[Elecraft] Amplifier Suggestions
I have a K3/10 and live in a CCR environment. Presently I have a homebrew dipole (66 feet of stranded copper) in the attic. It works quite well but I would like to have more reach with CW. I am also concerned about getting RFI into the neighbor's speakers. I would like to consider a smaller amplifier compatible with the K3. Does anyone have suggestions? Thanks in advance! -- Frank KD8FIP __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] Amplifier Suggestions
I would add the Elecraft amplifier designed for the K3 to upgrade to a K3/100. There aren't a lot of choices for amps that are designed for 10 watts in. You could go with any linear designed for higher power and just get less out driving with 10 watts. 73 - Mike WA8BXN __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] Amplifier Suggestions
This is a great suggestion. Once you have the 100 watt amp that is meant for the K3, you can always set your power for anything between 10 and 100 watts and you'll use no extra space on the desk, if that matters. It would in my shack. 73, Lou WA3MIX - Original Message - From: Mike WA8BXN hubb...@hotmail.com To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net; Frank MacDonell kd8...@gmail.com Sent: Saturday, April 16, 2011 10:48 AM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Amplifier Suggestions I would add the Elecraft amplifier designed for the K3 to upgrade to a K3/100. There aren't a lot of choices for amps that are designed for 10 watts in. You could go with any linear designed for higher power and just get less out driving with 10 watts. 73 - Mike WA8BXN __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net 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:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
[Elecraft] Amplifier Suggestions
Frank and All, There are some very good small amps out there. Tokyo Hy-Power now offers an HL-45 that will run about 50 watts or so, and is a very good product. I have their older version, the HL-50B, and it is a superb product as well. It is particularly useful with the numerous little QRP rigs I have around the shack when conditions just aren't that great for 5 watts or less. Another good product is the HF Packer amp, which has been upgraded to quite a nice package. Problem is, these add-on amps are cumbersome, unless you plan to use them with several different rigs like I do. Also, they aren't cheap, even if you find one that is used. If you are just planning to use one with your K3/10, I'd very strongly suggest you bite the bullet and just add the Elecraft amp module. It's probably even pricier than the alternatives mentioned above, but the convenience factor looms large. It fits neatly inside your K3, doesn't necessitate a bunch of extra connecting cables, interfaces very nicely with your K3's firmware, etc. Then you would have a fully controllable amp, all in one package, that you can simply dial up the power you want. This is a lot more convenient than you might think, and especially if you realize that more often than not, you don't really need to go all the way to 100 watts, or even close to that, to improve your ability to communicate in tougher conditions. 50 watts or less may be all you really need, and you wouldn't get much more than that anyway out of the others mentioned above. When 10 watts or less is sufficient, you simply dial that up, and the amp module is effectively disengaged. In my view, this is absolutely your best option, provided you can swing the cost issue. If cost is a significant issue, there is one other type out there I'm familiar with, and frequently I see them offered for a much lower price (used). These are the ones from RM Italy. I have an HLA-150, and it is a pretty good amp--actually will run more than 100 watts. It's also auto band switching. If you get one of the HLA series, they do have proper bandpass filtering. Other models apparently don't. My biggest problem with this amp is that it's RF sensing capability isn't great--not like the Tokyo Hy-Power models. So, you really need to key it directly, which is a problem with most of the little QRP rigs I have, since they don't have a keying line. Thus, this amp tends to clip dits and dahs here and there unless you do hardwire the keying. Anyway, I've seen these being sold for something around a dollar a watt or so--a good bit cheaper than the others I mentioned. There are also some concerns about this amp's purity when run up around it's stated capability. At 100 watts or less, however, it seems to be acceptable. W8JI did some extensive testing on this, and you might want to check out his comments if you are interested. Bottom line--get the Elecraft amp module if at all possible. In the long run, you won't regret it. Dave W7AQK __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] Amplifier suggestions?
Let's say, for argument's sake, I too have a THP 1.5 (which I do not). My work and family take up most, if not all of my time. I can only put a couple of feet of wire to use as a antenna because of HOAs. I have 10 countries confirmed because I don't care for QSL cards or LOTW. Does that make it a bad amplifier? I hope not. I don't actually own a Acom 1000 but have used one for many hours at our contest station or during field days. We Also use a ACOM 2000. Both amplifiers are very good and near bullet proof. It has a very good protection system which shuts down the amp if something is wrong. That said, it will take a wide range of SWR without shutting down which makes it easy to use because you don't have to retune it every time. If you do have to tune the 1000, it will only take you a couple of seconds because tuning is a breeze. The 2000 is fully automatic so you tuning that monster is even more easy. Our amps get a lot of use and abuse but up till now we never had a problem. To give an example, last year we went to OZ to participate in the IARU region 1 field day with the OZ5GX group. I had met them a year earlier during summer holidays. During the field day we obviously used a generator to power our equipment. It was a Diesel generator which provided 380 V. After some rewiring we got 230 V which we needed for our equipment. After a couple of hours something went wrong and the Acom started to shut itself down repeativly and on the display it showed a code of letters and numbers. I grabbed the manual to find out what it meant. I quickly found out it meant High Voltage so I decided to check the voltage at the power outlets. The multi meter showed 270 V (!). We quickly switched off all equipment and the generator. None of the other equipment showed any problems but thanks to the Acom we new that something was wrong and were able to fix it before any damage was done. As for the THP, I never used one so I can't comment on that amp. 73, Maarten PD2R 2010/1/19 David Christ radio...@mchsi.com Was over at a friends shack who is driving a Tokyo High Power 1.5 with a K2. He speaks very highly of it. He fired things up and got through to a South African station first call on RTTY and then switched over to SSB and used a vertical to work a ZD station I think. Got through the pile up on first call. Very impressive. He has 296 countries confirmed and has a FT-930 which sits in the corner unused. From what I saw, if the THP 1.5 is in your budget you probably wouldn't be disappointed. David k0LUM Eastern Iowa At 6:48 PM -0800 1/18/10, David Beckwith wrote: I am thinking about a move up in power for my K2/100. The reviews seem to favor an Acom 1000 or Tokyo Hi-Power. What is the collective wisdom here? Thanks Dave K6CGE __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net 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:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] Amplifier suggestions?
Dave, I've run Drakes L4B and L-75, Yaesu FL-2100z and Commander hf2500. Never bought one of these new. All four are good amps if you know what you are doing when you tune and use it. If you don't know or if you want it all automatic , then take the automatic ones as suggested. (they are usually more expensive...) 73 Arie PA3A -Oorspronkelijk bericht- Van: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net I am thinking about a move up in power for my K2/100. The reviews seem to favor an Acom 1000 or Tokyo Hi-Power. What is the collective wisdom here? Thanks Dave K6CGE __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net 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:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
[Elecraft] Amplifier suggestions
...The reviews seem to favor an Acom 1000 or Tokyo Hi-Power... I have an Acom 1000, and love it! Almost silent in operation (including true QSK), protects itself from everything (including me), and matches any reasonable load. Tubes not as cheap as they have been, but still available at reasonabe cost, and if treated kindly, should last for (almost) ever. I have no experience with solid-state amps, but if I ever get one, it will probably be an Elecraft (maybe I'm still on the KPA800 list :-) VE7XF __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
[Elecraft] Amplifier suggestions?
I am thinking about a move up in power for my K2/100. The reviews seem to favor an Acom 1000 or Tokyo Hi-Power. What is the collective wisdom here? Thanks Dave K6CGE __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] Amplifier suggestions?
Was over at a friends shack who is driving a Tokyo High Power 1.5 with a K2. He speaks very highly of it. He fired things up and got through to a South African station first call on RTTY and then switched over to SSB and used a vertical to work a ZD station I think. Got through the pile up on first call. Very impressive. He has 296 countries confirmed and has a FT-930 which sits in the corner unused. From what I saw, if the THP 1.5 is in your budget you probably wouldn't be disappointed. David k0LUM Eastern Iowa At 6:48 PM -0800 1/18/10, David Beckwith wrote: I am thinking about a move up in power for my K2/100. The reviews seem to favor an Acom 1000 or Tokyo Hi-Power. What is the collective wisdom here? Thanks Dave K6CGE __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
