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FW: [cwops] merger of Alpha and Ten Tec

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Stephen Bloom

FW: [cwops] merger of Alpha and Ten Tec

Hope it isn't bad etiquette to send this to two email lists

I've thought that ExpertAmps and Elecraft should consider some type of
working agreement. I have a K3 and 2K-FA that play very well together .very
nice for QSK, though I did buy the amp with the after market vacuum relay),
pretty similar to the way the K3 and KPA500 do. A long time ago Elecraft
protopyed a single tube KPA-1500 but I think that project died. Frosty
K5LBU ..the American Distributor for SPE puts together a lodge safari type
operation in Africa every year (last year it was 3D2A, this year I think it
will be 7P7 or 7Q7) and they pair K3's and 1K-FAs and 2K-FAs.

73

Steve KL7SB

From: [hidden email] [mailto:[hidden email]]
Sent: Monday, May 12, 2014 8:46 AM
To: [hidden email]
Cc: [hidden email]
Subject: RE: [cwops] merger of Alpha and Ten Tec

Hmmmmm.....if one had to, this merger would be hard to judge. IMO, since the
demise of Al Kahn, Ten Tec has been sliding downhill. Since Al's departure,
Ten Tec really has not produced anything new or innovative. I still have
three Omni 6+ rigs and one of the Corsair II, both of which I think have
excellent receivers. I owned a couple of their amplifiers and they were both
good and reliable. I now own an Alpha 9500 which is proving to be a real
workhorse amp. I am fortunate since switching from the Alpha 8510, which was
troublesome, to the 9500 , to not really have to utilize their tech support
again. Ten Tec's tech support was what I would call less than stellar but
you eventually could get some help from them. My impression, especially now
with Elecraft available, Ten Tec was slowly sliding down the hill. With
Alpha showing very slow design capability, in terms of their automatic
tuner, they are not very attractive either. Both companies probably could be
excellent for the hobby IF they could acquire some management who were
capable of looking forward. I just hope we don't lose either one of them!

73,

Tom - W4BQF

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email] [mailto:[hidden email]]
Sent: Monday, May 12, 2014 12:11 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: [cwops] merger of Alpha and Ten Tec

I'm still on the fence about this one. I have owned both companies'

products. I had a Ten-Tec OMNI D, two Centurions, and a Titan. I still own
an Alpha 87A.

In the early 1980s, when I bought the Ten-Tec OMNI D I thought it was a very
good transceiver. With regard to my amplifiers, though, the Titan and one of
the Centurions both developed power transformer shorts and it was expensive
to fix them.

I have had very good service, so far, from my Alpha 87A. But...I'm not so
sure the 9500 is an improvement over the 87A, or so I've heard. The 87A uses
pin diodes and is relatively quiet. The 9500 uses relays and is relatively
noisy. Both use vacuum tubes.

From my perspective (opinion, not necessarily fact), Elecraft is the most
innovative ham company; and SPE has succeeded in designing the 2K-FA
solid-state amplifier that has nearly a 5 out of 5 eham rating.

In my perfect ham world, Elecraft would make a 1.5 KW solid-state
KPA-500-like amplifier. My station would become a K3/P3 and 1.5 KW all
Elecraft station (actually a pair in SO2R). I'm not sure Elecraft will make
that 1.5 KW amplifier. So, it's a question about whether a pair of K-lines
in SO2R would be sufficient for me. There is also the possibility that I
would get a 2K-FA (W9KNI loves his).

So, getting back to the merger, I'm sure it makes economic sense to
merge...but I'm not so sure I would consider it a marriage of two companies
who have been and continue to be state-of-the-art ham product makers.

You may see it differently, of course, and that's what makes things
interesting.

73,

Rob K6RB

PS: See you in Dayton

! ;

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Don Wilhelm-4

Re: FW: [cwops] merger of Alpha and Ten Tec

Steve,

You are partly correct.
Elecraft did prototype both an 800 watt amp and a 1500 watt amp long ago.
They were both all solid state - no tubes involved.
The 1500 watt version used two of the power bricks of the 800 watt unit.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 5/12/2014 2:25 PM, Stephen Bloom wrote:

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W1KSZ

Re: FW: [cwops] merger of Alpha and Ten Tec

In reply to this post by Stephen Bloom

Wait until the SPE 1.3K-FA comes out, 16.5 lb's, built-in Antenna Tuner.
If the price is right and it should be between the 1K and 2K, they should
sell a boatload of them.

73, Dick, W1KSZ

On 5/12/2014 11:25 AM, Stephen Bloom wrote:

> Hope it isn't bad etiquette to send this to two email lists
>
>
>
> I've thought that ExpertAmps and Elecraft should consider some type of
> working agreement. I have a K3 and 2K-FA that play very well together .very
> nice for QSK, though I did buy the amp with the after market vacuum relay),
> pretty similar to the way the K3 and KPA500 do. A long time ago Elecraft
> protopyed a single tube KPA-1500 but I think that project died. Frosty
> K5LBU ..the American Distributor for SPE puts together a lodge safari type
> operation in Africa every year (last year it was 3D2A, this year I think it
> will be 7P7 or 7Q7) and they pair K3's and 1K-FAs and 2K-FAs.
>
>
>
> 73
>
> Steve KL7SB
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> From: [hidden email] [mailto:[hidden email]]
> Sent: Monday, May 12, 2014 8:46 AM
> To: [hidden email]
> Cc: [hidden email]
> Subject: RE: [cwops] merger of Alpha and Ten Tec
>
>
>
>
>
> Hmmmmm.....if one had to, this merger would be hard to judge. IMO, since the
> demise of Al Kahn, Ten Tec has been sliding downhill. Since Al's departure,
> Ten Tec really has not produced anything new or innovative. I still have
> three Omni 6+ rigs and one of the Corsair II, both of which I think have
> excellent receivers. I owned a couple of their amplifiers and they were both
> good and reliable. I now own an Alpha 9500 which is proving to be a real
> workhorse amp. I am fortunate since switching from the Alpha 8510, which was
> troublesome, to the 9500 , to not really have to utilize their tech support
> again. Ten Tec's tech support was what I would call less than stellar but
> you eventually could get some help from them. My impression, especially now
> with Elecraft available, Ten Tec was slowly sliding down the hill. With
> Alpha showing very slow design capability, in terms of their automatic
> tuner, they are not very attractive either. Both companies probably could be
> excellent for the hobby IF they could acquire some management who were
> capable of looking forward. I just hope we don't lose either one of them!
>
>
>
> 73,
>
> Tom - W4BQF
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: [hidden email] [mailto:[hidden email]]
> Sent: Monday, May 12, 2014 12:11 PM
> To: [hidden email]
> Subject: [cwops] merger of Alpha and Ten Tec
>
>
>
> I'm still on the fence about this one. I have owned both companies'
>
> products. I had a Ten-Tec OMNI D, two Centurions, and a Titan. I still own
> an Alpha 87A.
>
>
>
> In the early 1980s, when I bought the Ten-Tec OMNI D I thought it was a very
> good transceiver. With regard to my amplifiers, though, the Titan and one of
> the Centurions both developed power transformer shorts and it was expensive
> to fix them.
>
>
>
> I have had very good service, so far, from my Alpha 87A. But...I'm not so
> sure the 9500 is an improvement over the 87A, or so I've heard. The 87A uses
> pin diodes and is relatively quiet. The 9500 uses relays and is relatively
> noisy. Both use vacuum tubes.
>
>
>
> >From my perspective (opinion, not necessarily fact), Elecraft is the most
> innovative ham company; and SPE has succeeded in designing the 2K-FA
> solid-state amplifier that has nearly a 5 out of 5 eham rating.
>
>
>
> In my perfect ham world, Elecraft would make a 1.5 KW solid-state
> KPA-500-like amplifier. My station would become a K3/P3 and 1.5 KW all
> Elecraft station (actually a pair in SO2R). I'm not sure Elecraft will make
> that 1.5 KW amplifier. So, it's a question about whether a pair of K-lines
> in SO2R would be sufficient for me. There is also the possibility that I
> would get a 2K-FA (W9KNI loves his).
>
>
>
> So, getting back to the merger, I'm sure it makes economic sense to
> merge...but I'm not so sure I would consider it a marriage of two companies
> who have been and continue to be state-of-the-art ham product makers.
>
>
>
> You may see it differently, of course, and that's what makes things
> interesting.
>
>
>
> 73,
>
> Rob K6RB
>
>
>
> PS: See you in Dayton
>
> ! ;
>
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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
> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>

Elecraft mailing list

Re: FW: [cwops] merger of Alpha and Ten Tec

In reply to this post by Don Wilhelm-4

Steve, you sure have been doing a lot of " Thinking"
You better be careful now! :-)

((((73)))) Milverton.

On Monday, May 12, 2014 2:16 PM, Don Wilhelm <[hidden email]> wrote:

Steve,

>
>You are partly correct.
>Elecraft did prototype both an 800 watt amp and a 1500 watt amp long ago.
>They were both all solid state - no tubes involved.
>The 1500 watt version used two of the power bricks of the 800 watt unit.
>
>73,
>Don W3FPR
>
>
>On 5/12/2014 2:25 PM, Stephen Bloom wrote:
>> Hope it isn't bad etiquette to send this to two email lists
>>
>>
>>
>> I've thought that ExpertAmps and Elecraft should consider some type of
>> working agreement. I have a K3 and 2K-FA that play very well together .very
>> nice for QSK, though I did buy the amp with the after market vacuum relay),
>> pretty similar to the way the K3 and KPA500 do. A long time ago Elecraft
>> protopyed a single tube KPA-1500 but I think that project died. Frosty
>> K5LBU ..the American Distributor for SPE puts together a lodge safari type
>> operation in Africa every year (last year it was 3D2A, this year I think it
>> will be 7P7 or 7Q7) and they pair K3's and 1K-FAs and 2K-FAs.
>>
>>
>>
>
>______________________________________________________________
>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
>Message delivered to [hidden email]
>
>
>

Scott Manthe-2

Re: FW: [cwops] merger of Alpha and Ten Tec

In reply to this post by W1KSZ

$6-$7K is a boatload of money, but I guess if you're a serious amateur,
it's worth it. Personally, it's pretty hard for me to justify $7K on an
amp. I might be able to swing $3.5K on a KPA1000, though...

73,
Scott, N9AA

On 5/12/14 3:17 PM, Richard Solomon wrote:
> Wait until the SPE 1.3K-FA comes out, 16.5 lb's, built-in Antenna Tuner.
> If the price is right and it should be between the 1K and 2K, they should
> sell a boatload of them.
>
> 73, Dick, W1KSZ
>
>

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KC6CNN

Re: FW: [cwops] merger of Alpha and Ten Tec

CONTENTS DELETED

The author has deleted this message.

Ignacy

Re: FW: [cwops] merger of Alpha and Ten Tec

" SPE has succeeded in designing the 2K-FA
solid-state amplifier that has nearly a 5 out of 5 eham rating"

W8JI found that 5 out of 5 on eham does not mean much.

SPE 2k owners are like in a Corvette club: they bought it mostly because they have money and they want the most expensive stuff. Most seem to be ignorant and afraid of saying one slightest criticism.

With small modifications, 2k-fa can be great, but SPE is no Elecraft.

Ignacy, NO9E

Wes (N7WS)

Re: FW: [cwops] merger of Alpha and Ten Tec

Disclaimer: The first and last Corvette I owned was a 1956. (Don't I wish I had
that back?)

That said, what's your issue with Corvette owners? The new Sting Ray will blow
the doors off exotics costing many times what it costs and get better fuel
mileage than some "economy" cars while doing it, and costing little more than
some boring mid-sized sedans or SUVs.

http://www.chevrolet.com/corvette-stingray.html

From edmunds.com:

"You can also see the average miles per gallon figure, which was achieved on
91-octane fuel, and with judicious use of cruise control and seventh gear. I
did drive all day Sunday from Kansas City to Detroit (about 750 miles) in
Economy mode, which seamlessly deactivates four of the engine's eight
cylinders when their performance is not needed. That day I averaged over 29
mpg. Like I said, amazing. I wish I had used that technology throughout the
trip."

One could easily argue that the Corvette is the K3 of the automobile world.

Wes N7WS

On 5/12/2014 2:21 PM, Ignacy wrote:

> " SPE has succeeded in designing the 2K-FA
> solid-state amplifier that has nearly a 5 out of 5 eham rating"
>
> W8JI found that 5 out of 5 on eham does not mean much.
>
> SPE 2k owners are like in a Corvette club: they bought it mostly because
> they have money and they want the most expensive stuff. Most seem to be
> ignorant and afraid of saying one slightest criticism.
>
> With small modifications, 2k-fa can be great, but SPE is no Elecraft.
>
> Ignacy, NO9E
>
>

Ignacy

Re: FW: [cwops] merger of Alpha and Ten Tec

No problems with the Corvette. The Stingray has impressive reviews.

Many Corvette owners seem to drive 5 miles below the limit and accelerate from 0 to 60 in 30 seconds. It seems to be a status symbol. Also if it breaks down often (reliability much worse than average in CR), it is still a great car to its owners.

One can have an intelligent QSO with Alpha or Ameritron owners. Hard to do with SPE 2k owners.

Ignacy, NO9E

Eric Swartz - WA6HHQ

Re: FW: [cwops] merger of Alpha and Ten Tec

Administrator

Folks, we're drifting way OT. Let's end this thread at this time.

73,
Eric
List Moderator, etc.
elecraft.com
_..._

> On May 12, 2014, at 6:42 PM, Ignacy <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> No problems with the Corvette. The Stingray has impressive reviews.
>
> Many Corvette owners seem to drive 5 miles below the limit and accelerate
> from 0 to 60 in 30 seconds. It seems to be a status symbol. Also if it
> breaks down often (reliability much worse than average in CR), it is still
> a great car to its owners.
>
> One can have an intelligent QSO with Alpha or Ameritron owners. Hard to do
> with SPE 2k owners.
>
> Ignacy, NO9E

Stephen Bloom

Re: FW: [cwops] merger of Alpha and Ten Tec

In reply to this post by Ignacy

I know this thread has been closed ...but ..couldn't resist this one ...So
far I'm happy with the 2K but realize that it, much like an earlier Italian
import could end up as a 7500 Dollar Fiat (Fix It Again Tony).

73
Steve KL7SB

-----Original Message-----
From: Elecraft [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Ignacy
Sent: Monday, May 12, 2014 5:43 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] FW: [cwops] merger of Alpha and Ten Tec

No problems with the Corvette. The Stingray has impressive reviews.

Many Corvette owners seem to drive 5 miles below the limit and accelerate
from 0 to 60 in 30 seconds. It seems to be a status symbol. Also if it
breaks down often (reliability much worse than average in CR), it is still a
great car to its owners.

One can have an intelligent QSO with Alpha or Ameritron owners. Hard to do
with SPE 2k owners.

Ignacy, NO9E

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