[Elecraft] KPA500 troubles

[Wes (N7WS)]

I guess I'll have to repeat myself.

There is no requirement to have a "measured" antenna; calculated gain (loss) is 
permitted.  It's kind of like high school algebra, you just have to show your 
work.  With modern analysis tools such as Eznec, it is almost trivial to do so, 
if you know what you are doing.

Soapbox mode on: When I was first licensed, we were relegated to using the DC 
input (Vp x Ip) as our power limit because it was assumed that we did not have 
the ability to measure RF power accurately.  As technology improved and this was 
no longer the case, the power limit(s) was changed to transmitter output power. 
Now we have been given a band, where like every other service, we get to use 
ERP, since the FCC, giving us the measure of the doubt, assumes that we know how 
to determine it.*  We should, it's a requirement of *§97.13*:

    "(c) Before causing or allowing an amateur station to transmit from any
    place where the operation of the station could cause human exposure to RF
    electromagnetic field levels in excess of those allowed under §1.1310 of
    this chapter, the licensee is required to take certain actions.

    (1) The licensee must perform the routine RF environmental evaluation
    prescribed by §1.1307(b) of this chapter, if the power of the licensee's
    station exceeds the limits given in the following table:"

* Also see 
https://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Engineering_Technology/Documents/bulletins/oet65/oet65.pdf 
where on page 16 it says:

    "Many antenna-modeling programs are based on NEC or MININEC analysis. These
    programs often yield very accurate results. An amateur enters his or her
    antenna dimensions and ground characteristics into the antenna model, and
    the program is then executed to calculate electric and magnetic field
    strengths near the antenna. These programs do require some amount of user
    skill, but the average amateur should not experience too much difficulty in
    using them. The ARRL Web page maintains a list of software vendors who sell
    antenna modeling software (http://www.arrl.org/news/rfsafety)"

Soapbox mode off.

N7WS

On 11/12/2015 1:05 AM, Guy Olinger K2AV wrote:
> Kpa500 on 60 is illegal unless you have a *measured and
> documented* VERY lossy antenna that would reduce the effective radiated
> power to the same as 100 watts on a dipole. The simple 99 percent answer is
> that on 60m SHUT OFF the Kpa500 and run 100 watts barefoot.
>
> 73, Guy K2AV
>
>