Building an Elecraft K2

I built a K2 several years ago (2005 or 2006?) and have fond memories of the building process. Unfortunately I felt the need to sell it some years later, and have regretted this ever since.

I recently discovered that Elecraft still produce and sell K2 kits - although with occasional hold ups in supply due to the global problems of parts procurement. This discovery made me keen to build myself another one, and not to ever contemplate selling it. My first one had several modules added

• Auto ATU
• 160m/RX antenna port
• 60m module
• SSB module

This time around I plan on only adding the 160m/RX antenna module - the 60m module would have been nice but is now discontinued, and I don't see any value in the Auto ATU or SSB module for how I expect to use the K2 - in the shack, CW only.

I ordered the K2 kit and 160m module today, July 27th 2023. I'm now waiting to hear about a likely shipping date. Hopefully it'll arrive before the winter, as I'd like to build it as an autumn/winter project - with a view to using it for Straight Key Night or G-QRP Winter Sports.

I plan to make notes here of the build process, and also to make some You Tube videos of the main milestones & test and alignment process. And of course of the first QSO.

— John Pumford-Green 27/07/23 23:25

After waiting for over 3 months, and still no sign of the K2 being available, I decided for various reasons to cancel the K2 order. I can't justify the expense and can find more importnat uses for both the money and for the time it would take to build a K2.

If Elecraft make K2 kits available sometime later, in 2024, I may consider ordering one at that time.

— John Pumford-Green 09/11/23 08:06

• https://elecraft.com/collections/full-kits-1/products/k2-the-classic-hf-transceiver-full-kit