I agree.
I see at least three options:
1. Buy new. A commodity is what they are. They are to the point of
plug and play. They are bought and sold as such.
2. Buy a used one and if necessary bring it up to specs with add-ons, new
valves, etc..
3. Build one from a kit or and/or homebrew from schematic yourself.
If (big If) Elecraft were to release an amplifier to market, it would be
in category #3, I hope.
They'd likely not offer option #1 and the market for a used KPA800/1500
would be tight. Then there's the more litigious environment we live in
today and a kit-form full gallon linear does present the novice builder
some challenges that are different than a K2/K3.
I went option #2. SB-200 with the mods and new valves. 1.2kW PEP, for
under what MFJ sells and far below what THP sells.
In the recent time frame, what perplexes me is that there is not a well
known kit-form linear amplifier out there (if there is, I've missed it).
Does the market need another linear? Probably not. Does it need a linear
in kit form? I'd say yes. I won't lose sleep over Elecraft not
releasing a linear kit. But it would be nice to keep a K-line, if you
know what I mean.
Given the shortening of order to shipment for K3s, the fact may be that
Elecraft is circling the wagons economically and waiting for a period
where there is more money flowing around. Like the other poster said, the
R&D to get the new linear in retail form-factor may take time.. Time they
don't have with the DVR, Sub-Rx, etc.. in work and so forth. It's a
small company. Excellent, but still small.
How many COO's and executives read and respond to their customer oriented
mailing lists?
--
Jeff Wandling DE W7BRS K3 #2105 http://w7brs.com/k3
k...@w7brs.com
On Mon, 22 Dec 2008, AD6XY wrote:
If you are after quality, THP make good amplifiers. You can now buy them in
the USA. (Also for VK Tokyo is nice and close.....relatively)
The market for Elecraft to produce amplifiers that are significantly better
while not costing very much more than the THP ones is fairly limited.
More likely developments may be K3 additions, for example the fabled
variable bandwidth IF filters. Perhaps a VHF radio. Perhaps a K2v2 QRP
portable with K3 receive performance.
It would be nice to see a KPA800 or a KPA1500 but I think we might have a
long wait.
Mike
--
View this message in context:
http://n2.nabble.com/KPA-1500-KPA-800-tp1689119p1689557.html
Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
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