I have both the KPA500 and a Alpha 87A used in my 2 K3 SO2R setup. Mostly I'm a DXer but do a few contests also but not serious by any means. I do enjoy the low bands and work DX on 80/40m most every day, a majority of the time extra power is needed.
I do the progressive thing to see how much power I need to make the contact 100/500/1500w or somewhere in-between. When I'm trying to work rare DX in pileup or very weak signal I use the Alpha. As we all know these contacts can be gone in an instant so it's QRO all the way for it IMHO for a new one. If I have to turn the Alpha on I use the KPA500 till it warms up lol. I know what some will say and yes I do enjoy QRP also and have for quite a while. 73, Fred/N0AZZ -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Bruce McLaughlin Sent: Wednesday, December 19, 2012 9:36 AM To: 'hawley, charles j jr'; 'David Gilbert' Cc: [email protected] Subject: Re: [Elecraft] new KPA 500 question I do think there is a different set of considerations when one is talking about making contacts under competitive conditions as opposed to daily, run-of-the-mill rag chewing. When conditions are poor, certainly an amplifier can be helpful even for rag chew contacts. But frankly, if 500 Watts won't do it for a rag chew contact, it probably isn't worth it to continue. Usually reception is so poor that it isn't much fun. But I do agree that legal limit operation can be very helpful if you are after some rare DX and you have lots of company to contend with. Bruce-W8FU -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of hawley, charles j jr Sent: Tuesday, December 18, 2012 7:16 PM To: David Gilbert Cc: [email protected] Subject: Re: [Elecraft] new KPA 500 question Ok...I was a little hasty I think. I've never been a contester and didn't consider HAVING to make the contact in adverse conditions. Sent from my iPad Chuck, KE9UW (Jack for BMW motorcycles) On Dec 18, 2012, at 5:05 PM, "David Gilbert" <[email protected]> wrote: > > I totally agree ... there is nothing clear about that path at all. 5 > db is a HUGE difference if you're anywhere near the noise level on the other end, and it is a major difference if you're competing against other weak stations for a contact. Under the right circumstances even 2 db can make a significant difference. I urge anyone who doesn't believe me to check out: > > http://www.ab7e.com/weak_signal/mdd.html > > QRP is fun and I've done a lot of it myself, but saying that 5 to 7 db > is not worth having in general is just nonsense. > > 73, > Dave AB7E > > > > On 12/18/2012 3:14 PM, Scott Manthe wrote: >> I hate to be a contrarian, but the path is not quite so clear. That 5 >> to 7 dB can be the difference between making a contact or not making a contact, especially on the low bands. We're not always talking about the difference between S9, plus 20 or 25, but the difference between S0 or S.5, or being an S unit above the noise. >> >> I currently don't have anything bigger than my KPA500 and I'm very >> happy with it, but anyone who says that 600 watts is always enough power doesn't try to work tough DX on 80 or 160m. A serious 160 op will tell you that 600 watts is often about 6 dB too little, sometimes more... >> >> 73, >> Scott, N9AA >> >> >> On 12/18/12 3:31 PM, Phil Hystad wrote: >>> I agree, the path is clear -- it is obvious --- sell the Commander >>> as 5 to 7 dB is not worth having extra stuff around to fool with. As said by a person with a growing interest and desire for QRP contacts. >>> >>> 73, phil, K7PEH >>> >>> >>> On Dec 18, 2012, at 12:28 PM, "hawley, charles j jr" <[email protected]> wrote: >>> >>>> If you are 20db over S9 with the KPA500, you can be 25 to 27db over >>>> S9 with the Commander in line. The path is clear... >>>> >>>> Sent from my iPad >>>> Chuck, KE9UW >>>> (Jack for BMW motorcycles) >>>> >>>> >> > > ______________________________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:[email protected] > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email > list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[email protected] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[email protected] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html ----- No virus found in this message. 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