[Elecraft] KPA-1500 KPA-800

[Jeff Wandling W7BRS]

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
k3 at 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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