Re: [Elecraft] KPA500
So buy an Alpha, or a Commander. or a Some of us don't have a kind regulator that will allow us more than 400W PEP...yep, some of us do comply...we are in the minority no doubt, but nevertheless we comply and the KPA-500 fits the bill nicely. :-) Gary On Fri, Sep 10, 2010 at 3:33 PM, Wes Stewart n...@yahoo.com wrote: Right, 500W is hardly worthwhile. Make it at least 2KW PEP. Got to make up for the tuner and coax losses and to live on RTTY. --- On Thu, 9/9/10, Greg n...@cableone.net wrote: Free market feedback...bring back the 1500 watt amp! 73 de Greg-N4CC __ 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 -- Gary VK4FD - Motorhome Mobile http://www.qsl.net/vk4fd/ K3 #679 For everything else there's Mastercard!!! __ 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] K2 #6980 Current Errata
Hi Stan, Please could you point me in the direction of the revision G-11 of March 10? I have #6998. It was delivered with the G-10 errata, but looking on the Elecraft website in the manual section, its only rev G-10 of October 20 2009 listed as current. Is the new revision hidden somewhere else? Many thanks, John VK7JB Message: 46 Date: Thu, 09 Sep 2010 21:34:58 -0400 (EDT) From: stan levandowski sjl...@optonline.net Subject: [Elecraft] K2 #6980 Current Errata To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Message-ID: 3489.1083967.1284082498776.javamail.sjl...@mstr20.srv.hcvlny.cv.net Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed; delsp=no Current kits are apparently being shipped with Errata dated Rev. G-10, October 20, 2009 enclosed when in fact the current errata is Rev. G-11 dated March 10. My #6980 was shipped July, 2010, well after the March revision. I incorrectly assumed G-10 was OK and it resulted in some inventory problems for me. Anyone with a recent kit would be well advised to check this out Stan Levandowski WB2LQF HF QRP CW -- Doing more with less for over 50 years! QCWA #35038 OOTC #4558 NAQCC #4740 SKCC #6488 FISTS #(Pending) This email was sent from Netspace Webmail: http://www.netspace.net.au __ 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] KPA500
On 9/10/2010 6:10 AM, Phil Townsend wrote: So I got me a ten watt k3... I like it... It is very good. It works. And I'm thinking of a KPA500. But to run the KPA500 I gotta get the 100 watt add-on first. Hu Is that a deal breaker? Might be. If I don't get the hundred water then I can't get fully output.!.?-¥xxx So the true cost of the kPA500 is way more... For me with just ten watts. I really only want ten watts. But when I feel the need, the need for speed (yeah I had to say it) I would like to hit the big lever marked kill and blast them out of their socks. Can't hear me OM?? He switches the amp to kill How's ur copy now om? The screenplay is in my head... Among other things. I would like to be able to upgrade with out the interim 100 watter. Yeah, I know, i won't work but I can ask those guys who sweat solder and cash flow and you never know they just might be able to do it. To me the K2 was a total mind melt...and the K3 is beyond my wildest dreams. Quite an upgrade from the old Heathkits I used to build... No disrespect meant the hotwaters and Indians that may be still lurking. Phil Santa Fe Build your own gear Grow your own food. Sent from my iPad On Sep 9, 2010, at 9:30 PM, Gregn...@cableone.net wrote: Free market feedback...bring back the 1500 watt amp! 73 de Greg-N4CC -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Doug Person Sent: Thursday, September 09, 2010 8:58 PM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KPA500 It's never as simple as that. I think announcing a product when its on its final approach is fine. I think getting tons of feedback on what you're about to invest heavily in is good business. Maybe the truth of the earlier amps was that there just wasn't enough positive response to them. Maybe this time they used all the input from the previous attempt to refine the price point and feature set. Maybe everytime someone here says the price is too high Eric makes another note. Or someone else says I'll order on the first day - is another note. This is free market research. Easy access to the most likely buyers. A big product mistake by a small company like Elecraft could sink them. I think they took a LOT of notes on the road to completing the K3. Nobody can argue with the results. And when the KPA-500 is released, it will be based on tons of feedback. Doug -- K0DXV __ 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 Four MOSFETs can be driven out with ten watts id these are MRF150s (or VRF). You probably need to modify the input circuit. For EB104 needs only 6 watts. -- István Szabó Success is the ability to go from failure to failure without losing your enthusiasm. - Winston Churchill (1874 - 1965) __ 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] K2 #6980 Current Errata
John, I don't understand the rationale behind your quest. Normally, one should use the errata sheet that is packed with your kit. Unless some error was made in packing, that errata pertains to your kit at the time it was packed. Attempting to use an errata sheet that applies to kits packed later can lead to confusion. Consider that many (most) errata items cover parts changes rather than procedural changes, if parts changes happened after your kit was packed, a later errata sheet will not be correct for your kit. If you have specific questions about a part when you do the inventory, then pose those questions to supp...@elecraft.com and you should obtain a specific answer. 73, Don W3FPR On 9/10/2010 4:31 AM, zen...@netspace.net.au wrote: Hi Stan, Please could you point me in the direction of the revision G-11 of March 10? I have #6998. It was delivered with the G-10 errata, but looking on the Elecraft website in the manual section, it’s only rev G-10 of October 20 2009 listed as current. Is the new revision hidden somewhere else? Many thanks, John VK7JB __ 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] KPA-500 Features and Pricing
Unregulated is not a problem if it is a good solid stiff supply. The MFJ is certainly not. - Original Message - From: Scott Ellington sdell...@facstaff.wisc.edu To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Thursday, September 09, 2010 5:11 PM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KPA-500 Features and Pricing On Sep 9, 2010, at 3:50 PM, Robert Friess wrote: unregulated 60V for the power devices. That makes perfect sense. As with all vacuum tube amplifiers I'm aware of, regulated power is not necessary, and would significantly increase the cost, size, and weight of the power supply. Scott K9MA Scott Ellington Madison, Wisconsin USA __ 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] KPA-500 Features and Pricing
I currently use an Acom 1000 amp on 80 and 6m and a homebrew semiconductor amp (160W o/p) on 4m. The features I really like about solid state amps is their efficiency (50-60%), and zero warm up time. I often find on 6m that I can hear interesting but very weak dx that needs the amp, but I have to wait nearly 3 minutes for it to warm up, by which time the dx may have disappeared. By contrast the solid state PA takes no current on standby and is available instantly. My 2p worth Graham __ 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] K2 #6980 Current Errata
Don and John, the source of the G11 Errata was Gary Surrency of Elecraft. G10 was packed with my kit; G10 is also the only one on the Elecraft website. Thus, there is no source to which I can point you to download a copy other than to contact supp...@elecraft.com. As a customer, I had no way of knowing there was a G11. The reason I became embroiled in this is because after my inventory, I ended up with six .001 capacitors and no designations for them. G11 fixes that problem. I did not mean to cause any confusion here. 73 Stan Levandowski WB2LQF HF QRP CW -- Doing more with less for over 50 years! QCWA #35038 OOTC #4558 NAQCC #4740 SKCC #6488 FISTS #(Pending) On Fri, Sep 10, 2010 at 7:23 AM, Don Wilhelm wrote: John, I don't understand the rationale behind your quest. Normally, one should use the errata sheet that is packed with your kit. Unless some error was made in packing, that errata pertains to your kit at the time it was packed. Attempting to use an errata sheet that applies to kits packed later can lead to confusion. Consider that many (most) errata items cover parts changes rather than procedural changes, if parts changes happened after your kit was packed, a later errata sheet will not be correct for your kit. If you have specific questions about a part when you do the inventory, then pose those questions to supp...@elecraft.com and you should obtain a specific answer. 73, Don W3FPR On 9/10/2010 4:31 AM, zen...@netspace.net.au wrote: Hi Stan, Please could you point me in the direction of the revision G-11 of March 10? I have #6998. It was delivered with the G-10 errata, but looking on the Elecraft website in the manual section, it’s only rev G-10 of October 20 2009 listed as current. Is the new revision hidden somewhere else? Many thanks, John VK7JB __ 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] KPA500
I think some of the folks who are calling for gigawatt amplifiers (ok, full legal limit...) are losing focus on one key fact: Elecraft has prospered by making products that SOME hams want that NOBODY else makes. The K3 is a perfect example: an exquisite transceiver, quite arguably the best available at any price if you're not a fan of big boxes with big buttons. It's portable, can be expanded incrementally with modules to meet any operator's specific needs, and it's 'way up in the upper right hand corner of the value scatter graph (price on one axis, performance on the other). So, what could Elecraft bring to the 2KW amplifier market that would (a) differentiate it from the others and (b)stay within the general confines of the K3 style, which means compact, efficient, modular expandability, and (probably) fit within the K3 form factor. You cannot build a 2KW amplifier that meets those criteria. Modular? Yes; you could make the power supply and an auto-tuner modular add-ons. Efficient? Yes. Compact? No. K3 form factor? Not a chance. For example, the Alpha 2KW amplifier measures 17.5w x 78.5h x 19.75d. It weighs well over 50 lbs. It costs $5000. There is no way to build a large-output amp that will fit within the K3 form factor. the physical size of components needed to handle that power makes it impossible. So, some on this list essentially are asking Elecraft to step outside its well-defined and highly successful approach to the market and build a me too legal limit amplifier that Elecraft could not meaningfully distinguish from the competition, except for the nameplate. Amplifiers are not that complex, compared to the K3. That lack of complexity is exactly why this is not a market in which Elecraft could compete successfully. There's no way to meaningfully differentiate its 2KW amp from others, except for the nameplate. Yes, they would include their superb customer support as a product feature. But I don't think they could bring enough differentiation from the Alpha, Tokyo Hygain, and other high end amplifiers already on the market to break into that market at a volume that would support design and production costs. The folks in Aptos DO understand the market. They are listening, and watching this dialogue. We can keep that process productive by not asking Elecraft to come out with a product that breaks the laws of physics. It's a small company, with limited design resources. Let's all encourage them to focus on new products that realistically fit within the Elecraft market niche. my 3 cents worth (inflation, you know...) Lew K6LMP On Sep 9, 2010, at 10:33 PM, Wes Stewart wrote: Right, 500W is hardly worthwhile. Make it at least 2KW PEP. Got to make up for the tuner and coax losses and to live on RTTY. --- On Thu, 9/9/10, Greg n...@cableone.net wrote: Free market feedback...bring back the 1500 watt amp! 73 de Greg-N4CC __ 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] KPA500
New 1700 volt sic jfet http://www.semisouth.com/news/press_releases/2010-04-30_New_1700V_and_1200V_SiC_JFETs.html Sent from my iPad On Sep 10, 2010, at 7:12 AM, Phil Townsend phi...@me.com wrote: A company called Semi South builds some very serious solid state devices that can swing 30 amps @ 1200 volts! They make them do electric car controls. Plus very very low distortion so low almost unmeasurable. I tried them in an audio application and was blown away. Can't remember the part number but their web site has details. Follow my tweets: PhilTownsend Build your own gear Grow your own food On Sep 10, 2010, at 4:42 AM, István Szabó ha...@t-online.hu wrote: On 9/10/2010 6:10 AM, Phil Townsend wrote: So I got me a ten watt k3... I like it... It is very good. It works. And I'm thinking of a KPA500. But to run the KPA500 I gotta get the 100 watt add-on first. Hu Is that a deal breaker? Might be. If I don't get the hundred water then I can't get fully output.!.?-¥xxx So the true cost of the kPA500 is way more... For me with just ten watts. I really only want ten watts. But when I feel the need, the need for speed (yeah I had to say it) I would like to hit the big lever marked kill and blast them out of their socks. Can't hear me OM?? He switches the amp to kill How's ur copy now om? The screenplay is in my head... Among other things. I would like to be able to upgrade with out the interim 100 watter. Yeah, I know, i won't work but I can ask those guys who sweat solder and cash flow and you never know they just might be able to do it. To me the K2 was a total mind melt...and the K3 is beyond my wildest dreams. Quite an upgrade from the old Heathkits I used to build... No disrespect meant the hotwaters and Indians that may be still lurking. Phil Santa Fe Build your own gear Grow your own food. Sent from my iPad On Sep 9, 2010, at 9:30 PM, Gregn...@cableone.net wrote: Free market feedback...bring back the 1500 watt amp! 73 de Greg-N4CC -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Doug Person Sent: Thursday, September 09, 2010 8:58 PM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KPA500 It's never as simple as that. I think announcing a product when its on its final approach is fine. I think getting tons of feedback on what you're about to invest heavily in is good business. Maybe the truth of the earlier amps was that there just wasn't enough positive response to them. Maybe this time they used all the input from the previous attempt to refine the price point and feature set. Maybe everytime someone here says the price is too high Eric makes another note. Or someone else says I'll order on the first day - is another note. This is free market research. Easy access to the most likely buyers. A big product mistake by a small company like Elecraft could sink them. I think they took a LOT of notes on the road to completing the K3. Nobody can argue with the results. And when the KPA-500 is released, it will be based on tons of feedback. Doug -- K0DXV __ 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 Four MOSFETs can be driven out with ten watts id these are MRF150s (or VRF). You probably need to modify the input circuit. For EB104 needs only 6 watts. -- István Szabó Success is the ability to go from failure to failure without losing your enthusiasm. - Winston Churchill (1874 - 1965) __ 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] K3 Kit #4043 QRV
Edward R. Cole wrote: I could not find the configuration where one enables/disables mic bias (using Heil HM-10 mic), but adjusting mic gain and compression I finally saw some RF output (TUNE button worked right off). Page 20 of the latest manual under MIC. 73, Bill -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/K3-Kit-4043-QRV-tp4775608p5518652.html Sent from the [K3] mailing list archive at Nabble.com. __ 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] KPA500
Is this going to work with the K2? Yeah, I'm still one of those guys. -- Hisashi T Fujinaka - ht...@twofifty.com BSEE(6/86) + BSChem(3/95) + BAEnglish(8/95) + MSCS(8/03) + $2.50 = latte __ 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] KPA500
My 3 cents: I like the idea of the 500w with 6 meters. I am using a THP2.5kfx on low bands now to get the extra s unit. I would gladly have use for it and the KPA500. As already mentioned: Foolish to battle in the market place where it is already full. But 6m and the low bands in the 500 watt range, very enticing. Just be sure to design a remote tuner powered over coax with auto band switching, etc., that works with this setup and will tune-up a wet noodle. ;-). Then who could resist? Bill K9YEQ -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Wayne Burdick Sent: Thursday, September 09, 2010 10:20 PM To: Doug Person Cc: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KPA500 Doug Person wrote: Maybe this time they used all the input from the previous [amp] attempt to refine the price point and feature set And when the KPA-500 is released, it will be based on tons of feedback. Couldn't have said it better myself :) 73, Wayne N6KR __ 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] KPA-500 Features and Pricing
Graham, I have an ACOM 1000 also, and I like it a lot. I have developed a way to beat the problem of missing a QSO because of the warm up time. I turn the ACOM on when I first come into the shack :-P 73, Mike NF4L On 9/10/2010 8:53 AM, Graham Kimbell G3TCT wrote: I currently use an Acom 1000 amp on 80 and 6m and a homebrew semiconductor amp (160W o/p) on 4m. The features I really like about solid state amps is their efficiency (50-60%), and zero warm up time. I often find on 6m that I can hear interesting but very weak dx that needs the amp, but I have to wait nearly 3 minutes for it to warm up, by which time the dx may have disappeared. By contrast the solid state PA takes no current on standby and is available instantly. My 2p worth Graham __ 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] KPA500
There is the little matter of Part 97, Section 97.317, which limits amplifiers to 15 dB gain (10 watts in - 316 watts out). After all, the FCC still needs to protect us from all those CB'ers (does anyone even use CB anymore?) Bob, N7XY On Sep 9, 2010, at 9:10 PM, Phil Townsend wrote: So I got me a ten watt k3... I like it... It is very good. It works. And I'm thinking of a KPA500. But to run the KPA500 I gotta get the 100 watt add-on first. Hu Is that a deal breaker? Might be. If I don't get the hundred water then I can't get fully output.!.?-¥xxx So the true cost of the kPA500 is way more... For me with just ten watts. I really only want ten watts. But when I feel the need, the need for speed (yeah I had to say it) I would like to hit the big lever marked kill and blast them out of their socks. Can't hear me OM?? He switches the amp to kill How's ur copy now om? The screenplay is in my head... Among other things. I would like to be able to upgrade with out the interim 100 watter. Yeah, I know, i won't work but I can ask those guys who sweat solder and cash flow and you never know they just might be able to do it. To me the K2 was a total mind melt...and the K3 is beyond my wildest dreams. Quite an upgrade from the old Heathkits I used to build... No disrespect meant the hotwaters and Indians that may be still lurking. __ 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] Some Important List Guidelines [ PLEASE READ ]
I'd like to focus on several important core items. These are absolute guidelines for list behavior. The Elecraft list is provided as a service to our customers and other hams, and to provide Wayne, myself and other Elecraft employees with direct feedback from you on technical, operational and market issues surrounding our products. While discussion centers on Elecraft products, other ham radio related topics are OK. But please keep the number of OT posts within reason. 1. Please be polite and non-confrontational in ALL postings to the Elecraft list. Vibrant discussions are OK, but please treat each posting you send as if you were talking respectfully to a good friend. It is never appropriate to personally criticize another list member. And never directly criticize someone for asking a 'dumb' question. There are no dumb questions. We are here to learn and share. We can only get there by asking questions freely, without repercussions. 1a. Corollary to #1: If you feel upset and dash off a quick overheated reply to a posting, pause and wait overnight before hitting send. The clarity of a little sleep and delay usually consigns your posting to the trash bin instead. 1b. If you have exclamation points '!' , sharp retorts, rude statements, personal criticisms etc. in your email text or subject line, that is a red flag indicating you should probably delete that posting before sending it. 1c. It is not necessary to defend Elecraft, our products, or our honor here. We're pretty tough and and can take most critical postings in stride. Eleven years in the Ham Radio business does that to you ;-) 2. Once a thread has hit 10-15 postings and there is little new information being added, please treat it as complete and ended. (Less than this for OT postings.) Especially avoid voting pro/con on any topic or making 'me too' postings. We're pretty darn busy running the company each day and do not read the list every hour to moderate it. 3. If you see a posting that appears to be too harsh or confrontational, resist the temptation to reply to it. Period. In many cases the poster is already sorry they hit send (I've done that a few times..) and wishes they could retrieve and delete it. Making additional postings in reply only adds heat to the fire and no substance. If you really need to say something about it, send your email to me as list moderator and head playground monitor. 4. Remember that -everything- you post here is archived and publicly visible for as long as the internet exists. Do you really want your friends, employers, kids etc. reading what you just posted in anger, foolishness, arrogance etc? 5. Most importantly - please remember that for list members, this is a -hobby-. We are all here to have fun and to learn from each other. It is not a life or death profession and nothing, I repeat -nothing- posted here is important enough here for you to get upset or argue endlessly about. If something bothers you, turn off the computer and turn on your radio. That usually fixes everything.. Wayne and I really appreciate your suggestions, complaints, enthusiasm and the overall vibrancy of the list. It provides us with a central, focused feedback path from you that we feel is indispensable to our success. And its occasionally entertaining too :-) 73, Eric WA6HHQ List moderator www.elecraft.com _..._ __ 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] KPA500
Lew, Except for issues related to physical size, most of your rationale for not producing a 2KW amp seems equally applicable to a 500W amp. The K3, from a marketing perspective, played into a vacant market niche.The Japanese companies had focused on low-end, how cheap can we make it radios or over-priced bloated barges for the money is no object crowd. There is still nothing out there that is competitive with the K3 on a price/performance basis. The amp market on the other hand doesn't seem to have any vacant niches, MFJ has the low end and mid-range covered and there are a herd of companies duking it out over the high end market. There also doesn't seem to be much technical performance differentiation between the low, mid, and high end amps on the market today. The dollars/watt number for any particular brand seems to be mostly driven by how fancy a box the amp is packaged in. So, I'm thinking that if Elecraft is determined to get into the amp market the KPA500 will hit most of the product differentiators available. It matches the K3 appearance and size, maintains the high portability factor, and can claim some technical innovation for the built-in PS. Considering that the principal product differentiators are only germane to K3 owners maybe the intended market is primarily existing K3 owners, rather than the general amp market.No doubt that will be where the Lion's share of the sales go in any case. Maybe the next Elecraft amp will be something more powerful with an external PS but still in the K3 box, that would be interesting. 73 Jack KZ5A On 9/10/2010 8:57 AM, Lew Phelps K6LMP wrote: I think some of the folks who are calling for gigawatt amplifiers (ok, full legal limit...) are losing focus on one key fact: Elecraft has prospered by making products that SOME hams want that NOBODY else makes. The K3 is a perfect example: an exquisite transceiver, quite arguably the best available at any price if you're not a fan of big boxes with big buttons. It's portable, can be expanded incrementally with modules to meet any operator's specific needs, and it's 'way up in the upper right hand corner of the value scatter graph (price on one axis, performance on the other). So, what could Elecraft bring to the 2KW amplifier market that would (a) differentiate it from the others and (b)stay within the general confines of the K3 style, which means compact, efficient, modular expandability, and (probably) fit within the K3 form factor. You cannot build a 2KW amplifier that meets those criteria. Modular? Yes; you could make the power supply and an auto-tuner modular add-ons. Efficient? Yes. Compact? No. K3 form factor? Not a chance. For example, the Alpha 2KW amplifier measures 17.5w x 78.5h x 19.75d. It weighs well over 50 lbs. It costs $5000. There is no way to build a large-output amp that will fit within the K3 form factor. the physical size of components needed to handle that power makes it impossible. So, some on this list essentially are asking Elecraft to step outside its well-defined and highly successful approach to the market and build a me too legal limit amplifier that Elecraft could not meaningfully distinguish from the competition, except for the nameplate. Amplifiers are not that complex, compared to the K3. That lack of complexity is exactly why this is not a market in which Elecraft could compete successfully. There's no way to meaningfully differentiate its 2KW amp from others, except for the nameplate. Yes, they would include their superb customer support as a product feature. But I don't think they could bring enough differentiation from the Alpha, Tokyo Hygain, and other high end amplifiers already on the market to break into that market at a volume that would support design and production costs. The folks in Aptos DO understand the market. They are listening, and watching this dialogue. We can keep that process productive by not asking Elecraft to come out with a product that breaks the laws of physics. It's a small company, with limited design resources. Let's all encourage them to focus on new products that realistically fit within the Elecraft market niche. my 3 cents worth (inflation, you know...) Lew K6LMP On Sep 9, 2010, at 10:33 PM, Wes Stewart wrote: Right, 500W is hardly worthwhile. Make it at least 2KW PEP. Got to make up for the tuner and coax losses and to live on RTTY. --- On Thu, 9/9/10, Gregn...@cableone.net wrote: Free market feedback...bring back the 1500 watt amp! 73 de Greg-N4CC __ 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] KPA-500 Features and Pricing
Mike, That's the way I handle my Alpha 8410's waiting period to come on, I just let her idle while I tune around, hi. As for the KPA-500, perhaps this is a module, and Elecraft will devise a means of combining 2 of them, so we can put one on each side and still be a balanced, 1kw+, good looking station (wink, wink), hi. 73, Don, WB5HAK __ 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] KPA500
Jack, The amp market on the other hand doesn't seem to have any vacant niches, MFJ has the low end and mid-range covered and there are a herd of companies duking it out over the high end market. The one vacant market niche - and one Elecraft appear to have avoided - is the US Legal Limit solid state segment. There are literally dozens of 500 - 600 watt solid state amps and several good products at the 1000 W PEP level but there is nothing that covers 160 - 6 at 1500 W CW/RTTY. I suppose that begs the question whether there is a market for such an amplifier considering that the $/W tend to be higher for solid state amplifiers than tube amplifiers of comparable power levels. I have my feelings but since it isn't my RD or marketing dollars on the line, they're not particularly important. 73, ... Joe, W4TV On 9/10/2010 11:57 AM, Jack Brabham wrote: Lew, Except for issues related to physical size, most of your rationale for not producing a 2KW amp seems equally applicable to a 500W amp. The K3, from a marketing perspective, played into a vacant market niche.The Japanese companies had focused on low-end, how cheap can we make it radios or over-priced bloated barges for the money is no object crowd. There is still nothing out there that is competitive with the K3 on a price/performance basis. The amp market on the other hand doesn't seem to have any vacant niches, MFJ has the low end and mid-range covered and there are a herd of companies duking it out over the high end market. There also doesn't seem to be much technical performance differentiation between the low, mid, and high end amps on the market today. The dollars/watt number for any particular brand seems to be mostly driven by how fancy a box the amp is packaged in. So, I'm thinking that if Elecraft is determined to get into the amp market the KPA500 will hit most of the product differentiators available. It matches the K3 appearance and size, maintains the high portability factor, and can claim some technical innovation for the built-in PS. Considering that the principal product differentiators are only germane to K3 owners maybe the intended market is primarily existing K3 owners, rather than the general amp market.No doubt that will be where the Lion's share of the sales go in any case. Maybe the next Elecraft amp will be something more powerful with an external PS but still in the K3 box, that would be interesting. 73 Jack KZ5A On 9/10/2010 8:57 AM, Lew Phelps K6LMP wrote: I think some of the folks who are calling for gigawatt amplifiers (ok, full legal limit...) are losing focus on one key fact: Elecraft has prospered by making products that SOME hams want that NOBODY else makes. The K3 is a perfect example: an exquisite transceiver, quite arguably the best available at any price if you're not a fan of big boxes with big buttons. It's portable, can be expanded incrementally with modules to meet any operator's specific needs, and it's 'way up in the upper right hand corner of the value scatter graph (price on one axis, performance on the other). So, what could Elecraft bring to the 2KW amplifier market that would (a) differentiate it from the others and (b)stay within the general confines of the K3 style, which means compact, efficient, modular expandability, and (probably) fit within the K3 form factor. You cannot build a 2KW amplifier that meets those criteria. Modular? Yes; you could make the power supply and an auto-tuner modular add-ons. Efficient? Yes. Compact? No. K3 form factor? Not a chance. For example, the Alpha 2KW amplifier measures 17.5w x 78.5h x 19.75d. It weighs well over 50 lbs. It costs $5000. There is no way to build a large-output amp that will fit within the K3 form factor. the physical size of components needed to handle that power makes it impossible. So, some on this list essentially are asking Elecraft to step outside its well-defined and highly successful approach to the market and build a me too legal limit amplifier that Elecraft could not meaningfully distinguish from the competition, except for the nameplate. Amplifiers are not that complex, compared to the K3. That lack of complexity is exactly why this is not a market in which Elecraft could compete successfully. There's no way to meaningfully differentiate its 2KW amp from others, except for the nameplate. Yes, they would include their superb customer support as a product feature. But I don't think they could bring enough differentiation from the Alpha, Tokyo Hygain, and other high end amplifiers already on the market to break into that market at a volume that would support design and production costs. The folks in Aptos DO understand the market. They are listening, and watching this dialogue. We can keep that process productive by not asking Elecraft to come out with a product that breaks the laws of physics.
Re: [Elecraft] KPA500
I couldn't agree more!! I just bought a new ACOM 2000A because the KPA-1500 was not going to be built any time soon. I didn't want to spend that much on a non-Elecraft product, but I'm extremely happy with my purchase. The QSK and automatic tune up are top notch. I am confident Elecraft can build an equally satisfying 1500 watt amp. Wayne, us gray haired guys are spending a few bucks on toys to use during retirement and I've got one more amp slot to fill in my SO2R desk. ;-) Bob K5WA Message: 8 Date: Thu, 9 Sep 2010 21:30:53 -0600 From: Greg n...@cableone.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KPA500 To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Message-ID: 001601cb5098$93238220$b96a86...@cableone.net Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Free market feedback...bring back the 1500 watt amp! 73 de Greg-N4CC __ 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] KPA500
The only SS amp I know of to fulfill the HF+6 US legal limit requirement is the forthcoming SPE 2K-FA. I don't believe FCC certification is yet complete, but according to SPE, availability is the second half of 2010 to the rest of the world. SPE's literature places a target price of EUR 4,650, or USD $6,050 as of today's exchange rate. Having owned several high-end VT amps as well as the SPE-1K SS amp, I likely will not own another SS amp until: (1) IMD performance improves to be on-par with the best VT amps (although SPE appears to be one of the better low-IMD amps); (2) output power remains absolutely stable with PA temperature; (3) more advanced, low noise cooling methods are developed; and (4) better design attention paid to the QSK system. Paul, W9AC - Original Message - From: Joe Subich, W4TV li...@subich.com To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Friday, September 10, 2010 12:15 PM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KPA500 Jack, The amp market on the other hand doesn't seem to have any vacant niches, MFJ has the low end and mid-range covered and there are a herd of companies duking it out over the high end market. The one vacant market niche - and one Elecraft appear to have avoided - is the US Legal Limit solid state segment. There are literally dozens of 500 - 600 watt solid state amps and several good products at the 1000 W PEP level but there is nothing that covers 160 - 6 at 1500 W CW/RTTY. I suppose that begs the question whether there is a market for such an amplifier considering that the $/W tend to be higher for solid state amplifiers than tube amplifiers of comparable power levels. I have my feelings but since it isn't my RD or marketing dollars on the line, they're not particularly important. 73, ... Joe, W4TV On 9/10/2010 11:57 AM, Jack Brabham wrote: Lew, Except for issues related to physical size, most of your rationale for not producing a 2KW amp seems equally applicable to a 500W amp. The K3, from a marketing perspective, played into a vacant market niche.The Japanese companies had focused on low-end, how cheap can we make it radios or over-priced bloated barges for the money is no object crowd. There is still nothing out there that is competitive with the K3 on a price/performance basis. The amp market on the other hand doesn't seem to have any vacant niches, MFJ has the low end and mid-range covered and there are a herd of companies duking it out over the high end market. There also doesn't seem to be much technical performance differentiation between the low, mid, and high end amps on the market today. The dollars/watt number for any particular brand seems to be mostly driven by how fancy a box the amp is packaged in. So, I'm thinking that if Elecraft is determined to get into the amp market the KPA500 will hit most of the product differentiators available. It matches the K3 appearance and size, maintains the high portability factor, and can claim some technical innovation for the built-in PS. Considering that the principal product differentiators are only germane to K3 owners maybe the intended market is primarily existing K3 owners, rather than the general amp market.No doubt that will be where the Lion's share of the sales go in any case. Maybe the next Elecraft amp will be something more powerful with an external PS but still in the K3 box, that would be interesting. 73 Jack KZ5A On 9/10/2010 8:57 AM, Lew Phelps K6LMP wrote: I think some of the folks who are calling for gigawatt amplifiers (ok, full legal limit...) are losing focus on one key fact: Elecraft has prospered by making products that SOME hams want that NOBODY else makes. The K3 is a perfect example: an exquisite transceiver, quite arguably the best available at any price if you're not a fan of big boxes with big buttons. It's portable, can be expanded incrementally with modules to meet any operator's specific needs, and it's 'way up in the upper right hand corner of the value scatter graph (price on one axis, performance on the other). So, what could Elecraft bring to the 2KW amplifier market that would (a) differentiate it from the others and (b)stay within the general confines of the K3 style, which means compact, efficient, modular expandability, and (probably) fit within the K3 form factor. You cannot build a 2KW amplifier that meets those criteria. Modular? Yes; you could make the power supply and an auto-tuner modular add-ons. Efficient? Yes. Compact? No. K3 form factor? Not a chance. For example, the Alpha 2KW amplifier measures 17.5w x 78.5h x 19.75d. It weighs well over 50 lbs. It costs $5000. There is no way to build a large-output amp that will fit within the K3 form factor. the physical size of components needed to handle that power makes it impossible. So, some on this list essentially are asking Elecraft to step outside its well-defined and
Re: [Elecraft] KPA500
After all the market research, it comes down to intuition. Eric and I asked a simple question. How cool would be it be if we could pack 500 watts+ and a ultra-low-noise linear supply into an enclosure the same size as the K3? The answer was obvious to us as well as to our focus group. We knew it wouldn't be easy, but our talented engineering team-- many of them serious DXers and contesters--jumped at the opportunity. We think it's an amazing little amp, and we hope some of you will, too. 73, Wayne N6KR __ 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] KPA500 thread
And often entertaining! Rich NU6T On 9/9/2010 6:43 PM, Ken Kopp wrote: It's a form of market research ... interesting and educational for some, too. (:-) 73! Ken - K0PP __ 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 -- Rich NU6T __ 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] KPA500: Integration with K3
On Fri, Sep 10, 2010 at 11:43 AM, Bob Nielsen n...@clearwire.net wrote: There is the little matter of Part 97, Section 97.317, which limits amplifiers to 15 dB gain (10 watts in - 316 watts out). Ourselves as individuals, we can build for ourselves (or modify) an amp to other gain figures. Amazing what one can do with a pair of 4X150's in this same app. There was a period where SSB exciters were 10 and 20 watts, followed by tetrode and pentode amps that easily put out 600 or 700w PEP (I know, I know, only real old old farts know about those). Without a schematic, it is hard to tell, but 17 dB (10 watts in makes ~500 watts out) is still way less than the 23 db natural gain of the transistors. It is probable that the 15 dB is using some degree of feedback that most likely can be mildly modified by the owner to 17 dB to make a natural pair of shoes for a 10W K3 or K2. Wayne of course is precluding from offering that as an option or modification kit. But he doesn't have to preclude it with a Microsoft style licensing agreement forbidding modification, either. Thinking in that vein One thing that would be quite nice: The external KPA100 and K2 share an auxbus, and the K2 knows when it is attached and ready, the power adjustment display in the K2 tells what is available, and if the power knob is dialed down to a barefoot power level, the KPA100 drops out and indicates low power range, or dials up above some wattage, kicking in the amp up to 100. IF the KPA500 would only extend to 500 watts with 10 watts drive in an Auxbus linked mode aka external KPA100, does that not satisfy the FCC requirement in the same fashion the KAT100 only runs with the K2?. And of course the K3 PWR control would now scroll from 1 watt to 500 watts, kicking in the KPA500 as needed. I think for a lot of people, that would allow them to ignore the K3 100w amp and go directly to the KPA500 and yet to be anounced matching Auto tuner. AND use that cavernous space vacated by the KPA3 and KAT3 for stuff like a built-in power supply designed for hams and zero RFI. Or simply have a mild variation of the KPA500/autotuner combo that simply only runs integrated to a K3/10 or K2/10. Or one could have a combined KPA500/KAT500 integration/K3 power supply module that goes in the KPA3/KAT3 space which includes an always used robust 17 watt boost amp and isolation stage which drives the KPA500 as is, and when that's installed the K3 PWR display scrolls from 1 to 500. Brick on Key. Same deal for the 1.5 kW version. Of course, the FCC could always accuse us of only wanting 500 watts as a driver for a 3CX1A7 and clamp down, makes as much sense as the CB thing. They can use it that way in Italy as an export model (I've already told you about I9xxx who is an honest to god 40-45 over S9 on 40 with a calibrated K3 S-meter, right?) Just thinking out loud. 73, Guy. __ 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] KPA500
I am in the same boat as it were, having bought the K3/10. If I were considering the KPA500 then I would be looking for 40-50w driver for it. That is a 6-dB amp driven by 12w from the K3/10. That ought to be simple to make. So will K3 roll out one? Or an entrepreneur ham come up with one? Price ought to be in $125-150 bracket since no filtering is needed if used with the following KPA500. I chose another path and bought the 300w EB-27A CCI amp that requires 18w for full output. MY total costs will be $500 and I probably could make them for resale at $550. Stay tuned on that later comment ;-) I haven't built the EB-27A, yet, but will have results on my website when it is done later this fall/winter. 73, Ed - KL7UW -- Message: 10 Date: Thu, 09 Sep 2010 22:10:48 -0600 From: Phil Townsend phi...@mac.com Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KPA500 To: Greg n...@cableone.net Cc: elecraft@mailman.qth.net elecraft@mailman.qth.net Message-ID: 7cccf520-efce-4006-841c-36cb6c592...@mac.com Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8 So I got me a ten watt k3... I like it... It is very good. It works. And I'm thinking of a KPA500. But to run the KPA500 I gotta get the 100 watt add-on first. Hu Is that a deal breaker? Might be. If I don't get the hundred water then I can't get fully output.!.?-?xxx So the true cost of the kPA500 is way more... For me with just ten watts. I really only want ten watts. But when I feel the need, the need for speed (yeah I had to say it) I would like to hit the big lever marked kill and blast them out of their socks. I would like to be able to upgrade with out the interim 100 watter. Yeah, I know, i won't work but I can ask those guys who sweat solder and cash flow and you never know they just might be able to do it. To me the K2 was a total mind melt...and the K3 is beyond my wildest dreams. Quite an upgrade from the old Heathkits I used to build... No disrespect meant the hotwaters and Indians that may be still lurking. Phil Santa Fe 73, Ed - KL7UW, WD2XSH/45 == BP40IQ 500 KHz - 10-GHz www.kl7uw.com EME: 144-QRT*, 432-100w, 1296-QRT*, 3400-fall 2010 DUBUS Magazine USA Rep dubus...@hotmail.com == *temp __ 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] KREF3 External Reference Option
I agree with you, Nige. Jerry AI6L -Original Message- From: Nige [mailto:ni...@hotmail.com] Sent: Thursday, September 09, 2010 2:40 AM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KREF3 External Reference Option I appreciate everyone's enthusiasm to convince me and was warmed by an off-list message from Wayne but as I explained to Wayne, my Flex is accurate to less than 0.03 Hz @ 50 MHz and the suggested specification for the KREF3 is about 1Hz @ 20 MHz. That is an order of magnitude away from what I consider acceptable when driven by a Reference to 10e-14/H. I'll keep watching the evolution of this in case the boys at Ele can work their magic. All the best, Nige. -- __ 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] KPA500
Try a 17 watt shoe combined with an internal power supply in place of the KAT3/KPA3. 73, Guy On Fri, Sep 10, 2010 at 12:59 PM, Edward R. Cole kl...@acsalaska.net wrote: I am in the same boat as it were, having bought the K3/10. If I were considering the KPA500 then I would be looking for 40-50w driver for it. That is a 6-dB amp driven by 12w from the K3/10. That ought to be simple to make. So will K3 roll out one? Or an entrepreneur ham come up with one? Price ought to be in $125-150 bracket since no filtering is needed if used with the following KPA500. I chose another path and bought the 300w EB-27A CCI amp that requires 18w for full output. MY total costs will be $500 and I probably could make them for resale at $550. Stay tuned on that later comment ;-) I haven't built the EB-27A, yet, but will have results on my website when it is done later this fall/winter. 73, Ed - KL7UW -- Message: 10 Date: Thu, 09 Sep 2010 22:10:48 -0600 From: Phil Townsend phi...@mac.com Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KPA500 To: Greg n...@cableone.net Cc: elecraft@mailman.qth.net elecraft@mailman.qth.net Message-ID: 7cccf520-efce-4006-841c-36cb6c592...@mac.com Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8 So I got me a ten watt k3... I like it... It is very good. It works. And I'm thinking of a KPA500. But to run the KPA500 I gotta get the 100 watt add-on first. Hu Is that a deal breaker? Might be. If I don't get the hundred water then I can't get fully output.!.?-?xxx So the true cost of the kPA500 is way more... For me with just ten watts. I really only want ten watts. But when I feel the need, the need for speed (yeah I had to say it) I would like to hit the big lever marked kill and blast them out of their socks. I would like to be able to upgrade with out the interim 100 watter. Yeah, I know, i won't work but I can ask those guys who sweat solder and cash flow and you never know they just might be able to do it. To me the K2 was a total mind melt...and the K3 is beyond my wildest dreams. Quite an upgrade from the old Heathkits I used to build... No disrespect meant the hotwaters and Indians that may be still lurking. Phil Santa Fe 73, Ed - KL7UW, WD2XSH/45 == BP40IQ 500 KHz - 10-GHz www.kl7uw.com EME: 144-QRT*, 432-100w, 1296-QRT*, 3400-fall 2010 DUBUS Magazine USA Rep dubus...@hotmail.com == *temp __ 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] KREF3 External Reference Option
I agree Jerry I'll keep watching and waiting before I'll buy. Sam kf4yox -- From: Jerry T. Dowell a...@sbcglobal.net Sent: Friday, September 10, 2010 12:55 PM To: 'Nige' ni...@hotmail.com; elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KREF3 External Reference Option I agree with you, Nige. Jerry AI6L -Original Message- From: Nige [mailto:ni...@hotmail.com] Sent: Thursday, September 09, 2010 2:40 AM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KREF3 External Reference Option I appreciate everyone's enthusiasm to convince me and was warmed by an off-list message from Wayne but as I explained to Wayne, my Flex is accurate to less than 0.03 Hz @ 50 MHz and the suggested specification for the KREF3 is about 1Hz @ 20 MHz. That is an order of magnitude away from what I consider acceptable when driven by a Reference to 10e-14/H. I'll keep watching the evolution of this in case the boys at Ele can work their magic. All the best, Nige. -- __ 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] KPA 500
Hello All: I guess I'll throw my 2 cents worth in the pot. I have been waiting for a QRO amplifier from Elecraft for some time now. I've truly enjoyed all my Elecraft products which include four radios. The build of the K2/100 was the richest experience and I learned a very great deal. The QRO amplifier was talked about and a prototype was displayed many years ago now. I finally decided to put to use my 20 year old Kenwood TL-922A amplifier. The problem was that it required a buffer between the newer radios and this amp, it was a noise maker with its heavy relay, and had problems with flash over most likely due to VHF parasitics. There is a great deal of information on upgrading this finely built amplifier on the internet and I finally took the plunge to do the modifications. It took a couple months to gather up items needed and do the mods but it now has an electronic cathode bias circuit, full QSK using the little Gigavac GH1 vacuum relay, a step start circuit using that big noisy relay (it only snaps shut once now!), no ALC circuitry, modified VHF parasitic suppression, and I can drive it equally well with my Drake T4XB or my K3. The project was fun, I learned a very great deal, and the result was excellent. No more flash-overs and clean output. And the old girls, the 3-500Z's, are still shining well. The one thing that is missing is 6M amplification. This is where the new Elecraft KPA-500 will do well. I believe the new 6M Alpha (RF Concepts) amp will cost more than the KPA-500 but it will give you 1500 watts - easy. The new solid state technology with light-weight power supplies is certainly the way of the future and the small matching Elecraft footprint is a definite plus especially for DXpeditions. Will I buy one ? It depends. It will be very hard to part with my modified TL-922 since it is now 'personalized'. And with the experience and knowledge gained from that process, I may decide to build a 6M amplifier to round it all out. Now if Elecraft were to come out with a KPA-500-6M 6M only amp . J 73, Jamie WB4YDL === Email scanned by PC Tools - No viruses or spyware found. (Email Guard: 7.0.0.18, Virus/Spyware Database: 6.15850) http://www.pctools.com/ === __ 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] KPA500
wayne burdick wrote: We think it's an amazing little amp, and we hope some of you will, too. 73, Wayne N6KR I have a K3/100 and a P3 and use a Ten Tec Centaur amp. The setup works well and is forgiving of my goofs. I see the KPA500 as an interesting concept and would seriously consider replacing the Centaur. I suspect that the KPA500 will grow in the future to a KPA1500 based upon the advancements in PA transistors. One thing I know for sure is that whatever Wayne puts on the market will be a good value for the $. I would like to see a power supply to power all the K3/P3/KPA500/etc. in one box. That would make the deal sweeter and enable me to get one more box out from under my desk. Also could we think about a 70cm option for the the 2M module. The satellites are calling. 73, Dan AB3EN - Dan AB3EN -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/KPA500-tp5516919p5519252.html Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com. __ 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] Elecraft - Ethic, Esthetic and Experience
I'd like to offer that my favored types of operation do not fit what are seemingly the foci of many of the participants that seem to constitute the Elecraft fan base. I am not a DXer, Contester, QRPer, CW or Keyboard Operator. In short, I am a nearly 100% SSB HF, Rag-Chew operator. December of this year will mark my 30th year as an amateur radio operator, though my exposure to the hobby began about 1960. The efforts of Elecraft are not wasted on me. For me the participating in Elecrafting involves no less than the following interrelated concepts. Ethic - The principles that form the base of Elecrafting include, Hands On Radio, community input in the development stage, and responsive support. Esthetic - My Houghton Miffin eReference offers the following definition for Elegance: Restraint and grace of style. What I know of Elecraft meets that definition quite precisely. Experience - For those that choose to participate in the Elecraft Experience, there is much more offered than absolute measurements can display. Dollars per Watt, bottom dollar, decibel measurements, point tallies and such are but a very few quantities with which to evaluate the overall Experience. Overemphasizing them may cause some to at times overlook other rich qualities of the Experience. While Elecraft shines very well in many, if not most aspects which can be measured and quantified, The Whole is More than the Sum of the Parts. Elecraft products and the Elecraft Experience are much more than the hardware and the various measurements, be those technical or of currency. Are there possible quantifications or collections thereof by which Elecraft might fall short of some other manufacturer..? Too much energy to either the left or the right of the decimal point can sometimes be just that. 73, Dick - KA5KKT __ 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] Elecraft - Ethic, Esthetic and Experience
Thank you for putting your post in OUR language. I've been licensed for 61 years and operate mostly SSB and occasionally DX if in the mood. I've owned almost every radio over the years except the 7800 and 9000. No interest in those bloated boxes. I came from a Flex 5000 to the K3 and haven't looked back in 3 years. I am so satisfied with the operation and Elecraft as a whole. About to order the P3 and will order the KPA500 when available. When that happens I will sell my THP 1.2 K and perhaps LP-Pan which I love because of being partially SDR. Wish someone would develop a complete SDR package for the K3. Actually learned to like SDR better than knobs for simplicity and fun. I also use 62 meters with large beams at 80 ft. I smiled at your email because some times, I don't understand what all the chatter is about but wish I did but that doesn't stop me from being completely satisfied with my K3. Phil Philip LaMarche LaMarche Enterprises, Inc p...@lamarcheenterprises.com www.LaMarcheEnterprises.com 727-944-3226 727-937-8834 Fax 727-510-5038 Cell www.w9dvm.com K3 #1605 CCA 98-00827 CRA 1701 W9DVM -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Edward Dickinson, III Sent: Friday, September 10, 2010 3:04 PM To: Elecraft Reflector Subject: [Elecraft] Elecraft - Ethic, Esthetic and Experience I'd like to offer that my favored types of operation do not fit what are seemingly the foci of many of the participants that seem to constitute the Elecraft fan base. I am not a DXer, Contester, QRPer, CW or Keyboard Operator. In short, I am a nearly 100% SSB HF, Rag-Chew operator. December of this year will mark my 30th year as an amateur radio operator, though my exposure to the hobby began about 1960. The efforts of Elecraft are not wasted on me. For me the participating in Elecrafting involves no less than the following interrelated concepts. Ethic - The principles that form the base of Elecrafting include, Hands On Radio, community input in the development stage, and responsive support. Esthetic - My Houghton Miffin eReference offers the following definition for Elegance: Restraint and grace of style. What I know of Elecraft meets that definition quite precisely. Experience - For those that choose to participate in the Elecraft Experience, there is much more offered than absolute measurements can display. Dollars per Watt, bottom dollar, decibel measurements, point tallies and such are but a very few quantities with which to evaluate the overall Experience. Overemphasizing them may cause some to at times overlook other rich qualities of the Experience. While Elecraft shines very well in many, if not most aspects which can be measured and quantified, The Whole is More than the Sum of the Parts. Elecraft products and the Elecraft Experience are much more than the hardware and the various measurements, be those technical or of currency. Are there possible quantifications or collections thereof by which Elecraft might fall short of some other manufacturer..? Too much energy to either the left or the right of the decimal point can sometimes be just that. 73, Dick - KA5KKT __ 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] KPA500
Joe, Why not stack 4 KPA500's and use a combiner!!! 73 Tony Fegan VE3QF On Fri-10-Sep-10 12:15 PM, Joe Subich, W4TV wrote: Snip: The one vacant market niche - and one Elecraft appear to have avoided - is the US Legal Limit solid state segment. There are literally dozens of 500 - 600 watt solid state amps and several good products at the 1000 W PEP level but there is nothing that covers 160 - 6 at 1500 W CW/RTTY. 73, ... Joe, W4TV On 9/10/2010 11:57 AM, Jack Brabham wrote: Lew, Except for issues related to physical size, most of your rationale for not producing a 2KW amp seems equally applicable to a 500W amp. The K3, from a marketing perspective, played into a vacant market niche.The Japanese companies had focused on low-end, how cheap can we make it radios or over-priced bloated barges for the money is no object crowd. There is still nothing out there that is competitive with the K3 on a price/performance basis. The amp market on the other hand doesn't seem to have any vacant niches, MFJ has the low end and mid-range covered and there are a herd of companies duking it out over the high end market. There also doesn't seem to be much technical performance differentiation between the low, mid, and high end amps on the market today. The dollars/watt number for any particular brand seems to be mostly driven by how fancy a box the amp is packaged in. So, I'm thinking that if Elecraft is determined to get into the amp market the KPA500 will hit most of the product differentiators available. It matches the K3 appearance and size, maintains the high portability factor, and can claim some technical innovation for the built-in PS. Considering that the principal product differentiators are only germane to K3 owners maybe the intended market is primarily existing K3 owners, rather than the general amp market.No doubt that will be where the Lion's share of the sales go in any case. Maybe the next Elecraft amp will be something more powerful with an external PS but still in the K3 box, that would be interesting. 73 Jack KZ5A On 9/10/2010 8:57 AM, Lew Phelps K6LMP wrote: I think some of the folks who are calling for gigawatt amplifiers (ok, full legal limit...) are losing focus on one key fact: Elecraft has prospered by making products that SOME hams want that NOBODY else makes. The K3 is a perfect example: an exquisite transceiver, quite arguably the best available at any price if you're not a fan of big boxes with big buttons. It's portable, can be expanded incrementally with modules to meet any operator's specific needs, and it's 'way up in the upper right hand corner of the value scatter graph (price on one axis, performance on the other). So, what could Elecraft bring to the 2KW amplifier market that would (a) differentiate it from the others and (b)stay within the general confines of the K3 style, which means compact, efficient, modular expandability, and (probably) fit within the K3 form factor. You cannot build a 2KW amplifier that meets those criteria. Modular? Yes; you could make the power supply and an auto-tuner modular add-ons. Efficient? Yes. Compact? No. K3 form factor? Not a chance. For example, the Alpha 2KW amplifier measures 17.5w x 78.5h x 19.75d. It weighs well over 50 lbs. It costs $5000. There is no way to build a large-output amp that will fit within the K3 form factor. the physical size of components needed to handle that power makes it impossible. So, some on this list essentially are asking Elecraft to step outside its well-defined and highly successful approach to the market and build a me too legal limit amplifier that Elecraft could not meaningfully distinguish from the competition, except for the nameplate. Amplifiers are not that complex, compared to the K3. That lack of complexity is exactly why this is not a market in which Elecraft could compete successfully. There's no way to meaningfully differentiate its 2KW amp from others, except for the nameplate. Yes, they would include their superb customer support as a product feature. But I don't think they could bring enough differentiation from the Alpha, Tokyo Hygain, and other high end amplifiers already on the market to break into that market at a volume that would support design and production costs. The folks in Aptos DO understand the market. They are listening, and watching this dialogue. We can keep that process productive by not asking Elecraft to come out with a product that breaks the laws of physics. It's a small company, with limited design resources. Let's all encourage them to focus on new products that realistically fit within the Elecraft market niche. my 3 cents worth (inflation, you know...) Lew K6LMP On Sep 9, 2010, at 10:33 PM, Wes Stewart wrote: Right, 500W is hardly worthwhile. Make it at least 2KW PEP. Got to make up for the
Re: [Elecraft] KPA500 [END OF THREAD]
Let's end this thread for now. The number of posts onthe topic have clearly exceeded the normal list limit. We appreciate the feedback and will post more info on the AMP as it gets closer to release. 73, Eric Elecraft List Moderator www.elecraft.com _..._ __ 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] Elecraft - Ethic, Esthetic and Experience
Edward Dickinson, III wrote: I'd like to offer that my favored types of operation do not fit what are seemingly the foci of many of the participants that seem to constitute the Elecraft fan base. I am not a DXer, Contester, QRPer, CW or Keyboard Operator. In short, I am a nearly 100% SSB HF, Rag-Chew operator. December of this year will mark my 30th year as an amateur radio operator, though my exposure to the hobby began about 1960. The efforts of Elecraft are not wasted on me. Neither are they wasted on the DXers, Contesters, QRPers, CW or Keyboard Operators! The problem for Elecraft (and for this list) is that 4000+ owners have 5000+ different answers to the question: Which K3 is Yours? -- 73 from Ian GM3SEK http://www.ifwtech.co.uk/g3sek __ 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] KPA500
Why not stack 4 KPA500's and use a combiner!!! Why accept the cost of four separate control systems, four sets of lowpass filters, four separate power supplies and four cases? 73, ... Joe, W4TV On 9/10/2010 3:22 PM, Tony Fegan VE3QF wrote: Joe, Why not stack 4 KPA500's and use a combiner!!! 73 Tony Fegan VE3QF On Fri-10-Sep-10 12:15 PM, Joe Subich, W4TV wrote: Snip: The one vacant market niche - and one Elecraft appear to have avoided - is the US Legal Limit solid state segment. There are literally dozens of 500 - 600 watt solid state amps and several good products at the 1000 W PEP level but there is nothing that covers 160 - 6 at 1500 W CW/RTTY. 73, ... Joe, W4TV On 9/10/2010 11:57 AM, Jack Brabham wrote: Lew, Except for issues related to physical size, most of your rationale for not producing a 2KW amp seems equally applicable to a 500W amp. The K3, from a marketing perspective, played into a vacant market niche.The Japanese companies had focused on low-end, how cheap can we make it radios or over-priced bloated barges for the money is no object crowd. There is still nothing out there that is competitive with the K3 on a price/performance basis. The amp market on the other hand doesn't seem to have any vacant niches, MFJ has the low end and mid-range covered and there are a herd of companies duking it out over the high end market. There also doesn't seem to be much technical performance differentiation between the low, mid, and high end amps on the market today. The dollars/watt number for any particular brand seems to be mostly driven by how fancy a box the amp is packaged in. So, I'm thinking that if Elecraft is determined to get into the amp market the KPA500 will hit most of the product differentiators available. It matches the K3 appearance and size, maintains the high portability factor, and can claim some technical innovation for the built-in PS. Considering that the principal product differentiators are only germane to K3 owners maybe the intended market is primarily existing K3 owners, rather than the general amp market.No doubt that will be where the Lion's share of the sales go in any case. Maybe the next Elecraft amp will be something more powerful with an external PS but still in the K3 box, that would be interesting. 73 Jack KZ5A On 9/10/2010 8:57 AM, Lew Phelps K6LMP wrote: I think some of the folks who are calling for gigawatt amplifiers (ok, full legal limit...) are losing focus on one key fact: Elecraft has prospered by making products that SOME hams want that NOBODY else makes. The K3 is a perfect example: an exquisite transceiver, quite arguably the best available at any price if you're not a fan of big boxes with big buttons. It's portable, can be expanded incrementally with modules to meet any operator's specific needs, and it's 'way up in the upper right hand corner of the value scatter graph (price on one axis, performance on the other). So, what could Elecraft bring to the 2KW amplifier market that would (a) differentiate it from the others and (b)stay within the general confines of the K3 style, which means compact, efficient, modular expandability, and (probably) fit within the K3 form factor. You cannot build a 2KW amplifier that meets those criteria. Modular? Yes; you could make the power supply and an auto-tuner modular add-ons. Efficient? Yes. Compact? No. K3 form factor? Not a chance. For example, the Alpha 2KW amplifier measures 17.5w x 78.5h x 19.75d. It weighs well over 50 lbs. It costs $5000. There is no way to build a large-output amp that will fit within the K3 form factor. the physical size of components needed to handle that power makes it impossible. So, some on this list essentially are asking Elecraft to step outside its well-defined and highly successful approach to the market and build a me too legal limit amplifier that Elecraft could not meaningfully distinguish from the competition, except for the nameplate. Amplifiers are not that complex, compared to the K3. That lack of complexity is exactly why this is not a market in which Elecraft could compete successfully. There's no way to meaningfully differentiate its 2KW amp from others, except for the nameplate. Yes, they would include their superb customer support as a product feature. But I don't think they could bring enough differentiation from the Alpha, Tokyo Hygain, and other high end amplifiers already on the market to break into that market at a volume that would support design and production costs. The folks in Aptos DO understand the market. They are listening, and watching this dialogue. We can keep that process productive by not asking Elecraft to come out with a product that breaks the laws of physics. It's a small company, with limited design resources. Let's all encourage them to focus on new products
Re: [Elecraft] KPA500
On Thu, 9 Sep 2010 20:20:27 -0700, Wayne Burdick n...@elecraft.com wrote: Below... Doug Person wrote: Maybe this time they used all the input from the previous [amp] attempt to refine the price point and feature set And when the KPA-500 is released, it will be based on tons of feedback. Couldn't have said it better myself :) 73, Wayne N6KR I wonder how many of you guys have thought about this? Let's say that Elecraft prices the KPA500 160m to 6m 500 watt solid state amp with built in power supply at $2,000: Remember the amp has 6m capability... ++ Now let's look at the price of a popular 6m solid state amp: TE Systems 05612G: $1,388 10-15 W Drive 600 W Output 30 Amps Current Draw (@ 28v) Astron LS 35A 28v 22A cont, 35A int $345 Investment for 6m 600w amp = $1,733. ++ Let's add a 500w solid state HF amp: SG-500 $1299 Lambda EWS-1500 15V 100A Power supply $399 Investment for 500W 160 - 10m amp = $1,698 ++ Elecraft KPA500 500w output from 160m through 6m (into one coax?) = $2000.00. Desk top space requirement: K3 + KPA500 Amp. Two boxes the same size. ++ Comparable 500w HF and 600w 6m output into two coaxes = $1,733 + $1,698 = $3,431. Desk top requirement: K3 + TE Systems Amp + Astron Power supply + SG - 500 + Lambda. Four boxes of various sizes. ++ Personally, I would rather have one additional box on the desktop at around $2,000 rather than four extra boxes for $3,431. But then, I'm just another one of those South Central boys from Texas who may have missed something ;0) Tom, N5GE K3 #806 with SUB RX, PR6, KRC2 and K144XV K3 #1055 with PR6 and XV432 W1, 2 W2's and other small kits QCWA Life Member 35102 n...@n5ge.com http://www.n5ge.com http://www.swotrc.net __ 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] KPA500
Not true, Look at the new offering from RMItaly DLA-1000, matched pair of MRF157, $4k ouch. Mel --- On Fri, 9/10/10, Tony Fegan VE3QF jafe...@rogers.com wrote: From: Tony Fegan VE3QF jafe...@rogers.com Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KPA500 To: Cc: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Date: Friday, September 10, 2010, 12:22 PM Joe, Why not stack 4 KPA500's and use a combiner!!! 73 Tony Fegan VE3QF On Fri-10-Sep-10 12:15 PM, Joe Subich, W4TV wrote: Snip: The one vacant market niche - and one Elecraft appear to have avoided - is the US Legal Limit solid state segment. There are literally dozens of 500 - 600 watt solid state amps and several good products at the 1000 W PEP level but there is nothing that covers 160 - 6 at 1500 W CW/RTTY. 73, ... Joe, W4TV On 9/10/2010 11:57 AM, Jack Brabham wrote: Lew, Except for issues related to physical size, most of your rationale for not producing a 2KW amp seems equally applicable to a 500W amp. The K3, from a marketing perspective, played into a vacant market niche. The Japanese companies had focused on low-end, how cheap can we make it radios or over-priced bloated barges for the money is no object crowd. There is still nothing out there that is competitive with the K3 on a price/performance basis. The amp market on the other hand doesn't seem to have any vacant niches, MFJ has the low end and mid-range covered and there are a herd of companies duking it out over the high end market. There also doesn't seem to be much technical performance differentiation between the low, mid, and high end amps on the market today. The dollars/watt number for any particular brand seems to be mostly driven by how fancy a box the amp is packaged in. So, I'm thinking that if Elecraft is determined to get into the amp market the KPA500 will hit most of the product differentiators available. It matches the K3 appearance and size, maintains the high portability factor, and can claim some technical innovation for the built-in PS. Considering that the principal product differentiators are only germane to K3 owners maybe the intended market is primarily existing K3 owners, rather than the general amp market. No doubt that will be where the Lion's share of the sales go in any case. Maybe the next Elecraft amp will be something more powerful with an external PS but still in the K3 box, that would be interesting. 73 Jack KZ5A On 9/10/2010 8:57 AM, Lew Phelps K6LMP wrote: I think some of the folks who are calling for gigawatt amplifiers (ok, full legal limit...) are losing focus on one key fact: Elecraft has prospered by making products that SOME hams want that NOBODY else makes. The K3 is a perfect example: an exquisite transceiver, quite arguably the best available at any price if you're not a fan of big boxes with big buttons. It's portable, can be expanded incrementally with modules to meet any operator's specific needs, and it's 'way up in the upper right hand corner of the value scatter graph (price on one axis, performance on the other). So, what could Elecraft bring to the 2KW amplifier market that would (a) differentiate it from the others and (b)stay within the general confines of the K3 style, which means compact, efficient, modular expandability, and (probably) fit within the K3 form factor. You cannot build a 2KW amplifier that meets those criteria. Modular? Yes; you could make the power supply and an auto-tuner modular add-ons. Efficient? Yes. Compact? No. K3 form factor? Not a chance. For example, the Alpha 2KW amplifier measures 17.5w x 78.5h x 19.75d. It weighs well over 50 lbs. It costs $5000. There is no way to build a large-output amp that will fit within the K3 form factor. the physical size of components needed to handle that power makes it impossible. So, some on this list essentially are asking Elecraft to step outside its well-defined and highly successful approach to the market and build a me too legal limit amplifier that Elecraft could not meaningfully distinguish from the competition, except for the nameplate. Amplifiers are not that complex, compared to the K3. That lack of complexity is exactly why this is not a market in which Elecraft could compete successfully. There's no way to meaningfully differentiate its 2KW amp from others, except for the nameplate. Yes, they would include their superb customer support as a product feature. But I don't think they could bring enough differentiation from the Alpha, Tokyo Hygain, and other high end amplifiers already on the market to break into that market at a volume that would support design and production costs. The folks in Aptos DO understand the market. They are listening, and watching this dialogue. We can keep that process productive by not asking Elecraft to come out with a product that breaks the laws of physics. It's a small company, with limited design resources.
Re: [Elecraft] Elecraft - Ethic, Esthetic and Experience
Ian, Good comment...:-) Gary On Sat, Sep 11, 2010 at 5:55 AM, Ian White GM3SEK gm3...@ifwtech.co.ukwrote: Edward Dickinson, III wrote: I'd like to offer that my favored types of operation do not fit what are seemingly the foci of many of the participants that seem to constitute the Elecraft fan base. I am not a DXer, Contester, QRPer, CW or Keyboard Operator. In short, I am a nearly 100% SSB HF, Rag-Chew operator. December of this year will mark my 30th year as an amateur radio operator, though my exposure to the hobby began about 1960. The efforts of Elecraft are not wasted on me. Neither are they wasted on the DXers, Contesters, QRPers, CW or Keyboard Operators! The problem for Elecraft (and for this list) is that 4000+ owners have 5000+ different answers to the question: Which K3 is Yours? -- 73 from Ian GM3SEK http://www.ifwtech.co.uk/g3sek __ 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 -- Gary VK4FD - Motorhome Mobile http://www.qsl.net/vk4fd/ K3 #679 For everything else there's Mastercard!!! __ 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] RM Italy BLA 1000 (was - KPA500)
Not true, Look at the new offering from RMItaly DLA-1000, matched pair of MRF157, RM Italy's specifications are an outright fabrication. The MRF-157 is rated for 600 W PEP ... there is no way two of them are going to make 1500 W CW/RTTY or 1500 W PEP SSB and be clean. Of course RM Italy's amplifiers are notorious IMD generators. 73, ... Joe, W4TV On 9/10/2010 4:38 PM, Mel Farrer wrote: Not true, Look at the new offering from RMItaly DLA-1000, matched pair of MRF157, $4k ouch. Mel --- On Fri, 9/10/10, Tony Fegan VE3QFjafe...@rogers.com wrote: From: Tony Fegan VE3QFjafe...@rogers.com Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KPA500 To: Cc: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Date: Friday, September 10, 2010, 12:22 PM Joe, Why not stack 4 KPA500's and use a combiner!!! 73 Tony Fegan VE3QF On Fri-10-Sep-10 12:15 PM, Joe Subich, W4TV wrote: Snip: The one vacant market niche - and one Elecraft appear to have avoided - is the US Legal Limit solid state segment. There are literally dozens of 500 - 600 watt solid state amps and several good products at the 1000 W PEP level but there is nothing that covers 160 - 6 at 1500 W CW/RTTY. 73, ... Joe, W4TV On 9/10/2010 11:57 AM, Jack Brabham wrote: Lew, Except for issues related to physical size, most of your rationale for not producing a 2KW amp seems equally applicable to a 500W amp. The K3, from a marketing perspective, played into a vacant market niche.The Japanese companies had focused on low-end, how cheap can we make it radios or over-priced bloated barges for the money is no object crowd. There is still nothing out there that is competitive with the K3 on a price/performance basis. The amp market on the other hand doesn't seem to have any vacant niches, MFJ has the low end and mid-range covered and there are a herd of companies duking it out over the high end market. There also doesn't seem to be much technical performance differentiation between the low, mid, and high end amps on the market today. The dollars/watt number for any particular brand seems to be mostly driven by how fancy a box the amp is packaged in. So, I'm thinking that if Elecraft is determined to get into the amp market the KPA500 will hit most of the product differentiators available. It matches the K3 appearance and size, maintains the high portability factor, and can claim some technical innovation for the built-in PS. Considering that the principal product differentiators are only germane to K3 owners maybe the intended market is primarily existing K3 owners, rather than the general amp market.No doubt that will be where the Lion's share of the sales go in any case. Maybe the next Elecraft amp will be something more powerful with an external PS but still in the K3 box, that would be interesting. 73 Jack KZ5A On 9/10/2010 8:57 AM, Lew Phelps K6LMP wrote: I think some of the folks who are calling for gigawatt amplifiers (ok, full legal limit...) are losing focus on one key fact: Elecraft has prospered by making products that SOME hams want that NOBODY else makes. The K3 is a perfect example: an exquisite transceiver, quite arguably the best available at any price if you're not a fan of big boxes with big buttons. It's portable, can be expanded incrementally with modules to meet any operator's specific needs, and it's 'way up in the upper right hand corner of the value scatter graph (price on one axis, performance on the other). So, what could Elecraft bring to the 2KW amplifier market that would (a) differentiate it from the others and (b)stay within the general confines of the K3 style, which means compact, efficient, modular expandability, and (probably) fit within the K3 form factor. You cannot build a 2KW amplifier that meets those criteria. Modular? Yes; you could make the power supply and an auto-tuner modular add-ons. Efficient? Yes. Compact? No. K3 form factor? Not a chance. For example, the Alpha 2KW amplifier measures 17.5w x 78.5h x 19.75d. It weighs well over 50 lbs. It costs $5000. There is no way to build a large-output amp that will fit within the K3 form factor. the physical size of components needed to handle that power makes it impossible. So, some on this list essentially are asking Elecraft to step outside its well-defined and highly successful approach to the market and build a me too legal limit amplifier that Elecraft could not meaningfully distinguish from the competition, except for the nameplate. Amplifiers are not that complex, compared to the K3. That lack of complexity is exactly why this is not a market in which Elecraft could compete successfully. There's no way to meaningfully differentiate its 2KW amp from others, except for the nameplate. Yes, they would include their superb customer support as a product feature. But I don't think they could bring enough differentiation from the Alpha, Tokyo
Re: [Elecraft] Elecraft - Ethic, Esthetic and Experience
Ian and all, I too am not really a DX'er etc, but do love to have a nice conversation that may last for several minutes to sometimes several hours. I have had my share of all of the rice radios and the older USA brands. It only took one evening with a now SK, K6TNX, K3 who was kind enough to let me borrow it, then for me to order one. While I like the frills or so of what the others offer, the wonderful fullness of the audio, ease of operation and choice of BWs of the K3 makes the other radios blush. Keep it up Eric and Gang. Love the K3. Mel --- On Fri, 9/10/10, Gary Gregory garyvk...@gmail.com wrote: From: Gary Gregory garyvk...@gmail.com Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Elecraft - Ethic, Esthetic and Experience To: Ian White GM3SEK gm3...@ifwtech.co.uk Cc: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Date: Friday, September 10, 2010, 1:45 PM Ian, Good comment...:-) Gary On Sat, Sep 11, 2010 at 5:55 AM, Ian White GM3SEK gm3...@ifwtech.co.ukwrote: Edward Dickinson, III wrote: I'd like to offer that my favored types of operation do not fit what are seemingly the foci of many of the participants that seem to constitute the Elecraft fan base. I am not a DXer, Contester, QRPer, CW or Keyboard Operator. In short, I am a nearly 100% SSB HF, Rag-Chew operator. December of this year will mark my 30th year as an amateur radio operator, though my exposure to the hobby began about 1960. The efforts of Elecraft are not wasted on me. Neither are they wasted on the DXers, Contesters, QRPers, CW or Keyboard Operators! The problem for Elecraft (and for this list) is that 4000+ owners have 5000+ different answers to the question: Which K3 is Yours? -- 73 from Ian GM3SEK http://www.ifwtech.co.uk/g3sek __ 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 -- Gary VK4FD - Motorhome Mobile http://www.qsl.net/vk4fd/ K3 #679 For everything else there's Mastercard!!! __ 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] Elecraft - Ethic, Esthetic and Experience
Dick, KA5KKT. is right as far as I'm concerned. Like him, I'm 99% rag chewer, although almost all CW instead of SSB. Years ago many guys bought certain makes of transmitters and receivers for the reasons he cites as opposed to raw performance. I was an E.F. Johnson transmitter fan (mostly because they were kits as well as FB performers) and owned National receivers. Others focused on BW, World Radio, Heathkit, Collins, etc. for the same reasons. Esthetics are in the eye of the beholder. For example I chuckled over long-ago comments that the K2 looks industrial with its pan head case screws whereas that was part of the esthetic appeal to me. After all, in my view real Ham radios need just a hint of having come from a laboratory, not mass-produced by robots on an consumer product assembly line. I appreciate and admire the gang who seriously compete and need to shave every millisecond possible off of an exchange to win contests or bust DX-pileups just like I admire a good stunt pilot. Even so, my flying pleasure comes from spending time cruising the skies in an old plywood winged WWII PT-23 with its greenhouse canopy and bellowing radial engine in front of my face or ducking clouds in a bright yellow fabric covered J4 Piper Cub, just as I prefer a good rag chew to a brief exchange on the radio. I no longer have the E.J Johnson transmitters, or the National receivers, or the airplanes. But, today, I enjoy the Elecraft rigs in the same way. Ron AC7AC -Original Message- ... For me the participating in Elecrafting involves no less than the following interrelated concepts. Ethic - The principles that form the base of Elecrafting include, Hands On Radio, community input in the development stage, and responsive support. Esthetic - My Houghton Miffin eReference offers the following definition for Elegance: Restraint and grace of style. What I know of Elecraft meets that definition quite precisely. Experience - For those that choose to participate in the Elecraft Experience, there is much more offered than absolute measurements can display. Dollars per Watt, bottom dollar, decibel measurements, point tallies and such are but a very few quantities with which to evaluate the overall Experience. Overemphasizing them may cause some to at times overlook other rich qualities of the Experience. the right of the decimal point can sometimes be just that. 73, Dick - KA5KKT __ 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] WTB: 500 Hz 5-pole for K3
Please state price including shipping in a direct email to me (not the list please). TU 73! Bill W4ZV -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/WTB-500-Hz-5-pole-for-K3-tp5520029p5520029.html Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com. __ 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] to those in Pounce Mode...
In addition to 'DXers, Contesters, QRPers, CW and Keyboard Operators,' The efforts of Elecraft are not wasted on me, a Rag-Chew Operator. 73, Dick - KA5KKT __ 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] RM Italy BLA 1000 (was - KPA500)
Seems like one of the list regulars ran some test on a RM 200W amp some months back, the gist of which was that it had horrible IMD at its rated power (200W) but had typical 13.8V IMD numbers at 100W. So maybe it's actually a 1000W PEP amp and a some odd hundred watt CW amp, from a company with a poor reputation and no service for $4 per watt. What a deal. I think these amps are better regarded in the EU but they probably understand how to interpret Italian advertising than we do over here. 73 Jack KZ5A On 9/10/2010 4:07 PM, Joe Subich, W4TV wrote: Not true, Look at the new offering from RMItaly DLA-1000, matched pair of MRF157, RM Italy's specifications are an outright fabrication. The MRF-157 is rated for 600 W PEP ... there is no way two of them are going to make 1500 W CW/RTTY or 1500 W PEP SSB and be clean. Of course RM Italy's amplifiers are notorious IMD generators. 73, ... Joe, W4TV On 9/10/2010 4:38 PM, Mel Farrer wrote: Not true, Look at the new offering from RMItaly DLA-1000, matched pair of MRF157, $4k ouch. Mel --- On Fri, 9/10/10, Tony Fegan VE3QFjafe...@rogers.com wrote: From: Tony Fegan VE3QFjafe...@rogers.com Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KPA500 To: Cc: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Date: Friday, September 10, 2010, 12:22 PM Joe, Why not stack 4 KPA500's and use a combiner!!! 73 Tony Fegan VE3QF On Fri-10-Sep-10 12:15 PM, Joe Subich, W4TV wrote: Snip: The one vacant market niche - and one Elecraft appear to have avoided - is the US Legal Limit solid state segment. There are literally dozens of 500 - 600 watt solid state amps and several good products at the 1000 W PEP level but there is nothing that covers 160 - 6 at 1500 W CW/RTTY. 73, ... Joe, W4TV On 9/10/2010 11:57 AM, Jack Brabham wrote: Lew, Except for issues related to physical size, most of your rationale for not producing a 2KW amp seems equally applicable to a 500W amp. The K3, from a marketing perspective, played into a vacant market niche.The Japanese companies had focused on low-end, how cheap can we make it radios or over-priced bloated barges for the money is no object crowd. There is still nothing out there that is competitive with the K3 on a price/performance basis. The amp market on the other hand doesn't seem to have any vacant niches, MFJ has the low end and mid-range covered and there are a herd of companies duking it out over the high end market. There also doesn't seem to be much technical performance differentiation between the low, mid, and high end amps on the market today. The dollars/watt number for any particular brand seems to be mostly driven by how fancy a box the amp is packaged in. So, I'm thinking that if Elecraft is determined to get into the amp market the KPA500 will hit most of the product differentiators available. It matches the K3 appearance and size, maintains the high portability factor, and can claim some technical innovation for the built-in PS. Considering that the principal product differentiators are only germane to K3 owners maybe the intended market is primarily existing K3 owners, rather than the general amp market.No doubt that will be where the Lion's share of the sales go in any case. Maybe the next Elecraft amp will be something more powerful with an external PS but still in the K3 box, that would be interesting. 73 Jack KZ5A On 9/10/2010 8:57 AM, Lew Phelps K6LMP wrote: I think some of the folks who are calling for gigawatt amplifiers (ok, full legal limit...) are losing focus on one key fact: Elecraft has prospered by making products that SOME hams want that NOBODY else makes. The K3 is a perfect example: an exquisite transceiver, quite arguably the best available at any price if you're not a fan of big boxes with big buttons. It's portable, can be expanded incrementally with modules to meet any operator's specific needs, and it's 'way up in the upper right hand corner of the value scatter graph (price on one axis, performance on the other). So, what could Elecraft bring to the 2KW amplifier market that would (a) differentiate it from the others and (b)stay within the general confines of the K3 style, which means compact, efficient, modular expandability, and (probably) fit within the K3 form factor. You cannot build a 2KW amplifier that meets those criteria. Modular? Yes; you could make the power supply and an auto-tuner modular add-ons. Efficient? Yes. Compact? No. K3 form factor? Not a chance. For example, the Alpha 2KW amplifier measures 17.5w x 78.5h x 19.75d. It weighs well over 50 lbs. It costs $5000. There is no way to build a large-output amp that will fit within the K3 form factor. the physical size of components needed to handle that power makes it impossible. So, some on this list essentially are asking Elecraft to step outside its well-defined and highly successful
[Elecraft] K2 #6980 Current Errata
Ah, yes Stan - I can see now: there are x28 0.001 (102) caps on the RF board, but only 22 designators listed in the manual. Searching the text, I can see that C1, C2, C9, C17, C26 and C27 are missing from the designators column. And there's definitely no erratum on the Rev G10 sheet related to this. So if Rev G11, which incorporstes this erratum, has been in existence since March, I wonder why it hasn't been published on the Elecraft website at least? It certainly wasn't shipped with my K2 kit #6998 which I received 2 weeks ago. Thanks Stan. It's all clear now. 73, John VK7JB This email was sent from Netspace Webmail: http://www.netspace.net.au __ 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] to those in Pounce Mode...
You are in good company with Elecraft owners. Mel --- On Fri, 9/10/10, Edward Dickinson, III softb...@windstream.net wrote: From: Edward Dickinson, III softb...@windstream.net Subject: [Elecraft] to those in Pounce Mode... To: Elecraft Reflector Elecraft@mailman.qth.net Date: Friday, September 10, 2010, 3:07 PM In addition to 'DXers, Contesters, QRPers, CW and Keyboard Operators,' The efforts of Elecraft are not wasted on me, a Rag-Chew Operator. 73, Dick - KA5KKT __ 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] K2 #6980 Current Errata
Hi Stan All, For those interested, I rechecked the Elecraft site today and the new, rev G11 has just been posted. Thanks! John VK7JB This email was sent from Netspace Webmail: http://www.netspace.net.au __ 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] RM Italy BLA 1000 (was - KPA500)
Hi Jack They are not better regardedin Europe. They have always been CB amps in the eyes of most hams. Its mostly new hams from the CB band who like using these horrible amps. RM HF amps have terrible IMD performance especially under dynamic voice conditions. The positive reviews by well meaning hams are mostly flawed because they use incorrect measurement procedures. I cant see how any amp with -26db pep 3rd IMD figures is something that is acceptable for a high power amp. The dynamic on air IMD performance of these amps when used with the typically ham transceiver causes terrible splatter. Hams who run these amps are very easy to spot with a SDR receiver. I like others wont buy a solid state amp until the IMD performance at least matches the better tube amplifiers. The last thing we need to do as hams is crap in our own nest just because its modern or new! 73 John --- On Fri, 9/10/10, Jack Brabham k...@att.net wrote: From: Jack Brabham k...@att.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] RM Italy BLA 1000 (was - KPA500) To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Date: Friday, September 10, 2010, 3:15 PM Seems like one of the list regulars ran some test on a RM 200W amp some months back, the gist of which was that it had horrible IMD at its rated power (200W) but had typical 13.8V IMD numbers at 100W. So maybe it's actually a 1000W PEP amp and a some odd hundred watt CW amp, from a company with a poor reputation and no service for $4 per watt. What a deal. I think these amps are better regarded in the EU but they probably understand how to interpret Italian advertising than we do over here. 73 Jack KZ5A On 9/10/2010 4:07 PM, Joe Subich, W4TV wrote: Not true, Look at the new offering from RMItaly DLA-1000, matched pair of MRF157, RM Italy's specifications are an outright fabrication. The MRF-157 is rated for 600 W PEP ... there is no way two of them are going to make 1500 W CW/RTTY or 1500 W PEP SSB and be clean. Of course RM Italy's amplifiers are notorious IMD generators. 73, ... Joe, W4TV On 9/10/2010 4:38 PM, Mel Farrer wrote: Not true, Look at the new offering from RMItaly DLA-1000, matched pair of MRF157, $4k ouch. Mel --- On Fri, 9/10/10, Tony Fegan VE3QFjafe...@rogers.com wrote: From: Tony Fegan VE3QFjafe...@rogers.com Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KPA500 To: Cc: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Date: Friday, September 10, 2010, 12:22 PM Joe, Why not stack 4 KPA500's and use a combiner!!! 73 Tony Fegan VE3QF On Fri-10-Sep-10 12:15 PM, Joe Subich, W4TV wrote: Snip: The one vacant market niche - and one Elecraft appear to have avoided - is the US Legal Limit solid state segment. There are literally dozens of 500 - 600 watt solid state amps and several good products at the 1000 W PEP level but there is nothing that covers 160 - 6 at 1500 W CW/RTTY. 73, ... Joe, W4TV On 9/10/2010 11:57 AM, Jack Brabham wrote: Lew, Except for issues related to physical size, most of your rationale for not producing a 2KW amp seems equally applicable to a 500W amp. The K3, from a marketing perspective, played into a vacant market niche. The Japanese companies had focused on low-end, how cheap can we make it radios or over-priced bloated barges for the money is no object crowd. There is still nothing out there that is competitive with the K3 on a price/performance basis. The amp market on the other hand doesn't seem to have any vacant niches, MFJ has the low end and mid-range covered and there are a herd of companies duking it out over the high end market. There also doesn't seem to be much technical performance differentiation between the low, mid, and high end amps on the market today. The dollars/watt number for any particular brand seems to be mostly driven by how fancy a box the amp is packaged in. So, I'm thinking that if Elecraft is determined to get into the amp market the KPA500 will hit most of the product differentiators available. It matches the K3 appearance and size, maintains the high portability factor, and can claim some technical innovation for the built-in PS. Considering that the principal product differentiators are only germane to K3 owners maybe the intended market is primarily existing K3 owners, rather than the general amp market. No doubt that will be where the Lion's share of the sales go in any case. Maybe the next Elecraft amp will be something more powerful with an external PS but still in the K3 box, that would be interesting. 73 Jack KZ5A On 9/10/2010 8:57 AM, Lew Phelps K6LMP wrote: I think some of the folks who are calling for gigawatt amplifiers (ok, full legal limit...) are losing focus on one key fact: Elecraft has prospered by making products that SOME hams want that NOBODY else
Re: [Elecraft] K2 #6980 Current Errata
I can't speak to the delay on the errata appearing, but the ONLY change from G10 to G11 was to add those ref des to the parts list. The total capacitor count is correct and all the instructions in install them are correct. The only time I'd expect anyone to notice the reference designators are missing from the parts list is if they were servicing a K2 at some future date and wanted to look up a part for replacement by its reference designator. I'm sure that's how it was missed for some period of time; people doing a simple inventory or building the kit never had occasion to look up parts in the parts list by reference designator. Ron AC7AC -Original Message- Ah, yes Stan - I can see now: there are x28 0.001 (102) caps on the RF board, but only 22 designators listed in the manual. Searching the text, I can see that C1, C2, C9, C17, C26 and C27 are missing from the designators column. And there's definitely no erratum on the Rev G10 sheet related to this. So if Rev G11, which incorporstes this erratum, has been in existence since March, I wonder why it hasn't been published on the Elecraft website at least? It certainly wasn't shipped with my K2 kit #6998 which I received 2 weeks ago. Thanks Stan. It's all clear now. 73, John VK7JB __ 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] KPA500: Integration with K3
I *REALLY* like Guy's Blue Sky proposal, Wayne and Eric. I would seriously consider getting rid of my trusty and very economical to operate ALS600 with AD5X QSK Mod and MFJ998 tuner system for something like this for my next station upgrade in a few years. The complete station integration is the clincher for me. -lu-w4lt- K3 # 3192 --- Thinking in that vein One thing that would be quite nice: The external KPA100 and K2 share an auxbus, and the K2 knows when it is attached and ready, the power adjustment display in the K2 tells what is available, and if the power knob is dialed down to a barefoot power level, the KPA100 drops out and indicates low power range, or dials up above some wattage, kicking in the amp up to 100. IF the KPA500 would only extend to 500 watts with 10 watts drive in an Auxbus linked mode aka external KPA100, does that not satisfy the FCC requirement in the same fashion the KAT100 only runs with the K2?. And of course the K3 PWR control would now scroll from 1 watt to 500 watts, kicking in the KPA500 as needed. I think for a lot of people, that would allow them to ignore the K3 100w amp and go directly to the KPA500 and yet to be anounced matching Auto tuner. AND use that cavernous space vacated by the KPA3 and KAT3 for stuff like a built-in power supply designed for hams and zero RFI. Or simply have a mild variation of the KPA500/autotuner combo that simply only runs integrated to a K3/10 or K2/10. Or one could have a combined KPA500/KAT500 integration/K3 power supply module that goes in the KPA3/KAT3 space which includes an always used robust 17 watt boost amp and isolation stage which drives the KPA500 as is, and when that's installed the K3 PWR display scrolls from 1 to 500. Brick on Key. Same deal for the 1.5 kW version. Just thinking out loud. 73, Guy. __ 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] K3 RFI in transmitted audio
Hi, I frequently see some RFI talkback on transmitted audio on my K3, which serial number is on 4000's batch. When second rig is TX on 80m, I get the whole audio being coupled by the K3. Is this a common issue? Any tips to solve? 73 -- Felipe Ceglia - PY1NB - PR1T team member /// Rio DX Group member /// Araucaria DX Group member http://www.dxwatch.com /// http://reversebeacon.net /// http://riodxgroup.dxwatch.com __ 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] K2 -Construction photos?
Good evening, folks. Can someone point me toward a source of some more recent contstruction photos for the K2, especially the Control Board. I just compared mine to the K2 Builder's Manual and my Rev B3r board doesn't match what's in the Elecraft photo (their board looks like it says, Rev XB. I thought there might be some photos on the Elecraft Website but either there's none there, or I didn't look in the right place. Thanks! Stan Levandowski WB2LQF HF QRP CW -- Doing more with less for over 50 years! QCWA #35038 OOTC #4558 NAQCC #4740 SKCC #6488 FISTS #(Pending) __ 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] K2 -Construction photos?
Stan, While there are slight differences between the Rev A and Rev B Control boards (a pot for the AGC Threshold instead of a fixed resistor as a for instance), please tell us what you are specifically looking for. If you followed the instructions carefully, it should be assembled properly. You will have some components on the back side for the Keying Waveshape components that are not on the Rev A photos, but again, if you followed the instructions properly, you will end up with a working board. If you have specific questions, we are likely to be able to help. I do not know of a source for photos of assembled Rev B boards. Maybe someone who has documented their construction of a recent K2 will volunteer, but in the meantime, we can respond to specific questions/confusions. 73, Don W3FPR On 9/10/2010 9:43 PM, stan levandowski wrote: Good evening, folks. Can someone point me toward a source of some more recent contstruction photos for the K2, especially the Control Board. I just compared mine to the K2 Builder's Manual and my Rev B3r board doesn't match what's in the Elecraft photo (their board looks like it says, Rev XB. I thought there might be some photos on the Elecraft Website but either there's none there, or I didn't look in the right place. Thanks! __ 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] K2 - Construction photos? END OF THREAD
Thanks Don and Alexy. I have what I need now. Alexy, your link to Atsushi's photo log was perfect. I saw my Control Board version with inductor L1 as well as the old diode D3 I'll be replacing with a resistor. I've put Atsushi's photo log on my favorites bar. I'm all set now! Thanks again! That link was: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ayokoyama/sets/72157611486275147/with/3155199047/ Stan Levandowski WB2LQF HF QRP CW -- Doing more with less for over 50 years! QCWA #35038 OOTC #4558 NAQCC #4740 SKCC #6488 FISTS #(Pending) __ 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] CNC Heavy K2/K3 knobs
Found these on the net and thought some of you may like this A bit on the pricey side http://www.73cnc.com/73cnc/elecraft.html George NE2I __ 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] CNC Heavy K2/K3 knobs
$150 plus heavy enough to bend shafts. Wow. Dick, WO1I At 10:31 PM 9/10/2010, GEORGE CORTEZ wrote: Found these on the net and thought some of you may like this A bit on the pricey side http://www.73cnc.com/73cnc/elecraft.html George NE2I __ 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] Elecraft - Ethic, Esthetic and Experience
A very fair and true statement. Although there is a large something left out. Some 7,000 strong ops who are K2 owners should be included as well. Carry on Eric and Wayne. 73, Skip WB4DAD __ 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] K2 - Construction photos? END OF THREAD
Stan, Please resist the temptation to build by the photos. Use the instructions in the manual in the order given and you will get the job done. If you want to compare the final result with the photos, then that is OK, but do not try to use the photos as your building guide - do the manual instructions one step at a time - there is good reason for that order, d not attempt to defeat it or you are likely to make errors. As a first step, use the Errata sheet to mark up your manual, then start at the beginning and one step at a time, work your way to the end. If you do that correctly (and in order), and your soldering is good, you will end up with a working K2. After you have built your 3rd K2, you might be equipped to skip around a slight bit if that fits your style, but for the first time, follw the instructions in the order given. 73, Don W3FPR On 9/10/2010 10:57 PM, stan levandowski wrote: Thanks Don and Alexy. I have what I need now. Alexy, your link to Atsushi's photo log was perfect. I saw my Control Board version with inductor L1 as well as the old diode D3 I'll be replacing with a resistor. I've put Atsushi's photo log on my favorites bar. I'm all set now! Thanks again! That link was: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ayokoyama/sets/72157611486275147/with/3155199047/ __ 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] CNC Heavy K2/K3 knobs
Please, let's not do the knob thing again, been there, done that. Check the archives. 73, Tony W7GO On 9/10/2010 8:33 PM, Richard S. Lindzen wrote: $150 plus heavy enough to bend shafts. Wow. Dick, WO1I At 10:31 PM 9/10/2010, GEORGE CORTEZ wrote: Found these on the net and thought some of you may like this A bit on the pricey side http://www.73cnc.com/73cnc/elecraft.html George NE2I __ 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 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] CNC Heavy K2/K3 knobs
Adds almost another pound to the DXpedition radio... On 9/10/2010 10:33 PM, Richard S. Lindzen wrote: $150 plus heavy enough to bend shafts. Wow. Dick, WO1I At 10:31 PM 9/10/2010, GEORGE CORTEZ wrote: Found these on the net and thought some of you may like this A bit on the pricey side http://www.73cnc.com/73cnc/elecraft.html George NE2I __ 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 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] K3DVR Tally output
Please excuse if this subject has been beaten to death. Is there a way to provide a change of state or output on any of the Aux I/O pins ONLY when the K3DVR is playing on the air. I'm looking for a way to mute my microphone during DVR playback. Thanks in advance, Nick, K7MO __ 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] K3 RFI in transmitted audio
On Fri, 10 Sep 2010 21:35:49 -0300, Felipe Ceglia wrote: When second rig is TX on 80m, I get the whole audio being coupled by the K3. Please give more detail about your problem. Are both radios transmitting at the same time? Both K3s, or one a different radio? Is there a computer feeding either radio? Where do you hear the RFI? Where do the radios get their DC power? Exactly. What kind of power supply? Is the V- terminal bonded to the chassis at the power supply? Is this a common issue? It depends on the details of your problem. Any tips to solve? It depends on the details of your problem. :) Once we hear more details, we can give some ideas. 73, Jim K9YC __ 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
