I run QRP out of practical necessity. I'm forced to use attic antennas and I don't wish to induce more RF into the domestic electrical equipment (or me, for that matter) than I absolutely have to.
Nevertheless, I'm thinking about getting a KPA3, because it probably will never be cheaper than it is now, and the occasion might arise in future when I might be able to use it. I'm just wondering if there are any advantages to using the PA when running QRP. As I understand it, the PA is switched out of circuit until you dial the power above 10W, just as in the K2. There is no option for class A operation at a lower power level to produce a cleaner signal. If I run 10W of FM, the QRP PA will do all the work, and warm up very quickly, instead of letting the KPA3 do most of the work and barely getting warm. If I run 5W of PSK31, the IMD generated by the low power PA running at half its rated power will be higher than the KPA3 loafing along at the same power level. Unless I'm missing something, there would be no benefit to me at the moment from having the KPA3 unless I want to wind the power control above 10W. Am I right? ----- Julian, G4ILO K3 s/n: 222 K2 s/n: 392 G4ILO's Shack: www.g4ilo.com Zerobeat Ham Forums: www.zerobeat.net/smf -- View this message in context: http://www.nabble.com/KPA3-for-QRP-tp16091280p16091280.html Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com. _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
