[Elecraft] K3: Older Amps - small rant

[Lee Buller]

I just one to make a point that there are so many older amplifiers out there (SB-200, 220, 221 to name a few) that it will take another decade (if not more) to get them all out of circulation.  Why?  Because they are cheap right now.  

Look at the price of an Acom, Alpha, or a QRO and the price of the SB series or the L4/L7 series is quite appealing.  An L7 went for $1600 on E-bay the other day while the next week, two other L7s went for $900.  Prices for used amplifiers are all over the place but seem to be high.  The SB Series go for $500 to $800 dollars while the Ten Tecs, Alphas (depending on model) and the like go for $1200 to $2300.  Even the Ameritrons of the 800H and higher ilk are going for $1700 to $2400 dollars.  

Some of the more expensive amps still have open frame relays in them which is cheap, but is not what the customer wants or needs.  Going to vacuum relays or PIN diode switching just adds to the cost of the unit.

So there are a plethora of older amps out there that are using open frame relay for T/R...which means slow.  Yes, there are ways of speeding them up, but most people don't bother.  The old SB series are so numerous and many people do not take the time to upgrade the T/R circuitry because it is tricky to do.  If you are an appliance operator I doubt that you would tackle it.  But, for a around a $100 bucks these older amps could be upgrade with vacuum relays

The amplifiers are becoming more expensive because of the expense of parts...tubes, switches, etc.  Tubes are outrageous except for the Chinese 3-500Z and the 811A and maybe the 572.  The cost of the 3CX800 and the 8877 are just through the roof.

The older, slower amps, will be around for a long time.  It is about dollars.  Not everyone can afford the Acom, Alpha, QRO, Command Technogies, or the Ten Tec. (Used or New)

I appreciate the time and effort that Wayne and the crew are doing to have the K3  interface with these older amps. 

I am just not sure how they are going to work out the Knife Switch issue.

Lee Buller
K0WA



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