> Why not stack 4 KPA500's and use a combiner!!!
Why accept the cost of four separate control systems,
four sets of lowpass filters, four separate power
supplies and four cases?
73,
... Joe, W4TV
On 9/10/2010 3:22 PM, Tony Fegan VE3QF wrote:
> Joe,
>
> Why not stack 4 KPA500's and use a combiner!!!
>
> 73
> Tony Fegan VE3QF
>
> On Fri-10-Sep-10 12:15 PM, Joe Subich, W4TV wrote:
>>
>> Snip:
>
>> 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.
>>
>
>> 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<n...@cableone.net> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> Free market feedback...bring back the
>>>>>> 1500 watt amp! 73 de Greg-N4CC
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> ______________________________________________________________
>>>>> Elecraft mailing list
>>>>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>>>>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>>>>> Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net
>>>>>
>>>>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>>>>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>>>> ______________________________________________________________
>>>> Elecraft mailing list
>>>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>>>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>>>> Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net
>>>>
>>>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>>>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>>>>
>>>
>>> ______________________________________________________________
>>> Elecraft mailing list
>>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>>> Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net
>>>
>>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>>>
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> Elecraft mailing list
>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>> Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net
>>
>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>
______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net
This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
