[Elecraft] FT-5000

[Phil LaMarche]

I would certainly send my K3 to Elecraft for the 200 watt upgrade.  I'm
using a IC-775DSP from a friend while my K3 is back to the factory for the 2
meter mod and what a difference in signal reports.  I have a 70 ft tower
next to a lake and if I had 200 watts, I wouldn't need a linear.  I'm
breaking pile ups with first or second call.  100 watts takes a little
longer. Honestly, I was shocked.  Using the K3 to drive my AL80B, I only use
500 watts max and that is a waste of money.

Phil 


Philip LaMarche
 
LaMarche Enterprises, Inc
 
727-944-3226
727-937-8834 Fax
727-510-5038 Cell 
 
www.w9dvm.com
 
K3 #1605
 
CCA 98-00827
CRA 1701
 
 

-----Original Message-----
From: elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of lstavenhagen
Sent: Friday, February 26, 2010 11:00 AM
To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] FT-5000


Well I dunno. From looking at the specs on the website, I can't see that the
FT-5000 is going to offer anything over and above what you can get with the
K3, really. At least nothing off the top of my head that would justify the
extra cost.

The only feature I see appearing on more rigs that I'd say Elecraft might
want to look into is the 200W final amp. This is nice because, IMO,
- it reduces the need to go kilowatt with an outboard amp. True it's only a
doubling of the typical 100W output, but you can go for quite a while longer
without having to invest in a KW.
- more headroom for high-duty cycle modes like the digital modes. I.e. you
can go 100% duty-cycle at higher power levels than with a 100W final. 
- very very cushy duty on the final when you are driving an amplifier,
particularly one of the older dual 3-500Z amps which can require quite a bit
of drive to get to full power. You can run that higher drive level into it
all day long without having to be flat out or close to it like you sometimes
are with a 100W final into one of the "boat anchors".

It's probably a relatively low investment in R&D and parts, etc., for
Elecraft to implement too (tho maybe the size might be a problem in the
K3?). 

That'd be my suggestion as far as a good bang/buck investment Elecraft could
make.

The claimed IP3 performance of the 5000 is pretty good indeed, but I'll
believe it when I see it. Like I said a lot of these boxes are still trying
to match the K2 as far as performance hi hi.

73,
LS
W5QD


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