[Elecraft] KPA-500 Features and Pricing

Thu Sep 9 13:10:25 EDT 2010

You make some very good points.  Since you sent this to me directly, no one in Aptos will see it but me.  Perhaps you should post it on the reflector?

I'm sure Elecraft doesn't intend to compete with MFJ, but I don't think they are in the Alpha league either.  The K3 is a good product at a good price for the performance offered; the P3 is overpriced in my mind, but I bought one figuring I could play with it for a while and get most of my money back after I tired of it; unfortunately I really like it and will probably just keep it.  But the amp is a different beast to me.  I've gotten along fine for many decades without one, and really only want one so I can talk with everyone on 75 meter phone without getting razzed about how weak I am.  So, I think a simple SB-200 would fill the bill for me; the funny part is I will have to spend nearly the same amount of money for a high power antenna tuner as for a good used amplifier.

Thanks for your response.

73 de K4SC

--- On Thu, 9/9/10, Jack Brabham KZ5A [via Elecraft] <ml-node+5514507-1005405412-54277 at n2.nabble.com> wrote:

From: Jack Brabham KZ5A [via Elecraft] <ml-node+5514507-1005405412-54277 at n2.nabble.com>
Subject: Re: KPA-500 Features and Pricing
To: "K4SC" <k4swisscheese at yahoo.com>
Date: Thursday, September 9, 2010, 1:52 PM

  It looks like Elecraft may be abandoning their traditional "most bang 

for the buck" market position in favor of selling over priced "matching 

accessories" to stupid yuppies.

Unlike the K3, a $2000  500W amp is not going to be in the "best value" 

position in anyone's analysis, although I'm sure they will sell a few  

to the "true believers".

Currently, used  prices for ALS-600's run $800 to $900 and ALS-1300's 

are showing up for sale at $1800 to $2000.

In my case, there is a finite amount of money available for radio 

station enhancements.  When I can buy a solid state MFJ for ~$1.50/watt 

or an older no-tune ETO Alpha for ~$1.00/watt, a $4.00/watt Amp that's 

principal virtue seems to be matching my K3, doesn't have a snow balls 

chance in Hades of ever gracing my desk.

But maybe the rumored ridiculous price point is just a smoke screen and 

the real product will show up with a more palatible price.

73 Jack KZ5A

K3 #4165

On 9/8/2010 2:12 PM, K4SC wrote:

> After 45 years on the air, I'm finally getting an itch to bump my power over

> 100 watts; 500 - 600 watts seems like a reasonable amount of 75 meter power

> for me.  I'm seriously looking at amplifiers and tuners, but hesitant to

> make a purchase decision before getting at least some warm fuzzies about the

> KPA-500 pricing and availability.

>

> Been looking at a lot of new and used tube based amplifiers and 1KW tuners;

> getting the sense that I could spend upwards of $1500 for anything decent.

> If the KPA-500 is going to sell for close to that figure, or less of course,

> I can probably keep my money stashed and wait a few more months.  It sure

> would look nice next to the K3&  P3.

>

> If, however, the KPA-500 is going to cost much more than $1500, I will

> probably go the tube route.

>

> So, what I'm hoping to get from someone "in the know" is a ballpark figure

> on the KPA-500.  I assume the antenna tuner is built in, and not an

> additional cost.  If that isn't the case, then knowing the ATU cost would

> also be helpful.

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