[TVARC] Batavia FT8 Contest - 2020 - SOAB-HP

[K2PS Pete Stafford]

Now that Rich has settled down, and has nothing else to say on fan output,
I've got a KPA500 question.  When I begin to transmit, I notice that the
LEDs light up, momentarily showing more power out than the 500W it then
immediately reverts to.  Am I really peaking higher, or is this an anomaly
where it needs a moment to figure out the power to display?

 

73, Pete, K2PS

 

From: Rich Erlichman [mailto:rich.erlichman at gmail.com] 
Sent: Thursday, August 13, 2020 7:14 PM
To: 'K2PS Pete Stafford'; tvarc at mailman.qth.net
Subject: RE: [TVARC] Batavia FT8 Contest - 2020 - SOAB-HP

 

I was looking through the KPA500 manual, and I stand corrected. I probably
had no issue at all. The amp is rated at a 67% Duty Cycle, with 10 minutes
Key Down / 5 minutes standby. Maximum heat sink temperature is 90 degrees C;
which is HOT; damn HOT!

That being said, there are 6 different speed level settings in the fan
output. When the heat sink temperature went above 75 degrees C, a fan speed
I never heard before kicked in, and I freaked out. 

That's all I can say for now.

 

73, Rich, ND4G

 

From: K2PS Pete Stafford [mailto:psk2ps at gmail.com] 
Sent: Tuesday, August 4, 2020 4:05 PM
To: 'Rich Erlichman'; tvarc at mailman.qth.net
Subject: RE: [TVARC] Batavia FT8 Contest - 2020 - SOAB-HP

 

You worked hard last weekend!  Two contests, total about 14 hours.  Must be
a pandemic or something going on.

 

Did you work any YBs?  I called a few on 40 during the contest but no luck.
It's a tough path from here.

 

I use the KPA500 full power for FT8 and haven't had any problems (yet).  The
manual specifies 10 minutes key down, so your 15 seconds is no biggie -
unless your air conditioner stopped working!

 

73, Pete, K2PS

 

From: tvarc-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:tvarc-bounces at mailman.qth.net]
On Behalf Of Rich Erlichman
Sent: Sunday, August 2, 2020 11:14 PM
To: tvarc at mailman.qth.net
Subject: [TVARC] Batavia FT8 Contest - 2020 - SOAB-HP

 

All,

 

Here is my results of the Batavia (Indonesia) WW FT8 contest. Not everyone
read all the rules. It was apparent with an exchange of only the grid, but
people were sending signal reports. I found by selecting the VHF contest, a
signal report would be sent. However, if one read the rules, they would have
used the WW-Digi contest setup. No signal reports to add to an extra 15
seconds of noise.

FYI - I actually saw a YB, and a YC station on 10m late Friday night. I
called and called, but their signals were way down, and they just
disappeared. 

I used the amp for a few contacts when I saw a weak signal with a good
multiplier that I didn't want to let get away.

I learned that the Elecraft KPA500 definitely does NOT have a 100% duty
cycle. It sure got hot when running 15 seconds on, 15 seconds off (50% duty
cycle), and you are in a Run mode, or just real quick pouncing on the next
contact when finishing the previous one.

 

WestMountain Radio RigBlaster Advantage -> Kenwood TS-590S -> Elecraft
KPA500 -> MFJ-998RT remote tuner -> 20' Flagpole vertical antenna w/24sqft
ground screen.

 

                    Batavia FT8 Contest - 2020

 

Call: ND4G

Operator(s): ND4G

Station: ND4G

 

Class: Single Op HP

QTH: Florida

Operating Time (hrs): 8.4

 

Summary:

Band  QSOs  Prefixes  Countries

---------------------------------

   80:   9       9          5

   40:  21      21         11

   20:  44      41         15

   15:  19      16          7

   10:   1       1          1

---------------------------------

Total:  94      88         39  Total Score = 6,858

 

Club: The Villages Amateur Radio Club

 

Comments:

 

Posted using 3830 Score Submittal Forms at: http://www.3830scores.com/

 

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