[Amps] RF2K+ LDMOS linear

Mon Jun 5 00:34:30 EDT 2017

For me, especially with RTTY contesting, the capability of running this amp 
on a So2r basis should not be assumed to be workable until it's actually 
proved.  This gets back to my main point.  The gee-whiz it will be perfect 
buzz on a lot of tech really needs to come with a list of disclaimers to 
cover the exceptions and restrictions.  But they never do; meaning the only 
way to really get a handle on them is for someone to get one and give it a 
hard workout.  That would at least be one solid data point.

And you can't really make a compare to the Elecraft stuff - the same issue 
confronts the KPA1500 (it's an unknown new entity - until it's proven in 
combat).  However they have a proven track record of making a decent product 
and improving it when there are issues.  These other various guys who want 
to get into the amp biz are unknown entities by comparison and while they 
may build perfect products and have perfect support, to my thinking until 
that's actually proven it needs to seen with a skeptical eye until proven 
otherwise.

73/jeff/ac0c
www.ac0c.com
alpha-charlie-zero-charlie

-----Original Message----- 
From: Ken K6MR
Sent: Sunday, June 04, 2017 11:19 PM
To: amps at contesting.com
Subject: Re: [Amps] RF2K+ LDMOS linear

“And you need 2 of them for a serious So2r setup”

It’s pretty simple to switch one amp between the radios, so that’s not 
necessarily true.  But the amp must be able to run pretty much key down for 
the whole contest.

My dual KPA500 setup runs full output continuously on RTTY (switched between 
radios) with only occasional maximum fan activation.  I’m hoping the same 
will be true of the KPA1500.

Ken K6MR

From: Jeff AC0C<mailto:keepwalking188 at ac0c.com>
Sent: Sunday, June 4, 2017 8:34 PM
To: amps at contesting.com<mailto:amps at contesting.com>; Kevin Stover, 
AC0H<mailto:kstover at ac0h.net>
Subject: Re: [Amps] RF2K+ LDMOS linear

Sorry for the confusion.  I was thinking of a pair for So2r.

Each kit is over $3K - not including delivery or local parts sourcing.  Call
it $4K as a round number.  And you need 2 of them for a serious So2r setup.
As amps go, I don't see the price as a primary issue.  Serious runs by
serious contesters are the issue in my mind.

73/jeff/ac0c
www.ac0c.com<http://www.ac0c.com>
alpha-charlie-zero-charlie

-----Original Message-----
From: Kevin Stover, AC0H
Sent: Sunday, June 04, 2017 6:22 PM
To: amps at contesting.com
Subject: Re: [Amps] RF2K+ LDMOS linear

All fine and good but where on God's green earth did you get $8K?
The SPE 2K is $8K but were not talking about that amp (^^^subject
line^^^). We're talking about the German amp kit which sells for a
kilobuck LESS than the AL-1500 all in.

Without the auto-tuner the kit sells for about $1K more than that pretty
Eimac 3CX1500A7 in the AL-1500.

On 6/4/2017 12:19 PM, Jeff AC0C wrote:
> I'm with Steve here.  The old saw of "build a better mouse trap and the
> world will beat a path to your door" is almost always false because it's
> hard to believe the hype surrounding stuff.  If an amp maker wants to
> crank up the sales in the US of their amps, by far the best way would be
> to put it in the hands of someone who has a good tech reputation in the
> community, can give it a serious contest workout and who also has the
> ability to do a basic IMD test.
>
> There are many folks of that description.  Before I shovel what is going
> to be nearly 8K into a box, I really would feel a lot better if I heard
> that they lived through a couple of contests over at W3LPL, etc and Frank
> said they hummed along fine.  I'm using LPL as an example here.  My point
> is advertising and social media and endorsements from guys in EU are a lot
> less meaningful than a country local here in the US.
>
> Made the exact same argument to a Chinese maker when he was trying to get
> going but he unfortunately just could not wrap their head around the
> marketing aspect of a product roll out.  The ham universe is pretty
> small - and an endorsement by someone objective and authoritative carries
> far more weight in this market than in others, especially given the huge
> financial investment something like this involves.
>
> 73/jeff/ac0c
> www.ac0c.com<http://www.ac0c.com>
> alpha-charlie-zero-charlie
>
> -----Original Message----- From: Jim Thomson
> Sent: Sunday, June 04, 2017 11:48 AM
> To: amps at contesting.com
> Subject: [Amps] RF2K+ LDMOS linear
>
> 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
>
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--
R. Kevin Stover    AC0H
FISTS #11993
SKCC #215
NAQCC #3441
ARRL
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