I've not used the SPE amps. Basic interfacing should be like any third-party amplifier. For full integration, a la KPA500, check the manual to see if it will decode band data or do RF-sensed band switching. If not, you'll have to switch amplifier bands manually. Maybe another responder will know.
You ask about SO2R and on that I do have some feedback on the SPE amps and it's important. I looked into SPE's claim to support SO2R with a single amp, something I've always fancied but never achieved. IMHO, the implementation is brain dead. The amps have two rig connection, six antenna connections, and a Rig 1/2 toggle input, which looks great on first glance. But the switching connects the non-transmit rig to a special, dedicated, receive-only antenna port labeled, ingenuously, "SO2R!" That means you can't receive on any antenna that is ever to be used to transmit. You effectively need a separate antenna for all reception on whichever radio is not transmitting and if it's not an all-band antenna, you need external switching among multiple, dedicated, receive antennas. Example: six monoband antennas connected to Ports 1-6 on the amp. You can transmit on Rig 1 or Rig 2 and the amp will automatically select the band-appropriate antenna and connect it to the transmitting rig. But it simultaneously and irrevocably connects the OTHER rig to the separate "SO2R" antenna port. Maybe you want to do all such receiving on an all-band vertical? I couldn't believe this when I read it so I called the importer and they confirmed that cockamamie design. Of course, TWO Expert amps will work fine in SO2R like any other amps, one connected to each rig. Use external antenna switching via something like a Six Pak connected to the two amps' ANT1 connectors. Pity, all that internal switching going unused. GL & 73, /Rick N6XI On Wed, Dec 23, 2015 at 3:18 PM, Bill OMara via Elecraft < [email protected]> wrote: > I looking for input on how well the K3 will integrate with the SPE expert > 2K-FA? I currently have the K3 integrated with the KPA-500 and the KAT-500 > and I'm very happy with how they work together but I'm not happy with the > limited 500W output of the KPA-500. > > > > So, I looking to understand how the K3 will integrate with the 2K-FA in a > single station set-up and in a SO2R set-up with two K3? > > > > Thanks for your help. > > > > 73 Bill W4RM > > > > Please use [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> as my primary account > > > > ______________________________________________________________ > 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] > -- Rick Tavan Truckee, CA ______________________________________________________________ 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]
