Elecraft

KPA500 wanted

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Michael Walker

KPA500 wanted

Does anyone have a KPA500 with or without the tuner they want to part with?

If so, please contact me off list.

Mike va3mw
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W2RMS

KPA500 question

Hello everyone!
I'm a proud owner of a new K3/P3.
Almost there...
Can someone please explain to me the rationale behind the KPA500? Why 500W?
Is there a tremendous difference between legal limit and about half of it (which is what i hear KPA500 can do)?
I understand the ease of use, how the amp follows the radio. I get all that. But why half of max power?
Chances are i won't be buying any more amps for the foreseeable future if i get the KPA500 at Dayton this year, so i'd like to know that it will cover everything i need it to (and i have no idea what that might be).

I hope this question isn't too confusing.
I'm a new ham (almost a year new), so please be gentle.
Thanks in advance!
__________________
Slava (Sal) B, W2RMS
[hidden email]

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Richard Thorne-4

Re: KPA500 question

Slava,

I have the KPA-500 and an AL-1200 amp.

The KPA-500 is used most of the time. When your working dx all you want
to do is get through one time. The KPA-500 does that perfectly for me.
Its so easy to bounce around from band to band chasing dx with the
K3/P3/KAT-500/KPA-500 combo as compared to using the AL-1200 which
requires re-tuning on every band change.

On the flip side if you like to contest 1500 watts probably helps in
that you want to be the first call through to a dx station so you can
move on to the next qso, quickly.

If I didn't enjoy contesting I would sell my AL-1200. However, I am
seriously considering selling my AL-1200 and getting a 2nd
KAT-500/KPA-500 to go with my 2nd K3 I just purchased. From a pure
control stand point for SO2R a pair of K3/KAT-500/KPA-500's would make
things very smooth and easy. Just sit there and operate.

Of course if power is real important and $'s are not an issue an Acom
2000a, Alpha 9500 or SPE 2k-FA would be the ticket.

Rich - N5ZC

On 5/7/2014 7:06 AM, Slava Baytalskiy wrote:

> Hello everyone!
> I'm a proud owner of a new K3/P3.
> Almost there...
> Can someone please explain to me the rationale behind the KPA500? Why 500W?
> Is there a tremendous difference between legal limit and about half of it (which is what i hear KPA500 can do)?
> I understand the ease of use, how the amp follows the radio. I get all that. But why half of max power?
> Chances are i won't be buying any more amps for the foreseeable future if i get the KPA500 at Dayton this year, so i'd like to know that it will cover everything i need it to (and i have no idea what that might be).
>
> I hope this question isn't too confusing.
> I'm a new ham (almost a year new), so please be gentle.
> Thanks in advance!
> __________________
> Slava (Sal) B, W2RMS
> [hidden email]
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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
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>

NK7Z

Re: KPA500 question

In reply to this post by W2RMS

Hi Slava,

I would guess that it is the first 500 watt rule... The first 500 watts
is the best 500 watts you will ever use... That and the entire device
is a lot cheaper to make, plus smaller...

--
Thanks and 73's,
For equipment, and software setups and reviews see:
www.nk7z.net
for MixW support see;
http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/mixw/info
for Dopplergram information see:
http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/dopplergram/info
for MM-SSTV see:
http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/MM-SSTV/info

On Wed, 2014-05-07 at 08:06 -0400, Slava Baytalskiy wrote:

mcduffie

Re: KPA500 question

In reply to this post by W2RMS

> Is there a tremendous difference between legal limit and about half of it

One third, not a half. The KPA is 500W. Legal limit is 1500W.

Gary
--
http://ag0n.net
3055: http://ag0n.net/irlp/3055
NodeOp Help Page: http://ag0n.net/irlp
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Jim Brown-10

Re: KPA500 question

On 5/7/2014 7:15 AM, AG0N-3055 wrote:
> One third, not a half. The KPA is 500W. Legal limit is 1500W.

Actually, I've been told that in final test at the factory, all KPA500's
make at least 600W before they go out the door. Like much of what
Elecraft does, the advertised spec is conservative.

73, Jim K9YC

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Stephen Bloom

Re: KPA500 question

In reply to this post by NK7Z

Yeah, apparently they prototyped a single tube (can't remember what the
final was) KPA-1500 years ago ..but never went anywhere with it. I have the
KPA500 and an Expert 2k-FA and they both play perfectly with the K3. The
KPA500 is about half the weight, a third the price, and much much quieter.
High power solid state is still newish technology for Ham Radio application.
Also remember, that a lot of the world has 400-500W output limits, so the
market for higher power amps is somewhat limited. I had discussed with
the Elecraft folks when they were at Seapac last year.

73
Steve KL7SB

-----Original Message-----
From: Elecraft [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of David
Cole
Sent: Wednesday, May 07, 2014 6:13 AM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KPA500 question

Hi Slava,

I would guess that it is the first 500 watt rule... The first 500 watts is
the best 500 watts you will ever use... That and the entire device is a lot
cheaper to make, plus smaller...

--
Thanks and 73's,
For equipment, and software setups and reviews see:
www.nk7z.net
for MixW support see;
http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/mixw/info
for Dopplergram information see:
http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/dopplergram/info
for MM-SSTV see:
http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/MM-SSTV/info

On Wed, 2014-05-07 at 08:06 -0400, Slava Baytalskiy wrote:
> Hello everyone!
> I'm a proud owner of a new K3/P3.
> Almost there...
> Can someone please explain to me the rationale behind the KPA500? Why
500W?
> Is there a tremendous difference between legal limit and about half of it
(which is what i hear KPA500 can do)?
> I understand the ease of use, how the amp follows the radio. I get all
that. But why half of max power?
> Chances are i won't be buying any more amps for the foreseeable future if
i get the KPA500 at Dayton this year, so i'd like to know that it will cover
everything i need it to (and i have no idea what that might be).

>
> I hope this question isn't too confusing.
> I'm a new ham (almost a year new), so please be gentle.
> Thanks in advance!
> __________________
> Slava (Sal) B, W2RMS
> [hidden email]
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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]

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Charlie T, K3ICH

Re: KPA500 question

In reply to this post by mcduffie

About the same as going from a dipole to a two element beam

Chas
----- Original Message -----
From: "AG0N-3055" <[hidden email]>
To: <[hidden email]>; "elecraft" <[hidden email]>
Sent: Wednesday, May 07, 2014 10:15 AM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KPA500 question

>
>> Is there a tremendous difference between legal limit and about half of it
>
> One third, not a half. The KPA is 500W. Legal limit is 1500W.
>
> Gary
> --
> http://ag0n.net
> 3055: http://ag0n.net/irlp/3055
> NodeOp Help Page: http://ag0n.net/irlp
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
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>
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Stephen Bloom

Re: KPA500 question

In reply to this post by Jim Brown-10

I have found this to be true as well.

73
Steve KL7SB

-----Original Message-----
From: Elecraft [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Jim
Brown
Sent: Wednesday, May 07, 2014 6:33 AM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KPA500 question

On 5/7/2014 7:15 AM, AG0N-3055 wrote:
> One third, not a half. The KPA is 500W. Legal limit is 1500W.

Actually, I've been told that in final test at the factory, all KPA500's
make at least 600W before they go out the door. Like much of what Elecraft
does, the advertised spec is conservative.

73, Jim K9YC

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Elecraft mailing list

Re: KPA500 question

In reply to this post by mcduffie

The difference is .........................10Log1500/500......................

George, W6GF
On Wednesday, May 7, 2014 7:37 AM, AG0N-3055 <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Is there a tremendous difference between legal limit and about half of it

One third, not a half. The KPA is 500W. Legal limit is 1500W.

Gary
--
http://ag0n.net
3055: http://ag0n.net/irlp/3055
NodeOp Help Page: http://ag0n.net/irlp
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dmb@lightstream.net

Re: KPA500 question

In reply to this post by mcduffie

Increasing power from:
100W to 600W provides 7.8dB gain (1.3 S-units)
600W to 1.5KW provides 4 dB gain (0.67 S-unit)

... so that first 600W is huge.

Considering the tight integration w/ the K3 and KAT500, and the fact that
it also plays nicely w/ other transceivers, I think the KPA500 provides
great value for the investment.

73, Dale
WA8SRA

>
>> Is there a tremendous difference between legal limit and about half of
>> it
>
> One third, not a half. The KPA is 500W. Legal limit is 1500W.
>
> Gary
> --

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W2RMS

Re: KPA500 question

Thanks for all the replies, gentlemen!
Certainly gives me food for thought.
I do want the kpa500. I love building Elecraft kits.
One more question: is there a tuner inside that amp? How does it auto-tune? And if so - does that mean that I will have 3 tuners? KAT3, KAT500 and whatever tuner is in the amp?
And also, is KAT500 pretty much a must?

Does anyone know if Elecraft actually has any plans to put out higher powered amp anytime soon?

Slava Baytalskiy
[hidden email]
W2RMS

On May 7, 2014, at 11:39 AM, "[hidden email]" <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Increasing power from:
> 100W to 600W provides 7.8dB gain (1.3 S-units)
> 600W to 1.5KW provides 4 dB gain (0.67 S-unit)
>
> ... so that first 600W is huge.
>
> Considering the tight integration w/ the K3 and KAT500, and the fact that
> it also plays nicely w/ other transceivers, I think the KPA500 provides
> great value for the investment.
>
> 73, Dale
> WA8SRA
>
>
>
>>
>>> Is there a tremendous difference between legal limit and about half of
>>> it
>>
>> One third, not a half. The KPA is 500W. Legal limit is 1500W.
>>
>> Gary
>> --
>
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
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JHRichards

Re: KPA500 question

In reply to this post by W2RMS

As someone said in another thread, adding an amp is like going from a
dipole to a small beam. But, remember that adding a better antenna
usually costs less and provides a two-way improvement - your amp can
boost your transmit signal, but does nothing to boost the received
signal. An antenna with gain will improve matters both ways.

Now, I am not talking you out of an amp... they have their place in the
shack for sure... I am only saying I would put an amp in the shack only
after I had installed the best, most efficient, highest gain antenna
system I could fit in my yard, before putting an amp on line. That will
assure you the best two-way improvement, and give the amp an even better
antenna to break the pileups.

Just MY take...
---------------------- K8JHR --------------------------------

On 5/7/2014 8:06 AM, Slava Baytalskiy wrote:

> Can someone please explain to me the rationale behind the KPA500? Why 500W?
> I'm a new ham (almost a year new), so please be gentle.

''
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Nr4c

Re: KPA500 question

In reply to this post by W2RMS

There is no tuner in the amp. Need for KAT500 depends on your antenna(s). If they are resonant and reasonably wide-band you may get away without it. How does K3 play with your antenna(s)?
KAT3 is bypassed with KAT500

Sent from my iPhone
...nr4c. bill

> On May 7, 2014, at 11:32 AM, Slava Baytalskiy <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> Thanks for all the replies, gentlemen!
> Certainly gives me food for thought.
> I do want the kpa500. I love building Elecraft kits.
> One more question: is there a tuner inside that amp? How does it auto-tune? And if so - does that mean that I will have 3 tuners? KAT3, KAT500 and whatever tuner is in the amp?
> And also, is KAT500 pretty much a must?
>
> Does anyone know if Elecraft actually has any plans to put out higher powered amp anytime soon?
>
> Slava Baytalskiy
> [hidden email]
> W2RMS
>
>> On May 7, 2014, at 11:39 AM, "[hidden email]" <[hidden email]> wrote:
>>
>> Increasing power from:
>> 100W to 600W provides 7.8dB gain (1.3 S-units)
>> 600W to 1.5KW provides 4 dB gain (0.67 S-unit)
>>
>> ... so that first 600W is huge.
>>
>> Considering the tight integration w/ the K3 and KAT500, and the fact that
>> it also plays nicely w/ other transceivers, I think the KPA500 provides
>> great value for the investment.
>>
>> 73, Dale
>> WA8SRA
>>
>>
>>
>>>
>>>> Is there a tremendous difference between legal limit and about half of
>>>> it
>>>
>>> One third, not a half. The KPA is 500W. Legal limit is 1500W.
>>>
>>> Gary
>>> --
>>
>>
>>
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> 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]
> ______________________________________________________________
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Richard Ferch

Re: KPA500 question

In reply to this post by W2RMS

W2RMS wrote:

> One more question: is there a tuner inside that amp? How does it auto-tune? And if so \
> - does that mean that I will have 3 tuners? KAT3, KAT500 and whatever tuner is in the \
> amp? And also, is KAT500 pretty much a must?

There is no antenna tuner inside the KPA500. "Auto-tune" simply means
that the amp switches bands automatically by detecting the frequency of
RF. A single dit is sufficient. If you have the KPAK3AUX cable connected
to a K3, the amp will change bands whenever you change bands on the K3,
and conversely, the KPA500's front panel band buttons can be used to
change bands on the K3.

The KPA500 is fairly sensitive to SWR. If you use a non-resonant
antenna, or if you use a resonant antenna outside its comfort zone (e.g.
CW vs phone frequencies on some bands), you will probably want the
KAT500. The KAT500 integrates very nicely with the K3 and KPA500, and it
works even when the KPA500 is turned off. With this setup, the KAT3 will
be in bypass. The only time you will use the KAT3 is when you have an
antenna connected directly to the K3, bypassing the KAT500 and KPA500.

73,
Rich VE3KI
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NH7RO

Re: KPA500 question

In reply to this post by W2RMS

Slava; There is no tuner inside the KPA500---that's why the KAT500 came about; it is optional to the amp.

As for it being a must have I would say that depends on your antennas and operating habits. If you have resonant antennas on the bands you operate you can easily get by without the KAT500. I have a K3, P3 and KPA500 and when I was operating my antenna farm in Hawaii the setup was great for all but one of my antennas that had an SWR of more than 1.7>1. It would have been nice to have the autotuner but wasn't particularly necessary for me.

I liked the concept of a 600-650 watt solid state automatic band-switching amp so much (and the same size as the K3) that I dumped my 1200-watt Commander 6 meter amp that I had cherished since new so that I could buy the KPA and have half the power (3db less) on six meters but about 7 or 8db more power on HF as well. Seemed like a very acceptable tradeoff to me and I don't look back having done so. Mine consistently cranks out 600-650 watts PEP on most of the bands without a problem and is also very quiet---silent, in fact, 95% of the time. The fan settings are adjustable in the menu, too. Nice.

Building the KPA500 was even easier than the K3 and every bit as much fun. I can recommend one wholeheartedly.

As far as I know; the potential for a KPA-1500 is about the same as for a K4; practically nil!

73,

Jeff, NH7RO EL18 Texas Gulf Coast

[hidden email]

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Re: KPA500 question

In reply to this post by dmb@lightstream.net

All this bantering is getting me wanting the KPA more and more.

________________________________
From: "[hidden email]" <[hidden email]>
To: [hidden email]
Sent: Wednesday, May 7, 2014 11:39 AM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KPA500 question

Increasing power from:
100W to 600W provides 7.8dB gain (1.3 S-units)
600W to 1.5KW provides 4 dB gain (0.67 S-unit)

... so that first 600W is huge.

Considering the tight integration w/ the K3 and KAT500, and the fact that
it also plays nicely w/ other transceivers, I think the KPA500 provides
great value for the investment.

73, Dale
WA8SRA

>
>> Is there a tremendous difference between legal limit and about half of
>> it
>
> One third, not a half. The KPA is 500W. Legal limit is 1500W.
>
> Gary
> --

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k6mkf

Re: KPA500 question

The K-Line = 500W transceiver when you need one

- 73 de Mike, K6MKF, W6NAG, Secretary - NCDXC, IDXG, ADXG, RRC #933,
K3-P3-KPA500-KAT500 Addict, Maui

-----Original Message-----
From: Elecraft [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Harry
Yingst via Elecraft
Sent: Wednesday, May 07, 2014 12:48 PM
To: [hidden email]; [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KPA500 question

All this bantering is getting me wanting the KPA more and more.

________________________________
From: "[hidden email]" <[hidden email]>
To: [hidden email]
Sent: Wednesday, May 7, 2014 11:39 AM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KPA500 question

Increasing power from:
100W to 600W provides 7.8dB gain (1.3 S-units)
600W to 1.5KW provides 4 dB gain (0.67 S-unit)

... so that first 600W is huge.

Considering the tight integration w/ the K3 and KAT500, and the fact that
it also plays nicely w/ other transceivers, I think the KPA500 provides
great value for the investment.

73, Dale
WA8SRA

>
>> Is there a tremendous difference between legal limit and about half of
>> it
>
> One third, not a half. The KPA is 500W. Legal limit is 1500W.
>
> Gary
> --

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Bill-3

Re: KPA500 question

Exactly! The K-Line amounts to a fully automated (no tuning or knob
twisting) 500 Watt HF station. Last time I saw that was a Halicrafters
Tornado.

I changed my entire radio desk to create more storage and shelves from
the space formerly used by a large tube amp and the large tuner I used
with it. The K3 and P3 take about the same space the previous HF rig
took and the KPA500 and KAT500 take just slightly more space than the K3
by itself. In other words, the K-Line is extremely space efficient.

Bill K-Line

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Scott Manthe-2

Re: KPA500 question

In reply to this post by JHRichards

Yeah, it's pretty easy to forgo that amp and just put up a small beam
for 40-80-160...

An amp helps you be heard no matter what kind of antenna you have. I
worked 220 countries with a home brew G5RV about 15-20 feet off the
ground because I had an amp and couldn't put up a better antenna. If I
could hear them, I could almost always work them. When I got a better
antenna, the DX got easier to work.

73,
Scott, N9AA

On 5/7/14 12:07 PM, K8JHR wrote:

> As someone said in another thread, adding an amp is like going from a
> dipole to a small beam. But, remember that adding a better antenna
> usually costs less and provides a two-way improvement - your amp can
> boost your transmit signal, but does nothing to boost the received
> signal. An antenna with gain will improve matters both ways.
>
> Now, I am not talking you out of an amp... they have their place in
> the shack for sure... I am only saying I would put an amp in the shack
> only after I had installed the best, most efficient, highest gain
> antenna system I could fit in my yard, before putting an amp on line.
> That will assure you the best two-way improvement, and give the amp an
> even better antenna to break the pileups.
>
> Just MY take...