Elecraft

KPA500 - power out question

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Bill Clarke

KPA500 - power out question

I am considering replacing my 3-500 amplifier (puts out approximately
850 Watts) with the KPA500. My question: What have users been
experiencing as output power in the real world? Specifications make
great reading, but I am interested in what is real.

Thanks,

Bill W2BLC
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Bill Clarke

Re: KPA500 - power out question

Thanks to all who answered. I didn't know there was such a perceived
difference, at the receiving end, between 500 Watts and 850 Watts. I
have always been under the impression that doubling of power (3 db gain)
was the least discernible difference and that if you did not, at a
minimum, double your power - there was really little to be gained.

Also, I am amazed at the reported differences in power - from 350 Watts
to 600 Watts. That is a rather large disparity.

Thanks,

Bill W2BLC

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Ian Kahn, KM4IK

Re: KPA500 - power out question

Bill,

Would you be willing to share the data you gathered with the rest of the
group? I just (as of late last night) replaced my AL-811H with a KPA500.
My tests showed output of 530-550 watts with 35 watts drive from my K3. I'm
very pleased with that result.

Thanks and 73,

-- Ian
Ian Kahn, KM4IK
Roswell, GA EM74ua
[hidden email]
K3 #281, P3 #688
HRD v5.x/6.0 Test Team

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email]
[mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Bill
Sent: Sunday, May 12, 2013 9:05 AM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KPA500 - power out question

Thanks to all who answered. I didn't know there was such a perceived
difference, at the receiving end, between 500 Watts and 850 Watts. I have
always been under the impression that doubling of power (3 db gain) was the
least discernible difference and that if you did not, at a minimum, double
your power - there was really little to be gained.

Also, I am amazed at the reported differences in power - from 350 Watts to
600 Watts. That is a rather large disparity.

Thanks,

Bill W2BLC

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Scott Manthe-2

Re: KPA500 - power out question

In reply to this post by Bill Clarke

My KPA500 puts out 600-650 watts with 35 watts drive on all bands. I'm
not sure exactly what's going on with people getting 350 watts out. I'd
guess those reporting 350 watts are running high duty cycle modes, like
RTTY or AM.

People listening to your signal will likely notice very little
difference going 850 watts to 600 watts output. However, the KPA500 adds
6 meters, QSK and auto bandswitching, which for me was worth more than
the 3dB I was losing going from 1300 watts to 650.

73,
Scott, N9AA

On 5/12/13 9:05 AM, Bill wrote:

> Thanks to all who answered. I didn't know there was such a perceived
> difference, at the receiving end, between 500 Watts and 850 Watts. I
> have always been under the impression that doubling of power (3 db
> gain) was the least discernible difference and that if you did not, at
> a minimum, double your power - there was really little to be gained.
>
> Also, I am amazed at the reported differences in power - from 350
> Watts to 600 Watts. That is a rather large disparity.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Bill W2BLC

hf4me

Re: KPA500 - power out question

I still see people reading the SSB signal as low power on the meter and
believing it is PEP. Depends on who is reading the meter and the
peak/average setting as well.
73, Jim KG0KP

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email]
[mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Scott Manthe
Sent: Sunday, May 12, 2013 12:29 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KPA500 - power out question

My KPA500 puts out 600-650 watts with 35 watts drive on all bands. I'm not
sure exactly what's going on with people getting 350 watts out. I'd guess
those reporting 350 watts are running high duty cycle modes, like RTTY or
AM.

People listening to your signal will likely notice very little difference
going 850 watts to 600 watts output. However, the KPA500 adds
6 meters, QSK and auto bandswitching, which for me was worth more than the
3dB I was losing going from 1300 watts to 650.

73,
Scott, N9AA

On 5/12/13 9:05 AM, Bill wrote:

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M0AFJ

Re: KPA500 - power out question

In reply to this post by Scott Manthe-2

My KPA500 loafs at 400W with about 30W of drive (UK legal limit), driven to max power it's about 650W with 35W.
I think the disparity between results may be down to the type of load being driven.

Best regards, Tim Hague, M0AFJ
Skype m0afj.Tim
Sent on my iPad

On 12 May 2013, at 18:29, Scott Manthe <[hidden email]> wrote:

> My KPA500 puts out 600-650 watts with 35 watts drive on all bands. I'm not sure exactly what's going on with people getting 350 watts out. I'd guess those reporting 350 watts are running high duty cycle modes, like RTTY or AM.
>
> People listening to your signal will likely notice very little difference going 850 watts to 600 watts output. However, the KPA500 adds 6 meters, QSK and auto bandswitching, which for me was worth more than the 3dB I was losing going from 1300 watts to 650.
>
> 73,
> Scott, N9AA
>
> On 5/12/13 9:05 AM, Bill wrote:
>> Thanks to all who answered. I didn't know there was such a perceived difference, at the receiving end, between 500 Watts and 850 Watts. I have always been under the impression that doubling of power (3 db gain) was the least discernible difference and that if you did not, at a minimum, double your power - there was really little to be gained.
>>
>> Also, I am amazed at the reported differences in power - from 350 Watts to 600 Watts. That is a rather large disparity.
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> Bill W2BLC
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
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Bill Clarke

Re: KPA500 - power out question

In reply to this post by Ian Kahn, KM4IK

I received many direct emails - far more than are posted here. As they
were sent to me directly, I assume the sender's did not wish to share.
Hence, I would not feel comfortable in sharing same.

Suffice to say: Most emailers are happy with the KPA500 and do recommend
it. However, based on a number of comments, I do think I will purchase
the 500 Watt tuner box also.

Bill W2BLC

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Stephen G4SJP

Re: KPA500 - power out question

Bill,

I suspect it has more to do with the default reply nature of the group, in
that replies are sent straight back to the originator of the message rather
than to the group itself. It's not typical of the way that groups tend to
be set up these days and so catches us all out from time to time!

If I may add my indirect experience of the KPA500 in that a good friend of
mine bought one, he too very quickly followed up with an order for the
KAT500 and is, I believe, very happy with its performance.

73 Stephen G4SJP

On 12 May 2013 20:35, Bill <[hidden email]> wrote:

> I received many direct emails - far more than are posted here. As they
> were sent to me directly, I assume the sender's did not wish to share.
> Hence, I would not feel comfortable in sharing same.
>
> Suffice to say: Most emailers are happy with the KPA500 and do recommend
> it. However, based on a number of comments, I do think I will purchase the
> 500 Watt tuner box also.
>
> Bill W2BLC
>
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>

N5GE

Re: KPA500 - power out question

I have found that the KPA500 and KAT500 combination is outstanding.
In fact one thing I noticed right away about the KAT500 is that when
it is tuned correctly I can both see and hear the difference in RX
signal strength in the headphones and on the P3 SVGA screen.

My Alpha 87A and Palstar AT5K are both setting idle now until I begin
to get serious about DXCC on 160m and 80m CW this fall.

73,
Tom
Amateur Radio Operator N5GE
ARRL Lifetime Member
QCWA Lifetime Member

On Sun, 12 May 2013 20:42:39 +0100, Stephen Prior
<[hidden email]> wrote:

>Bill,
>
>I suspect it has more to do with the default reply nature of the group, in
>that replies are sent straight back to the originator of the message rather
>than to the group itself. It's not typical of the way that groups tend to
>be set up these days and so catches us all out from time to time!
>
>If I may add my indirect experience of the KPA500 in that a good friend of
>mine bought one, he too very quickly followed up with an order for the
>KAT500 and is, I believe, very happy with its performance.
>
>73 Stephen G4SJP

[snip]

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Amateur Radio Operator N5GE