[TenTec] KPA 500

[Ron Castro]

Tubes are still a good way to go for high power, but it's true that there isn't much profit in the ham amplifier market.   The price and durability of solid state devices will improve and make them more viable in the future, just as has happened in the broadcast industry.  Just a few years ago, SS amps for FM broadcast didn't make financial sense over 3 kW, but now they do for power levels up to the 20-40 kW level.  AM broadcasters went SS a long time ago and I don't think there are any vacuum tube units being sold in the 50 kW or lower levels.  The same will happen for HF ham radio...it will just take time.

            Ron  N6IE
       www.N6IE.com

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Rsoifer at aol.com 
  To: tentec at contesting.com ; ronc at sonic.net 
  Sent: Wednesday, February 23, 2011 4:22 PM
  Subject: Re: [TenTec] KPA 500


  Hi George,

  Yes, my experience with solid state amps is also that they can't take abuse as well as a tube amp can.  Tube amps are also better value for money.  For those who really need no-tune bandswitching, there's always Alpha.

  My Orion II may not be perfect, but nothing is.  I feel no need to trade it for a K3, but am not currently into DXpeditioning.

  73 Ray W2RS


  In a message dated 2/24/2011 12:06:52 A.M. GMT Standard Time, georgefritkin at yahoo.com writes:
    There is just no money to be made in amps.  A lot of Hams are linear abusers. 
    Tubes, for the most part can take the abuse, transistor can not, hence lots of 
    protection.  Then we Hams complain that our solid state amps "kick out all the 
    time" so you can not win.  Either you go the Ameritron way (I have lots of their 
    amps) or the THP direction and just let the selling price follow suit.  You are 
    correct, differentiating amps is much harder than a transceiver.

    George, W6GF



    ________________________________
    From: Ron Castro <ronc at sonic.net>
    To: ac5aa at ac5aa.com; Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment <tentec at contesting.com>
    Sent: Wed, February 23, 2011 7:54:39 AM
    Subject: Re: [TenTec] KPA 500

    TT would have to come up with something to differentiate itself from 
    Elecraft.  At this point, the route would be to offer full legal limit 
    solid-state amplifiers.  Elecraft went down that road with the KPA800 and 
    KPA1500, but never brought them to market.  I saw the prototypes of both 
    units (the pictures are still on my website) but instead, they pursued the 
    K-3 development and let the higher power amps wither on the vine.  The K-3 
    has been so popular that they are focused on accessories with a matching 
    footprint like the 500 Watt amp and the pan adapter.

    I'd love to see TT with something equivalent to the Dishtronix amp!

                Ron N6IE
          www.N6IE.com

    ----- Original Message ----- 
    From: "Duane Calvin" <ac5aa1 at gmail.com>
    To: "'Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment'" <tentec at contesting.com>
    Sent: Wednesday, February 23, 2011 7:01 AM
    Subject: Re: [TenTec] KPA 500


    > That depends on whether TT could significantly beat Elecraft's cost/price
    > window.
    >
    > 73, Duane
    >
    >
    > Duane Calvin, AC5AA
    > Austin, Texas
    > www.ac5aa.com
    >
    >
    > -----Original Message-----
    > From: tentec-bounces at contesting.com [mailto:tentec-bounces at contesting.com]
    > On Behalf Of Rick - NJ0IP / DJ0IP
    > Sent: Wednesday, February 23, 2011 12:43 AM
    > To: 'Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment'
    > Subject: Re: [TenTec] KPA 500
    >
    > It was on display in Orlando.
    > Eric said "they" were done with it an just awaiting approval.
    > He thought it would be a couple of months.
    >
    > I must admit, with the KPA 500 practically already available, the niche 
    > for
    > Ten-Tec to build a small amp has practically vanished.
    >
    > 73
    > Rick
    >
    > -----Original Message-----
    > From: tentec-bounces at contesting.com [mailto:tentec-bounces at contesting.com]
    > On Behalf Of JoshL
    > Sent: Tuesday, February 22, 2011 7:42 PM
    > To: tentec at contesting.com
    > Subject: [TenTec] KPA 500
    >
    > When does the KPA 500 become AVAILABLE ???
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