They are not "better regarded"in Europe. They have always been CB amps in the eyes of most hams.
Its mostly new hams from the CB band who like using these horrible amps. RM HF amps have terrible IMD performance especially under dynamic voice conditions.
The positive reviews by well meaning hams are mostly flawed because they use incorrect measurement procedures. I cant see how any amp with -26db pep 3rd IMD figures is something that is acceptable for a high power amp.
The dynamic on air IMD performance of these amps when used with the typically ham transceiver causes terrible splatter. Hams who run these amps are very easy to spot with a SDR receiver.
I like others wont buy a solid state amp until the IMD performance at least matches the better tube amplifiers.
The last thing we need to do as hams is crap in our own nest just because its modern or new!
From: Jack Brabham <kz5a at att.net>
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] RM Italy BLA 1000 (was - KPA500)
To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
Date: Friday, September 10, 2010, 3:15 PM
? Seems like one of the list
regulars ran some test on a RM 200W amp
some months back, the gist of which was that it had
horrible IMD at its
rated power (200W) but had typical 13.8V? IMD numbers
at 100W.
So maybe it's actually a 1000W PEP amp and a some odd
hundred watt CW
amp, from a company with a poor reputation and no service
for $4 per
watt.???What a deal.
I think these amps are better regarded in the EU but they
probably
understand how to interpret Italian advertising? than
we do over here.
73 Jack KZ5A
???>? Not true, Look at the new
offering from RMItaly DLA-1000, matched
???>? pair of MRF157,
RM Italy's specifications are an outright
fabrication.? The MRF-157
is rated for 600 W PEP ... there is no way two of them
are going to
make 1500 W CW/RTTY or 1500 W PEP SSB and be
clean.? Of course RM
Italy's "amplifiers" are notorious IMD generators.
73,
? ? ? ... Joe, W4TV
Post by Mel FarrerNot true, Look at the new offering from RMItaly
DLA-1000, matched pair
???>? of MRF157, $4k ouch.
Post by Mel FarrerMel
From: Tony Fegan VE3QF<jafegan at rogers.com>
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KPA500
Cc: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
Date: Friday, September 10, 2010, 12:22 PM
Joe,
Why not stack 4 KPA500's and use a combiner!!!
73
? ? ???Tony Fegan VE3QF
On Fri-10-Sep-10 12:15 PM, Joe Subich, W4TV
Post by Joe Subich, W4TVThe one vacant market niche - and one Elecraft
appear to have avoided -
segment.? There are literally
Post by Mel FarrerPost by Joe Subich, W4TVdozens of 500 - 600 watt solid state amps and
several good products
Post by Mel FarrerPost by Joe Subich, W4TVat the 1000 W PEP level but there is nothing
that covers 160 - 6
W4TV
Post by Mel FarrerPost by Joe Subich, W4TV? ? ? ? Lew,
Except for issues related to physical
size, most of your rationale for
applicable to a 500W amp.
played into a vacant market
had focused on low-end, how cheap can
bloated barges for the money is no
Post by Mel FarrerPost by Joe Subich, W4TVobject crowd.
There is still nothing out there that is
competitive with the K3 on a
Post by Mel FarrerPost by Joe Subich, W4TVprice/performance basis.
The amp market on the other hand doesn't
seem to have any vacant niches,
and there are a herd of
market.
technical performance differentiation
Post by Mel FarrerPost by Joe Subich, W4TVbetween the low, mid, and high end amps on
the market today.? ???The
brand seems to be mostly driven
amp is packaged in.
determined to get into the amp
product differentiators
K3 appearance and size, maintains the high
some technical innovation for the
Post by Mel FarrerPost by Joe Subich, W4TVbuilt-in PS.
Considering that the principal product
differentiators are only germane
market is primarily "existing K3
market.? ? No doubt that will be
any case.
something more powerful with an
that would be interesting.
Post by Mel FarrerPost by Joe Subich, W4TV73 Jack KZ5A
On 9/10/2010 8:57 AM, Lew Phelps K6LMP
Post by Lew Phelps K6LMPI think some of the folks who are
calling for gigawatt amplifiers (ok, full legal limit...)
are losing focus on one key fact:? Elecraft has
prospered by making products that SOME hams want that NOBODY
else makes. The K3 is a perfect example: an exquisite
transceiver, quite arguably the best available at any price
if you're not a fan of big boxes with big buttons. It's
portable, can be expanded incrementally with modules to meet
any operator's specific needs, and it's 'way up in the upper
right hand corner of the value scatter graph (price on one
axis, performance on the other).
2KW amplifier market that would (a) differentiate it from
the others and (b)stay within the general confines of the K3
"style", which means compact, efficient, modular
expandability, and (probably) fit within the K3 form
factor.
meets those criteria. Modular? Yes; you could make the power
supply and an auto-tuner modular add-ons. Efficient? Yes.
Compact? No.? K3 form factor?? Not a chance. For
example, the Alpha 2KW amplifier measures 17.5w x 78.5h x
19.75d.? It weighs well over 50 lbs. It costs
$5000.? There is no way to build a large-output amp
that will fit within the K3 form factor. the physical size
of components needed to handle that power makes it
impossible.
asking Elecraft to step outside its well-defined and highly
successful approach to the market and build a "me too" legal
limit amplifier that Elecraft could not meaningfully
distinguish from the competition, except for the nameplate.
Amplifiers are not that complex, compared to the K3. That
lack of complexity is exactly why this is not a market in
which Elecraft could compete successfully. There's no way to
meaningfully differentiate its 2KW amp from others, except
for the nameplate. Yes, they would "include" their superb
customer support as a product feature. But I don't think
they could bring enough differentiation from the Alpha,
Tokyo Hygain, and other high end amplifiers already on the
market to break into that market at a volume that would
support design and production costs.
market. They are listening, and watching this dialogue. We
can keep that process productive by not asking Elecraft to
come out with a product that breaks the laws of physics.
It's a small company, with limited design resources. Let's
all encourage them to focus on new products that
realistically fit within the Elecraft market niche.
know...)
Make it at least 2KW PEP.? Got to make up for the tuner
and coax losses and to live on RTTY.
back the
Greg-N4CC
______________________________________________________________
Post by Mel FarrerPost by Joe Subich, W4TVPost by Lew Phelps K6LMPPost by Wes StewartElecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:Elecraft at mailman.qth.net
This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email
list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
______________________________________________________________
Post by Mel FarrerPost by Joe Subich, W4TVPost by Lew Phelps K6LMPElecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:Elecraft at mailman.qth.net
This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
______________________________________________________________
Post by Mel FarrerPost by Joe Subich, W4TVElecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:Elecraft at mailman.qth.net
This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
______________________________________________________________
Post by Mel FarrerPost by Joe Subich, W4TVElecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:Elecraft at mailman.qth.net
This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
______________________________________________________________
Post by Mel FarrerElecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:Elecraft at mailman.qth.net
This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
______________________________________________________________
Post by Mel FarrerElecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:Elecraft at mailman.qth.net
This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:Elecraft at mailman.qth.net
This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:Elecraft at mailman.qth.net
This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html