[RTTY] AL-80B Or KPA500 for RTTY Contesting

[Joe Subich, W4TV]

On 8/4/2016 4:02 PM, joeduerbusch wrote:
 > What do you get over the AL80B for the extra money?  Solid state no
 > tune-up, auto band switch and very fast QSK break-in.

But no tuner.  Unless you have very well tuned (low SWR) antennas for
every band (and all parts of the bands in which you operate) you will
need a manual tuner (losing the advantage to "no tune-up") or a high
power auto-tuner (more $$$) to make best use of the KPA500.

Don't get me wrong ... I'm an Elecraft fan but I don't know of any
solid state amplifier that will run correctly (and safely) into a
significantly (SWR >~ 1.5:1) mismatched load.  If the impedance is
low the devices will saturate (maximum current), if the impedance
is high the devices will clip (require higher voltage).  In either
case IMD and heat dissipation rise significantly.

73,

   ... Joe, W4TV