Sound like my cue, Fred. David, I think you will enjoy using the KPA500,
although I’m a bit biased.
The KPA will run just fine from 1.6 to 54 MHz, with the exception of the CB
Lockout area from 26 to 28 MHz, which is FCC-mandated for amplifiers in the US.
I can’t answer your question about going from 1500 to 500 watts (Like Fred, I
run mine at 600). I can tell you that with the amplifier I am definitely heard
in contests, which is where I do most of my operating. It makes a huge
difference. My station is on a city lot in San Jose, which means small
antennas. As I
said the difference between 100 and 600 watts is that at 600 I feel like I am
heard.
I am sure you will hear from others on the power comparison and the KPA500
operation as well.
- Jack Brindle, W6FB
Elecraft Engineering (like I said, I’m a bit biased…)
> On Apr 23, 2015, at 9:42 PM, Fred Jensen wrote:
>
> On 4/23/2015 7:34 PM, David Cole wrote:
>
>> My only real issue with the KPA-500 is the output power of only 500
>> watts. Just how much of a hit will I take by going from 1500 watts to
>> 500 watts... I chase DX, via RTTY and CW mostly, and some SSB.
>
> 90+% CW, some RTTY in contests, a few % SSB in NAQP's and SS. I ran a 1200 W
> amp at 500 W for almost a year before springing for the KPA500. From my end
> [obviously not the same as "the other end"], I couldn't really tell any
> difference. Clearly, I don't know about the ones I couldn't get, but I
> really don't think working him or not working him depends on one S-Unit. I
> think it depends a whole lot more on conditions, size of the antenna, size of
> the pile, and especially operator skills. Mine are mediocre.
>
> I have no idea how many dB the P3 is worth, but it wouldn't surprise me if it
> was in double digits. :-))
>
>> Will the KPA-500 take key down for 10 or more minutes at full power??
>
> On CW, I run mine at around 600W continuously. I stick to 500W on RTTY in
> contests, although that isn't going to make any difference. The power LED's
> top out at 700, I've been told by more than one field tester that they were
> told to run "full bars" all the time.
>
> The integration with the K3 is perfect, I truly love the "no-tune", and I use
> the KPA500 to switch bands with one push.
>>
>> Is there anyone on here that has gone from 1500 to 500 watts, and if so,
>> can you tell me a bit about it? How does the LPA-500 operate on MARS
>> frequencies? They are all over the place, not in ham bands...
>
> Don't know about MARS and other out-of-ham band performance. Ask Jack, W6FB.
>
> 73,
>
> Fred K6DGW
> - Northern California Contest Club
> - CU in the 50th Running of the Cal QSO Party 3-4 Oct 2015
> - www.cqp.org
>
> K3/KPA500/KAT500
> Triband+Wires
>
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