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KPA500 General Questions

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Joe Word

KPA500 General Questions

I am considering a KPA500 and have some questions for those that own one:

1. What Input SWR are you seeing? Does it vary by band?

2. Is there a lag in band switching when not using a K3 (Used with
non-Elecraft radio).

3. In normal SSB operation, how loud is the fan? I know this varies
per person, some don't hear fan noise and others do. What would you
compare it to? As an example, the Yaesu MARK-V Field is OK, but the
MARK-V 200 watt model is too loud for me.

Thanks and 73,

Joe N9VX
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Andy Faber

Re: KPA500 General Questions

Joe,
Re my unit (#77):
1) Don't notice SWR, seems quite low.
2) No, I've used it with a 756 Pro2, and it switches bands on the first dit.
Very impressive.
3) It stays quite low; I don't even notice it in normal operation.
It's a very impressive work of engineering!
73, andy ae6y

-----Original Message-----
From: Joe Word
Sent: Monday, September 26, 2011 8:10 AM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: [Elecraft] KPA500 General Questions

I am considering a KPA500 and have some questions for those that own one:

1. What Input SWR are you seeing? Does it vary by band?

2. Is there a lag in band switching when not using a K3 (Used with
non-Elecraft radio).

3. In normal SSB operation, how loud is the fan? I know this varies
per person, some don't hear fan noise and others do. What would you
compare it to? As an example, the Yaesu MARK-V Field is OK, but the
MARK-V 200 watt model is too loud for me.

Thanks and 73,

Joe N9VX
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Tony Estep

Re: KPA500 General Questions

In reply to this post by Joe Word

On Mon, Sep 26, 2011 at 10:10 AM, Joe Word <[hidden email]> wrote:

> ... the MARK-V 200 watt model is too loud for me.
>
> ============
Joe, I can attest that the fan in the KPA-500 is not nearly as loud as that
of the MkV. If you've been listening to the MkV, you won't even notice the
KPA-500.

Tony KT0NY
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w0mu

Re: KPA500 General Questions

In reply to this post by Joe Word

J6/W0MU November 21 - December 1 2011 CQ WW DX CW
W0MU-1 CC Cluster w0mu.net

On 9/26/2011 9:10 AM, Joe Word wrote:
> I am considering a KPA500 and have some questions for those that own one:
>
> 1. What Input SWR are you seeing? Does it vary by band?
1:1 and I don't notice any changes

>
> 2. Is there a lag in band switching when not using a K3 (Used with
> non-Elecraft radio).
Don't know but why would there be. The switching is done on rf sense.
>
> 3. In normal SSB operation, how loud is the fan? I know this varies
> per person, some don't hear fan noise and others do. What would you
> compare it to? As an example, the Yaesu MARK-V Field is OK, but the
> MARK-V 200 watt model is too loud for me.
There is a fan? Just kidding. Under normal use you will never hear
it. I have not really worked mine so I don't think I have ever heard
the high speed fan. There is nothing to touch on the amp for the most
part so install it away from your radio.

>
>
> Thanks and 73,
>
> Joe N9VX
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
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>
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> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

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k6rb

Re: KPA500 General Questions

In reply to this post by Joe Word

As a a recent buyer of the a KPA-500 kit, it has been in use, now, about 4
weeks. This weekend, I used it for the first time in RTTY mode. I did 8.5
hours of CQ WW RTTY with the amp at 500 watts. The fan was never heard.
Any fan noise was from the switching power supplies used to power the two
K3s.

As for input SWR, it is 1:1. My Alpha 87A shows nearly 2:1 on 10 meters.
So, there is definitely something that needs tweaking in the Alpha. The
direct to 10 m antenna SWR is 1:1.

When I bought the KPA-500, I had a Centurion in that position for SO2R. I
have since decided to leave the KPA permanently in that position and sell
the Centurion. If there is any difference on the received end between 500
w and 1 KW, I haven't noticed. But the amp is smaller, lighter, and
quieter than the Centurion. It also changes bands much quicker than the
Alpha.

Rob K6RB

> I am considering a KPA500 and have some questions for those that own one:
>
> 1. What Input SWR are you seeing? Does it vary by band?
>
> 2. Is there a lag in band switching when not using a K3 (Used with
> non-Elecraft radio).
>
> 3. In normal SSB operation, how loud is the fan? I know this varies
> per person, some don't hear fan noise and others do. What would you
> compare it to? As an example, the Yaesu MARK-V Field is OK, but the
> MARK-V 200 watt model is too loud for me.
>
>
> Thanks and 73,
>
> Joe N9VX
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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
>
>

Joe Word

Re: KPA500 General Questions

In reply to this post by Joe Word

Thanks all for the comments. What kind of input power and output
numbers are you seeing? Does it vary much across the bands? One review
on EHAM stated 25 in and 500 out.

Joe N9VX

On Mon, Sep 26, 2011 at 11:10 AM, Joe Word <[hidden email]> wrote:

Frederick Atchley

Re: KPA500 General Questions

In reply to this post by w0mu

Joe es all,
I have three wire antennas in my back yard mounted below the roofline; so
they can't be seen from the front yard. I use tuned 15 meter and 40 meter
antennas that are center fed from a common balun but spread apart by about
90 degrees. The KPA500 is "in the green" with this combination at 500 watts
all across both bands!
My other wire is a "Mystery" antenna, similar to a G5RV. The typical SWR on
20 and 80 meters is 2.7+ (not good.) This weekend, I was able to use the
KPA500 in the Texas QSO party at < 200 watts (low power) on 80M CW, 20M CW &
SSB. It's not the best situation but the KPA500 took it in stride.
I have never heard the fan except when turning the amp off!
I still have to use the K3/KPA100 barefoot on 10 Meters, but the KAT500 will
solve that real soon I hope.
73, Fred, AE6IC, K-Line

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k6rb

Re: KPA500 General Questions

In reply to this post by Joe Word

I haven't been paying a lot of attention to that, but I recall seeing the
power a few times, not sure which band, but it was about 34 watts in for
500 watts out. On 80 m it was under 30 watts in.

Rob K6RB

> Thanks all for the comments. What kind of input power and output
> numbers are you seeing? Does it vary much across the bands? One review
> on EHAM stated 25 in and 500 out.
>
> Joe N9VX
>
> On Mon, Sep 26, 2011 at 11:10 AM, Joe Word <[hidden email]> wrote:
>> I am considering a KPA500 and have some questions for those that own
>> one:
>>
>> 1. What Input SWR are you seeing? Does it vary by band?
>>
>> 2. Is there a lag in band switching when not using a K3 (Used with
>> non-Elecraft radio).
>>
>> 3. In normal SSB operation, how loud is the fan? I know this varies
>> per person, some don't hear fan noise and others do. What would you
>> compare it to? As an example, the Yaesu MARK-V Field is OK, but the
>> MARK-V 200 watt model is too loud for me.
>>
>>
>> Thanks and 73,
>>
>> Joe N9VX
>>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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
>
>

Mark Stennett

Re: KPA500 General Questions

In reply to this post by Joe Word

On 09/26/2011 10:10 AM, Joe Word wrote:
> I am considering a KPA500 and have some questions for those that own one:
>
> 1. What Input SWR are you seeing? Does it vary by band?

I have SN 133 and have been very happy with the input match.

http://imageshack.us/g/215/6mkpa500inputr.jpg/

Has some input SWR and Return Loss sweeps I did with my VNA-2180. One
for each band as selected with output feeding a dummy load while the key
line is closed.

> 2. Is there a lag in band switching when not using a K3 (Used with
> non-Elecraft radio).

If I blink I miss it.

> 3. In normal SSB operation, how loud is the fan? I know this varies
> per person, some don't hear fan noise and others do. What would you
> compare it to? As an example, the Yaesu MARK-V Field is OK, but the
> MARK-V 200 watt model is too loud for me.

I leave my fan on at setting 1 all the time. Operating TXQP this weekend
I did not even notice the fan. My computers are louder overall.

73 de na6m

>
> Thanks and 73,
>
> Joe N9VX
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
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> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>
>