Linear thoughts

[K7TV]

I recently sold my legal limit tube amp after a bit of a mental struggle.
The seller in me finally won after I realized that "if I can't lift it, I
shouldn't own it". I was tempted to replace it with an ALS-1306, but I
operate RTTY and in that mode the 1306 wouldn't be good for more output than
a KPA500. Today I received my (new to me) KPA500. However, in a contest
someone with 1500 Watts will have a big advantage over my 500 W, so the
subject of higher power may soon come back to me. With the competion today
in solid state linears, I have to believe that Electraft will in the future
offer a bigger linear. To me it would be sad if the new Elecraft amplifier
were a lot heavier than the KPA500. I am a fan of linear supplies, but I
would have to hope that the bigger Elecraft amp would use a switching
supply, located in a separate box. In the meantime, I am set up with two
radios (both K3) and only one amp. For SO2R one would want an amp on each
radio. With two KPA500's one would have two radios with 500 W each, and when
that little extra is needed, one could run both amp's in parallel from a
single radio. Liftability would be very good! I know that is not a new idea,
but implementing it seems a little messy. Might Elecraft consider offering
special cabling and firmware to allow operation with the two amp's in
parallel be as slick as running the single amp? Even slicker would be the
ability to go back to one amp per radio, without any change in cabling.

 

73,

Erik K7TV

______________________________________________________________
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]

[Bill K9YEQ]

Erik,  I sold my solid state THP2.5kfx for the same reason of not being able to lift it easily.  I bought the KPA500 to replace it.  The difference in power isn't all that much to me but I don't contest.  I can make up for the power difference easily by improving my antennas.  I am doing so now as weather permits.  At least I have a great amp with nearly as much on the receiver's S meter on the other end.

73,
Bill
K9YEQ

-----Original Message-----
From: Elecraft [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Erik Basilier
Sent: Thursday, March 16, 2017 2:27 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: [Elecraft] Linear thoughts

I recently sold my legal limit tube amp after a bit of a mental struggle.
The seller in me finally won after I realized that "if I can't lift it, I shouldn't own it". I was tempted to replace it with an ALS-1306, but I operate RTTY and in that mode the 1306 wouldn't be good for more output than a KPA500. Today I received my (new to me) KPA500. However, in a contest someone with 1500 Watts will have a big advantage over my 500 W, so the subject of higher power may soon come back to me. With the competion today in solid state linears, I have to believe that Electraft will in the future offer a bigger linear. To me it would be sad if the new Elecraft amplifier were a lot heavier than the KPA500. I am a fan of linear supplies, but I would have to hope that the bigger Elecraft amp would use a switching supply, located in a separate box. In the meantime, I am set up with two radios (both K3) and only one amp. For SO2R one would want an amp on each radio. With two KPA500's one would have two radios with 500 W each, and when that little extra is needed, on
 e could run both amp's in parallel from a single radio. Liftability would be very good! I know that is not a new idea, but implementing it seems a little messy. Might Elecraft consider offering special cabling and firmware to allow operation with the two amp's in parallel be as slick as running the single amp? Even slicker would be the ability to go back to one amp per radio, without any change in cabling.

 

73,

Erik K7TV

______________________________________________________________
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
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]

[k6dgw]

Advising Elecraft about producing a larger amplifier is quite a bit
above my pay grade so I won't go there. However, going to 1,500 watts
from 500 watts is a bit less than 5 dB -- a little less than one
International Standard S-unit.  5 dB might come a lot cheaper from an
antenna change.

Before purchasing the KPA500, I ran my "1,500 watt Behemoth" at 500 W
for close to a year to see if I could tell the difference. Admittedly,
I'm a casual contester and DX'er, and I operate my ham radio for other
reasons too, but I really couldn't see much if any difference in terms
of who I could work or how long it took to snag the latest expedition.  
Operating skill [or lack thereof in my case] was a much bigger factor.  
The KPA500 was full QSK which its predecessor was not, which became a
big advantage.

I have since sold the KPA500 [and KAT500] and run 100W from home. My
HOA-Stealth "wire on the fence" is close enough to the house that I
occasionally make something happen [like flash touch-lamps or reset the
u-wave clock], and I figured 500 W might nuke the neighbor's dog who
patrols the other side of the fence.  I'm very surprised that the wire,
6 feet high, works as well as it does. If I quest for QRO and "real
antennae," I can always run W7RN remotely.

73,

Fred ("Skip") K6DGW
Sparks NV USA
Washoe County DM09dn

On 3/16/2017 12:26 PM, Erik Basilier wrote:
> I recently sold my legal limit tube amp after a bit of a mental struggle.
> The seller in me finally won after I realized that "if I can't lift it, I
> shouldn't own it". I was tempted to replace it with an ALS-1306, but I
> operate RTTY and in that mode the 1306 wouldn't be good for more output than
> a KPA500. Today I received my (new to me) KPA500. However, in a contest
> someone with 1500 Watts will have a big advantage over my 500 W, so the
> subject of higher power may soon come back to me.

______________________________________________________________
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]

[Charlie T, K3ICH]

Well, if you've never tried to work truly "weak" signals, I can assure you
that +5 dB WILL make a world of difference.
Otherwise, why would you go to the trouble of installing a ½dB noise figure
pre-amp at the antenna, just to eliminate 2dB of feed-line loss on receive?
Or, stacking a second Yagi to gain at most, +3dB?
Yes, +5dB can be very hard to come by when you're operating at the fringes
of performance.
My thoughts are, if you're gonna run an amp at all, go for legal limit.

Not knocking anyone running 200 or 500 or 700 watts, just my own opinion.

73, Charlie k3ICH




-----Original Message-----
From: Elecraft [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Fred
Jensen
Sent: Thursday, March 16, 2017 4:35 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Linear thoughts

Advising Elecraft about producing a larger amplifier is quite a bit above my
pay grade so I won't go there. However, going to 1,500 watts from 500 watts
is a bit less than 5 dB -- a little less than one International Standard
S-unit.  5 dB might come a lot cheaper from an antenna change.

Before purchasing the KPA500, I ran my "1,500 watt Behemoth" at 500 W for
close to a year to see if I could tell the difference. Admittedly, I'm a
casual contester and DX'er, and I operate my ham radio for other reasons
too, but I really couldn't see much if any difference in terms of who I
could work or how long it took to snag the latest expedition.  
Operating skill [or lack thereof in my case] was a much bigger factor.  
The KPA500 was full QSK which its predecessor was not, which became a big
advantage.

I have since sold the KPA500 [and KAT500] and run 100W from home. My
HOA-Stealth "wire on the fence" is close enough to the house that I
occasionally make something happen [like flash touch-lamps or reset the
u-wave clock], and I figured 500 W might nuke the neighbor's dog who patrols
the other side of the fence.  I'm very surprised that the wire,
6 feet high, works as well as it does. If I quest for QRO and "real
antennae," I can always run W7RN remotely.

73,

Fred ("Skip") K6DGW
Sparks NV USA
Washoe County DM09dn

On 3/16/2017 12:26 PM, Erik Basilier wrote:
> I recently sold my legal limit tube amp after a bit of a mental struggle.
> The seller in me finally won after I realized that "if I can't lift
> it, I shouldn't own it". I was tempted to replace it with an ALS-1306,
> but I operate RTTY and in that mode the 1306 wouldn't be good for more
> output than a KPA500. Today I received my (new to me) KPA500. However,
> in a contest someone with 1500 Watts will have a big advantage over my
> 500 W, so the subject of higher power may soon come back to me.

______________________________________________________________
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
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]

[Bill K9YEQ]

Charlie, I think one of the main reasons for switching to a smaller amp was the weight involved in the 1.5Kw rigs.  Just thought I would add back in.  The MJF AB1000 combiner looks interesting, but I would not touch one unless I knew of many who used one successfully.  That way I could get a second KPA500, and run 1KW which adds the 3db and I could move the separate parts with ease.  :-)

73,
Bill
K9YEQ

-----Original Message-----
From: Elecraft [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Charlie T, K3ICH
Sent: Thursday, March 16, 2017 5:20 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Linear thoughts

Well, if you've never tried to work truly "weak" signals, I can assure you that +5 dB WILL make a world of difference.
Otherwise, why would you go to the trouble of installing a ½dB noise figure pre-amp at the antenna, just to eliminate 2dB of feed-line loss on receive?
Or, stacking a second Yagi to gain at most, +3dB?
Yes, +5dB can be very hard to come by when you're operating at the fringes of performance.
My thoughts are, if you're gonna run an amp at all, go for legal limit.

Not knocking anyone running 200 or 500 or 700 watts, just my own opinion.

73, Charlie k3ICH




-----Original Message-----
From: Elecraft [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Fred Jensen
Sent: Thursday, March 16, 2017 4:35 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Linear thoughts

Advising Elecraft about producing a larger amplifier is quite a bit above my pay grade so I won't go there. However, going to 1,500 watts from 500 watts is a bit less than 5 dB -- a little less than one International Standard S-unit.  5 dB might come a lot cheaper from an antenna change.

Before purchasing the KPA500, I ran my "1,500 watt Behemoth" at 500 W for close to a year to see if I could tell the difference. Admittedly, I'm a casual contester and DX'er, and I operate my ham radio for other reasons too, but I really couldn't see much if any difference in terms of who I could work or how long it took to snag the latest expedition.  
Operating skill [or lack thereof in my case] was a much bigger factor.  
The KPA500 was full QSK which its predecessor was not, which became a big advantage.

I have since sold the KPA500 [and KAT500] and run 100W from home. My HOA-Stealth "wire on the fence" is close enough to the house that I occasionally make something happen [like flash touch-lamps or reset the u-wave clock], and I figured 500 W might nuke the neighbor's dog who patrols the other side of the fence.  I'm very surprised that the wire,
6 feet high, works as well as it does. If I quest for QRO and "real antennae," I can always run W7RN remotely.

73,

Fred ("Skip") K6DGW
Sparks NV USA
Washoe County DM09dn

On 3/16/2017 12:26 PM, Erik Basilier wrote:
> I recently sold my legal limit tube amp after a bit of a mental struggle.
> The seller in me finally won after I realized that "if I can't lift
> it, I shouldn't own it". I was tempted to replace it with an ALS-1306,
> but I operate RTTY and in that mode the 1306 wouldn't be good for more
> output than a KPA500. Today I received my (new to me) KPA500. However,
> in a contest someone with 1500 Watts will have a big advantage over my
> 500 W, so the subject of higher power may soon come back to me.

______________________________________________________________
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
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
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]

[Gary K9GS]

I think that the ship has sailed with respect to Elecraft bringing a
legal limit SS amp to market.

There are a growing number of lightweight legal limit amps already on
the market.  The FlexRadio Power Genius looks especially promising:
http://www.flexradio.com/amateur-products/powergenius-xl/

It only weighs 33 pounds.  I saw it in operation at the Orlando
HamCation and it looked very impressive operating all weekend into a
dummy load at a conservative 1.5 kw output.

SPE also just announced a 1.5 kw amp..something I'm surprised they did
given that they already have a 1 kw, 1.3 kw, and a 2kw amp on the
market.  I know of several people that have the 1 kw amp and use it with
their K3 radios and they love them.  I've used the big SPE amp in CQWW
CW and it worked flawlessly all weekend without a hiccup.


On 3/16/2017 5:38 PM, Bill Johnson wrote:

> Charlie, I think one of the main reasons for switching to a smaller amp was the weight involved in the 1.5Kw rigs.  Just thought I would add back in.  The MJF AB1000 combiner looks interesting, but I would not touch one unless I knew of many who used one successfully.  That way I could get a second KPA500, and run 1KW which adds the 3db and I could move the separate parts with ease.  :-)
>
> 73,
> Bill
> K9YEQ
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Elecraft [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Charlie T, K3ICH
> Sent: Thursday, March 16, 2017 5:20 PM
> To: [hidden email]
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Linear thoughts
>
> Well, if you've never tried to work truly "weak" signals, I can assure you that +5 dB WILL make a world of difference.
> Otherwise, why would you go to the trouble of installing a ½dB noise figure pre-amp at the antenna, just to eliminate 2dB of feed-line loss on receive?
> Or, stacking a second Yagi to gain at most, +3dB?
> Yes, +5dB can be very hard to come by when you're operating at the fringes of performance.
> My thoughts are, if you're gonna run an amp at all, go for legal limit.
>
> Not knocking anyone running 200 or 500 or 700 watts, just my own opinion.
>
> 73, Charlie k3ICH
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Elecraft [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Fred Jensen
> Sent: Thursday, March 16, 2017 4:35 PM
> To: [hidden email]
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Linear thoughts
>
> Advising Elecraft about producing a larger amplifier is quite a bit above my pay grade so I won't go there. However, going to 1,500 watts from 500 watts is a bit less than 5 dB -- a little less than one International Standard S-unit.  5 dB might come a lot cheaper from an antenna change.
>
> Before purchasing the KPA500, I ran my "1,500 watt Behemoth" at 500 W for close to a year to see if I could tell the difference. Admittedly, I'm a casual contester and DX'er, and I operate my ham radio for other reasons too, but I really couldn't see much if any difference in terms of who I could work or how long it took to snag the latest expedition.
> Operating skill [or lack thereof in my case] was a much bigger factor.
> The KPA500 was full QSK which its predecessor was not, which became a big advantage.
>
> I have since sold the KPA500 [and KAT500] and run 100W from home. My HOA-Stealth "wire on the fence" is close enough to the house that I occasionally make something happen [like flash touch-lamps or reset the u-wave clock], and I figured 500 W might nuke the neighbor's dog who patrols the other side of the fence.  I'm very surprised that the wire,
> 6 feet high, works as well as it does. If I quest for QRO and "real antennae," I can always run W7RN remotely.
>
> 73,
>
> Fred ("Skip") K6DGW
> Sparks NV USA
> Washoe County DM09dn
>
> On 3/16/2017 12:26 PM, Erik Basilier wrote:
>> I recently sold my legal limit tube amp after a bit of a mental struggle.
>> The seller in me finally won after I realized that "if I can't lift
>> it, I shouldn't own it". I was tempted to replace it with an ALS-1306,
>> but I operate RTTY and in that mode the 1306 wouldn't be good for more
>> output than a KPA500. Today I received my (new to me) KPA500. However,
>> in a contest someone with 1500 Watts will have a big advantage over my
>> 500 W, so the subject of higher power may soon come back to me.
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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
> 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
> 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]

--
73,

Gary K9GS

Greater Milwaukee DX Association: http://www.gmdxa.org
Society of Midwest Contesters: http://www.w9smc.com
CW Ops #1032   http://www.cwops.org

************************************************

______________________________________________________________
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]

[Jim Brown-10]

I bought a 1K used from a friend. It's usability is ok, but he's had it
fixed a couple of times and my measurements show that it's not a very
clean amp.  I've heard that the 1.3K is pretty dirty. The primary virtue
of the 1.3K is its very light weight, so it's great to take on an
airplane. I bought the 1K to get 900W on 6M on CW and SSB.

73, Jim K9YC

On Thu,3/16/2017 4:19 PM, Gary K9GS wrote:
> several people that have the 1 kw amp and use it with their K3 radios
> and they love them.  I've used the big SPE amp in CQWW
______________________________________________________________
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]

[Bob Nielsen-4]

Sorry honey, but you can't run the clothes dryer this weekend.


On 3/16/17 7:44 PM, Ron D'Eau Claire wrote:

> Also there is the issue of the mains power available in the "shack".
>
> The KPA500 runs very well off of a decent 120VAC mains source, as I can
> attest from experience. But that is about the limit for a normally (for the
> USA) wired home circuit when a power supply for a K3, lights, etc., are
> included.
>
> Larger amps will *REQUIRE* a 240VAC circuit which, unlike Europe, we in the
> USA seldom have unless special wiring is installed.
>
> 73, Ron AC7AC
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Elecraft [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Bill
> Johnson
> Sent: Thursday, March 16, 2017 3:38 PM
> To: Charlie T, K3ICH; [hidden email]
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Linear thoughts
>
> Charlie, I think one of the main reasons for switching to a smaller amp was
> the weight involved in the 1.5Kw rigs.  Just thought I would add back in.
> The MJF AB1000 combiner looks interesting, but I would not touch one unless
> I knew of many who used one successfully.  That way I could get a second
> KPA500, and run 1KW which adds the 3db and I could move the separate parts
> with ease.  :-)
>
> 73,
> Bill
> K9YEQ
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Elecraft [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of
> Charlie T, K3ICH
> Sent: Thursday, March 16, 2017 5:20 PM
> To: [hidden email]
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Linear thoughts
>
> Well, if you've never tried to work truly "weak" signals, I can assure you
> that +5 dB WILL make a world of difference.
> Otherwise, why would you go to the trouble of installing a ½dB noise figure
> pre-amp at the antenna, just to eliminate 2dB of feed-line loss on receive?
> Or, stacking a second Yagi to gain at most, +3dB?
> Yes, +5dB can be very hard to come by when you're operating at the fringes
> of performance.
> My thoughts are, if you're gonna run an amp at all, go for legal limit.
>
> Not knocking anyone running 200 or 500 or 700 watts, just my own opinion.
>
> 73, Charlie k3ICH
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Elecraft [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Fred
> Jensen
> Sent: Thursday, March 16, 2017 4:35 PM
> To: [hidden email]
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Linear thoughts
>
> Advising Elecraft about producing a larger amplifier is quite a bit above my
> pay grade so I won't go there. However, going to 1,500 watts from 500 watts
> is a bit less than 5 dB -- a little less than one International Standard
> S-unit.  5 dB might come a lot cheaper from an antenna change.
>
> Before purchasing the KPA500, I ran my "1,500 watt Behemoth" at 500 W for
> close to a year to see if I could tell the difference. Admittedly, I'm a
> casual contester and DX'er, and I operate my ham radio for other reasons
> too, but I really couldn't see much if any difference in terms of who I
> could work or how long it took to snag the latest expedition.
> Operating skill [or lack thereof in my case] was a much bigger factor.
> The KPA500 was full QSK which its predecessor was not, which became a big
> advantage.
>
> I have since sold the KPA500 [and KAT500] and run 100W from home. My
> HOA-Stealth "wire on the fence" is close enough to the house that I
> occasionally make something happen [like flash touch-lamps or reset the
> u-wave clock], and I figured 500 W might nuke the neighbor's dog who patrols
> the other side of the fence.  I'm very surprised that the wire,
> 6 feet high, works as well as it does. If I quest for QRO and "real
> antennae," I can always run W7RN remotely.
>
> 73,
>
> Fred ("Skip") K6DGW
> Sparks NV USA
> Washoe County DM09dn
>
> On 3/16/2017 12:26 PM, Erik Basilier wrote:
>> I recently sold my legal limit tube amp after a bit of a mental struggle.
>> The seller in me finally won after I realized that "if I can't lift
>> it, I shouldn't own it". I was tempted to replace it with an ALS-1306,
>> but I operate RTTY and in that mode the 1306 wouldn't be good for more
>> output than a KPA500. Today I received my (new to me) KPA500. However,
>> in a contest someone with 1500 Watts will have a big advantage over my
>> 500 W, so the subject of higher power may soon come back to me.
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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
> 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
> 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
> 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
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]

[NJ8M]

I have a 1500 watt alpha sitting in the corner. It is a great amp,
although, I don't like the clunky relays and the fan noise to cool the
tubes. Once in a while I like to not have to use cans to operate, but for
the most part I do use the headphones. After having the Alpha and SB 220,
and TenTec Titan amps the Alpha was the loudest. It is kind of an antique
and it is my only piece of boat anchor equipment that I own. I bought a THP
1.5kfx amp and I have been running it at 500 watts when ever I turn it on.
I can run it at 1k or 3db increase in power and from the other end there is
no change in the rx station report. I run CW 98% of the time. But the amp
is used on SSB for the rag chew on a local level and yes I use an amp to
talk across town on 40 meters just to keep the cursing hog farmers and
drunks from messing with us. It works well for that. People just stay away.
But it also attracts the casual drop by who joins the QSO and is welcome to
stay awhile.

500 watts for the last 3 years has been more than enough. It is easy to
hold a frequency in a contest with that power and it causes no
problems with neighbors. Since I only use balanced antennas, my RFI
problems have disappeared. I can run 1500watts with no problems or lights
going on and off and garage doors opening. It is nice to have some headroom
in an amp and that is what the THP gives me. It just loafs at 500 watts. I
run it on 220v and the panel lights don't even change intensity.

I would vote for a 1k amp by Elecraft but probably would only run it at 750
tops. And No I don't need 6 meters so a 160-10 would be great. After all,
Elecraft came out with the KX2 vs KX3 and did just that, 80-10 no 160 or 6,
and I am just fine with that. So if they made an amp with 160 - 10 then
that would be fine by me. It may be even as simple as saying with the
software that the KPA 500 if the software were to change and state 750
watts 160-10 and 500 on 6, heck I would be even happy with that.

Elecraft stuff just works and I am happy with that. I so want to pull the
trigger on the KX 2 or 3 and it temps me every time I visit the page to see
what new stuff has come out.

In the near future, like right now, SDR radios are going to dominate the
field and I really want to see what Wayne, has cooked up for dealing with
that issue. SO2R is the wave of the future in contesting and K9CT is the
poster boy for the Flex 6700 and Maestro interface when it comes to
contesting. He sold all of his K3/P3 stations and has a full compliment of
Flex. Maybe, if Elecraft made a great interface that would work with the
K3S/N1MM then that is an area that should be explored for SO2R.

Every thing is contingent on market share and perceived value. Face it K3
owners are rather an elite crowd. First we are buying radios, when fully
equipped are nearing the $4k mark and from a cosmetic stand point of view,
they are not pretty on the out side. Utility is everything for us, and
simply the K3 works.

In the end, if Elecraft made a better amp than the KPA 500, I would
probably buy it. Maybe even 2 of them for my station conversion to SO2R.

I know guys that buy 2 KPA500.KTA500 for running SO2R with the Flex
6700/maestro set up. It works well for them. Once I retire, I will probably
do the same and run 2 k3s with them. It is the logical solution for me,
especially since I love the quiet relays/pin diode switching and the almost
silent fans when running hard with the KPA500.

Vy 73,

Morgan Bailey NJ8M



On Thu, Mar 16, 2017 at 2:44 PM, Bill Johnson <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Erik,  I sold my solid state THP2.5kfx for the same reason of not being
> able to lift it easily.  I bought the KPA500 to replace it.  The difference
> in power isn't all that much to me but I don't contest.  I can make up for
> the power difference easily by improving my antennas.  I am doing so now as
> weather permits.  At least I have a great amp with nearly as much on the
> receiver's S meter on the other end.
>
> 73,
> Bill
> K9YEQ
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Elecraft [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of
> Erik Basilier
> Sent: Thursday, March 16, 2017 2:27 PM
> To: [hidden email]
> Subject: [Elecraft] Linear thoughts
>
> I recently sold my legal limit tube amp after a bit of a mental struggle.
> The seller in me finally won after I realized that "if I can't lift it, I
> shouldn't own it". I was tempted to replace it with an ALS-1306, but I
> operate RTTY and in that mode the 1306 wouldn't be good for more output
> than a KPA500. Today I received my (new to me) KPA500. However, in a
> contest someone with 1500 Watts will have a big advantage over my 500 W, so
> the subject of higher power may soon come back to me. With the competion
> today in solid state linears, I have to believe that Electraft will in the
> future offer a bigger linear. To me it would be sad if the new Elecraft
> amplifier were a lot heavier than the KPA500. I am a fan of linear
> supplies, but I would have to hope that the bigger Elecraft amp would use a
> switching supply, located in a separate box. In the meantime, I am set up
> with two radios (both K3) and only one amp. For SO2R one would want an amp
> on each radio. With two KPA500's one would have two radios with 500 W each,
> and when that little extra is needed, on
>  e could run both amp's in parallel from a single radio. Liftability would
> be very good! I know that is not a new idea, but implementing it seems a
> little messy. Might Elecraft consider offering special cabling and firmware
> to allow operation with the two amp's in parallel be as slick as running
> the single amp? Even slicker would be the ability to go back to one amp per
> radio, without any change in cabling.
>
>
>
> 73,
>
> Erik K7TV
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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
> 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
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]