I want to run the amp from 120 volts (possibly switch it to 240 in the future if possible)
I think I want a linear amp (suggestions)
Not necessary to go full legal limit (think 1000 watts will be plenty)
So, what are you experiences with Amps that work well with these Flex radio's?
I thought I read somewhere FLEX is looking to make an amp, what is the latest info on that?
Thanks
David
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Posted 3 years ago
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:)
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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....
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If you run a 1000w amp on 120vac, and plan to run full power, I recommend using a dedicated 120vac 20A circuit, as the 120vac circuit you choose may have other loads (lights, radio equipment, etc). If you don't have a dedicated 120vac 20A circuit another option is to limit the output power of the amplifier.
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KY6LA - Howard, Elmer
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1150w on 20 key down
never misses a beat work a lot of dx
instant on n ready ...tuner etc great
def would buy another
cheers
Simon
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73,
Doug K4DSP
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The TX IMD suffers at the higher power levels, however.Nothing that a little adaptive pre-distortion couldn't fix.
73, Barry N1EU
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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..
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It may be useful to consider what modes you like to operate, as that defines the duty cycle: I like to run digital modes such as RTTY, JT9, JT6m etc. and these are harder on the amp (I have the excellent Acom 1000) but it strolls along at 350 watts or so.....matched to my 6300.
Think too whether you want valves or solid state; manual or auto-tune. do you want 50 MHz too? built in ATU? and so on.
in other words...have a think about what your needs are now, and could grow to be..and then look for a match. I'm sure many of the main candidates have already been proposed....
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Mainly the amp would be used for SSB Voice.. I am finding I can hear stations easily yet they can't always hear me (I equate this to the superior receive abilities of the FLEX 6500)
As far as tuners are concerned, I have the ATU in the 6500 as well as a separate Palstar AT2K. So a built in tuner in the Amp is optional to me, but for quick band switching (Chasing DX) the built in tuner would be of great benefit.
I currently don't really do much with 6 meters, however there is always the possibility that when I retire (yes thinking about retirement finally) I plan on property where I can have the antenna to be able to work 6 meters as well, right now I'm limited...
Thanks
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If you are using a vertical, make sure you have plenty of radials.
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KY6LA - Howard, Elmer
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The 2K-FA will key down about 2300W into a dummy load all day and keep on ticking.. It is almost completely idiot proof, it is instant ON - Definitely my preferred AMP especially when I am remote because it is idiot proof...and I sometimes do idiot things 10,000 miles away...
The ACOM's and ALPHA'a are HOT.. Quite Noisy...Take 3-4 minutes to warm up and use very expensive tubes that need to be replaced regularly (if you abuse them in contesting) and likely will become unobtanium....They do produced better IMD than does the Solid State Amps. but not that significant in contests as the other guys will copy the crappiest signal for a Q
I personally prefer that Autotuning Amps - my first Amp was the first autotuning Alpha 374 (Serial #1) i bought in 1974 which spoiled me for autotuning amps forever... My first Solid State Amp was a PW-1 - which spoiled me for solid state amps forever... Nothing like QUIET, Instant On, Instant OFF, COOL Running Solid State Amps for operator comfort.
Ultimately it depends how much $$$ you are prepared to spend. Almost any amp will do something for you (Life is far too SHORT for QRP)....
Heatkits are long at the tooth but proven reliable IF they were asssembled by someone who knew what they were doing..The Ameritron Amps work.. their quality is questionable and I would not want to depend on one for a contest... It's a toss up between the Alpha and ACOM.. Alpha is USA Made (?).. ACOM is a clone but less expensive.. The 500W Elecraft is cute but like a Smart Car.. why would anyone want to drive a small thing like that.. The PW-1 is getting pretty long at the tooth for a Solid State Amp... There are a few Yaesu Quadra's around.. good solid performer for a 20 year old design but crappy interface...The current hottest AMP on the market is the SPE 1.3K... same features are the 2K but 60% of the power in by far the lightest and smallest package.. it is easily the favorite of DXpeditions..
Dayton,. Being Dayton.. if you can wait until May.. who knows what 4A3O and Flex may announce....
KY6LA - Howard, Elmer
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KY6LA - Howard, Elmer
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KY6LA - Howard, Elmer
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But I still can't imagine owning one.
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KY6LA - Howard, Elmer
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But for me at least it's no fun or challenge winning anything by cheating
Lee, Elmer
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73 W9OY
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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
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David
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:)
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73's
Joe
WD5Y
Rob,
Looked at your build really looks great! I am attaching a photo of my build.
73's
Joe
WD5Y

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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
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Thanks,
Joe
WD5Y
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Thank you
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http://www.k4kio.com/hexbeam-vs-vertical/
73, Dave KD5FX
Lee, Elmer
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73 W9OY
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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
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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
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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
Peter K1PGV, Elmer
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Just to update this thread from a month ago:
I've also recently started considering an amp/tuner combo. To make a long story short, the lead-time for the SPE 1.3K-FA is currently projected to be just a bit less than ONE YEAR (this, according to Bob Hardie of Expert Linears). And that's a projection, not a guarantee. The cost, with tuner, is about US$5K, including CONUS shipping.
The KPA/KAT combo ships more or less from stock, and costs about US$3K. And while the technology isn't really quite as cool as the SPE, it's probably more of in the range of power that I'd use. I'm really not a full kilowatt kind of guy.
So... that's the latest update.
Peter
K1PGV
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I don't personally see the "Flex model" of SDR as a viable portable station. I've given a good deal of thought to what would get me to purchase a "portable Flex" and a product could be made, but right now it's not in Flex's lineup. I have a KX-3 for portable use that works great.
Anyway, the rack was custom made by NovexComm , based on their K3 rack and extended to have the KAT-500 sit on top. We had some problems with their aluminum shelf holding the weight of the KPA-500 but I talked it over with them and we added some U channel stiffeners across the shelf near the front and rear feet to solve the problem. I highly recommend NovexComm, they really went the extra mile to accommodate my request and their prices were reasonable.
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If I had it to do all over again, this time I might have chosen an MFJ-998 - It seems a bit more "polished" with a more informative display (you just have to play "Russian Roulette" with MFJ's poor excuse for Quality Control).
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I have the same concern with MFJ products. No regrets on not getting the internal tuner?
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The trouble with antenna tuners is that their actual power rating depends to a degree on what the SWR is that they are correcting and the amount and kind of impedance they are using to get near to 1:1. The LDG has published ratings of 1,000W SSB PEP, the MFJ has published ratings of 1,500W. Perhaps there is a difference in design that allows for more power handling, perhaps it is just the marketing department being creative...
When I chose the LDG it had the widest match range 1:10 (the MFJ model was a dream in a circuit designer's mind). I figured that the SPE was designed for 1.3KW at most, so I would try not to pour on full power until I got very comfortable with my present setup.
I haven't tried to max out my SPE 1.3K yet I'm waiting for a LP-500 to evaluate linearity and distortion parameters.
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