[Elecraft] Which Amp ?

[Paul Baldock]

I know SPE have an FCC report saying they meet the 15dB spec, but 
that was certainly is not what SPE USA sent me.

When I received my 1.5K it was 21dB gain. I polled a few of the other 
new owners and they all reported around 21dB gain. Some 1.3K owners 
also reported the same high gain. To be honest most of the users that 
contacted me were happy with the higher gain as they were using them 
with QRP rigs like the KX3.

I wanted a 15dB amp so that I could easily switch between the amp 
and  my ACOM 2000 with a true 14.5dB gain

The SPE manuals are specific in saying use ALC to control the power. 
At that time  I was following the  SPE1.5K reflector, and many users 
were doing what they were told, that is  turn the rig up to 200W and 
let it fly. So many would not notice the drive power. Would you do 
that? Certainly not me?

Fortunately SPE USA took my 1.5K back for a full refund, and I 
ordered the KPA1500.

- Paul KW7Y



At 12:10 PM 7/24/2018, Victor Rosenthal wrote:
>The manual for the SPE 1.3K found on the Expert Linears website
>indicates that gain is 14.5 dB, and the documentation states that it is
>FCC approved.
>
>It is possible that there is an internal attenuator that may be disabled
>for amplifiers sold in countries that do not have a gain limit.
>
>The comment about the US importer is unfair.
>
>73,
>Victor, 4X6GP
>Rehovot, Israel
>Formerly K2VCO
>CWops no. 5
>http://www.qsl.net/k2vco/
>
>On 24/07/2018 18:14, Paul Baldock wrote:
>>One point to note is that your SPE1.3K and the SPE1.5K amplifier I
>>owned for a very brief period are illegal 1300W/10W = 130 = 21dB
>>gain.
>>FCC 97.317 reads: (2) Not be capable of amplifying the input RF power
>>(driving signal) by more than 15 dB gain. Gain is defined as the
>>ratio of the input RF power to the output RF power of the amplifier
>>where both power measurements are expressed in peak envelope power or
>>mean power.
>>OK, so you like the extra gain for the amp, but importing and/or
>>selling an illegal amp is illegal. That tells you a lot about the US
>>rep.
>>- Paul  KW7Y
>>At 07:50 AM 7/24/2018, Bob DeHaney wrote:
>>>I'm like Igor, the SPE 1.3K fulfills my needs and it's one package 
>>>including P/S and ATU that I as a 78-year-old can easily lift.  My
>>>K3 at 10 Watts out drives it to full output!!  That's gain!!  I
>>>have a K3, P3 with SVGA and the integration with the K3 is a simple
>>>cable and coax.  SPE even includes the connector for making your
>>>own cable or the cable can be bought for about $35.00 here.
>>>Unfortunately, the KPA1500 is handicapped here in Germany by
>>>horrendous freight charges and 19%!! Value Added Tax on top if one
>>>is imported. That tax by the way, is on virtually everything sold
>>>in Germany, not just USA products.
>>>Vy 73 de Bob DJ0RD/WU5T
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