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WT9W EQUIPMENT

ELECRAFT K2
Page last updated 07/10/05


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My interests include SSB, CW, FM and digital modes and some satellite work. I work HF, VHF and UHF. My current passion is homebrewing and QRP. I have completed building the Elecraft K1 40/20 meter QRP CW transceiver with Automatic Antenna Tuner and the Elecraft K2 160/10 meter QRP SSB/CW transceiver. For a list of the options that I have completed and installed, see my list of qrp equipment below. The Elecraft kits are the finest projects that I have had the pleasure to work on. The documentation is on a par with Heathkit and the technical support is unsurpassed in the industry. If you would like additional information on these kits, click on any of the Elecraft links. Also, new kit builders might be interested in WT9W's list of suggested tools for successful kit building which is listed below.

So you say you would like to build a K2 or other electronic project. But you have very little or no building experience. The key to successful kit building is parts identification, proper soldering technique and practice, practice and more practice. Beginner kits are available from many of the suppliers listed on the Links page under the EQUIPMENT - KITS category. If you are interested in kit building but don't have any experience, read The Art of Kit Building and Desoldering - how to remove a component by WT9W. If you haven't had much success with winding toroids, you'll want to read Winding Toroids - it really isn't that tough! by WT9W. I also recommend that you visit the following sites for additional information:

The Art of Kit Building by WT9W
Winding Toroids - it really isn't that tough! by WT9W!
Desoldering - how to remove a component by WT9W
The Basic Soldering Guide by Alan Winstanley
Calculate Resistor Values from Color Codes
Resistor & Other Component Identification
Capacitor Identification
Inductor Identification
Online Calculators
Impedance matching network design

One of my new interests is restoring my original novice station from 1964. This past summer 2002, I completed replacing all of the electrolytic capacitors, cleaning all switches, controls and variable capacitors and general internal cleaning on my Hallicrafters HT-40 transmitter and SX-140 receiver. This equipment was built in the early 60's. I acquired the HT-40 transmitter used in early 1964. It was the kit version of this famous pair and was built around 1961. I acquired a new SX-140 factory built receiver about 2 months after obtaining the transmitter. In those days novices were rock bound (xtals), so I did not have a vfo. After completing the internal restoration this past summer, I purchased the matching HA-5 vfo through eBay. The only work that I did on this vfo so far was to clean and lubricate all of the switches and the variable capacitor as well as general internal cleaning. I should have this station on the air shortly once I complete a relay controlled switch so that both the transmitter and receiver can share the same antenna. I also plan on replacing the existing power cords and installing an internal fuse in all three pieces of equipment. I am still searching for the required Amphenol 75-MCIF microphone plug for the HT-40 transmitter. If anyone knows of a source for this connector, please email me. This information will be greatly appreciated.

I have built the following QRP equipment:
    HF Pack - HFpacker-Amplifier 160/10 meter with filter board Rev.1 completed 6/05
    Elecraft K2 160/10 meter SSB/CW transceiver ser #208 completed 8/99
           KBT2 - INTERNAL BATTERY OPTION completed 8/99
           K160RX - 160 METER MODULE completed 8/99
           KSB2 - SSB ADAPTER completed 8/99
           KNB2 - NOISE BLANKER completed 12/99
           KAT2 - AUTOMATIC ANTENNA TUNER completed 3/00
           KIO2 - AUX I/O MODULE completed 7/01
           KAF2 - AUDIO FILTER AND REAL TIME CLOCK completed 11/01
           REVISION "A" TO "B" - K2 DESIGN UPGRADE completed 7/03
           KDSP2 - INTERNAL DSP FILTER AND REAL TIME CLOCK completed 8/03
    Small Wonder Labs Rock-Mite cw transceiver for 20 meters
   NJ-QRP Club PSK-80 "Warbler"
   Elecraft K1 40/20 meter CW transceiver ser #00074
   NorCal SMK-1 40 meter CW transceiver using surface mount components
   NJ-QRP Club SMK-1 Enclosure Kit
   NorCal 20 20 meter cw transceiver
   NorCal paddles
   NorCal 49'er 40 meter cw transceiver
   NorCal 38 Special 30 meter cw transceiver
   NorCal St. Louis Tuner
   NorCal Cascade 75 & 20 meter SSB transceiver
   Wilderness Radio Sierra cw transceiver (80 40 20 15 10 meter modules)
   Tejas Backpacker II 15 meter cw transceiver
   Oak Hills Research QRP Spirit 40 meter cw transceiver
   A&A Engineering 20 meter cw transceiver
   Ramsey QRP-20 20 meter cw transmitter
   Ramsey HR-20 20 meter cw receiver
   Ramsey CW-7 cw keyer

I have restored the following equipment:
Hallicrafters HT-40 80/6 meter all tube transmitter (circa 1961)
Hallicrafters SX-140 80/6 meter all tube receiver (circa 1964)
Hallicrafters HA-5 80/2 meter all tube vfo (matches HT-40 / SX-140)

Other homebrew projects:
  CW Keyers based on the Curtis 8044ABM chip *
   Foxhunt Radio Direction finder by W9DUU
   Sherlock Transmitter Identifier by WA9BVS
   Frequency Marker by VE3DNL
   Signal Generator / Tracer *
   Ten Minute ID Timer *
   Power Supply (13.8 Volt, 3 A) *
   WWV 10 mhz dc receiver *

* Project designed and built by WT9W.    Additional information on this project is available on
     request. I do not assume any responsibility for the design and I do not guarantee the accuracy
     of the schematics or the successful completion of these projects.

My QRO station consists of the following equipment:
Main rig               - Kenwood TS-2000  HF/6m/2m/440/1.2g transceiver
   HF ant.               - Butternut HF6VX 6 band vertical - ground mounted with radials
VHF/UHF ant.   - Diamond V2000 VHF/UHF Vertical

Additional QRP equipment - not homebrewed:
QRP rig - Yaesu FT-817 HF/VHF/UHF 5watt transceiver - SSB filter
Tuner - LDG Z-100 Ultra (modified Z-100 from W4RT Electronics)

WT9W's list of suggested tools for kit building and repairs:
Variable temp. solder station (700 - 800 deg) like the Weller 921ZX
Solder station should be ESD rated - grounded tip
Small diameter IC grade solder - Kester 62/36/2 low residue
Solder sucker (ESD safe)
Desoldering wick
Magnifying visor
Small lighted magnifying glass
Conductive wrist strap
Small diagonal cutters
Small long nose pliers
Small pair of tweezers (90 degree curved tip)
Jewelers screwdrivers
Assorted standard and philips screwdrivers
Assorted plastic alignment tools
PanaVice for holding the circuit boards while working on them
DMM for measuring resistors, capacitors, voltage, etc.

Use as much light as possible, the more the better!
Identifying small parts is very difficult. I recommend using a magnifying glass to read component values and tolerances. Colors on resistors can easily be mistaken if insufficient light is available. Installing an incorrect part value is a major cause of problems experienced when building kits. Always use sufficient lighting and double check the component value before installing it.

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