[Elecraft] Amp Thoughts: 1000 watts or 1500 watts?

[Ken K6MR]

I use W6PQLs combiner/splitter pair for the RF paths.  I use an Arduino to handle switching the band data from the two K3s, along with the keyline.

I switch the pair between the radios using the Tx Focus line from a u2R as control, which drives 4 TopTen A/B switches to switch the combo between the radios.

I also modified the KPAs to increase their gain a bit. NX1P has a good writeup about removing the pad in the amp and modifying the power sense circuit.  The KPAs will work without modification, but I ran out of drive on the higher bands. Now getting 1000+ out on all bands is easy.

So far no problems. I use my logging program and the MicroHam router program to insert some delay between activation and RF application. So far it's been pretty bullet proof.


Ken K6MR

________________________________
From: Bud Semon <bsemon at gmail.com>
Sent: Thursday, March 30, 2017 2:32:07 PM
To: Ken K6MR
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Amp Thoughts: 1000 watts or 1500 watts?

Hi Ken,

How do you combine the 2 amps?  I think that was KK9A's question also, so if you answered on the reflector, it would probably be appreciated.

Thanks and 73,

Bud  N7CW

On Thu, Mar 30, 2017 at 2:26 PM, Ken K6MR <k6mr at outlook.com<mailto:k6mr at outlook.com>> wrote:
I'm running my two KPAs combined. Is there a difference? That's one of those questions that is tough to answer. I worked lots of people with 500W. I work lots of people with 1000+ W.  I don't chase DXCC but things seem to work better on 160.


I do feel louder. I think it was N6TR that said (probably mis-quoted here) "If you feel loud you are loud".


Ken K6MR


________________________________
From: Elecraft <elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net<mailto:elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net>> on behalf of Richard Thorne <rthorne at rthorne.net<mailto:rthorne at rthorne.net>>
Sent: Thursday, March 30, 2017 9:31 AM
To: Elecraft Reflector
Subject: [Elecraft] Amp Thoughts: 1000 watts or 1500 watts?

I have a pair of KPA-500's for an SO2R setup.  Seamless.

I've been running the numbers on the advantage of going to 1000 or 1500
watts.

500 watts to 1000 watts - 3.01 db gain
500 watts to 1500 watts - 4.77 db gain

Will the increase from 1000 to 1500 watts or a 1.76 db increase in
gain,  make a difference? I'm sure it would in some circumstances, but
how often?

I'm just starting on my quest to increase my dxcc totals on 80 and 160,
so maybe that 1.76 db would be the difference between a having a qso or
not having a qso.

What are the thoughts of the serious low band guys?

Thanks

Rich - N5ZC
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