
comparison. Get it.
I have no financial interest in Elecraft but I do know the principals
and admire them greatly. They have reinvented ham radio equipment design
and provisioning.
Have fun on your travels!
73,
/Rick N6XI
Eric Rosenberg wrote:
> My travel schedule has picked up considerably, and it looks like I'll
> be off to places far and wide for the next 12 months or so. I'm
> thinking that it might be fun to once again take an HF radio with me
> once again -- I did this in the mid-1990's with a long-gone FT-890.
>
> If I decide to buy a new radio for the road (I'm not there yet!), my
> choices will likely be limited to the following four radios, two with
> and two without VHF capabilities. All four radios have gotten good
> reviews in QST, so it may be a matter of availability and price...the
> TS-50 and K2 being at opposite sides of the range:
>
> FT-100D and IC-706 MKIIG, both of which have VHF and UHF (no need to
> take a 2m HT with me, too).
>
> Elecraft K2 and Kenwood TS-50. Note I've never operated WRP, so the
> thought of a using K2 is a bit intimidating.
>
> Comments and thoughts are appreciated. Send them directly and I'll
> summarize for those interested.
>
> Thanks in advance and 73,
>
> Eric W3DQ
> Washington, DC
> _______________________________________________
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> CQ-Contest@contesting.com
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>
>
--
Richard M. Tavan
TIBCO Software Inc.
3307 Hillview Drive
Palo Alto, CA 94304-1213
tavan@tibco.com
n6xi@arrl.net
650-846-5214 Office
408-896-0476 Cell
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