Amp Suggestions

W9OY

I think an AL80B is the best **** for the buck amp in America.  With a 43ft vert you likely will need a KW tuner also.   

73  W9OY

VE6KWA

Yep... I'm admiring my Alpha 374 sitting across the desk. With  'Bandpass" or manual tuning options.  Never thought of it as an "autotuner" but in reality I guess it is.  Must have been a Gem in 1974   Still a keeper !

KY6LA_Howard

Mine was the Export Version with 3 tubes. 3KW. Could not be sold in the USA. So I did **** Ernhorn a favor at Dayton 1974 by exporting it out if the USA so he would not have to return it to the factory to remove a tube so it would be USA legal.

KY6LA_Howard

SPE USA. Is http://expertlinears.com now. Very much alive.

KY6LA_Howard

A SMart Cart Costa a lot less than a real car, runs on regular and can almost hit the speed limit. But I still can't imagine owning one.

Ross - K9COX

Now Howard, are you implying that some hams run more than the legal limit? Have you removed the tags from your pillows?

Walt

A nice DX-3SP from Emtron in Sidney will not let you down.  Even though it will do 4KW CW, you would, of course, reduce the power to meet legal limits.  And the tubes would last a long time (smirk).

Just make sure your dipole is made from #8 wire as a minimum .   #2 would be better . . . . 
If you hear them, you will work them . . .

Cheers

KY6LA_Howard

It's very nice to have lots of headroom when running 100% duty cycle modes. But for me at least it's no fun or challenge winning anything by cheating

dlwarnberg

Ok, so I went shopping and looked lots at Hamcation.. now here is the question.. of the amps you guys listed how many will work on the MARS frequencies... i.e. outside of the HAM bands???  I know that the Elecraft will out of the box (asked and confirmed), the Expert Amps will with mods (they only suggest the big boy 2K-FA), others just flat say NO..

David

Rob N4GA

My home brew LDMOS will TX anywhere with no tuning. 1-60Mhz, at least.

Mal G3PDH

Reference driving your pw1 from 6700, have you managed to interface with its CIV for automatic band switching of the PW1?

dlwarnberg

Walt, I'm seriously considering this combo.. KPA-500 and KAT-100... I've heard nothing but good things about elecraft in general, I dont have to mod the amp for MARS operation, not sure I need 2 bagillion watts been happy with 100 or less up till this point and once in a while needing a little extra boost.. 

I've considered several:
1) ACOM600S
2) Elecraft KPA-500/KAT-100 combo
3) Expert 2K-FA (only real option from them)
4) ACOM 1000

Decisions decisions.. 

KY6LA_Howard

I used to with DDUTIL. But have a 2K-FA now

KC2QMA_John

Yes LDMOS the only RF transistor that I know of that you can Directly short out and not damage the transistor!

This Transistor is going to be the future for HF RF Amplifiers. I’ll bet this is the transistor that flex will be using in the up and coming HF Amp I Hope.

1200W from one device!!!!

Don’t believe me then watch this video.

73, KC2QMA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ziYqjMQGEQ

Rob N4GA

Here's my build. 

Unbelievable performance. And not just because I built it. I've built many things that went right into the garbage.

KC2QMA_John

There are some rumors floating around out there that Ameritron may be coming out with a full legal limit HF amp using 2 of these devices. And they only cost between $200-$300 Each.  I believe there is now a 1400W version available.

This transistor makes Tube based RF power Obsolete.

BTW Nice build Rob!

73'KC2QMA

Rob N4GA

Thanks John. I'm looking at much nicer enclosures now. I'm a function over form guy but the function is now proven, so nothing wrong with improving the form at this point.

Joe WD5Y

I built a two module blf188xr amp that covers 160 through 54 MHz. It has complete filtering, protection for wrong band selection and antenna swr. It has auto or manual band selection with BCD circuitry that works with ddutil or other band selection input. Also, ALC feedback to flex, control board functions. It is totally remoteable as well. I have some photos on qrz. I built this from kits purchased from W6PQL. The amp is well protected, I did add a different method for selection of auto /manual band selection of filtering. W6PQL offers many kits or completed units.

73's
Joe
WD5Y Rob, Looked at your build really looks great! I am attaching a photo of my build. 73's Joe WD5Y

KC2QMA_John

Yes James W6PQL is a genius. I wonder what his legal limit amp cost as a kit or assembled?

Since these devices only require 50V  and run extremely cool My guess is in the future we will see a Transceiver with one of these built in! Imagine a Flex 7000 series with 1200W built right in. Well we can dream can’t we?

Looking Good Joe

73’KC2QMA

Joe WD5Y

W6PQL just came out with a transverter control unit for the flex, looks good. I believe a one module amp is around $3,000 built. I plan to put more photos on my qrz page when possible. I actually worked on the amp for approximately five to six months on and off. I did upgrade the combiner and directional coupler circuits (load protection circuits before and after LPF filtering), this was beefed up even more. The ALC works very good with the flex. Thanks, Joe WD5Y

Rob N4GA

Joe - nice amp! Send me an email or txt if you would. Want to ask you a few questions. rob.mccance@gmail.com or 7703667535

Thank you

dlwarnberg

Jim.. want to speak with you more regarding the elecraft amp..

Look me up on qrz and send me an e-mail please... KK4QOE

Basically am looking at the KPA-500 and the KAT-500.. I run DDutil and am curious if it will setup to follow the radio.. i.e. band change, auto tune, etc....

Rob Fissel

David, same setup. The KPA/KAT 500. With ddutil it's like having a 500w rig, auto antenna switching no tune. Works great when I'm running remote which was a big get for me. Full 500w out for digi (think RTTY and FSK441/JTMSK. PULL THE TRIGGER!

dlwarnberg

Thanks rob.. ordered the kat500 first to test with but this sounds promising

Dave KD5FX

Ya know, a vertical radiates equally poor in all directions, instead of an amp have you thought about a beam antenna that would boost your ERP and work equally well on boosting your receive signal? 
http://www.k4kio.com/hexbeam-vs-vertical/
73, Dave KD5FX

W9OY

which hex beam covers mars freqs?

73  W9OY

dlwarnberg

Dave, unfortunately I'm stuck... HOA, need I say more??  I have been lucky to this point with a 43' flag pole in the back corner of my yard with no flag on it...

Lee there is a new hex out that covers through 160 meters.. it's HUGE, 21 or 22' across I believe.. saw it at hamcation, they say it will cover MARS frequencies

Al_NN4ZZ

Dave & Lee,
Two of my HexLock  customers the 160-10 hexbeam.  Pictures and a link to the vendors page here:

http://www.nn4zz.com/hexlock%20customer%20pictures.html

Regards, Al / NN4ZZ  
al (at) nn4zz (dot) com
6700 - HW.................... V 1.6.21.77
SSDR / DAX / CAT...... V 1.6.21.159
Win10
 

dlwarnberg

Trigger pulled... :-)

dlwarnberg

All, just wanted to say thank you for all the suggestion's... I shopped and researched and finally decided on the Elecraft KAT-500 KPA-500 combination.

I can report at this time everything is together and working better then expected.  First call replies are now the norm.

Thanks Again

David
KK4QOE