[Elecraft] Considering a KPA-500

Sat Apr 25 03:09:23 EDT 2015

I think some people take this HOBBY way to serious ;)

      From: Nick - VE3EY <nick.ve3ey at gmail.com>
 To: Elecraft <elecraft at mailman.qth.net> 
 Sent: Saturday, April 25, 2015 2:48 AM
 Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Considering a KPA-500

How far does your hard earned $$ go when purchasing an ham amplifier?

I put a little spreadsheet together today.

In addition to conventional "$ per watt" breakdown,  I have also included
"$ per dBm".  It basically tells you how much each additional decibel of
gain over 100 watt output power will cost you based on the estimated power
output , purchase price and gain as compared to your typical barefoot rig.

For power output I have made some rough estimates as to how much power a
given amplifier can produce.  The prices I have collected today from
various vendor or dealer web sites.  May not be entirely accurate but you
get an idea.

This table shows the breakdown sorted by $USD per 1 dBM column

Amplifier model Pwr out Price ($USD) dBm over 100 watt *$USD per 1 dBm*
$USD per watt Ameritron AL-811H 800 999 9.0 110.6 1.2 QRO HF-2500DX (used)
2000 2500 13.0 192.2 1.3 Acom 1010 700 1870 8.5 221.3 2.7 Alpha 99 (used)
2000 3000 13.0 230.6 1.5 Ameritron AL-82 1300 2995 11.1 268.9 2.3 Elecraft
KPA500 600 2100 7.8 269.9 3.5 Acom 1000 1000 2750 10.0 275.0 2.8 Ameritron
ALS-1306 1200 3000 10.8 278.0 2.5 Ameritron AL-1500 2200 3749 13.4 279.3
1.7 Ameritron AL-1200 1500 3349 11.8 284.8 2.2 Amplifier "X" 5000 5000 17.0
294.3 1.0 OM 2000+ 2000 4095 13.0 314.8 2.0 Acom 600S 700 2795 8.5 330.7
4.0 Acom 1500 1500 3990 11.8 339.3 2.7 QRO HF-3KDX 2200 4595 13.4 342.3 2.1
SPE Expert 1.3k-FA w/o ATU 1200 3700 10.8 342.9 3.1 Alpha 8410 2000 4995
13.0 383.9 2.5 SPE Expert 1K-FA 1000 4000 10.0 400.0 4.0 OM-2500 HF 2500
5995 14.0 428.8 2.4 SPE Expert 1.3K-FA w/ATU 1200 5000 10.8 463.3 4.2 Acom
2000 2000 6490 13.0 498.8 3.2 OM-2500 A 2500 7095 14.0 507.5 2.8 Alpha 9500
2200 6995 13.4 521.1 3.2 SPE Expert 2K-FA 2200 7000 13.4 521.4 3.2

Next table is sorted by conventional "$ per watt" column.

Amplifier model Pwr out Price ($USD) dBm over 100 watt $USD per 1 dBm *$USD
per watt* Amplifier "X" 5000 5000 17.0 294.3 1.0 Ameritron AL-811H 800 999
9.0 110.6 1.2 QRO HF-2500DX (used) 2000 2500 13.0 192.2 1.3 Alpha 99 (used)
2000 3000 13.0 230.6 1.5 Ameritron AL-1500 2200 3749 13.4 279.3 1.7 OM
2000+ 2000 4095 13.0 314.8 2.0 QRO HF-3KDX 2200 4595 13.4 342.3 2.1
Ameritron AL-1200 1500 3349 11.8 284.8 2.2 Ameritron AL-82 1300 2995 11.1
268.9 2.3 OM-2500 HF 2500 5995 14.0 428.8 2.4 Alpha 8410 2000 4995 13.0
383.9 2.5 Ameritron ALS-1306 1200 3000 10.8 278.0 2.5 Acom 1500 1500 3990
11.8 339.3 2.7 Acom 1010 700 1870 8.5 221.3 2.7 Acom 1000 1000 2750 10.0
275.0 2.8 OM-2500 A 2500 7095 14.0 507.5 2.8 SPE Expert 1.3k-FA w/o ATU
1200 3700 10.8 342.9 3.1 Alpha 9500 2200 6995 13.4 521.1 3.2 SPE Expert
2K-FA 2200 7000 13.4 521.4 3.2 Acom 2000 2000 6490 13.0 498.8 3.2 Elecraft
KPA500 600 2100 7.8 269.9 3.5 Acom 600S 700 2795 8.5 330.7 4.0 SPE Expert
1K-FA 1000 4000 10.0 400.0 4.0 SPE Expert 1.3K-FA w/ATU 1200 5000 10.8
463.3 4.2
73,  Nick
ve3ey

On Fri, Apr 24, 2015 at 7:58 PM, Merv Schweigert <k9fd at flex.com> wrote:

> I have 3 1/4 inch hard line running about 400 ft to the antennas will that
> work ok?
>
> Its the fittings from 3 1/4 to a pl-259 that are the killer..
>
> 73 Merv K9FD/KH6
>
>  To all those comparing 500+ W versus 1500 W, and want instant on, with
>> auto tracking the K3 in frequency, maybe you should consider the SPE/Expert
>> 1.3K-FA.
>>
>> The desk space that it takes up is not much more than the KPA500, and it
>> comes with a built in auto ATU.  It will reportedly put out up to1500 W.
>> The price for the 3+dB gain in output is also increased, but less than 3 dB.
>>
>> Now if you want to cash in your 401K , SPE/Expert also offers the 2K-FA,
>> which will be at least an S unit stronger than the KPA500 !  Again also
>> with the auto tracking of the K3 and fully auto ATU.  However you may need
>> to consider increasing the power handling of your coaxes and antennas !
>>
>> Chuck,  W7CS
>>
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