[Elecraft] Considering a KPA-500

[Jack Brindle]

Sound like my cue, Fred. David, I think you will enjoy using the KPA500, although I’m a bit biased.
The KPA will run just fine from 1.6 to 54 MHz, with the exception of the CB Lockout area from 26 to 28 MHz, which is FCC-mandated for amplifiers in the US.
I can’t answer your question about going from 1500 to 500 watts (Like Fred, I run mine at 600). I can tell you that with the amplifier I am definitely heard in contests, which is where I do most of my operating. It makes a huge difference. My station is on a city lot in San Jose, which means small antennas. As I
said the difference between 100 and 600 watts is that at 600 I feel like I am heard.

I am sure you will hear from others on the power comparison and the KPA500 operation as well.

- Jack Brindle, W6FB
Elecraft Engineering (like I said, I’m a bit biased…)

> On Apr 23, 2015, at 9:42 PM, Fred Jensen <k6dgw at foothill.net> wrote:
> 
> On 4/23/2015 7:34 PM, David Cole wrote:
> 
>> My only real issue with the KPA-500 is the output power of only 500
>> watts.  Just how much of a hit will I take by going from 1500 watts to
>> 500 watts...  I chase DX, via RTTY and CW mostly, and some SSB.
> 
> 90+% CW, some RTTY in contests, a few % SSB in NAQP's and SS.  I ran a 1200 W amp at 500 W for almost a year before springing for the KPA500. From my end [obviously not the same as "the other end"], I couldn't really tell any difference.  Clearly, I don't know about the ones I couldn't get, but I really don't think working him or not working him depends on one S-Unit.  I think it depends a whole lot more on conditions, size of the antenna, size of the pile, and especially operator skills.  Mine are mediocre.
> 
> I have no idea how many dB the P3 is worth, but it wouldn't surprise me if it was in double digits. :-))
> 
>> Will the KPA-500 take key down for 10 or more minutes at full power??
> 
> On CW, I run mine at around 600W continuously.  I stick to 500W on RTTY in contests, although that isn't going to make any difference.  The power LED's top out at 700, I've been told by more than one field tester that they were told to run "full bars" all the time.
> 
> The integration with the K3 is perfect, I truly love the "no-tune", and I use the KPA500 to switch bands with one push.
>> 
>> Is there anyone on here that has gone from 1500 to 500 watts, and if so,
>> can you tell me a bit about it?  How does the LPA-500 operate on MARS
>> frequencies?  They are all over the place, not in ham bands...
> 
> Don't know about MARS and other out-of-ham band performance.  Ask Jack, W6FB.
> 
> 73,
> 
> Fred K6DGW
> - Northern California Contest Club
> - CU in the 50th Running of the Cal QSO Party 3-4 Oct 2015
> - www.cqp.org
> 
> K3/KPA500/KAT500
> Triband+Wires
> 
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