[Elecraft] OT Expert 1k Amplifier

[f.belliveau at comcast.net]

Stewart,

If it were me facing this decision, I would wait for the Elecraft amplifiers to come out.  They were announced but put on the back burner for the K3.  You will likely get a new estimate of shipping dates from Elecraft in the near future but I believe that they are holding off until they ship all the K3 orders collected before production began.  My guestimate is that they will begin taking orders early next year.  During the wait you can take some time to become intimately familiar with the workings of your new K3.

What you will get with another amplifier:
    1.  A product of reasonable quality that with a large user community of experience to guide you, if you can find it.
    2.  Some "how-to" help from the Elecraft list with whatever issues you run into.
    4.  Help from Elecraft with any "new product" issues within the K3.
    3.  Very little help from the manufacturer with K3 interfacing issues.  The manufacturer obviously has not tested their amplifier with a K3 yet.

What you will get with an Elecraft amplifier:
    1.  A well designed, well tested, product; possibly with a few "new product" wrinkles to deal with.
    2.  Lots of "how-to" help from the Elecraft list with whatever issues you run into.
    3.  Lots of help from the manufacturer with issues in either the K3 or the amplifier.  They will surely test the amplifiers with the K3 before they begin shipping production units.

I expect that you will find many others on the list of similar opinion.

73 and Good Luck with your decision,
Fran, KA4FRH
K2 s/n 314

 -------------- Original message ----------------------
From: Stewart Baker <stewart at baker.nildram.co.uk>
> Hi,
> I am thinking about purchasing a linear to go with my K3 that Santa will 
> hopefully be delivering this Christmas. The amplifier I have in mind is the SPE 
> Expert 1k.
> 
> I am sure that the K3 will live up to all my expectations, but I am a little 
> jittery about high power solid state amplifier reliability.
> 
> Does anyone on the reflector have personal experience of this amplifier, good or 
> bad ?
> 
> 73
> Stewart G3RXQ
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