The only SS amp I know of to fulfill the HF+6 "US legal limit" requirement
is the forthcoming SPE 2K-FA. I don't believe FCC certification is yet
the rest of the world. SPE's literature places a target price of EUR 4,650,
>
> Jack,
>
> > The amp market on the other hand doesn't seem to have any vacant
> > niches, MFJ has the low end and mid-range covered and there are a
> > herd of companies duking it out over the high end market.
>
> The one vacant market niche - and one Elecraft appear to have avoided -
> is the US "Legal Limit" solid state segment. There are literally
> dozens of 500 - 600 watt solid state amps and several good products
> at the 1000 W PEP level but there is nothing that covers 160 - 6
> at 1500 W CW/RTTY.
>
> I suppose that begs the question whether there is a market for such
> an amplifier considering that the $/W tend to be higher for solid
> state amplifiers than tube amplifiers of comparable power levels.
> I have my feelings but since it isn't my R&D or marketing dollars on
> the line, they're not particularly important.
>
> 73,
>
> ... Joe, W4TV
>
>
> On 9/10/2010 11:57 AM, Jack Brabham wrote:
>> Lew,
>>
>> Except for issues related to physical size, most of your rationale for
>> not producing a 2KW amp seems equally applicable to a 500W amp.
>>
>> The K3, from a marketing perspective, played into a vacant market
>> niche. The Japanese companies had focused on low-end, how cheap can
>> we make it radios or over-priced bloated barges for the money is no
>> object crowd.
>>
>> There is still nothing out there that is competitive with the K3 on a
>> price/performance basis.
>>
>> The amp market on the other hand doesn't seem to have any vacant niches,
>> MFJ has the low end and mid-range covered and there are a herd of
>> companies duking it out over the high end market.
>>
>> There also doesn't seem to be much technical performance differentiation
>> between the low, mid, and high end amps on the market today. The
>> dollars/watt number for any particular brand seems to be mostly driven
>> by how fancy a box the amp is packaged in.
>>
>> So, I'm thinking that if Elecraft is determined to get into the amp
>> market the KPA500 will hit most of the product differentiators
>> available. It matches the K3 appearance and size, maintains the high
>> portability factor, and can claim some technical innovation for the
>> built-in PS.
>>
>> Considering that the principal product differentiators are only germane
>> to K3 owners maybe the intended market is primarily "existing K3
>> owners", rather than the general amp market. No doubt that will be
>> where the Lion's share of the sales go in any case.
>>
>> Maybe the next Elecraft amp will be something more powerful with an
>> external PS but still in the K3 box, that would be interesting.
>>
>> 73 Jack KZ5A
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On 9/10/2010 8:57 AM, Lew Phelps K6LMP wrote:
>>> I think some of the folks who are calling for gigawatt amplifiers (ok,
>>> full legal limit...) are losing focus on one key fact: Elecraft has
>>> prospered by making products that SOME hams want that NOBODY else makes.
>>> The K3 is a perfect example: an exquisite transceiver, quite arguably
>>> the best available at any price if you're not a fan of big boxes with
>>> big buttons. It's portable, can be expanded incrementally with modules
>>> to meet any operator's specific needs, and it's 'way up in the upper
>>> right hand corner of the value scatter graph (price on one axis,
>>> performance on the other).
>>>
>>> So, what could Elecraft bring to the 2KW amplifier market that would (a)
>>> differentiate it from the others and (b)stay within the general confines
>>> of the K3 "style", which means compact, efficient, modular
>>> expandability, and (probably) fit within the K3 form factor.
>>>
>>> You cannot build a 2KW amplifier that meets those criteria. Modular?
>>> Yes; you could make the power supply and an auto-tuner modular add-ons.
>>> Efficient? Yes. Compact? No. K3 form factor? Not a chance. For
>>> example, the Alpha 2KW amplifier measures 17.5w x 78.5h x 19.75d. It
>>> weighs well over 50 lbs. It costs $5000. There is no way to build a
>>> large-output amp that will fit within the K3 form factor. the physical
>>> size of components needed to handle that power makes it impossible.
>>>
>>> So, some on this list essentially are asking Elecraft to step outside
>>> its well-defined and highly successful approach to the market and build
>>> a "me too" legal limit amplifier that Elecraft could not meaningfully
>>> distinguish from the competition, except for the nameplate. Amplifiers
>>> are not that complex, compared to the K3. That lack of complexity is
>>> exactly why this is not a market in which Elecraft could compete
>>> successfully. There's no way to meaningfully differentiate its 2KW amp
>>> from others, except for the nameplate. Yes, they would "include" their
>>> superb customer support as a product feature. But I don't think they
>>> could bring enough differentiation from the Alpha, Tokyo Hygain, and
>>> other high end amplifiers already on the market to break into that
>>> market at a volume that would support design and production costs.
>>>
>>> The folks in Aptos DO understand the market. They are listening, and
>>> watching this dialogue. We can keep that process productive by not
>>> asking Elecraft to come out with a product that breaks the laws of
>>> physics. It's a small company, with limited design resources. Let's all
>>> encourage them to focus on new products that realistically fit within
>>> the Elecraft market niche.
>>>
>>> my 3 cents worth (inflation, you know...)
>>>
>>> Lew K6LMP
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On Sep 9, 2010, at 10:33 PM, Wes Stewart wrote:
>>>
>>>> Right, 500W is hardly worthwhile. Make it at least 2KW PEP. Got to
>>>> make up for the tuner and coax losses and to live on RTTY.
>>>>
>>>> --- On Thu, 9/9/10, Greg<
[hidden email]> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Free market feedback...bring back the
>>>>> 1500 watt amp! 73 de Greg-N4CC
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
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