PowerGenius XL

Ria

Hmmm I am wondering too. Right now he's using SPE 2K-FA in at least one position and he has been at Flex HQ recently.

Lawrence Kellar KB5ZZB

Has the FCC made any modification to the 15db rule. It was out for public comment earlier this year

Ria

Nothing yet. 15dB rule is in place. 

Rick N4RZ

Being able to remote the tuner for the amp is a great idea!  

Ian1

Tim When do you think deposits will be asked for? Ian

Larry - WA7LZO

Steve K9ZW

Won't FRS first be able to legally take deposits upon FCC approval?

Would expect that deposits could be taken on the Tuner portion of the package if FRS were so disposed to do so (Hint Hint).

73

Steve K9ZW

Rick Hadley - W0FG

I'd put money on Craig going with the new amp.  I know Glen, W0GJ is.  He has is Acom's up for sale in anticipation.

Larry - WA7LZO

Lawrence Kellar KB5ZZB

I'm sure that to make as much money and recuperatie as much r and d as possible they will offer support for "legacy" radios. The Flex radio ecosystem is just too small.

k3Tim

hmmmm... old cars, saw a late 60's Chevelle-SS go for $225,000 at auction on TV today. 

Tim - W4TME

The PowerGenius XL will be able to interface to legacy radios.  However, they will not have the additional advanced features that will only be available to folks with a FLEX-6000 running SmartSDR.  That will be the differentiator.

dlwarnberg

Is there an expected price point on this unit?  US

Thanks

Ria

It would also be trivial for them to support legacy radios. 

Think of it - even the SPE Expert, alpha, Acom and other amps support legacy radios. There's a built in frequency counter to change bands and a band change button on the front to accommodate legacy radios without CAT. 

Joe Sands

Typo in QST ad... SO249 output connectors. Joe W7UV

Ria

"I'm guessing more like US$7000. "

Did I nail it or what? I had no inside info, I swear. 

KC2QMA_John

Now that the BLF188XR finals are only $200 each retail and that's if you buy 1 or 2 FRS buys them in bulk so more like $150 or less each. My guess is MFJ will have a full legal limit HF amp using them out in a few years and I guaranty it wont be $7000.

I just don't understand how you get to $7000 when the most expensive parts in the amp sells for $400, So where does the $6.600 come from. And BTW is it true that the $7000 is the only the introductory price for Pre-Order customers only and then the price goes up from there?

Oh and just think of what shipping and insurance will be on $7000

I have A legal limit amp now and it works great, By the time I'm ready for a new amp legal limit solid state amps will be under $2000.

No thanks I’ll pass for now.

Ria

Just as a side note, BLF188XR is basically obsolete now. I believe the PGXL is using the MRF1K50H which is capable of 1.5kw and not 1.2kw.  This is used in the new SPE 1.5K-FA and the later runs of the 1.3K-FA as well. (I believe mine has it). These are about $275 and in bulk will be less of course. Minor difference but worth noting. 

I am sure that MFJ/Ameritron will create an amp soon. But it won't be as nicely integrated and they will likely cut corners, both in quality and in features. It probably won't be true SO2R either. My friend K2EZ has an Ameritron solid state amp in her rover and it's nothing but problems. Has been back to the factory and is headed back again for a different problem. 

Note that I am not defending the $7000 price but if you want MFJ pricing you'll get an MFJ amp in all respects. 

KC2QMA_John

Yes the big problem with MFJ/Ameritron is quality control. But they are good products for the price and certainly not in the same class as Flex or the PGXL.

Maybe Icom, Yeasu or even one of these Chinese Co’s they may come out with a similar amp.

These is no doubt that the PGXL will integrate amazing with the 6000 series and will **** the doors off of anything from MFJ/Ameritron but I still don't see how you get to $7000.

Ria

"SO2R at half the price of competing solutions" is how.  It was priced with the market,  about the same as an Acom 2000a and cheaper than an Alpha 9500. 

4O3A Signature

Hi everyone,

Every product has multiple elements that determine the buyers:

• Quality

• Price

• Design

• Functionality

• Subjective reasons etc.

PG XL features two MRF1k5 output transistors. It gives full legal limit power on SSB with good IMD and over 2000W on other modes. This is what everyone will initially look at when weighing the price.

What other features does PG XL have that are worth considering? A sophisticated unique system of control over every element of the amplifier. At the time of writing this is the only amplifier that controls every element from the motherboard: power supply, RF amplifier, LDMOS working class, amplification etc. Bulid in MEffA and APC

Analyzing the price of an amplifier by only looking at the price of the output transistors makes no sense. GU78 valve costs 300-400$ and amplifiers using it cost 5000$ or more. You need to have two for SO2R. I assume we all know that transistors can not work without  BIAS and output circuit, power supplies, output filters, control....and all that needs to be fitted in a box. Projections of solid state amplifiers priced at 2000$ while retaining quality are incorrect and frivolous. Of course, I do not doubt they will appear at some point and have their place in the market, based on what they offer.

73

Ranko

Jim Miller

This sounds like a nice amplifier and I would be interested in one even though I do have a SPE 2K-FA that works wonderfully with my 6300 and I get magnificant signal reports with the radio and amp.

Jim Miller

I wonder what this amplifier will cost?  I paid around $6,000 new direct from Rome for my 2k fa with a 2 year warranty anthough it would have to be shipped to Rome for repairs.  On the other hand it would be nice to have everything serviced in Austin since it is only about 100 miles from me.  I visited their location once.

Ria

$7000 is the current price. $1000 deposit gets you a reservation

Larry _ NY8T

http://expertlinears.com/

Craig K9CT

I did not see the post until just now....sorry. I have ordered three Power Genius already. All of the 87As will be sold. 

FYI, I have tested a Beta Power Genius for the last few weeks. I used it on SO2R RTTY and CW without any issues. We also used it for the CQ WPX SSB with two radios interlocked for M/2. We ran two radios on 20m...running on one and S&P on the other. The radios cannot transmit at the same time. The amp ran as if it were two amplifiers...one on each radio. 

Recommend.....

73, Craig K9CT

Bill Turner

Hi Craig:  Since you have actually operated a PGXL, maybe you can tell us since nobody seems to know:  Does the amp have a built in antenna turner or not? If not, what is the SWR tolerance before one is needed?

Thanks,

Bill, W6WRT

Craig K9CT

Hi Bill

No tuner....

My antennas are mostly 1.5 or better SWR at 50 ohms.

Some limits are set in software and I have not hit a limit! This might be something that they tweak before production. I will play with this in the next week or so. 

73, Craig K9CT

Ken - NM9P

I remember reading a spec sometime back that said it was pretty forgiving, but I don't remember the SWR limits.

Ria

There is no ATU and Ranko has said it will shut down with more than 2.5:1 swr