ACOM 2000 - Thinking of Giving up on PowerGenius

Bill -VA3WTB

Russ Ravella

Pat N6PAT

Bill -VA3WTB

It would be very difficult to get the contesting community to use low power or QRP

HCampbell WB4IVF

Neal_K3NC

Russ Ravella

Thanks Howard!

Neal Pollack, N6YFM

Pat N6PAT

I suggest leaving political references out of the conversation. Touching upon that topic regardless of your point of view is guaranteed to start a ruckus

Rick N4RZ

Actually, the comparison of the Flex, SPE, and Elecraft on coming out with a full power amp to the market after first announcing it is interesting.  I believe it took over two years from the first demo of a 2K-FA at Dayton before one was ever delivered and they first announced a Splitter/Combiner for their amps over 5 years ago and still have not released one for sale.  As for Elecraft, they first showed a legal limit amp at Dayton around 2006 and finally brought a legal limit amp to market last year with fewer features and over a 50% increase in price.   Their excuse for not moving forward with the amp at that time was that they were a small company and wanted to prioritize their newly released K3 transceiver.    

Bill -VA3WTB

Neil, I really do not see the point your making, sorry.
Are you questioning the valitity of the letter? what is it?

The letter is very timely in that it says they are ramping up to full production. They have not been able to meet full production yet because of some setbacks.

I thought I would pass it along, take or leave it as you wish...
Makes no difference to me...lol

Chris DL5NAM

Lasse Moell

FRED W9TB

John,

I also got the KPA1500 for the same reason as you. I like to spend my money on American products. My station is 90+ percent American. The first KPA1500 only lasted about one hour and stopped working. They had me a replacement on the way two days later. Got it 3 days later and never cost me a penny.

I love the KPA1500 and the fan noise in the power supply is no louder than my PC.

73, Fred W9TB

[Deleted User]

I like the KPA-1500. Had mine about 6 months now and works flawlessly. Have the Elecraft Flex cable hooked up to it and band switching works great. No noticeable fan noise here. It just hums along.

Bill -VA3WTB

If you mean transmit together? the answer is no. How ever as one is transmitting the other radio can move around on the band or change bands and have the amp follow as the other radio is transmitting, in that way, yes both radios are using the amp at the same time.

KF4HR

Burch - I'm planning on doing exactly the same thing when my PG-XL arrives; connecting a Flex-6700 and a 2nd rig to inputs A and B.  As I mentioned above, as far as I know the only the PG-XL provides two thru-put paths at the same time.  This was an issue of contention for me with my ICOM PW-1 and other amps I've owned.  I could use either the A connection, or the B input connection, not both at the same time (with one being amplified).  A 2nd rig connected to most amps is rendered useless, even for receive, when not selected.  I'm glad the PG-XL design went a step beyond in this regard. 

Russ Ravella

Justin Smith

I am torn between buying the Elecraft KPA1500 now or waiting for the PG-XL. If both amplifiers were available now, are there any compelling reasons to favor the PG-XL over the KPA1500? (price is not a deciding factor). Thank you.

DL4RCE

Hi Justin, full integration of PGXL into SmartSDR, no extra PTT cable, full SO2R support (no other amp can do this), higher peak output power, it is one unit, not two (additional cabling), MEffA algorithm which cares for good output signal, high pass filter dummy for additional supression of unwanted harmonics. KPA1500 does have a tuner, which for some hams is a reason. 73 Volker, DL4RCE

Bill -VA3WTB

Justin, the PG-XL is more amp than most people ever need. If you need an amp that will TX at hight duty for extended times without any effect on the amp, or you want an amp that operate with two radios at the same time, then maybe?

Or if you want an amp with the very best in it's class protection? then maybe.
If you want an amp with a built in power supply so you can take it anywere and set up then maybe.

If you want an amp that works with a Flex radio seamlessly with few connections or from another room away from your radio with only a Lan cable. then maybe.

The PG-XL TX is cleaner then the KPA 1500 due to the 4 amp biaseing as oppose to the 1500 2 amp. And the built in harmonic filter not found in most other amps.

Other than that I would go with the KPA 1500 in a heart beat. Well made, great support, and very quiet. Many people have them only using the center fan on the back running at low speed, on SSB none of the other fans should kick in. And they update the firmware often.

W2PP

ctate243

Although I am a proud and happy PGXL owner, I have to comment that a good pair of GU-74 tubes should outlive most of us unless abused.


Justin Smith

Thank you, Bill and Volker, for your spot-on answers to my question. I am fortunate to belong to a group of hobbyists whose experts are so willing to share their knowledge.

Eric Gruff

Michael N3LI

just a note: Two friends have KPA-1500's. Well, actually Elecraft has them at the moment. Blown finals I believe. The two I have at our club station have been  doing okay, but I've been policing them like a hawk.

I hope this doesn't become a common problem, because the KPA1500's are a joy to use. But if I was in the market for an amp, I'd wait for the PG amp.

Michael N3LI

Our station KPA1500 power supplies are mounted under the desks to help with noise.  They do make a bit. 

Pat N6PAT

What about the KPA500? Is it as durable as I've been told?

Bill -VA3WTB

Pat, it is like anything, depends how you use it. I know of a few people that cooked the PA in the KPA 1500 because they drove it to hard. If you keep things under a little bit they should last a long time. I have a good friend that owned a KPA 500 for many many years without any problems, but he never drives it very hard.

Russ Ravella