[CQ-Contest] K2 and contesting - Impressions?

[BlakeM]

I've had a K2/100 in the shack for a couple of months now with my MP, and
have operated a a few contests.  Some observations:

- SWR foldback is wicked agressive, the rig chokes on my ICE 419's.  The SWR
is about 1.7:1 in the 20M position on both of my units and while the MP
doesn't care, the K2 always cuts its power WAY back.  I'll have to open up
the filter and mess with the coils to fix.

- Having the DOT of the keying line equal PTT is a real disaster when
setting up a 2radio switch box.  I've yet to do a SSB contest fully 2radio
until I figure out a way to fix it.

- I'm having a bear of a time getting my sound card to drive the rig.  The
Proset Plus does fine.  Again, no 2R SSB till I get this fixed (without
messing up the drive of the MP... any suggestions?)

- The menu interface is going to take some learning on my part, specially in
the heat of action.  I'm working on putting N4PY's software to work with
Writelog to help out with that.

- I prefer the k2 RX to that of my MP, and I like the fact that it has a
sound that isn't to "different" from my MP.  I found that I got fatigued
fast while listening to an Icom in one ear and the MP in the other

My main reason for picking up the rig was for travel.  After taking a MKV on
a plane, I vowed never again.  I can get the whole K2 station into one
pelican 1600, saving room for more dive gear :-)

When I have the time to fix the first three things above, I might have to
try swapping the K2 into the lead spot.

73,
Blake N4GI