Amplifier Suggestions

[Frank MacDonell]

I have a K3/10 and live in a CCR environment. Presently  I  have a  homebrew
dipole (66 feet of stranded copper) in the attic. It works quite well but I
would like to have more reach with CW. I am also concerned about getting RFI
into the neighbor's speakers. I would like to consider a smaller amplifier
compatible with the K3. Does anyone have suggestions? Thanks in advance!

--
Frank KD8FIP
______________________________________________________________
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

[Mike WA8BXN]

I would add the Elecraft amplifier designed for the K3 to upgrade to a
K3/100. There aren't a lot of choices for amps that are designed for 10
watts in. You could go with any linear designed for higher power and just
get less out driving with 10 watts.
 
73 - Mike WA8BXN
 
 
______________________________________________________________
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

[Lou Kolb]

This is a great suggestion.  Once you have the 100 watt amp that is meant
for the K3, you can always set your power for anything between 10 and 100
watts and you'll use no extra space on the desk, if that matters.  It would
in my shack.  73,  Lou WA3MIX
----- Original Message -----
From: "Mike WA8BXN" <[hidden email]>
To: <[hidden email]>; "Frank MacDonell" <[hidden email]>
Sent: Saturday, April 16, 2011 10:48 AM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Amplifier Suggestions

>I would add the Elecraft amplifier designed for the K3 to upgrade to a
> K3/100. There aren't a lot of choices for amps that are designed for 10
> watts in. You could go with any linear designed for higher power and just
> get less out driving with 10 watts.
>
> 73 - Mike WA8BXN
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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 

______________________________________________________________
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

[w7aqk]

Frank and All,

There are some very good small amps out there.  Tokyo Hy-Power now offers an
HL-45 that will run about 50 watts or so, and is a very good product.  I
have their older version, the HL-50B, and it is a superb product as well.
It is particularly useful with the numerous little QRP rigs I have around
the shack when conditions just aren't that great for 5 watts or less.
Another good product is the HF Packer amp, which has been upgraded to quite
a nice package.

Problem is, these add-on amps are cumbersome, unless you plan to use them
with several different rigs like I do.  Also, they aren't cheap, even if you
find one that is used.

If you are just planning to use one with your K3/10, I'd very strongly
suggest you bite the bullet and just add the Elecraft amp module.  It's
probably even "pricier" than the alternatives mentioned above, but the
convenience factor looms large.  It fits neatly inside your K3, doesn't
necessitate a bunch of extra connecting cables, interfaces very nicely with
your K3's firmware, etc.  Then you would have a fully controllable amp, all
in one package, that you can simply dial up the power you want.  This is a
lot more convenient than you might think, and especially if you realize that
more often than not, you don't really need to go all the way to 100 watts,
or even close to that, to improve your ability to communicate in tougher
conditions.  50 watts or less may be all you really need, and you wouldn't
get much more than that anyway out of the others mentioned above.  When 10
watts or less is sufficient, you simply dial that up, and the amp module is
effectively disengaged.  In my view, this is absolutely your best option,
provided you can swing the cost issue.

If cost is a significant issue, there is one other type out there I'm
familiar with, and frequently I see them offered for a much lower price
(used).  These are the ones from RM Italy.  I have an HLA-150, and it is a
pretty good amp--actually will run more than 100 watts.  It's also auto band
switching.  If you get one of the "HLA" series, they do have proper bandpass
filtering.  Other models apparently don't.  My biggest problem with this amp
is that it's RF sensing capability isn't great--not like the Tokyo Hy-Power
models.  So, you really need to key it directly, which is a problem with
most of the little QRP rigs I have, since they don't have a keying line.
Thus, this amp tends to clip dits and dahs here and there unless you do
hardwire the keying.  Anyway, I've seen these being sold for something
around a dollar a watt or so--a good bit cheaper than the others I
mentioned.  There are also some concerns about this amp's purity when run up
around it's stated capability.  At 100 watts or less, however, it seems to
be acceptable.  W8JI did some extensive testing on this, and you might want
to check out his comments if you are interested.

Bottom line--get the Elecraft amp module if at all possible.  In the long
run, you won't regret it.

Dave W7AQK


______________________________________________________________
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