[Amps] RF2K+ LDMOS linear

[Jim Thomson]

Date: Sun, 04 Jun 2017 07:58:54 -0600
From: Steve London <n2icarrl at gmail.com>
To: amps at contesting.com
Subject: Re: [Amps] RF2K+ LDMOS linear

<I would not declare tube amplifiers dead until a legal limit, SS 
amplifier repeatedly proves itself in serious contest conditions. I'm 
not talking about the guy who casually makes 500 search-and-pounce 
QSO's. I'm talking about the balls-to-the-walls, SO2R, all-band guy/gal 
who operates close to 48 hours, running stations the entire time. 
Mistakes happen under these conditions - ooops, forgot to change the 
tornado tuner on the 80 when moving from 3700 to 3800, etc. Or, RF from 
one amp gets into the other amp and fools it's microprocessor.

The only production SS amp that has come close to proving itself under 
there conditions is the SPE line. Even they aren't perfect. See 
http://www.3830scores.com/showrumor.php?arg=leadzTgmmcvix . That was an 
SPE 2K. In all fairness to SPE, see 
http://www.3830scores.com/showrumor.php?arg=lua4zPgqvqmsK . A pair of 
SPE 1.3K's that worked flawlessly. (However, not at the legal limit.)

I would love to borrow a pair of these RF-Kit amps and put them to 
serious use in one of my SO2R contest efforts.

73,
Steve, N2IC

##  High swr, so what, amp kicks offline at some pre-set threshold. 
They are already in use across europe...in rtty contests.  Fans  are 
pwm controlled, so heat is not an issue.   Eff is high at 65-70%. 
IMD is typ –40db pep..using the newer german made LP filters. 
Mark tells me these amps are 100% duty cycle rated, all modes. 
If they survive a rtty contest, ssb + cw should be a lollygog.  

## You are right though...  send some off to contest sites..and really beat
on em for the weekend.   Tube amps  days are numbered, the writing is on the wall.

Jim   VE7RF