[Elecraft] KXPA100/KX3 working great

[Gene Sochor]

For those still waiting for, or building, their KXPA100, the effort 
is definitely worth it.

I just returned from a vacation trip to St. Barths Island for 10 
days, operating 'vacation styl'-intermittently, and took my KX3 and 
KXPA100 with a small switch-mode supply from Powerwerx, operating 
from a rented villa.  Ran up about 2200 QSO operating late at night, 
mostly, using a 33' telescopic pole supporting a variety of monoband 
PAR/LNR EFZ antennas as FJ/N9SW.  Output stayed right up at 100 Watts 
all bands without a waver.

The amp worked great, never got too hot, and its integration with the 
KX3 was smooth and efficient. Had everything but the pole packed in a 
modest soft, padded test instrument case, which I successfully 
checked through 3 different flights, no issues.  Reasonable weight, 
high performance.  Perfect!

By the way, the LNR/PAR EFZ antennas were also super....1.2:1 or 
better SWR on each of the bands I had with (40, 30, 20, 17 and 6), 
right 'out of the box',   Since the 40m model is 66' long, I ran the 
wire through a round uncrimped crimp terminal that just fit over the 
top of the pole, at about the 50% length point, and draped the 
antenna like an inverted vee to the deck of the villa. This put the 
feed point right at a comfortable level, and made no difference in SWR.

Nice work, Elecraft!

73, Gene N9SW