[Amps] Question about SPE 1.3K-FA amplifier

[Jim Thomson]

Date: Sun, 8 Nov 2015 06:59:35 -0700
From: Richard Solomon <dickw1ksz at gmail.com>
To: Amps group <amps at contesting.com>
Subject: Re: [Amps] Question about SPE 1.3K-FA amplifier

Here is a link to what looks like the Test Report for
FCC Type Acceptance.

https://fccid.io/pdf.php?id=2443307

Curious as to what folks think about the results.

##  This is almost as good as an arrl report for basic stuff. 
Their test method seems a bit flawed imo.  You cant test
any linear amp, by stuffing a 2 tone signal into the mic jack.
Unless the xcvr is running in class A.   In this case, the icom 7800
used for the test, afaik, does not run class A. 

##  If SPE cant / doesn’t  want to provide a schematic for this amp,
or any of their other amps, I would not touch it, or buy one. 

##  at least they provide imd info  for imd3 to  imd11.

##  The imd test is further flawed.... since they only ran the test at 1000 w pep
out.   The harmonic test was run at 1300w out.   They are also stated in db below pep,
and not db below one tone.  So u have to subtract 6 db  from all their tables.
IE: their IMD3 on 7.150 mhz is a lousy  -27.6 db.   ( and a lousy –24.8 db on 160m and also
10m).   Again, re-run the test at 1300w pep out, and imd results  will be a helluva lot worse.

##  They need to re-run the test, this time using TWO xcvrs, each feeding a cxr
into a hybrid etc, then into the input of the amp.....and do it with the amp running
1.3 kw pep out.     

Jim   VE7RF