I had hoped to spend more time on the air in CQ WPX CW, but the XYL had reached the melting point on getting the bedroom painted. So the contest was shot from the git-go, ‘cuz I knew I’d be too tired from moving the furniture, painting, etc.<\/p>\n
I did spend a few 30 minute breaks twirling the knob on the K2 during the contest. I must say, the K2 really is a good CW rig<\/span>. Based on the ARRL Lab and Sherwood Engineering test numbers, it should downright blow away the FT-920 for selectivity. Not so fast there, Bandwidth Breath…..<\/p>\n The K2 was indeed better atseparatingthe signals, but the FT-920acquitteditself well in the head to head A\/B testing. I didn’t call NT4D up to give it the full Monty acid test. When Jay fires up his Alpha within about 30kc of me, the FT-920 screams for mercy.(We are close enough neighbors to run Multi-2, we are within a 500 meter circle.) The AGC pumping makes all but the strongest signals difficult copy on the 920.<\/p>\n Even lacking the real acid test, it is still obvious that the K2 is a better receiver. I really am looking forward to trying it out in the ARRL 160m this winter, and FD this summer.<\/p>\n I have also spent a bit more time toying with the K2’s DSP filters. I need to research this area more fully. I have everything set up for both SSB and CW the way I like it to sound. After resetting the CW filter center frequencies to the side tone frequency, I am now very pleased with the DSP selections available. The SSB filters were a bit more difficult. They are easy to set, I just had difficulty deciding which sound characteristics made for easier copy.<\/p>\n The feature I need to research is the Noise Reduction\/denoiser. Turning the NR on for CW works okay, but on SSB I find that it distorts the audio. I’m sure I have something set incorrectly.<\/p>\n I’m also getting more accustomed to the control function and layout. I found that the switching the filters is really the only feature I have a lot of need to change with any frequency, and that is easy.<\/p>\n One more caveat turned up during WPX play. The K2 seems very sensitive to high SWR situations. All of my antennas are of the resonant variety, with the exception of the Inv-L for 160m. Unfortunately, only the 80m folded dipole is resonant at the RIGHT PLACE. \ud83d\ude42 (yet another project…) So until I get the autotuner, I’m using an outboard MFJ 949. I really need to tweak the 20m and 40m dipoles.<\/p>\n I am still missing my FT-100D – but only for its VHF\/UHF capabilities. The K2 rooolz.<\/p>\n