[Elecraft] What became of the Elecraft's KPA1500 and KPA 800

N2TK, Tony tony.kaz at verizon.net
Mon Feb 8 17:01:09 EST 2010 

Hi Greg,

I am still looking for the magical amp. Some get close, but not quite there
yet.
Presently I am using an Acom 2000A. It works very well. Puts out plenty of
smoke on 10-160M. I have a few sets of spare tubes so that should not be an
issue for quite some time. It has good QSK. 
It is remoted - the amp is hanging for the basement ceiling about 3' below
my feet. It is nice just having the remote control unit in the shack. The
service from Acom has been wonderful. 

The only drawbacks I have with it:
- 3 minute warm up time. So, most of the time the amp stays on during low
band season (winter). Don't really use the amp much for the high bands. But
want the capability if I feel I need it.  Most of my non-contest QSO's are
barefoot.
- No 6M. That is the biggie. I would like to have one amp with everything in
one package so my next amp will include 6M.

By the way I think the 9500 and 87A are wonderful amps. So is THP 2.5. But
they don't run on 6M. The new SPE 2K sure looks interesting. Don't know
anything about them, yet.

I would like to see Elecraft come out with an amp that meets my needs:
- 160 - 6M
- Instant ON
- Can be remoted and controlled from a PC and/or a remote control head.
- Put out 1500W on at least 160-10M and reduced power on 6M.
- Can handle "continuous" duty for RTTY.
- None of my antennas need an antenna tuner so not really interested in that
feature. And being solid-state I would assume the amp would handle some
excursions of SWR without cutting back power.

If it comes in "kit" form I would assume it would be like a K3. I would
assume the amplifier boards and the switching power supply boards would come
finished and tested as building these could open a can of worms for some.
But many could handle the assembly and troubleshooting of high power amps. 
Maybe it is not cost effective for Elecraft to do this? Maybe there is
potential liability with high power unless it is not offered as a kit?

Hey, I just may "need" a new toy?

This is just my opinion. It won't even buy me a cup of coffee.

73,
N2TK, Tony



-----Original Message-----
From: elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Greg
Sent: Sunday, February 07, 2010 4:34 PM
To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] What became of the Elecraft's KPA1500 and KPA 800

As far as I know, no one makes a full 1500 watt output, continuous-duty, no
time limit, "brick on the key" amplifier that covers 160-6 meters with full
QSK and "instant on".  It would be nice to have a built in precision
wattmeter, too.

I'm sure some would also like an auto-tuner, antenna switch w/ memories,
dummy load, monitor scope...etc.  It could be "optioned" just like the K3 so
cost could be adjusted to the budget of the buyer...

73 de Greg-N4CC

-----Original Message-----
From: elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of westalto at comcast.net
Sent: Sunday, February 07, 2010 2:13 PM
To: srife at swbell.net
Cc: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] What became of the Elecraft's KPA1500 and KPA 800



Frankly, It seems to me that good QRO amps are a glut on the market. (see
THP, etc.) 

To be competitive in that market, any Elecraft offering would have to be
highly 

innovative and I just don't see much more that can be done. 



IMHO 



Doug, W6JD 

K2 #1626 

K3 #23 
----- Original Message ----- 
From: srife at swbell.net 
To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net 
Sent: Sunday, February 7, 2010 8:08:37 AM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific 
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] What became of the Elecraft's KPA1500 and KPA 800 

        YES!  That is exactly the question I would like to ask. I very much 
looked forward to the release a couple of years ago, and now you can't even 
get a comment from Elecraft about the situation. 

        IMO, QRO is much more important than all these trivial little toys 
they are building now. I have a much more pressing need for a KPA-XXXX than 
I do a panadapter (with limited features) and a wattmeter. I have a very 
nice panadapter that has rig control from the computer, and it didn't cost 
700 bucks, and I can control it with the MOUSE. 

        Wayne/Eric, how about some comments on this subject. At least tell 
us what the future holds for the KPAs. I'm holding off buying a new amp till

the KPAs are released. 

Stan Rife 
W5EWA 


-----Original Message----- 
From: elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net 
[mailto:elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of DaveVK 
Sent: Sunday, February 07, 2010 12:21 AM 
To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net 
Subject: [Elecraft] What became of the Elecraft's KPA1500 and KPA 800 


What happened to the Elecraft Amps?  Did they get beyond 'proto: gee I want 
one' stage? 
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