#1180

Following a helpful phone conversation, my LA-1K was returned for repair (under warranty) for a known manufacturing problem.

It was repaired in a timely manner, upgraded to then latest specs and promptly returned.? The only minimal cost I incurred (at my request) was a replacement of quieter fans and T/R relay.? They even paid shipping both ways.? I was very pleased with the service I received and would not hesitate to recommend their equipment.

73 ..... Fred,? W9KEY

#1181

开云体育

Nice to know Ray,

?

This is only my 2^nd amp since 1984. Old one was SB220 and was ok, but not as good as this amp (full 1k out, warc and 6m&160m). Wasn’t cheap for paying exchange rate to US dollar. Came out to $5000 CAN. I would have rather lived in the USA and paid $3700.

So if some of you are griping about how much it cost, try paying $1300 more, and I had to send mine in for repair and due to customs and shipping (NOT CHEAP. Add $500 more for this) because of a bad Capacitor. I never had any issues with Palstar and found them very

nice over the phone. Just wish there was a Canadian repair depot if ever needed to save border and shipping costs. Not fun playing the Customs game.

?

Further good news. Since the repair, amp has been rock solid. I use this amp nearly every day. And run it a lot, especially during contests. Trust me, this LA1K amp has many hours on it and is only a few years old. I use it on 160m to 6m and is a very dependable and reliable addition to my

Station. I am hoping this amplifier will last me as long as the good ole SB220 has been around (as my SB220 was used) for over 40 years. Only the test of time holds true to such matters and so far so good. As for Amplifiers in general, I own 2 other as expensive amplifiers for my home theatre

and they are also solid state and 1 had to go in for repair (only a year old) for a blown centre channel. Who knows how long electronic parts last… Just because it says made in Canada or Made in USA doesn’t mean the parts are made there. Maybe in some cases the word “Assembled”

may be more appropriate. However, I do believe the LA1K to be of excellent craftsmanship from my level of expertise.

?

73

Barry

VE6UM

?

Show quoted text

From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Michael Kelly
Sent: April 4, 2023 10:05 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [la1k] 120/240V switch?

?

Thanks Kent, I wish all owners would look at the product overall instead of cranking about it.? My LA1K is over 2 years old with moderate use, never a hiccup?running 750-900 wts driving at 40 watts.? Tuner is AT2KD running into a Zero 5 40 meter vert. which I use on 15 meters also. Very good sig?reports. I have owned and used several amps since being licensed in the early 1970s and find this one to be the best if the bunch (sb 220, B&W 2500, Acom 1000, National?NCL 1000, home brew 4-1000, )? Mike N1BLW

?

On Tue, Apr 4, 2023 at 11:34?AM tuneupmagic (null) via <tuneupmagic=[email protected]> wrote:

Lol.. anybody heard of counterfeit semiconductor devices??
?
73,
Ray
KJ5MI
?

On Apr 4, 2023, at 10:46 AM, k6wez <kj6wez@...> wrote:
?
More misinformation. Those devices are readily available. Just got 1 off ebay. Several dealers selling brand new from $ 125.00. Also Amazon.?
?
On Tue, Apr 4, 2023, 3:13 AM tuneupmagic via <tuneupmagic=[email protected]> wrote:
Hi Fred,

In his Nov-2018 ARRL review of the LA-1K, Dr. Terry G. Glagowski, W1TR, states "Palstar has changed to a different input relay, and they updated the review unit under warranty."? Sounds to me the LA-1K has been a work in progress, with poor KPP (key performance parameter) design requirements, from day one!? I couldn't agree more that the circuit forcing the amp into standby if hit with too much power, should have been part of the original design.
Oh btw, in the same ARRL review of the LA-1K, Dr. Glagowski states the amp has "a pair of NXP MRFE6VP5600H 600 W LDMOS transistors and a 50 V switch-mode power supply."? In this NXP page you will find that the OEM states "Not Recommended for New Designs" referring to the MRFE6VP5600H.

Seeing that those original LDMOS transistors have been deemed obsolete by the OEM, likely with limited sources of supply, sure hope the ones currently installed in the LA-1K would stay fully functional for a long, long time.

73,
Ray
KJ5MI

#1182

On Mon, Apr 3, 2023 at 04:26 PM, Joe Loverti WW8X wrote:

As for Chinese-made components used in their gear, most manufacturers these days have great difficulty sourcing parts which cause long delays in fulfilling?orders. I suspect most of the parts in most electronic equipment being made today are largely comprised of foreign-made parts. That does not surprise me at all. But I can tell you firsthand the people at Palstar are indeed assembling, testing, packing, and shipping their products in-house.

Joe,

Since I am already an Elecraft paying customer, acquired my KX-2 Shack-in-a-Box from Elecraft during their 2018 Black Friday sale event, thought I would contact their tech support folks to get an idea of their ability to purchase the necessary parts for their KPA1500 1.5kW amp w/internal ATU, that is in-stock and ready to ship, as of this writing on April 5, 2023, for only USD $6,699.95 (free shipping).? That's a bargain comparing with the $3,695.95 LA-1K (just 1kW) and the USD $1,695.00 HF-AUTO combined; totaling USD $5,390.95, as of this writing. ? Paying 24% more for a full-legal-limit solid-state amp (with internal ATU) that is truly made in America is a no-brainer!

It was shortly after 1200 hours (California local time) when I reached out to Elecraft at 831-763-4211 yesterday.? A lady answered my call on maybe the 3rd ring, and promptly got me on the phone with the Elecraft tech support individual.? When asked, the gent advised me Elecraft has absolutely no problems acquiring components for their KPA1500 from reputable USA vendors/suppliers (no eBay and/or PRC stuff) at the present time.? Adding that Elecraft outsources to nearby American companies to manufacture their CCAs (circuit card assemblies) to include populating said CCAs with parts provided to them by Elecraft.? Then he told me the KPA1500 is being put together in their in-house production facilities -- truly made in the USA!!

Oh well, I didn't think I would need a 1.5kW amp (and definitely not an automatic antenna tuner of any kind) otherwise the Elecraft KPA1500 would have been on the very top of my shopping list.

73,
Ray
KJ5MI

#1183

Ray,

I trust you'll be happy with your Elecraft purchase. I don't have any experience with them, but I understand they are excellent! Yes, 1.5kW is sweet! But, likely your antenna will play a larger role in signal reports than the power output at those levels. And, yes I never thought I'd want an auto-tuner either, but since having my Palstar HF-Auto, I wouldn't want to go back.?

Cheers and 73,

Joe WW8X

Show quoted text

On Wed, Apr 5, 2023 at 6:25?AM tuneupmagic (null) via <tuneupmagic=[email protected]> wrote:

On Mon, Apr 3, 2023 at 04:26 PM, Joe Loverti WW8X wrote:

As for Chinese-made components used in their gear, most manufacturers these days have great difficulty sourcing parts which cause long delays in fulfilling?orders. I suspect most of the parts in most electronic equipment being made today are largely comprised of foreign-made parts. That does not surprise me at all. But I can tell you firsthand the people at Palstar are indeed assembling, testing, packing, and shipping their products in-house.
Joe,

Since I am already an Elecraft paying customer, acquired my KX-2 Shack-in-a-Box from Elecraft during their 2018 Black Friday sale event, thought I would contact their tech support folks to get an idea of their ability to purchase the necessary parts for their KPA1500 1.5kW amp w/internal ATU, that is in-stock and ready to ship, as of this writing on April 5, 2023, for only USD $6,699.95 (free shipping).? That's a bargain comparing with the $3,695.95 LA-1K (just 1kW) and the USD $1,695.00 HF-AUTO combined; totaling USD $5,390.95, as of this writing. ? Paying 24% more for a full-legal-limit solid-state amp (with internal ATU) that is truly made in America is a no-brainer!

It was shortly after 1200 hours (California local time) when I reached out to Elecraft at 831-763-4211 yesterday.? A lady answered my call on maybe the 3rd ring, and promptly got me on the phone with the Elecraft tech support individual.? When asked, the gent advised me Elecraft has absolutely no problems acquiring components for their KPA1500 from reputable USA vendors/suppliers (no eBay and/or PRC stuff) at the present time.? Adding that Elecraft outsources to nearby American companies to manufacture their CCAs (circuit card assemblies) to include populating said CCAs with parts provided to them by Elecraft.? Then he told me the KPA1500 is being put together in their in-house production facilities -- truly made in the USA!!

Oh well, I didn't think I would need a 1.5kW amp (and definitely not an automatic antenna tuner of any kind) otherwise the Elecraft KPA1500 would have been on the very top of my shopping list.

73,
Ray
KJ5MI

#1184

On Wed, Apr 5, 2023 at 10:18 AM, Joe Loverti WW8X wrote:

And, yes I never thought I'd want an auto-tuner either, but since having my Palstar HF-Auto, I wouldn't want to go back.?

Hey Joe,

You brought up a good point about using the HF-AUTO with your LA-1K.? Here's a video clip I created several days earlier when getting my 6M antenna system ready for the often spring season band openings.? If I had the HF-AUTO operating between my 6M antenna system and the FTDX-101D, things would have turned out differently.? Oh btw, my FTDX-101D was inadvertently left on LSB.

Please note I dialed up the Yaesu RF output power to 100W, then transmitted on 50.125 MHz (calling frequency on 6M) with the LA-1K on STBY.? Observations: While my LA-1K indicates 1.6:1 SWR, the Yaesu indicates 1.2:1 SWR.? My Rig Expert AA-55 Zoom indicates 1.28:1 on 50.125 MHz for my 6M antenna system on the LA-1K end.

I am thinking the LA-1K could misinterpret a given SWR of an antenna system (i.e. inflating the number) resulting in all kinds of undesirable amp shutdown events.

Question:
When operating your HF-AUTO/LA-1K combination at greater than 900W PEP (SSB) on various HF frequencies, had you sometime encountered your LA-1K stopped transmitting due to excessive drain current (Id) in the middle of your QSOs?

Thanks,

73
Ray
KJ5MI

#1185

In my humble opinion, this thread has run its' course.

radiorusso

#1186

开云体育

Agreed !!

On 4/6/2023 9:38 AM, K8MCN Kelly wrote:

In my humble opinion, this thread has run its' course.

--
Russ Hummel Artic northern lights master

#1187

I notice the same issue here. ?Yaesu FTDX3000 indicates little to no reflected power nor does my Ten Tec tuner yet the LA-1K shows 1.7 vswr. ?Anything over 1.7 takes the amp of line. ?Kinda fussy. ?I love the amp though.

#1188

My LA-1K SWR reading matches what my LDG-1000proII and LP100A meters show on most of my antennas but I'm using mostly resonant antennas so I don't rely heavily on a tuner.? I don't put much faith in the SWR reading accuracy on my hf rigs.? Putting 1kw through a tuner into a non-resonant antenna may contribute of the different SWR readings.?

#1190

Just FYI...

As shown in my Rig Expert AA-55 Zoom display (pics attached to this entry) the resonant frequency and lowest SWR of my 40M antenna are at 7.239 MHz and 7.194 MHz, respectively.? So, resonance occurs only at 7.239 MHz for my 40M antenna.

73,
Ray
KJ5MI

40M Ant Resonance at 7.239 MHz.jpeg

40M Ant Lowest SWR at 7.194 MHz.jpeg

#1191

Why is this listed on the LA-1K Forum?

Jerry Webb, KB1N

Show quoted text

On Fri, Apr 7, 2023, 16:54 tuneupmagic (null) via <tuneupmagic=[email protected]> wrote:

Just FYI...

As shown in my Rig Expert AA-55 Zoom display (pics attached to this entry) the resonant frequency and lowest SWR of my 40M antenna are at 7.239 MHz and 7.194 MHz, respectively.? So, resonance occurs only at 7.239 MHz for my 40M antenna.

73,
Ray
KJ5MI

#1192

Good question, Jerry.

A couple of days earlier, Joe, WW8X, brought up a good point here about using his HF-AUTO with his LA-1K. That led to some discussions on whether or not one really needs an automatic antenna tuner, like the HF-AUTO.? Then Ron, WD8T, wrote earlier today "I'm using mostly resonant antennas so I don't rely heavily on a tuner."

Thought I'd share here the relationship of antenna system resonance vs. SWR in the absence of an antenna tuner the way I operate my LA-1K with my YAESU FTDX-101D.

73,
Ray
KJ5MI

#1236

Mine is a 2020 Ser. 34924 and has NO switch.. ...