On the horns of a dilemma - upgrade K3 to 100w or buy KXPA100+ATU?

[Jim Low man]

Sort of talking out loud here, but all opinions are welcome.

As the subject says, I'm debating as to whether to buy the KPA3 module
to bring my K3 to 100w, or spend about twice as much for the KXPA100+ATU.

The K3 and KX3 are so similar in specs and capabilities that I think
I'll be using the KX3 only for Field Day and other portable operation,
with the K3 as a home station.
But the KXPA100 offers the possibility to use it with my K2, K3/10 and
KX3, as well as other QRP radios in the shack, such as the FT-817 and
the QRP++

Dumb question:  I have the KAT3 ATU Installed in the K3.  Will it handle
100w if I upgrade to the KPA3, or will I have to replace it? I didn't
see an ATU with a higher power rating on the Elecraft order form.

Thanks for any thoughts and 73 de Jim - AD6CW
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[Dick Dievendorff]

The KAT3 handles the 100 watt output of the K3 with KPA3.

73 de Dick, K6KR


On Jun 22, 2013, at 8:00 PM, Jim Lowman <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Sort of talking out loud here, but all opinions are welcome.
>
> As the subject says, I'm debating as to whether to buy the KPA3 module to bring my K3 to 100w, or spend about twice as much for the KXPA100+ATU.
>
> The K3 and KX3 are so similar in specs and capabilities that I think I'll be using the KX3 only for Field Day and other portable operation, with the K3 as a home station.
> But the KXPA100 offers the possibility to use it with my K2, K3/10 and KX3, as well as other QRP radios in the shack, such as the FT-817 and the QRP++
>
> Dumb question:  I have the KAT3 ATU Installed in the K3.  Will it handle 100w if I upgrade to the KPA3, or will I have to replace it? I didn't see an ATU with a higher power rating on the Elecraft order form.
>
> Thanks for any thoughts and 73 de Jim - AD6CW
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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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[Bayard Coolidge, N1HO]

IMNSHO, get the KPA3 for the K3. Your KAT3, as has already been pointed out,
will handle the KPA3 beautifully. You can still crank the power down to whatever
level you want, so you can still operate the K3/KPA3 at QRP levels. Plus, everything
will be nicely integrated into one package which, BTW, will also do a fine job for
Field Day and every other contest (and DXpedition) in which you want to participate.

The trade-offs are, as you mentioned, the cost, the addition of yet another box (and
power supply?) to an already crowded station, against the flexibility/complexity of
cabling betwixt the transceivers and the KXPA100.

And, yes, there is a higher powered ATU in the corral - the KAT500
http://www.elecraft.com/KAT500/kat500.html


73,
Brandy, N1HO


________________________________
 From: Jim Lowman <[hidden email]>
To: [hidden email]
Sent: Saturday, June 22, 2013 11:00 PM
Subject: [Elecraft] On the horns of a dilemma - upgrade K3 to 100w or buy KXPA100+ATU?
 

Sort of talking out loud here, but all opinions are welcome.

As the subject says, I'm debating as to whether to buy the KPA3 module
to bring my K3 to 100w, or spend about twice as much for the KXPA100+ATU.

The K3 and KX3 are so similar in specs and capabilities that I think
I'll be using the KX3 only for Field Day and other portable operation,
with the K3 as a home station.
But the KXPA100 offers the possibility to use it with my K2, K3/10 and
KX3, as well as other QRP radios in the shack, such as the FT-817 and
the QRP++

Dumb question:  I have the KAT3 ATU Installed in the K3.  Will it handle
100w if I upgrade to the KPA3, or will I have to replace it? I didn't
see an ATU with a higher power rating on the Elecraft order form.

Thanks for any thoughts and 73 de Jim - AD6CW
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[Jim Low man]

Thanks, guys, for all of the helpful suggestions to my dilemma!

I have decided to upgrade the K3 to 100w for the time being.
As one person pointed out, that will make it more interesting to a
prospective buyer, when that time comes.

If, in the future, I see that I'd like to have 100w for one or more of
the other QRP radios, I'm sure that the KXPA100+ATU will be readily
available from stock.

73 de Jim - AD6CW
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