[CQ-Contest] Elecraft KPA 1500 vs.OM 2000A

[David Aslin G3WGN]

Jeff, 
Two reasons for an amp capable of more than 400W:
Unusually, UK licencing regs allow 400W *at the antenna feedpoint*.  Cable runs on 10m and 6m here are 420ft; measured cable loss is 1.8dB at 28MHz.  That means 600W at the amp gets me 400W at the feedpoint on 10m.  I don't over-run the KPA500 in an attempt to achieve that, instead I use the ACOM at 600W.

Second, I drive a Jaguar that is capable of 155mph.  I don't want to go to jail, so I obey the speed limits (as a consequence of which the vehicle is unstressed).  In ham radio, I want to maintain a reputation for doing well in contests while following the rules (licence rules, contest rules, good neighbour/clean signal rules...).  And I'd like my amp to have a long and happy life.  So a 1kW or 1.5kW amp run at 600W keeps me unstressed!
73, David G3WGN  M6O

-----Original Message-----
From: Jeff Clarke [mailto:ku8e at ku8e.com] 
Sent: 04 March 2020 01:14
To: cq-contest at contesting.com
Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] Elecraft KPA 1500 vs.OM 2000A

Bill,

You might consider an OM2000A+ . This is an automatic no tune amplifier. 
https://www.om-power.com/products/om2000aplus

I looked on the OM Power web page and I don't see that they sell OM2000A's. The one they have listed is the OM2000A+ . Several guys in a past post mentioned this was a manually tuned amplifier which it's not.

The guys that own BeLoud.us use this amp at their remote stations. I think it's pretty reliable. There is also software available to control it remotely over the internet if you ever decided you wanted to do that at your station in V31.

Dave (G3WGN), Curious why you would need a KPA1500? I thought the power limit in the UK is 400 watts? Maybe I'm missing something?

Jeff KU8E



On 3/3/2020 12:39 PM, David Aslin G3WGN wrote:
> I was warned off the OM2000A for reasons of extreme fan noise.  Several guys whose views I respect have swapped them out for that reason.
> Instead I added a second ACOM 2000A.  I have a very early one (1999) which has been beaten to cr*p when travelling to multiple big gun stations and doing loads of 48hr contests - it's never missed a beat.  Still on original tubes.  I do like the newer control box tho.
> No experience with the KPA1500 but have been delighted with my KPA500 for many years and multiple 6Gs DXpeditions.
> If a K4 is in my future, there may well be a KPA1500 to go with it.  At least the fan noise on the KPA1500 can be remoted from the operating position.
> 73, David G3WGN  M6O
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: cqtestk4xs at aol.com [mailto:cqtestk4xs at aol.com]
> Sent: 03 March 2020 00:04
> To: cq-contest at contesting.com
> Subject: [CQ-Contest] Elecraft KPA 1500 vs.OM 2000A
>
> Looking for a backup amp for the new station.  Probably going to run SO2R so auto-tune is important.  I'm running a K3S and the second radio will also be a K3S.  I really don't care if the amp "matches" the K3S in looks.  Like most of you guys I'm concerned about performance.  Both rigs are equal in price.
> Here's the question:  If you were buying a new amp and were buying it to satisfy the above criteria, which would you choose and why?
> K4XS
>
>
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