[Elecraft] Considering a KPA-500

Sat Apr 25 09:50:40 EDT 2015

It's a tad difficult to decipher ....

73, Dick, W1KSZ

On 4/24/2015 11:48 PM, Nick - VE3EY wrote:
> 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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>>>
>> ______________________________________________________________
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