[Elecraft] K3 and Expert Amp

[Gary Slagel]

Thanks for your responses to my earlier question.  It sounds like I don't want to use ALC to control power output on the Expert Amp.  One more question for the Expert amp users though.  
 
I'd suppose, if I did use the ALC connection, when I hit the half power button on the amp it would just cut back the power level on the K3 to generate a 500W output from the amp.  So, If I'm not using the ALC connection does this make the SPE full/half power button useless?
 
I know this might be a better discussion for the SPE yahoo group but I've been trying for a couple days to get into that group and my membership is still pending.  Thanks much for any input.

Gary Slagel
KT0A

 


________________________________
From: Gary Slagel <gdslagel at yahoo.com>
To: "elecraft at mailman.qth.net" <elecraft at mailman.qth.net> 
Sent: Friday, September 21, 2012 10:37 AM
Subject: K3 and Expert Amp 


 I'm looking at the SPE Expert Amp 1K-FA.  The SPE amps both recommend using an ALC connection to automatically control the radio's output power thus preventing amplifier overdrive.

I talked to an SPE rep and I understood him to say that I couldn't use the ALC connection with a K3 and there was an alternative way to allow the SPE to control the K3 output power by manually configuring the SPE to set the K3 output power on a band by band basis.  I looked at the SPE manual and it outlines a method to set up a flex-radio that does not have the ALC connection but doesn't talk about the K3.  I assume the k3 setup would be the same as for the flex-radio.  

Does anyone have experience with setting this up with the K3 and SPE 1K-FA.  Or, experience using the K3 ext ALC with and SPE? 

Thanks,
 
Gary Slagel
KT0A