[Elecraft] KXPA100 Kit Review

[Patrick Cosgrove]

Jim,

Nice review.  Sounds like you have a configuration very similar to my 
own.  I recently put together a case system for transporting my 
KX3/PX3/KXPA100 setup on car trips for remote operations.  I have a bit 
more to take with me as I do mostly digital modes.  For what it's worth, 
you can see what I put together on my QRZ page:

http://www.qrz.com/db/W2COS

This arrangement has worked well for me, of course YMMV.  I know looking 
at what others had done helped me a lot as I was putting this together......

73,
Patrick W2COS
-------------

On 5/27/15 8:30 AM, elecraft-request at mailman.qth.net wrote:
> This is mainly for those who are contemplating getting the KXPA100 to 
> go along with a KX3 (with or without the PX3).
>
> Picked my KXPA100 kit up at the UPS customer center this morning about 
> 9:15.  Got it home about 10:00, unpacked and inventoried by 10:30 and 
> completely assembled by 11:15.  So far this is the simplest kit I've 
> ever built and really worth doing to save money.  The only tools it 
> took were a #1 Phillips screwdriver and a pair of needle nose pliers.
>
> What took the longest was figuring out how to hook it up to the 
> KX3/PX3 combination.  Nothing in the KXPA100 assembly or Operating 
> manuals that I found.  Had to go to the PX3 manual to find the 
> information.  It might be a good idea for the manual writer/editor to 
> include at least a reference to the PX3 manual for this 
> configuration.  If you don't have a PX3, instructions for hooking 
> everything together in the KXPA100 book is pretty clear.  I heartily 
> recommend the optional cable kit and it really simplifies things and 
> you don't have to spend a lot of time making something up to making it 
> play nice.
>
> Once I had everything connected and the KXPA power output display 
> calibration done, I hooked it to my Alpha Delta DX-LB 160/80/40 meter 
> dipole to check the tuner's capability.  It found a match on all bands 
> 160-6 meters and no worse than a 1.2:1 SWR so it's certainly as good 
> as the tuner in the K3.
>
> I have one of those MFJ 4230MV compact 30 amp switching power supplies 
> and got everything cabled so it powers the KX3, a stereo audio speaker 
> bar, PX3, KXAT100 and when needed a small clip-on LED logging light.  
> By the way, this supply is very quiet RF wise and I can't find any 
> noise from it on any ham band powering either the KX3 or K3 from it (I 
> have the 45 amp MFJ 4245MV supply on the K3/P3 main operating desk and 
> it's quiet too).
>
> I'm not currently planning on operating it mobile, but we're going to 
> be visiting relatives in Texas, Louisiana and Florida next month so 
> will have a collapsible vertical and the KX3 setup with me.  It will 
> be nice to have the 100 watt amp along to help overcome poor band 
> conditions when the KX3's normal output isn't quite enough to maintain 
> a QSO.
>
> I really like the way the firmware is set up in the KX3 and KXPA100 so 
> that operation is as close to seamless as it can be. The auto bypass 
> of the internal KX3 tuner when the amp is on is really nice and the 
> auto-on of the amp when the KX3 is turned on is SUPER nice!
>
> The next project will be setting up as compact a carrying case as 
> possible to safely transport the KX3, PX3, KXPA100 and all the 
> accessories.
>
> Jim - W0EB 


-- 
*Patrick A. Cosgrove*

Email:        patrick_cosgrove at hotmail.com
LinkedIn:   www.linkedin.com/in/patrickacosgrove/