Radios included an Icom IC-756 Pro, TenTec Omni VII, Icom IC-746 (for the GOTA) and a Icom 7000 for VHF plus HF spare. All these radios performed quite well despite the high temperatures.

The 100 Watt Elecraft K2 stood above the others not necessarily on performance, but the elegant way the radio’s owner configured his K2, 100 Watt Amplifier and 100 Watt Matcher.

For this Field Day, Tom brought his personally built Elecraft K2 QRP rig. Options include KNB2, KDSP2, KIO2 and KAT2.

Additionally, he brought his personally built Elecraft 100 Watt amplifier with the 100 Watt Antenna Tuner. Products include the KPA100 and KAT100-2.

No Case Change for 100 Watts
Elecraft has done a wonderful job with integration of all the above. The K2 and the KAT100-2 communicate with a serial cable. The usual approach for a 100 Watt K2 is to integrate the KPA100 into the K2’s case. However, Tom really wanted to keep the K2 a QRP rig. No problem. Elecraft supports the idea of placing the amp inside the KAT100-2 case. This leaves the K2 as is, but provides a power boost just by plugging in the KAT100-2 case. The K2 does not require a case change to get 100 Watts; Nice.

Look at this picture…

Clean, simple and effective Field Day Station with Elecraft K2

It just doesn’t get much simpler does it? Yes, I realize a typical radio with 100 Watts built in would yield one less box, but these are so small the extra box doesn’t get in the way. The two things missing from the above station layout is a good head set and CAT connection to the N3FJP logging software.

…and look at this…

The Elecraft K2 Field Day Station in Trailer with G3TXQ Hex Beam

Minimalist. Okay I agree anyone who brings a beam to Field Day is not quite minimalist, but really, even with the other dipole antenna, there isn’t all that much to this station.

Attaching the 100 Watt Tuner to a K2 with its own Tuner
Note the Elecraft K2 also has the QRP antenna tuner option KAT2. Both the KAT2 and KAT100-2 offer A/B antenna selection. Tom wondered if there would be a conflict or confusion with the K2 firmware if the KAT100-2 was added to the system already containing the KAT2. Specifically, when the KAT100-2 is attached, does the Antenna selector button know to move the antenna selection action from the KAT2 to the KAT100-2. The answer is yes it does. Simply connecting the KAT100-2 to the K2 causes the KAT2 to stay on one output, the one piped to the KAT100-2, and switches between 100 Watt antenna ports on the external box. Cool!

Elecraft to the Front Row
Tom has customized an ideal station for Field Day and I enjoy using it every year. As this year’s Field Day Chairman, I placed the K2 as the primary HF station, closest to our visitors are and showcased it to everyone I could. You hear that Elecraft? I showcase your products and don’t even own a K2 or K3 yet!

The K2 Station worked plenty of Phone and CW contacts with its wire dipole and hex beam on ports A and B of the KAT100-2. The K2 with Hex Beam worked the only Pacific contact, Phone, from our Virginia Field Day location; I was stoked.

Conclusion
With radios like the Elecraft K2, one can realize an effective Field Day station. By moving the 100 Watt amplifier from the K2 case to the KAT100-2 case, the K2 can switch to QRP with simple external cable changes instead of cabinet swaps.

Bravo Elecraft.

Even though building a new K2 kit costs more than the radio trades for on E-Bay, I plan on a purchase anyway just for the fun of assembling my own radio; I will seriously consider duplicating Tom’s configuration above. I can’t wait.

Choosing Elecraft is a no brainer, but any of the other kit manufacturers would be fine also. The point it to give a young man an opportunity to see something start from a box of parts and become a higher level assembly.

We are also considering the Elecraft KX1 as a good starter kit. We have already built several of the other smaller Elecraft kits.

Here is a summary of our current situation…

• I have read the various FAQs, tips, etc.
• I am not new to kit building.
• We have a good soldering station.
• If the K2 works out well we will use it on CW for a while and then add
  enhancements: SSB first then others (perhaps DSP, 160M, 60M-Xvrter,
  100Watts)…
• Are there tools or tips I am missing before I drop the coin?

The summary of the very helpful answers are…

• Think ESD for the parts (no worries there… I am the ESD promoter at our electronics lab at work)
  • No parts in non ESD foam
  • No parts in cardboard, etc.
  • Small anti-static mat with wrist straps, etc.
  • Keep active parts in their black ESD foam
• Seriously consider the re-work eliminators and other nifty things from http://www.unpcbs.com/
• Consider a good Cap/Inductance meter
• Seriously consider using flush cutting snips
• Certainly use a thermo controlled soldering iron with good assortment of tips
• Use small diameter solder
• Get a new #1 Phillips screwdriver
• Seriously consider an illuminated magnifier or, perhaps, a mag. visor
• On the same topic, have good lighting
• Reference the example toroid images available from the K2 community
• Use headers where possible
• Dental pick and other assorted fiddling tools
• Reserve a good amount of table space for the project
• Consider pre-wound toroids
• When inventorying parts, leave the resistors in their tape
• Seriously consider starting with the XG2 and DL-1 dummy load to spin up on soldering skills
• Seriously consider making the XG2 because it will be handy during the K2 build
• Consider building the N-gen noise generator. Simple to build and helpful to check whether a receiver is funcitoning properly

If you are thinking of participating in your local club’s Field Day festivities or are heading to the campground with your family for a Bravo station, bonus points are available.

One of my favorites is the Alternate Power Field Day bonus.

To quote the ARRL Field Day rules for 2009…

“7.3.8. Alternate Power: 100 bonus points for Field Day groups making a minimum of five QSOs without using power from commercial mains or petroleum driven generator. This means an “alternate” energy source of power, such as solar, wind, methane or water. This includes batteries charged by natural means (not dry cells). The natural power transmitter counts as an additional transmitter. If you do not wish to increase your operating category, you should take one of your other transmitters off the air while the natural power transmitter is in operation. A separate list of natural power QSOs should be submitted with your entry. Available to Classes A, B, E, and F.”

Last year one of our club members brought a fold out solar panel array. Originally he hooked it up to a FM HT. The solar panels powered the HT just fine, but no one was on the air to make contact with.

Then an Elecraft K1 transceiver arrived. Hmmm…

Since the K1 is an HF transceiver one of the other stations (we were 4A last year) would have to cease operation while we operated the solar powered station.

No problem. We went to our CW tent and…

• Disconnected the antenna coax from the main CW transceiver (a Yeasu FT-2000 by the way – nice)
• Connected the antenna coax to the K1
• Flipped the solar panels out along the ground
• Hooked up the power to the K1
• One person operated the key and the K1
• While the person in the CW tent logged the QSOs on the N3FJP Network software
• and made note of these particular QSOs as “Alternate Power” contacts
• Logged five Alternate Power QSOs
• Reversed the process to get the CW Station back the way it was and continue to operate normally
• Done!

Here is our K1 operator, logger (in the tent) and the impressive solar array…

Making Solar Power QSOs during Field Day

This was pretty easy really.

In this case, the low current draw of the Elecraft K1 really helped. We did not need any temporary storage from a battery in parallel with the solar output. It all just worked straight off the solar power source. Nice.

You may desire to try the above and I really do suggest it. It is fun. If your rig needs a bit more power than the K1, consider adding the battery and letting it charge for a bit before making those five QSOs.

I hope to hear all of you on Field Day. Good Luck.