Hi Ron,
Hope you had a nice weekend... I spent most afternoon last Friday rearranging things to welcome my brand new Elecraft KPA1500 into the KJ5MI family of ham gears.? After a weekend of fun getting to know the many available user-configurable KPA1500 features (e.g. Tech Mode) and doing real-world tests and evaluations, I even found time to update my QRZ page: yesterday.
The KPA1500 allows me to work 20M/15M bands with a 20M monobander and a 15M monobander connected to the Elecraft "Ant 1" and "Ant 2" ports, respectively.? In contrast, the LA-1K simply wouldn't allow its owners to do the same (known to me for months!) due to Palstar's inferior design implementation in grouping 20M-15M as one band-select choice.
What's more... All I needed is a simple serial cable for my Yaesu FTDX101D to put the KPA1500 in "Enhanced Mode" allowing for automated band switching, antenna selection and ATU memory setting recall in real time by acquiring the exact VFO frequency in the selected band of the FTDX101D, before ever keying up the transceiver.
I am keeping my LA-1K (bought direct from Palstar earlier this year) with the defective power switch in place, and pairing it with a MFJ (affectionately called Mighty Fine Junk) ATU to be driven by my trusty old fashioned Yaesu FT-857D by way of RF sensing.
Oh btw, I have received the 2nd replacement LA-1K power switch from Palstar last Thursday.? I will switch out the power switch when I decide to get rid of my LA-1K.
73,
Ray
KJ5MI
