[Elecraft] Considering a KPA-500

[N2TK, Tony]

Hi Dave,
I am a DXer and contester. I have both a KPA-500 and a 2000A mounted on a
shelf in my basement, about 3' below my feet in the shack. With one switch
next to a K3 I can select which amp.
Almost all of the time I use the KPA-500. It takes care of my needs
especially on the upper bands.
Sometimes on 80 and 160M if signals are marginal, there does seem to be a
difference. If I find something or see something called out that I "need" on
the low bands and they have a Q5 signal I just use the KPA500 to work them.
If the signal is marginal I turn on the 2000A. I may get lucky with the
KPA500. But many times as soon as I switch over to the 2000A I work the
station. 

A few months ago I ran a test on 75M SSB comparing the KPA500 to the 2000A.
I worked a couple dozen Europeans. Those that had a good signal on my end
seemed to hear little difference on their end hearing me with either amp.
With stations that were quite weak they could tell the difference when I
switched amps. They said my signal went from tough copy to readable.

By the way it is nice having a back-up amp. You never know........

Now if we only had the KPA-1500 I would need only one amp. :-)

73,
N2TK, Tony

-----Original Message-----
From: Elecraft [mailto:elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of David
Cole
Sent: Thursday, April 23, 2015 10:35 PM
To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
Subject: [Elecraft] Considering a KPA-500

Hi all,

I am considering a KPA-500...  I currently have an AL-82, and am getting
tired of all the band switching etc.

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.  

I get DB, and realize that I will take a roughly a 5 db loss in signal,
which is one S-unit... 

Will the KPA-500 take key down for 10 or more minutes at full power??

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...

--
Thanks and 73's,
For equipment, and software setups and reviews see:
www.nk7z.net
for MixW support see;
http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/mixw/info
for Dopplergram information see:
http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/dopplergram/info
for MM-SSTV see:
http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/MM-SSTV/info



______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:Elecraft at mailman.qth.net

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Message delivered to tony.kaz at verizon.net