KPA-500 vs others
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I guess I'm just a Missouri mule. However, I see that most of these
posting praising the KPA500 and the posters don't even have one. Wouldn't logic say, you can't make a comparison without having the items you're comparing? BTW in the 500 vs 1500 watt debate, there is a tool which can pretty much settle the issue. It's called VOACAP. It is a propagation coverage tool which allows you to specify your power, antenna and produces a map of what coverage you'll get for the prevailing solar indices and time of day. There is a free online version at: http://www.voacap.com/prediction.html Select the area coverage option. For me, it is pretty convincing (I'm a primarily a DXer) that 1500 watts suits my operating needs, 500 watts does not. For example two maps run this morning on 40M shows zero probability of making a contact with VK, however with 1500 watts it the probability becomes reasonable. One factor VOACAP can't consider is competition. I think it is a given that more 5db power will suit you better in a pileup. If you're an old goat and your biological clock it ticking, working what you can hear quickly makes sense. However, everyone's circumstances are different. But at least one ought to try to evaluate them with available tools rather than just relying on word of mouth. 73 de Brian/K3KO ----- No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 10.0.1382 / Virus Database: 1513/3719 - Release Date: 06/22/11 ______________________________________________________________ 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 |
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All,
I am about to blaspheme. I know this ahead of sending this email, and offer my mea culpas accordingly. However, I have a question. Why should I buy the KPA500 when I can get higher-powered (although, admittedly, not much higher powered) solid state amps for about 2/3 the cost of a KPA500? Please feel free to discuss and lambast the poster as you feel appropriate. Just no tarring and feathering, please. ;-) Thanks for the input. 73, Ian, AK4IK K3 #281, P3 #688 ______________________________________________________________ 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 |
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Ian,
1) You want your amplifier and its power supply to weigh only 36 pounds. 2) You want your amp's power supply to be a linear type rather than a switcher 3) You want an amplifier that is the same size and shape of your K3. 4) You want an amplifier that "plays together" with your K3. Others may contribute more reasons. 73, Don W3FPR On 6/21/2011 8:51 AM, Ian Kahn wrote: > All, > > I am about to blaspheme. I know this ahead of sending this email, and offer > my mea culpas accordingly. However, I have a question. Why should I buy > the KPA500 when I can get higher-powered (although, admittedly, not much > higher powered) solid state amps for about 2/3 the cost of a KPA500? > > Please feel free to discuss and lambast the poster as you feel appropriate. > Just no tarring and feathering, please. ;-) > 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 |
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In reply to this post by AK4IK_Ian
That's how much bigger? And requires an external power supply? And
doesn't have automatic band switching? 73, Ross N4RP On 6/21/2011 8:51 AM, Ian Kahn wrote: > All, > > I am about to blaspheme. I know this ahead of sending this email, and offer > my mea culpas accordingly. However, I have a question. Why should I buy > the KPA500 when I can get higher-powered (although, admittedly, not much > higher powered) solid state amps for about 2/3 the cost of a KPA500? > > Please feel free to discuss and lambast the poster as you feel appropriate. > Just no tarring and feathering, please. ;-) > > Thanks for the input. > > 73, > > Ian, AK4IK > K3 #281, P3 #688 > ______________________________________________________________ > 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 -- FCC Section 97.313(a) “At all times, an amateur station must use the minimum transmitter power necessary to carry out the desired communications.” ______________________________________________________________ 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 |
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In reply to this post by AK4IK_Ian
Any solid state amp that costs less than the KPA500 is of lower quality.
P.S. There is nothing wrong with the THP HL550FX that has a switching power supply. 73, Bob W5OV -----Original Message----- From: [hidden email] [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Ian Kahn Sent: Tuesday, June 21, 2011 7:52 AM To: [hidden email] Subject: [Elecraft] KPA500 vs. other amps All, I am about to blaspheme. I know this ahead of sending this email, and offer my mea culpas accordingly. However, I have a question. Why should I buy the KPA500 when I can get higher-powered (although, admittedly, not much higher powered) solid state amps for about 2/3 the cost of a KPA500? Please feel free to discuss and lambast the poster as you feel appropriate. Just no tarring and feathering, please. ;-) Thanks for the input. 73, Ian, AK4IK K3 #281, P3 #688 ______________________________________________________________ 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 |
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In reply to this post by AK4IK_Ian
Hi Ian:
It's not about cost. It's about value. They are not the same thing. 73 de Ray K2ULR On Jun 21, 2011, at 8:51 AM, Ian Kahn wrote: > All, > > I am about to blaspheme. I know this ahead of sending this email, > and offer > my mea culpas accordingly. However, I have a question. Why should > I buy > the KPA500 when I can get higher-powered (although, admittedly, not > much > higher powered) solid state amps for about 2/3 the cost of a KPA500? > > Please feel free to discuss and lambast the poster as you feel > appropriate. > Just no tarring and feathering, please. ;-) > > Thanks for the input. > > 73, > > Ian, AK4IK > K3 #281, P3 #688 > ______________________________________________________________ > 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 |
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It IS about quality...it is not about about price.
Gary On 21 June 2011 23:26, Ray Sills <[hidden email]> wrote: > Hi Ian: > > It's not about cost. It's about value. They are not the same thing. > > 73 de Ray > K2ULR > > On Jun 21, 2011, at 8:51 AM, Ian Kahn wrote: > > > All, > > > > I am about to blaspheme. I know this ahead of sending this email, > > and offer > > my mea culpas accordingly. However, I have a question. Why should > > I buy > > the KPA500 when I can get higher-powered (although, admittedly, not > > much > > higher powered) solid state amps for about 2/3 the cost of a KPA500? > > > > Please feel free to discuss and lambast the poster as you feel > > appropriate. > > Just no tarring and feathering, please. ;-) > > > > Thanks for the input. > > > > 73, > > > > Ian, AK4IK > > K3 #281, P3 #688 > > ______________________________________________________________ > > 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 > -- VK4FD - Motorhome Mobile Elecraft Equipment K3 #679, KPA-500 #018 Living the dream!!! ______________________________________________________________ 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 |
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In reply to this post by Don Wilhelm-4
5) You require an amplifier that plays full power also on 6 meters.
73, Terry K4RX Ian, 1) You want your amplifier and its power supply to weigh only 36 pounds. 2) You want your amp's power supply to be a linear type rather than a switcher 3) You want an amplifier that is the same size and shape of your K3. 4) You want an amplifier that "plays together" with your K3. Others may contribute more reasons. 73, Don W3FPR On 6/21/2011 8:51 AM, Ian Kahn wrote: > All, > > I am about to blaspheme. I know this ahead of sending this email, and offer > my mea culpas accordingly. However, I have a question. Why should I buy > the KPA500 when I can get higher-powered (although, admittedly, not much > higher powered) solid state amps for about 2/3 the cost of a KPA500? ______________________________________________________________ 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 |
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In reply to this post by AK4IK_Ian
On 6/21/2011 5:51 AM, Ian Kahn wrote:
> Why should I buy > the KPA500 when I can get higher-powered (although, admittedly, not much > higher powered) solid state amps for about 2/3 the cost of a KPA500? I don't pretend to be an expert on all of the power amps available. But there's far more to buying power amp than watts. We're buying reliability, operational convenience/features, technical specs (low intermod and harmonics), and a physical package that fits into the space on our operating desk and on an airplane for a DX trip. Last fall I had the negative thrill of using an el-cheapo amp during CQWW at PJ4. (Two larger el-cheapo amps had been fried by a previous user. One had been dragged back to the factory (in MS) and repaired, but the second one wasn't known to have been fried until we fired it up, and we didn't have the parts to repair it). Although rated for 500 watts, the little amp fell back to 300W when presented with moderately mismatched antennas. A few months ago, I had a pre-production beta KPA500 for a major RTTY contest, with orders to run it with all the lights lit. When my antennas presented it with a 2:1 SWR, it fell back from 600 W to 500W. I installed my new KPA500 the same way the Elecraft engineer installed the loaner for that RTTY contest -- coax in and out and PTT. The first sniff of RF drive causes the amp to set itself to the right band, and I'm rolling. If I'm working CW, I simply hit a dit after I've switched, and it's there. This is also the way that later generation Alpha amps work, except that they're also doing antenna tuning. :) I'll buy the Elecraft tuner when it's available. And having looking inside those el-cheapos and the KPA500, I think cost comparisons with Alpha and Acom are far more appropriate. 73, Jim K9YC ______________________________________________________________ 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 |
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In reply to this post by Terry Posey
Are you suggesting that 500W is "full power"?
--- On Tue, 6/21/11, Terry Posey <[hidden email]> wrote: 5) You require an amplifier that plays full power also on 6 meters. 73, Terry K4RX Ian, 1) You want your amplifier and its power supply to weigh only 36 pounds. 2) You want your amp's power supply to be a linear type rather than a switcher 3) You want an amplifier that is the same size and shape of your K3. 4) You want an amplifier that "plays together" with your K3. Others may contribute more reasons. 73, Don W3FPR ______________________________________________________________ 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 |
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In reply to this post by AK4IK_Ian
Can I add another dimension? I have an Acom 1000 which is fitted with
the additional rear panel fan for fairly quiet 1 KW continuous carrier capability, it's a good amplifier for the shack and covers 160 - 6m with a measured 1 KW into a dummy load. For an output of 400 Watts the Acom needs around 20 ~ 40 Watts drive and comfortably works well from a K3. The UK power limit is currently 400 Watts and I feel the reduced weight of the KPA500 more than compensates for the difference in power and the cost is similar, even allowing for expensive shipping of a kit from the USA, etc. I am looking to get a KPA500 once the ordering to delivery time closes a little. I prefer to sell the Acom first and don't want to be without an amplifier for too long... If anyone in the UK is looking to buy an Acom 1000 in good condition, contact me off list. 73 Dave, G4AON ______________________________________________________________ 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 |
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In reply to this post by n7ws
What a reflector. Sounds like a bunch of rationale to justify paying so much for the KPA500. In my not to humble shack I have 18 transceivers in active positions each with an amp. Some with "El Cheapo and some with "El Expensiveo" [HI] amplifiers. Did someone say value? I just do not see it in the KPA500. I love my two K3s and they are the favorites of my visitors yes even over 10K radios. So I probably never will buy one, but for those who like the feel of a fully integrated station and ignore the fact that on the air and your watt meter can not tell the difference, buy one My opinion do not hate me! Love my two K3s George, W6GF ______________________________________________________________ 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 |
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I've had my new KPA500 amp now for one week. It's worth every penny!
Dave, N4QS Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T -----Original Message----- From: george fritkin <[hidden email]> Sender: [hidden email] Date: Tue, 21 Jun 2011 07:35:53 To: <[hidden email]> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KPA500 vs. other amps What a reflector. Sounds like a bunch of rationale to justify paying so much for the KPA500. In my not to humble shack I have 18 transceivers in active positions each with an amp. Some with "El Cheapo and some with "El Expensiveo" [HI] amplifiers. Did someone say value? I just do not see it in the KPA500. I love my two K3s and they are the favorites of my visitors yes even over 10K radios. So I probably never will buy one, but for those who like the feel of a fully integrated station and ignore the fact that on the air and your watt meter can not tell the difference, buy one My opinion do not hate me! Love my two K3s George, W6GF ______________________________________________________________ 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 |
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In reply to this post by Jim Brown-10
There are definitely benefits to having the transceiver and amp that are
designed to work together as would be the case here. Mix and match can sometimes be a challenge as I have with my K3 and solid state amp. The two do not talk to each other without the need for separate interfacing units. There is nothing more exasperating than to have something go hiccup when you are trying to work a contest or a new one on a different band. Adding the antenna tuner that is also designed to work with the collection is again a plus. Pete, W1RM -----Original Message----- From: Jim Brown [mailto:[hidden email]] Sent: Tuesday, June 21, 2011 10:08 AM To: [hidden email] Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KPA500 vs. other amps On 6/21/2011 5:51 AM, Ian Kahn wrote: > Why should I buy > the KPA500 when I can get higher-powered (although, admittedly, not much > higher powered) solid state amps for about 2/3 the cost of a KPA500? I don't pretend to be an expert on all of the power amps available. But there's far more to buying power amp than watts. We're buying reliability, operational convenience/features, technical specs (low intermod and harmonics), and a physical package that fits into the space on our operating desk and on an airplane for a DX trip. Last fall I had the negative thrill of using an el-cheapo amp during CQWW at PJ4. (Two larger el-cheapo amps had been fried by a previous user. One had been dragged back to the factory (in MS) and repaired, but the second one wasn't known to have been fried until we fired it up, and we didn't have the parts to repair it). Although rated for 500 watts, the little amp fell back to 300W when presented with moderately mismatched antennas. A few months ago, I had a pre-production beta KPA500 for a major RTTY contest, with orders to run it with all the lights lit. When my antennas presented it with a 2:1 SWR, it fell back from 600 W to 500W. I installed my new KPA500 the same way the Elecraft engineer installed the loaner for that RTTY contest -- coax in and out and PTT. The first sniff of RF drive causes the amp to set itself to the right band, and I'm rolling. If I'm working CW, I simply hit a dit after I've switched, and it's there. This is also the way that later generation Alpha amps work, except that they're also doing antenna tuning. :) I'll buy the Elecraft tuner when it's available. And having looking inside those el-cheapos and the KPA500, I think cost comparisons with Alpha and Acom are far more appropriate. 73, Jim K9YC ______________________________________________________________ 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 |
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In reply to this post by george fritkin
I could say something about the "value" of both of the current $10k radios on the market but will refrain. JMHO but anyone who has 18 transceivers and amplifiers should not lecture others about value. :-) 73, Bill |
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Touche!!
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Why not buy the KPA500? Because it's not at least 1KW. I see no need to
replace a perfectly good tube amp capable of 2+ KW to get auto band switching functionality. I can band switch and retune faster than I can justify the expense of a new amp, lol. Give me a KPA1000 and I can probably talk myself into selling the tube amp and going the solid state route. Tim On Tue, Jun 21, 2011 at 8:25 AM, donhall161 <[hidden email]>wrote: > Touche!! > ______________________________________________________________ > 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 |
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In reply to this post by Bill W4ZV
Well said Bill..!! W4CCS On 6/21/2011 11:17 AM, Bill W4ZV wrote: > george fritkin wrote: >> What a reflector. Sounds like a bunch of rationale to justify paying so >> much for the KPA500. In my not to humble shack I have 18 transceivers in >> active positions each with an amp. Some with "El Cheapo and some with "El >> Expensiveo" [HI] amplifiers. Did someone say value? I just do not see it >> in the KPA500. I love my two K3s and they are the favorites of my >> visitors yes even over 10K radios. >> > I could say something about the "value" of both of the current $10k radios > on the market but will refrain. JMHO but anyone who has 18 transceivers and > amplifiers should not lecture others about value. :-) > > 73, Bill > > -- > View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/KPA500-vs-other-amps-tp6499848p6500443.html > Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com. > ______________________________________________________________ > 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 |
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In reply to this post by Tim Tucker
The KPA500 is our first amplifier, and we set the bar very high for
engineering team: - small size and light weight - conservative 500-W rating - excellent IMD performance - seamless integration with the K3 (physically and electrically) - instant band-switching with any transceiver and flexible I/O - essentially zero added transmit noise (hence the linear supply) - very fast CW breaking (matching the's K3's "QRQ" mode) - exceptional reliability I don't know of any other amp that meets all of the above criteria. Of course your criteria may differ. We're working hard to ensure that the KPA500 will be the best amp we can deliver. We hope hope to build on this foundation in future products. 73, Wayne N6KR ______________________________________________________________ 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 |
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In reply to this post by Tim Tucker
Me too, if it will drive at least a 3:1 mismatch.
--- On Tue, 6/21/11, Tim Tucker <[hidden email]> wrote: Why not buy the KPA500? Because it's not at least 1KW. I see no need to replace a perfectly good tube amp capable of 2+ KW to get auto band switching functionality. I can band switch and retune faster than I can justify the expense of a new amp, lol. Give me a KPA1000 and I can probably talk myself into selling the tube amp and going the solid state route. Tim ______________________________________________________________ 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 |
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