I agree with this Dave. Like many other things, it is "easy" whereas antenna improvements generally require thought and work. Some wish every edge they can get and a some folks are antenna limited, we need to remember one other factor: age. The ham population is aging and many are unable or unwilling to do tower work or bury radials. So for those folks, an amp seems to be the answer. Judging by the number you see available "used", they tend to be one of the first items disposed. I think the folks at Aptos are responding to the market. Although, we'd like to think of them in a less commercial sense, they are a business. I'd rather see them survive, even if it means adding some things that some folks think sacreligious. I don't plan on adding the "big" amp, but I do have my eye on two other kits. (I still am trying to find enough time to build what I have now, work, move, build an new antenna farm before the fall, be with family, mow the yards, etc, etc...)
But I fully agree the best bang for the buck is improving your antenna system. Cheers, Julius n2wn "Amps are, in my view, the most overpriced pieces of gear in the hamshack. If you spend one tenth of that amount sprucing up your antenna system you will get more benefit. The worst thing that ever happened to ham radio was when they allowed amplifiers that run more power than the local commercial radio station. The U.K. allows, I think, a maximum of 400 watts---or is that Australia? Anyway, that's plenty! From that level, the most you can improve your signal is about 1 "S" unit--unless you cheat! Anything more than a couple hundred watts just creates QRM--it becomes brute force rather than technique!" _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [email protected] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
