[Elecraft] Considering a KPA-500 (REDUX)

[David Cole]

HI all,
Many thanks to all for your input on this...  I am now looking around
for used amps to see what the price ranges are.

I got lots of private email, and it was interesting to hear each
person's input on this.  I think I thanked everyone in private emails,
but if i missed you please forgive me, and THANK YOU!

I am now in absorb mode, where I take all the input and think about it
for a few days...

In the meantime if you have more input please send off list...

THANK YOU ALL AGAIN!




-- 
Thanks and 73's,
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On Fri, 2015-04-24 at 07:33 -0700, Wes (N7WS) wrote:
> I seem to have missed the original post. My 2-cents:
> 
> I used a Drake L-4B (2 X 3-500Z) for years.  It worked fine, was robust, 
> instant-on and would tune the WARC bands and was a pretty good antenna tuner as 
> well.  What it didn't do was cover 160-meters.  I don't contest, but am an avid 
> DXer, albeit one with a fairly modest station antenna wise.  Since I'm up in 
> years and still three away from the top of the DXCC Honor Roll, with no prospect 
> of ever getting there, (except for VK0 later this year and ARRL coming to their 
> senses and deleting Mt. Athos) I decided that I would chase (HF) 9-band DXCC.  
> Thus I needed something that covers 160.
> 
> I considered another tube amp but most of interest have a warm up time.  After 
> running an 8877 on two-meter EME, years ago I remember the seeming interminable 
> waiting time and didn't want to go through that again.  After a whole lot of 
> agony and consideration of the alternatives, I rationalized that I could make up 
> for the drop in power with antenna and transmission line improvements.  In my 
> case this is possible, if you're already there, then the power drop might be a 
> deal breaker.
> 
> So, I have a new KPA500 and KAT500.  Against all of my principles, I actually 
> bought a tri-band beam to replace the HB 20-meter monobander and wire dipoles. I 
> have some other antennas in work and 7/8" Heliax replaced the RG8.  Hopefully, 
> the KAT500 is a stopgap and can be removed later. So I'm looking for fractions 
> of a dB here and there to add up to the power difference. In addition, the 
> convenience factor is wonderful.  No regrets here.
> 
> Wes  N7WS
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