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_...@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_...@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 >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> ______________________________________________________________ >>> Elecraft mailing list >>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft >>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm >>> Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net >>> >>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net >>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html >>> Message delivered to phys...@mac.com >> > > ______________________________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > Message delivered to wun...@wunderwood.org ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
