[Elecraft] KPA500 in the RTTY Contest

[Fred Jensen]

FWIW:  I run my KPA500 at 500W in any mode [well ... not PSK31 :-)] and 
it handles it just fine.  I seem to remember, during the KPA500 field 
testing, that Jim, K9YC, was told to run his at 700W in a RTTY contest 
and it did it just fine there too.  Difference between 400 and 500 is 
less than 1dB, and to each his own of course, but I think the amp is 
more robust than some may think.

73,

Fred K6DGW
- Northern California Contest Club
- CU in the 2013 Cal QSO Party 5-6 Oct 2013
- www.cqp.org

On 9/30/2013 8:35 AM, KD3TB wrote:

> I ran the KPA500 in the CQWW RTTY contest this weekend.  With a drive power
> of 15 to 20W from the K3, I kept the KPA500 output between 350 and 400W
> output.  Even during runs (calling CQ), the temperature never went above 65
> degrees on the KAT500 meter. The cooling fan changed speeds as needed and
> kept the amp with its tolerances. This was enough power to break pile ups
> and get into Asia with no trouble.