[Elecraft] KX2/3 Amplifiers

[Walter Underwood]

When I priced them, the Hardrock was just about half the cost for half the power. I got the KXPA100.

The KXPA100 kit is assembly, no soldering. One of the design goals was for installation as a remote PA for mobile use. Install the KXPA next to the antenna and keep the KX3 by you.

wunder
K6WRU
Walter Underwood
CM87wj
http://observer.wunderwood.org/ (my blog)

> On May 28, 2017, at 11:44 AM, Tom Francis, W1TEF <KX2_KX3 at swsports.org> wrote:
> 
> Phil,
> 
> The Hardrock 50 has an atu - I don't know if the toroids are pre-wound or not - if not, that's an
> issue for me.
> 
> Actually, I'm kind of in the reverse situation - I want to keep my KX2/3, but get rid of my FT-450D
> - which is a nice radio, but it's bigger than I can use mobile.
> 
> All suggestions are welcome and you certainly gave me something to think about.
> 
> Thanks.
> 
> Tom, W1TEF
> Lexington, SC
> 
> On 5/28/2017 2:04 PM, Phil Hystad wrote:
>> I looked into that very question a few months ago (February)…
>> 
>> My comments:
>> 
>> 1.  I don’t think Hardrock-50 has an auto-tuner so in pricing comparison, compare with
>> a separate vendors auto-tuner (as good as Elecraft’s) if you are assuming buying the KXPA100 with
>> auto tuner.
>> 
>> 2.  Hardrock-50 is half (or, less than half?) the output power of KXPA100 (of course, you know this).
>> 
>> 3.  Include your own labor time in $ for building the kit?  I do this for everything I do to determine
>> if I want to do myself or pay to have it done.  For many of my projects, my time is a lot more valuable than
>> the cost of somebody else’s time.  For example, as a plumber my own labor costs are thousands of dollars
>> per hour.
>> 
>> Well, these are the three key items that I looked into in comparing leaving out the very likely quality
>> difference between a full soldering kit built by me versus a kit from Elecraft.
>> 
>> I chose the KXPA100+autotuner as a result of my evaluation.
>> 
>> But, the rest of the story.
>> 
>> I didn’t buy the KXPA100.  My reason for 100 watts was to see about getting a 100-watt capable
>> backup rig and could also be used in portable operations (with adaquate DC power of course).
>> 
>> I made a wild decision.  Instead of getting an amp for my KX3.  I sold my KX3!  In its place I
>> bought a new Icom IC-7300 and it is light-weight and could be portable (not mobile) as well.
>> 
>> But, I still loved QRP portable ops too so I bought a KX2 to replace my KX3.  I also sold other
>> equipment that was merely collecting dust to also put together the funds to buy the KX2 as
>> well as a second KAT500 to work with the IC-7300 (since the 7300s internal tuner is not good
>> enough for all of my antennas in use on all of my bands of interest).
>> 
>> Net cost was  minus $130.   That is, I had a net gain after buying the IC-7300, the KX2,
>> and the KAT500 by selling the KX3, and a mobile HF rig, a mobile VHF/UHF rig, and a R-75
>> receiver.
>> 
>> 73, phil, K7PEH
>> 
>> 
>>> On May 28, 2017, at 10:50 AM, Tom Francis, W1TEF <KX2_KX3 at swsports.org> wrote:
>>> 
>>> Greetings,
>>> 
>>> I'm looking for a little practical advice about linear amplification for the KX2/3 (I have both).
>>> 
>>> Hardrock-50 or KXPA100.
>>> 
>>> Essentially, it would be used mobile, although taking it out the car and using it portable is
>>> possible.
>>> 
>>> So any information from users of these two amps will be greatly appreciated.  Also, as the
>>> Hardrock 50 is a kit, how hard is it to build for something with finger nephropathy?
>>> 
>>> Thanks for any info.
>>> 
>>> Very best regards,
>>> 
>>> Tom, W1TEF
>>> Lexington, SC
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
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> 
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