[Elecraft] KPA1500 opinions

[Jim Brown]

On 2/8/2023 5:35 PM, Scott Manthe wrote:
> I was one of the people that saw the KPA1600 run all day every day at 
> Dayton years ago, and have dreamed of that amp ever since. I know the 
> KPA1500 probably can't live up to that ideal, but are there issues a 
> potential buyer should be aware of?

I'm a near neighbor of Elecraft and people who work there. The KPA1600 
never went into production. My KPA1500 arrived 6/29/19, and has never 
given me the slightest trouble. It sees heavy use in HF CW, RTTY, and 
some SSB contesting, always legal limit. It also sees heavy use during 
6M E-skip season on WSJT modes, where I run it at about 1,200W. It's a 
very nice amp, and has replaced one the 87As in my SO2R station.

My KPA500 made two expensive trips to the factory. The KPA500 mostly got 
used on 6M in the same way as the KPA1500, at 600W, and a lot in W6GJB's 
contesting trailer for HF county expeditions (CQP and 7QP). I still own 
it for those reasons. Several contesting friends also own them. I don't 
have a record of when I bought it.

73, Jim K9YC