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Connecting the Transverter to your Elecraft K2
Transceiver
The transverter integrates closely with the K2, using data from the
AuxBus to automatically enable the transverter when the transverter band
is selected. The K2 currently supports three transverter bands,
corresponding to the three transverters available. Your K2 must be
equipped with:
•
KIO2 Interface.
Either the stand-alone KIO2 interface for the
QRP version of the K2 or the KIO2 interface built into the
KPA100 amplifier is suitable.
•
Revision 2 Firmware.
Hold any front-panel button while turning
on the power to your K2 to see the current firmware version.
Upgraded firmware is available from Elecraft.
K2’s with serial numbers 3445 and earlier should be equipped with the
following Elecraft-approved modifications.
•
10 Meter Bandpass Filter and VFO/ALC modification
,
applicable to all K2’s S/N 2999 and down. This modification
reduces spurious signals. It is very strongly recommended.
•
K2 BFO Toroid & PLL Ref Osc Xtal Upgrade,
applicable to
K2’s S/N 2999 and down. This modification substantially
reduces the K2’s reference oscillator and BFO frequency drift.
•
Temperature-Compensated PLL Reference Upgrade
,
applicable to K2’s S/N 3445 and down. This modification further
reduces the K2’s reference oscillator frequency drift.
You can purchase kits of parts and instructions for performing these mods
from Elecraft. If you would like to perform these mods using your own
parts, complete instructions may be downloaded from our web site at
www.elecraft.com.
You will need a 50-ohm coaxial cable to connect your K2 to the
transverter with a BNC connector at the transverter end and the
appropriate connecter at the K2 end for attaching it to the K2 BNC or the
K2/100 SO-239 antenna connector.
Your transverter was supplied with a DB-9 cable connector and a length
of multi-conductor wire for making up the command and control interface
cable. This cable may be added to the DB-9 connector you are currently
using to control a KPA100 ATU or communicate with a personal
computer through an RS-232 port, or both so you won’t need to switch
connectors when using the transceiver. Complete instructions for making
up the cable and integrating it with your current setup are included below.
Cut a length of the 4-conductor cable to suit the needs of your station
layout.
Note:
Keep the cable length as short as practical. A length of 2’
(60 cm) is recommended. Longer lengths may be used, but a longer length
will have to be tested to ensure that it is not subject to RF interference. A
more heavily-shielded cable may be required.
If you are integrating two or more transverters into the station at this
time, cut a length of cable as needed to reach from the first transverter to
the second transverter in a daisy-chain arrangement (see Figure 50).
Remove 1/2” (12 mm) of the jacket from the cable at each end. Be
very careful not to nick the individual wires.
Peel back and cut away the foil shield. Be sure that you do
not
cut the
bare ground wire.
Strip of 3/16” (5 mm) of insulation from each insulated wire.
Twist the strands of each wire together. If you are daisy-chaining
cables, twist the ends of leads with like colors together. Tin lightly with
solder.
