[Elecraft] KPA1500 First RF Review

[Wayne Burdick]

Right, Lou. You’re also getting a KX9 in your stocking. And your wife gets the complimentary purse unicorn.

73.5,
Wayne
N6KR


> On Dec 14, 2017, at 1:36 PM, W0FK <lladerman at earthlink.net> wrote:
> 
> I received my KPA1500 late yesterday. Contrary to pronouncements on the forum
> by Elecraft, they’re ready to ship. Since I was first to order the amp and
> sent in “something special” to Eric and Wayne, I got mine a week before the
> established release to the general ham populace.  Sorry guys, looks like I’m
> the lucky one this time.
> 
> I popped on the 220 connector I needed, reset the voltage to 220 on the PS,
> and placed it below my bench on a rolling cart. I ran the cable up to my
> equipment shelf, slid the RF deck on my shelf and connected the cable.
> Beautiful, matching gray to the rest of the K-Line. I connected the cables
> to my K3S, and powered it all up. The display on the amp scrolled “Elecraft
> KPA1500” and the lights flashed through multiple colors until they set in
> standby mode. I hit the switch to “operate,” set the antenna switch to my
> dummy load, set RF out to the usual 35 watts on my K3S, and keyed the amp. 
> 
> What! 3500 watts out?!?! How is that possible?
> 
> I then noticed a small 3M yellow sticky attached to the side of the amp. I
> pulled it off saw a handwritten note from Wayne. “Lou – you got a special
> first version of the amp. It had 4 finals in it, and a larger power supply.
> We plan on releasing it at Dayton 2018, but since you’re a special customer,
> wanted you to be first to own this heretofore unannounced beauty. Merry
> Xmas!” 
> 
> I sat back in my chair, stunned. How can this be? What a great present!
> 
> Then I heard a noise. I looked at the amp, and the display was flashing, in
> bright red, “07:00”, “07:00”, and there was a loud buzzing. My mind raced,
> and I heard my wife, saying “wake up already and turn off that damn alarm!”
> 
> I rubbed my eyes after turning off the alarm and realized it had been a
> dream. Looks like I have to wait like everyone else. And no 3500 watt
> special.
> 
> Yet….
> 
> Merry Xmas everyone! ;-)