[TenTec] KPA 500

[george fritkin]

I find the mechanical design of the newer Ten-Tec gear very sturdy.  The ORION 
ll is a good deal compared to the K3.  I have two K3s and I love them, but they 
are not the King Kong of transceivers.

George, W6GF

An ORION ll and Eagle owner and if UPS does their job an OMNI Vll owner in a 
couple of days.





________________________________
From: Jim Brown <k9yc at audiosystemsgroup.com>
To: tentec at contesting.com
Sent: Wed, February 23, 2011 12:48:19 PM
Subject: Re: [TenTec] KPA 500

On 2/23/2011 12:05 PM, Mike Stricker wrote:
> I saw the KPA500 at the Orlando Hamfest.  Yes, it looks nice.  It also looks 
>cheap much like the rest of their equipment.

You mean it didn't have a fancy front panel that added cost without 
adding useful function? In my experience, The KPA500 has a steel 
chassis. Elecraft is what Ten Tec used to be -- state of the art rigs, 
but at a moderate price point, and without fancy front panels. K3s get 
dragged on airplanes all over the world, and they hold up pretty well.  
I expect no less of the KPA500.  Also, the Ten Tec gear I've owned (Omni 
D, Omni V, Herc I, Herc II, 425s, 229s, 238s) are good designs and 
decent quality, but none could be called rugged or elegant, and their 
mechanical build quality is nowhere near as high as the K3. I haven't 
looked inside an Orion.

>   For the kind of money they are getting for their equipment, the mechanical 
>aspects have, in my mind, a lot to be desired.

Let's see if I have this right. The K3 sells for $3K - $5K, depending on 
how you load it, has functions and performance that is equal to or 
better than top of the line rice boxes that sell for $10K, and you think 
it's over priced?

>   I would think that for not a whole lot more, they could double the thickness 
>of their aluminum panels but then again, I am not falling for the Elecraft MoJo 
>any more.
>
> I think the Ameritron ALS-600 is a better deal.

You've GOT to be kidding.  I used an ALS-600 at PJ4 during a major 
contest (because the AL1200 was broke).  It's a REAL CHEAPIE, and folded 
back to only 200W with a 2:1 SWR.  The KPA500 gave me 500W out with more 
than 2:1 SWR. Ameritron is Mighty Fine Junk, not even close to being in 
a league with Ten Tec or Elecraft. Also at PJ4,That AL1200 uses the same 
tubes as my Titan 425s, but the similarity ends there. Yes, the 425 is a 
30 year old amp with nothing automatic in it, but the Ameritron is a 
cheap piece of junk by comparison. In the days before that contest, we 
fixed two things that were broke on the AL1200. In the first hour of the 
contest, something else broke that we couldn't fix, which is why we were 
stuck with the ALS 600.

73, Jim K9YC
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