[Amps] KPA1500 in QSK mode

[Larry Dighera]

Hello Jeff,

Tubes are an issue for the 87A as well; that's for sure.  Here are
some tubes to consider:

NEW GS-36B/4CX400A Tube, Tetrode, Russian
https://www.rfparts.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=GS-36B $174.95/each.

New old stock GS-36B tetrode
https://www.ebay.com/itm/263803841869  US $49.00/each.

Hope that helps return your venerable 76A to operational status.

Best regards,
Larry


On Sun, 14 Oct 2018 01:36:33 +0000 (UTC), <tz4am at aol.com> wrote:

>Larry:
>I have an Alpha 76A but have never succeeded in getting a good set of tubes for it.
>I like the KPA1500 but am hesitating for the same reason: price
>Instant-on and 6 meters are a big draw for me too.
>73,
>JeffTZ4AM/K1MMB
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Larry Dighera <LDighera at att.net>
>To: Amps <Amps at contesting.com>
>Sent: Fri, Oct 12, 2018 12:00 pm
>Subject: Re: [Amps] KPA1500 in QSK mode
>
>
>Hello Bob,
>
>I've been considering replacing my Alpha 87A
><http://kj6yvt.com/amplifier.htm> with an Elecraft KPA1500 too.  The
>instant-on feature solid-state amplifiers offer is attractive to a
>fellow who hates to wait, and the 6 meter support and built-in antenna
>tuner are what have lead me to this.  The KPA1500's $5,995.00 price
>tag is about double what I paid for my used 87A, and my 87A is
>integrated with the Alpha DAS antenna selector relay control box, so
>I'm still on the fence.
>
>Thank you for posting the Alpha 87A memory dump procedure
><https://www.kkn.net/~n6tv/Alpha_87A_Memory_Dump.pdf>.  That is
>something all 87A owners will appreciate.  
>
>And I very much enjoyed your extensive 2018 Visalia International DX
>Convention photo album <https://bit.ly/Visalia2018>.
>
>Best regards,
>Larry Dighera
>WB6BBB
>
>
>On Tue, 9 Oct 2018 23:45:07 -0700, "Bob Wilson, N6TV" <n6tv at arrl.net>
>wrote:
>
>>Mickey,
>>
>>I just used a pair of KPA1500s in the California QSO Party, full bore, CW
>>only, for 24 hours.  The performance was solid, no glitches.  QSK was
>>silent and fast, so it's safe to use a K3 transceiver in CW QRQ mode (about
>>4.3 ms PTT to RF delay, maximum QSK performance).  Fan noise was not a
>>problem while wearing David Clark headphones.  I manually set the fan level
>>to a minimum value of 2 (out of 5) which is pretty loud, but it kept the
>>temperature below 62°C, so the amp. never kicked into a higher fan speed.
>>I'm running a beta version of the firmware (1.78).
>>
>>Though I use two K3s, the KPA1500 amp/tuner combo. can automatically track
>>your 6600M frequency (see the USB Cables section in the Flex Manual).  You
>>can use the XCVR SERIAL port on the KPA1500 for this. The S-BOX
>><https://bit.ly/S-BOX> makes that connection easy using standard serial and
>>TRS cables, no custom cables required.  (The S-BOX can also do this for SPE
>>and ACOM amps).
>>
>>My Alpha 87As are now for sale.
>>
>>73,
>>Bob, N6TV
>>
>>On Mon, Oct 8, 2018 at 5:28 AM Mickey Baker <n4mb at arrl.net> wrote:
>>
>>> I have a fairly new 6600M and once had the PowerGenius on order, but
>>> cancelled after it was delayed and my transceiver was ready.
>>>
>>> I'm thinking that the Elecraft KPA1500 is the only full power solid state
>>> amp with qsk that can replace my AL1500 with QSK5.
>>>
>>> Thoughts from the group?
>>>
>>> Mickey Baker, N4MB
>>> Fort Lauderdale, FL
>>> *“Tell me, and I will listen. Show me, and I will understand. Involve me,
>>> and I will learn.” *Teton Lakota, American Indian Saying.
>>>
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