[Elecraft] Linear thoughts

Thu Mar 16 19:19:38 EDT 2017

I think that the ship has sailed with respect to Elecraft bringing a 
legal limit SS amp to market.

There are a growing number of lightweight legal limit amps already on 
the market.  The FlexRadio Power Genius looks especially promising: 
http://www.flexradio.com/amateur-products/powergenius-xl/

It only weighs 33 pounds.  I saw it in operation at the Orlando 
HamCation and it looked very impressive operating all weekend into a 
dummy load at a conservative 1.5 kw output.

SPE also just announced a 1.5 kw amp..something I'm surprised they did 
given that they already have a 1 kw, 1.3 kw, and a 2kw amp on the 
market.  I know of several people that have the 1 kw amp and use it with 
their K3 radios and they love them.  I've used the big SPE amp in CQWW 
CW and it worked flawlessly all weekend without a hiccup.

On 3/16/2017 5:38 PM, Bill Johnson wrote:
> Charlie, I think one of the main reasons for switching to a smaller amp was the weight involved in the 1.5Kw rigs.  Just thought I would add back in.  The MJF AB1000 combiner looks interesting, but I would not touch one unless I knew of many who used one successfully.  That way I could get a second KPA500, and run 1KW which adds the 3db and I could move the separate parts with ease.  :-)
>
> 73,
> Bill
> K9YEQ
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Elecraft [mailto:elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Charlie T, K3ICH
> Sent: Thursday, March 16, 2017 5:20 PM
> To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Linear thoughts
>
> Well, if you've never tried to work truly "weak" signals, I can assure you that +5 dB WILL make a world of difference.
> Otherwise, why would you go to the trouble of installing a ½dB noise figure pre-amp at the antenna, just to eliminate 2dB of feed-line loss on receive?
> Or, stacking a second Yagi to gain at most, +3dB?
> Yes, +5dB can be very hard to come by when you're operating at the fringes of performance.
> My thoughts are, if you're gonna run an amp at all, go for legal limit.
>
> Not knocking anyone running 200 or 500 or 700 watts, just my own opinion.
>
> 73, Charlie k3ICH
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Elecraft [mailto:elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Fred Jensen
> Sent: Thursday, March 16, 2017 4:35 PM
> To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Linear thoughts
>
> Advising Elecraft about producing a larger amplifier is quite a bit above my pay grade so I won't go there. However, going to 1,500 watts from 500 watts is a bit less than 5 dB -- a little less than one International Standard S-unit.  5 dB might come a lot cheaper from an antenna change.
>
> Before purchasing the KPA500, I ran my "1,500 watt Behemoth" at 500 W for close to a year to see if I could tell the difference. Admittedly, I'm a casual contester and DX'er, and I operate my ham radio for other reasons too, but I really couldn't see much if any difference in terms of who I could work or how long it took to snag the latest expedition.
> Operating skill [or lack thereof in my case] was a much bigger factor.
> The KPA500 was full QSK which its predecessor was not, which became a big advantage.
>
> I have since sold the KPA500 [and KAT500] and run 100W from home. My HOA-Stealth "wire on the fence" is close enough to the house that I occasionally make something happen [like flash touch-lamps or reset the u-wave clock], and I figured 500 W might nuke the neighbor's dog who patrols the other side of the fence.  I'm very surprised that the wire,
> 6 feet high, works as well as it does. If I quest for QRO and "real antennae," I can always run W7RN remotely.
>
> 73,
>
> Fred ("Skip") K6DGW
> Sparks NV USA
> Washoe County DM09dn
>
> On 3/16/2017 12:26 PM, Erik Basilier wrote:
>> I recently sold my legal limit tube amp after a bit of a mental struggle.
>> The seller in me finally won after I realized that "if I can't lift
>> it, I shouldn't own it". I was tempted to replace it with an ALS-1306,
>> but I operate RTTY and in that mode the 1306 wouldn't be good for more
>> output than a KPA500. Today I received my (new to me) KPA500. However,
>> in a contest someone with 1500 Watts will have a big advantage over my
>> 500 W, so the subject of higher power may soon come back to me.
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-- 
73,

Gary K9GS

Greater Milwaukee DX Association: http://www.gmdxa.org
Society of Midwest Contesters: http://www.w9smc.com
CW Ops #1032   http://www.cwops.org

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