On Dec 7, 2006, at 2:23 PM, Fred (FL) wrote:
Are there any 50 or 100 watt external amplifiers,
that a barebone QRP K2 can drive? Is anyone
using one, for SSB and CW?
Itch'n to build nother ...........
Under the current FCC rules, an external amplifier cannot be driven
to its rated output win an input of less than 50 watts. Additionally
it cannot have more than 15 dB gain. Under the changes that take
effect on December 15, the 50 watt restriction is removed, although
the 15 dB gain limit is retained (don't ask me why).
The KPA-100 isn't subject to the 50 watt rule, because it is designed
to be integrated with the K2 as a single unit. It can be operated
separately (usually รก la <http://www.kk7p.com/k2kpa100.html> but this
is considered a modification by the amateur, which is permitted).
I expect that after the new rule becomes effective, there may be
other amplifiers on the market suitable for use with a K2 or other
QRP rigs (some exist now, but their legality is doubtful). The rules
prohibit an amp which can easily be modified to transmit between 26
and 28 MHz, but don't say anything about modification to increase the
gain, which I think in some cases might be done by removing an
attenuator). Since the K2's rated output is 15 W, an amp with 15 dB
of gain would have an output of 474 watts, so this wouldn't apply in
the case of 100 watt rig designed to be driven by 3.16 watts or less.
If you want an amp which will operate on 12 and 10 meters, it becomes
a bit difficult even under the new rules, since high-power filters
with steep skirts are rather impractical (rejection from 26 to
28.000, no loss at 28.001 is physically impossible). The KPA100
uses a digital signal from the K2 to know what frequency is being
amplified, but another amp might require the use of a KIO2 to provide
similar information (not quite bare bones).
Bob, N7XY
_______________________________________________
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
