Re: [Elecraft] KPA500 vs. Others
All, I know I started this thread, but it has gone way off topic. I merely was looking for why the KPA500 is technically superior to comparable, less expensive, solid state amps by other manufacturers. There has become too much discussion now on why we should or shouldn't use amps, QRP/QRO, etc. Let's kill this thread here and now so that Wayne and Erik don't have to get involved. Thank you to everyone for your input. 73, Ian Kahn, AK4IK Roswell, GA K3 #281, P3 #688 __ 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] KPA500 vs others
Others can argue the tech. advantages pro or con. Some feel they need 2 KW. I don't.. For a DXer antennas skill are more important than a few more watts. I like the way it works with my K3. I've had less than stellar dealings with the Asian companies. Whether it's bias on my part or not I like the idea that it's made serviced in my home country. On a more human note. I grew up as a new ham in 1959 at 13 yr.s old. I had the thrill of at least once having used the dream lines of the time. The Collins Drake lines. I wasn't in the position to own one. I am now I see the K line as the dream line. I now have a dream line. There ain't no way on Gods Green Earth I'm not going to live my dream. Soap Box over. K9IL __ 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] KPA500 vs others
Ditto Except in my case I was 16 in 1963 when first licensed and I have less in the way of DXer antennas and much less in DXer skills (although I am getting better). The K-line is my Collins substitute. I had to buy an LDG AT-1000Pro to handle the KPA500, so I won't really have a complete K-line until the new autotuner becomes available. Just worked J48O a couple of daze ago. I know, not big DX, but for me yep it is. ..mike AI6II Others can argue the tech. advantages pro or con. Some feel they need 2 KW. I don't.. For a DXer antennas skill are more important than a few more watts. I like the way it works with my K3. I've had less than stellar dealings with the Asian companies. Whether it's bias on my part or not I like the idea that it's made serviced in my home country. On a more human note. I grew up as a new ham in 1959 at 13 yr.s old. I had the thrill of at least once having used the dream lines of the time. The Collins Drake lines. I wasn't in the position to own one. I am now I see the K line as the dream line. I now have a dream line. There ain't no way on Gods Green Earth I'm not going to live my dream. Soap Box over. K9IL __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] KPA500 vs others
For me it was 1958, age 11. My first station was a Viking Adventurer and HQ-110 (had it for 12 years). Never touched anything more sophisticated until I upgraded (in 1970) to an HW-100 (used it for 12 years, too). In the early 1990s, I got into restoring and operating vintage gear. I had several stations on the air, sharing an antenna system. Viking Valiant/NC-303; Viking Ranger/HQ-170; Viking Adventurer/HQ-110; Eico 720/730/722 with Drake 2B/2BQ; Collins S-Line with 30L-1; Globe King 500/75A-4. So, I finally had a chance to try all the radios over which I had salivated as a teenager. Today, the only remaining jewels are Globe King 500/75A-4. With regard to amplifiers, unlike transceivers, you're only dealing with one of two directions - output. Issues like efficiency are important but probably more important are issues of clean output and reliability. This is especially true for contest use where the amplifier can be pounded for 48 hours, straight, at maximum power out and greater than 50 percent duty cycle. I am currently using an Alpha 87A and Ten-Tec Centurion in an SO2R set up. Both work well, and work reliably. If I replace either with a KPA-500, it will probably be the Centurion. Here, the KPA-500 has the instant switching/instant tuning advantage. But, it runs half the power. It also covers 6 meter - a band I have never tried, and for which I have no antenna(s). I have no doubt about reliability or service responsiveness when it comes to Elecraft. So, it will come down to how much is instant bandswitch/instant tuning worth to me. And, will I miss the extra few dB in signal strength. I have not even considered replacing the Centurion with alternative solid-state amps from Ameritron, Tokyo Hy-Power, or the one from Italy. Rob K6RB Ditto Except in my case I was 16 in 1963 when first licensed and I have less in the way of DXer antennas and much less in DXer skills (although I am getting better). The K-line is my Collins substitute. I had to buy an LDG AT-1000Pro to handle the KPA500, so I won't really have a complete K-line until the new autotuner becomes available. Just worked J48O a couple of daze ago. I know, not big DX, but for me yep it is. ..mike AI6II Others can argue the tech. advantages pro or con. Some feel they need 2 KW. I don't.. For a DXer antennas skill are more important than a few more watts. I like the way it works with my K3. I've had less than stellar dealings with the Asian companies. Whether it's bias on my part or not I like the idea that it's made serviced in my home country. On a more human note. I grew up as a new ham in 1959 at 13 yr.s old. I had the thrill of at least once having used the dream lines of the time. The Collins Drake lines. I wasn't in the position to own one. I am now I see the K line as the dream line. I now have a dream line. There ain't no way on Gods Green Earth I'm not going to live my dream. Soap Box over. K9IL __ 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] KPA500 vs others
Hello Mike and others, As mentioned in my previous emails in this reflector, I am awaiting KAT500 so that I will know the total cost of KPA500+KAT500. LDG tuner may not meet my requirements in 6 metre I have no worry about Elecraft's competence to give us good performers but the following issues hinder my decision in favour of KPA500: 1. Hams usually have more than 1 radio. I have the big Icoms and K3. Therefore, I need a linear amplifier with at least two inputs for two radios; 2. Again, we often have more than 1 antenna but KPA500 has only one RF output for 1 antenna. I believe the KAT500 will accommodate more antenna with memories per antenna per band. Therefore, I need to wait for more information about KAT500. In city area of Hong Kong, property prices are not much less than that in downtown Manhattan, NYC. We do not have the luxury in space for every radio having its own dedicated linear amplifier. TNX 73, Johnny VR2XMC 寄件人﹕ ai6ii ai...@att.net 收件人﹕ Elecraft@mailman.qth.net 傳送日期﹕ 2011/6/22 (三) 7:58:54 AM 主題： [Elecraft] KPA500 vs others Ditto Except in my case I was 16 in 1963 when first licensed and I have less in the way of DXer antennas and much less in DXer skills (although I am getting better). The K-line is my Collins substitute. I had to buy an LDG AT-1000Pro to handle the KPA500, so I won't really have a complete K-line until the new autotuner becomes available. Just worked J48O a couple of daze ago. I know, not big DX, but for me yep it is. ..mike AI6II __ 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
