Wayne and All,
As much as I am interested in getting the new KX3, I'm even more anxious for
the KAT500 to round out my "K Line" properly. It doesn't sound like
Christmas is a very realistic goal, but since they are still making
improvements I think I can wait! Hi. I wish I was a field tester!
I know a lot of folks kind of "poo-poo" using a tuner at all, but some of us
have antenna systems that demand it. Making fairly wide band excursions,
particularly on 40 meters, is especially troublesome without one. I want my
KPA500 to be "seeing" something as close to 50 ohms as possible, even though
the antenna is something of a mismatch. When I'm barefoot it's no problem,
of course, since the ATU in the K3 seems capable of tuning a wet piece of
string! Anyway, the KAT500 sounds like another great Elecraft product, and
one that will certainly enhance my situation. I have a nice manual Ten-Tec
tuner, but it takes a good bit of time and effort to get the settings right,
even when you know approximately where they should be.
Speaking of the KPA500, I just want to mention how pleased I am with the way
mine is performing. Gads, is that thing quiet! Even when the fan comes on,
which isn't all that often, you barely can hear it. It has great QSK, and
runs very efficiently on 110/120 volts. I probably haven't given it the
"acid" test, but it certainly seems like some others have, and with very
good results. Anyway, it's the perfect amp for me--just enough extra oomph
when conditions require it. From this point, the only way I'm going to make
any meaningful improvements is with better antennas. Another 500 or 700
watts just wouldn't mean that much, except more pain and suffering! I
didn't have to do anything special with the KPA500 except plug it in. With
a bigger amp I'd certainly have had to re-wire the whole shack. And---I can
lift it! With one hand! It's a great design, and a great result.
Dave W7AQK
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