Amp choices for QRP K3?

[Darwin, Keith]

I'm interested in getting more TX energy out of my K3/10.  The first
option, of course, is to put in the Elecraft 100 watt PA, but I wonder.
Tokyo HiPower has an amp that will give 100 or so watts with 10 in.
Will it run smooth QSK like the Elecraft 100 watt PA?  Are there other
cost effective choices?
 
- Keith N1AS -
- K3 711 -
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[M0XDF]

Why would you want to do that?

Surely the KPA3, with all it's integrated features, an additional Ant.  
socket and Elecraft reliability and support far outweigh any other  
option?
Plus of course it's all in the same box, with the same supply and not  
another piece of equipment to install, carry etc.

I'm not an Elecraft bigot, but in this case, I'm prepared to be called  
one.
73 de M0XDF, K3 #174
--
We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used  
when we
created them. -Albert Einstein, physicist, Nobel laureate (1879-1955)

On 14 May 2009, at 20:23, Darwin, Keith wrote:

> I'm interested in getting more TX energy out of my K3/10.  The first
> option, of course, is to put in the Elecraft 100 watt PA, but I  
> wonder.
> Tokyo HiPower has an amp that will give 100 or so watts with 10 in.
> Will it run smooth QSK like the Elecraft 100 watt PA?  Are there other
> cost effective choices?

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[Doug Faunt N6TQS [phone]]

If you want to put an external amp on a 10W K3, consider a high power
amp.  You can get a few hundred watts with 10W in from some fairly
inexpensive amps.  In fact, if oyu've got an amp already, then a 10W K3
is a way to get the very good RX and some significant power at an
economy price, while still being able to upgrade later.

73, doug


   From: "David Ferrington, M0XDF" <[hidden email]>
   Date: Thu, 14 May 2009 21:09:45 +0100

   Why would you want to do that?

   Surely the KPA3, with all it's integrated features, an additional Ant.  
   socket and Elecraft reliability and support far outweigh any other  
   option?
   Plus of course it's all in the same box, with the same supply and not  
   another piece of equipment to install, carry etc.

   I'm not an Elecraft bigot, but in this case, I'm prepared to be called  
   one.

   On 14 May 2009, at 20:23, Darwin, Keith wrote:

   > I'm interested in getting more TX energy out of my K3/10.  The first
   > option, of course, is to put in the Elecraft 100 watt PA, but I  
   > wonder.
   > Tokyo HiPower has an amp that will give 100 or so watts with 10 in.
   > Will it run smooth QSK like the Elecraft 100 watt PA?  Are there other
   > cost effective choices?

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[Jim Brown-10]

On Thu, 14 May 2009 12:23:42 -0700, Darwin, Keith wrote:

>I'm interested in getting more TX energy out of my K3/10.

About two hours ago, I posted a note about how well Ten Tec and Alpha amps work
with the K3. A barefoot K3/10 will drive my Herc II to about 200 watts, and the
Titans to about 400 watts. The Herc II is rated for 550 watts, and the Titans
for full legal US power. I've used Alphas at N6RO, and think they drive fairly
easily too, but don't hold me to it.

73,

Jim Brown K9YC


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[Darwin, Keith]

Why go with an external amp?  Well, I had a K2/10.  Upgraded to K2/100
then went to K3.  I could not use the K2 100 watt PA on the K3.  Had I
bought a generic external linear for the K2, I'd still be using it with
the K3.

The other driver would be cost.  If the external amp solution is cheaper
than the 100 watt internal PA, it would be worth considering.

But, your point is well taken. I think the integration would be very
hard to match with an external, 3rd party amp.  Silent T/R switching and
smooth QSK are very important to me.  I do NOT want relays in an amp.

- Keith N1AS -
- K3 711 -

-----Original Message-----
From: David Ferrington, M0XDF [mailto:[hidden email]]
Sent: Thursday, May 14, 2009 4:10 PM
To: Darwin, Keith
Cc: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Amp choices for QRP K3?

Why would you want to do that?

Surely the KPA3, with all it's integrated features, an additional Ant.  
socket and Elecraft reliability and support far outweigh any other
option?
Plus of course it's all in the same box, with the same supply and not
another piece of equipment to install, carry etc.

I'm not an Elecraft bigot, but in this case, I'm prepared to be called
one.
73 de M0XDF, K3 #174
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[Doug Faunt N6TQS [phone]]

And unless I'm confused, the very inexpensive Unified Microsystems
band decoder will do the right thing for automatically bandswitching
the Herc II.

73, doug

   From: "Jim Brown" <[hidden email]>
   Date: Thu, 14 May 2009 13:58:08 -0700

   On Thu, 14 May 2009 12:23:42 -0700, Darwin, Keith wrote:

   >I'm interested in getting more TX energy out of my K3/10.

   About two hours ago, I posted a note about how well Ten Tec and
   Alpha amps work with the K3. A barefoot K3/10 will drive my Herc II
   to about 200 watts, and the Titans to about 400 watts. The Herc II
   is rated for 550 watts, and the Titans for full legal US
   power. I've used Alphas at N6RO, and think they drive fairly easily
   too, but don't hold me to it.

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[Phil Salas]

I just checked - my ALS-600 runs 80-100 watts out with 10 watts drive from
my K3, though I normally run it at more like 500 watts output with about 70
watts drive.  There is a 35 ohm resistor in series with the ALS-600 input
that can probably be reduced to give you more output power.  I have modified
my ALS-600 for QSK operation and it works great with my K3 (see this month's
QST or www.ad5x.com for details).

Phil - AD5X

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[WILLIS COOKE]

I read your article Phil.  WELL DONE! I am considering the mod to my ALS-600 and my Dentron Clipperton-L as well.  Seems it would work for both.  I would be interested in your kits.  The etched circuit board seems more elegant than the perfboard.  A question!  How is the relay SWR on 6 meters.  Of course neither amp is designed for six, but I have some SWR from the relay using my K3 on six. (With the Dentron, I have not tried the ALS-600.

Willis 'Cookie' Cooke
K5EWJ


--- On Fri, 5/15/09, Phil & Debbie Salas <[hidden email]> wrote:

> From: Phil & Debbie Salas <[hidden email]>
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Amp choices for QRP K3?
> To: [hidden email]
> Date: Friday, May 15, 2009, 9:48 AM
> I just checked - my ALS-600 runs 80-100 watts out with 10
> watts drive from
> my K3, though I normally run it at more like 500 watts
> output with about 70
> watts drive.  There is a 35 ohm resistor in series with the
> ALS-600 input
> that can probably be reduced to give you more output power.
>  I have modified
> my ALS-600 for QSK operation and it works great with my K3
> (see this month's
> QST or www.ad5x.com for details).
>
> Phil - AD5X
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
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>
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> http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

... [show rest of quote]

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[Dick, K2ZR]

Is anyone using the ALS-600 with their K2/QRP?
Dick, K2ZR
PS: Phil ( AS5X ) TU for the information on the ALS-600 and your K3

Dick Stein wrote:

> Is anyone using the ALS-600 with their K2/QRP?
> Dick, K2ZR
> PS: Phil ( AS5X ) TU for the information on the ALS-600 and your K3
>
> Phil & Debbie Salas wrote:
>
>> I just checked - my ALS-600 runs 80-100 watts out with 10 watts drive
>> from my K3, though I normally run it at more like 500 watts output
>> with about 70 watts drive.  There is a 35 ohm resistor in series with
>> the ALS-600 input that can probably be reduced to give you more
>> output power.  I have modified my ALS-600 for QSK operation and it
>> works great with my K3 (see this month's QST or www.ad5x.com for
>> details).
>>
>> Phil - AD5X
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> Elecraft mailing list
>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>>
>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>>
>>
>>  
>>
>

... [show rest of quote]

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