lu w4lt wrote: I can get an ACOM 1010 (admittedly, with a tube) around (below) that that price with the handy TRI tuning and 800w to do the same thing, with paperclip reliability to boot.
Also, an ALS600 with the Linear Power supply, AD5X Full Break In mod and an external bandswitching accessory plus an MFJ998 would come in considerably under the $2,000 price. I should know. I own this configuration and it works wonderfully at a total cost of just under $1,800 :) Matching boxes are nice, but they are not worth that kind of money for that power level. 500 watts in kit form with a under $1,100 price point makes much more sense in today's economic environment, with the added advantage of me being able to build and service it (although the Ameritron is very simple inside, easy to service and I don't have to build it, for two hundred dollars more!). Sorry, but the Kool Aid seems to be starting to taste a little bitter. -lu-w4lt- ************ lu, I understand how you conclude your personal equipment druthers - and there can be no criticisms for those choices. Let me suggest; however, that there is an "iron triangle" that most people consider as trade-offs for purchases, either consciously or subconsciously : 1) Performance, 2) Style, and 3) Cost. In general we all seek to maximize performance in whatever we wish to acquire or purchase, whether it be power level, duty cycle, weight, distortion, and HF and 6-meter band coverage. I will argue that Style is also an issue for everyone on some level - do we really need to have any of our cabinets painted? What about knobs? Must they be black? Knurled? Plastic? Metal? Ultimately, Performance and Style are phase-locked to COST. The more you demand of Performance and Style, the higher the Cost must be. Considerations of 1) Performance, 2) Style, and 3) Cost, send our personal choices in the directions that suit us as we individuals deem best. Those choices have nothing to do with the taste of anyone's Kool Aid. I have already acquired a high duty cycle, low distortion, 1.5KW amplifier years ago. Now I would like a small, light, and portable HF+6-meter amplifier for DXpedition duty. I personally will not consider ANY amplifier that cannot Perform on 6-meters in a small stylish, compact, light, and low distortion package. Your mileage does vary. 73, Terry K4RX ______________________________________________________________ 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
