[Elecraft] KPA-500 Features and Pricing

[Jim Brown]

On Thu, 09 Sep 2010 11:28:29 -0400, Joe Subich, W4TV wrote:

>Yes, the KPA-500 we've been seeing at
>the hamfests has some interesting features but it is hard to
>justify a nearly 100% premium over the ALS-600 for a smaller
>form factor, six meters, QSK, and the Elecraft nameplate.

FWIW, the 6M-only kW amp that M-squared showed at Dayton is 
over $2K. It's not in production yet, although he's been 
showing a prototype. Comparisons of Elecraft to MFJ and 
Ameritron are inappropriate, IMO. Elecraft and M-squared are 
attempting to compete with companies like Alpha and Acom on 
quality, features, reliability, and ruggedness. As Mike Staal, 
K6MYC, the proprietor of M-squared said at a hamfest last 
Saturday, it costs money to buid a quality amp with US labor 
and quality components. 

That said, if I had $2K+ to pay for watts, it would be for a 
used Alpha. And when I bought the watts I currently own, it was 
30 year old Ten Tec. :)  

73, Jim K9YC