Sound like my cue, Fred. David, I think you will enjoy using the KPA500, although I’m a bit biased. The KPA will run just fine from 1.6 to 54 MHz, with the exception of the CB Lockout area from 26 to 28 MHz, which is FCC-mandated for amplifiers in the US. I can’t answer your question about going from 1500 to 500 watts (Like Fred, I run mine at 600). I can tell you that with the amplifier I am definitely heard in contests, which is where I do most of my operating. It makes a huge difference. My station is on a city lot in San Jose, which means small antennas. As I said the difference between 100 and 600 watts is that at 600 I feel like I am heard.
I am sure you will hear from others on the power comparison and the KPA500 operation as well. - Jack Brindle, W6FB Elecraft Engineering (like I said, I’m a bit biased…) > On Apr 23, 2015, at 9:42 PM, Fred Jensen <[email protected]> wrote: > > On 4/23/2015 7:34 PM, David Cole wrote: > >> My only real issue with the KPA-500 is the output power of only 500 >> watts. Just how much of a hit will I take by going from 1500 watts to >> 500 watts... I chase DX, via RTTY and CW mostly, and some SSB. > > 90+% CW, some RTTY in contests, a few % SSB in NAQP's and SS. I ran a 1200 W > amp at 500 W for almost a year before springing for the KPA500. From my end > [obviously not the same as "the other end"], I couldn't really tell any > difference. Clearly, I don't know about the ones I couldn't get, but I > really don't think working him or not working him depends on one S-Unit. I > think it depends a whole lot more on conditions, size of the antenna, size of > the pile, and especially operator skills. Mine are mediocre. > > I have no idea how many dB the P3 is worth, but it wouldn't surprise me if it > was in double digits. :-)) > >> Will the KPA-500 take key down for 10 or more minutes at full power?? > > On CW, I run mine at around 600W continuously. I stick to 500W on RTTY in > contests, although that isn't going to make any difference. The power LED's > top out at 700, I've been told by more than one field tester that they were > told to run "full bars" all the time. > > The integration with the K3 is perfect, I truly love the "no-tune", and I use > the KPA500 to switch bands with one push. >> >> Is there anyone on here that has gone from 1500 to 500 watts, and if so, >> can you tell me a bit about it? How does the LPA-500 operate on MARS >> frequencies? They are all over the place, not in ham bands... > > Don't know about MARS and other out-of-ham band performance. Ask Jack, W6FB. > > 73, > > Fred K6DGW > - Northern California Contest Club > - CU in the 50th Running of the Cal QSO Party 3-4 Oct 2015 > - www.cqp.org > > K3/KPA500/KAT500 > Triband+Wires > > ______________________________________________________________ > 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 > Message delivered to [email protected] ______________________________________________________________ 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 Message delivered to [email protected]
