[Elecraft] KPA500 - just 500 watts?

[Fred Jensen]

On 1/25/2011 8:21 AM, John Ragle wrote:
> 1 S-unit is about 6 dB.

Agreed.  500W to 1500W [legal max in US] is 4.7712 dB, or 0.7952 
S-units.  I'd bet my paycheck, if I still got one, that being in the 
right place and time in the pileup and/or a better antenna will make way 
more difference snagging the DX than being 0.7952 S-units stronger. 
Many countries have lower limits ... 400W in G, VK, and ZL, I think, and 
there are a lot those folks on this list with E-radios.  My 1500W amp, 
which I normally run at about 600W to keep peace with the TV when the 
beam is pointed at the house, will depart as soon as I have my KPA500.
>
> There is a connection between this attitude and the impulse to
> communicate by voice methods, even to the resurgence of interest in
> broadcast quality AM transmission.

I believe this stems from the "If I shout into my cell phone, the other 
guy [and everyone around me] will hear me better" theory.

73,

Fred K6DGW [only 57 years]
- Northern California Contest Club
- CU in the 2011 Cal QSO Party 1-2 Oct 2011
- www.cqp.org