[Elecraft] KPA1500 opinions

[Pete Smith N4ZR]

There is an excellent KPA1500 at ghroups.io reflector where there has been 
a lot of discussion about maintenance history.  See particularly a post 
by W3IP on replacing the final transistors - there have been a fair 
number of such failures.  I'm glad that Jim had a good experience - my 
fairly early KPA-1500 is at Watsonville now after I started experiencing 
RX insensitivity when in Standby or when my radio switched it back to 
receive.  I suspect a relay issue, but am looking forward to seeing the 
repair report, and trust that Elecraft will have made any mods needed 
while the amp was there.

73, Pete N4ZR

On 2/8/2023 10:22 PM, Jim Brown wrote:
> 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
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