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Inferior Design Implementation
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To sum things up... As stated in Ray's post /g/la1k/message/1261 an SWR as high as 2:1 is acceptable, and yet Paul (NO0T) observed that his LA-1K went to bypass as SWR went to 2:1 to protect the finals.? This clearly demonstrated yet another case of inferior design implementation found on the LA-1K amplifier.
In his defense of the LA-1K, Kent (K9ZTV) writing, in part, "My Elecraft KPA500 folds back to half-output at 2:1 and goes into the red zone (cautioned as "critical" in the manual) above 2:1." in his post /g/la1k/message/1262 yesterday.? But, the KPA500 Owner's Manual: states, in part, on Page 35 "For ease in reading the critical SWR levels, the SWR LEDs are green from 1 to 1.5. The 1.5 to 2.1 SWR LEDs are yellow and the LEDs for SWRs above 2.1 are red."? It is important to note Elecraft stating that "LEDs for SWRs above 2.1 are red" as opposed to "goes into the red zone (cautioned as "critical" in the manual) above 2:1" as Kent observed in his Elecraft KPA500. In an attempt to obtain clarifications from Kent in my post /g/la1k/message/1264 yesterday, of which I haven't received a response as of this writing, I had amended it to point out that the Owner's Manual of the Elecraft KPA1500 (their top-of-the-line amp/ATU machine) states "SWR bargraph: The SWR LEDs are green from 1 to 1.5. The 1.5 to 2 LEDs are yellow and the LEDs above 2 are red" and "The bargraphs are color-coded green for normal, yellow for marginal and red for excessive levels.? Excessive levels may trigger a fault and switch the KPA1500 to STBY" on Page 18 and Page 27, respectively.? It is important to note the Elecraft KPA1500 may trigger a fault and switch to STBY if and only if it encounters excessive levels (above 2:1) of SWR. An SWR as high as 2:1 is acceptable for the Elecraft KPA1500.? SWR reference material for all to consider: 73, Ray KJ5MI |
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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 |
开云体育Ray, ? All of these issues you stated that the LA1K cannot do is incorrect. I am doing the same thing here with my LA1K as you are with your new Elecraft. ? Only difference is im using a 6m monobander on Ant 2 and not a 15m monobander. A simple serial cable is all I needed for auto band switching with my LA1K. ? So your remarks of the LA1K not allowing its owners to do the same is untrue. ? Sounds to me your upset and decided to slam the LA1k build and sales pitch your KPA1500 and paid a lot more for it than the LA1K. ? If I had the money, I would also buy a KPA1500 but I don’t, but doesn’t give reason to slam the build quality of the LA1K. I don’t care either way but think your complaints are way out of line here over a simple light in a switch. ? I love my LA1K and enjoy it as it does exactly what its made to do. Nothing more. It is what it is. ? Enjoy whatever you like. In the end, its about being happy with your purchase. ? 73 Barry ? VE6UM ? ? ? From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of tuneupmagic (null) via groups.io
Sent: May 8, 2023 3:42 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [la1k] Inferior Design Implementation ? Hi Ron, |
开云体育
I too love my LA1K. When shopping I contacted Elecraft. I called them. They didn't answer so I left a message. No response. I emailed them. No response. I called Palstar and talked to Eva. She took a freshly build unit and sent it. I can't recommend them enough.
Steve W7CM
From: [email protected] <[email protected]> on behalf of Barry <barplo@...>
Sent: Monday, May 8, 2023 2:57 PM To: [email protected] <[email protected]> Subject: Re: [la1k] Inferior Design Implementation ?
Ray, ? All of these issues you stated that the LA1K cannot do is incorrect. I am doing the same thing here with my LA1K as you are with your new Elecraft. ? Only difference is im using a 6m monobander on Ant 2 and not a 15m monobander. A simple serial cable is all I needed for auto band switching with my LA1K. ? So your remarks of the LA1K not allowing its owners to do the same is untrue. ? Sounds to me your upset and decided to slam the LA1k build and sales pitch your KPA1500 and paid a lot more for it than the LA1K. ? If I had the money, I would also buy a KPA1500 but I don’t, but doesn’t give reason to slam the build quality of the LA1K. I don’t care either way but think your complaints are way out of line here over a simple light in a switch. ? I love my LA1K and enjoy it as it does exactly what its made to do. Nothing more. It is what it is. ? Enjoy whatever you like. In the end, its about being happy with your purchase. ? 73 Barry ? VE6UM ? ? ?
From: [email protected] <[email protected]>
On Behalf Of tuneupmagic (null) via groups.io ?
Hi Ron,
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On Mon, May 8, 2023 at 05:57 PM, Barry wrote:
Barry, You are not doing the same thing there with your LA-1K as I am with my new Elecraft.? Same thing = using a 15M monobander on Ant 2.? Using a 6M monobander on Ant 2 is okay with the LA-1K since 6M is a band-select choice all by itself.? Your LA-1K won't allow you to use a 15M monobander on Ant 2 and a 20M monobander on Ant 1, the way I can with my Elecraft KPA1500.? Bottom line: If you are still of the same opinion "So your remarks of the LA1K not allowing its owners to do the same is untrue." then you are reinventing the truth, my friend. Btw, I had a telephone conversation with Mark Ward (Palstar technician) on their inferior design implementation in grouping 20M-15M as one band-select choice, shortly after I received my LA-1K.? Mr. Ward thought at the time surely the LA-1K would allow a 20M monobander on Ant 1 and a 15M monobander on Ant 2, if I wasn't using RF sensing.? So Mark tried doing it without RF sensing and was unsuccessful in making the LA-1K to permit a 20M monobander on Ant 1 and a 15M monobander on Ant 2.? Case closed! In terms of you saying "A simple serial cable is all I needed for auto band switching with my LA1K."? So, is your LA-1K also acquiring in real time the exact VFO frequency in the selected band of your transceiver, without ever transmitting?? I don't think so, Barry. In terms of you saying "Sounds to me your upset and decided to slam the LA1k build and sales pitch your KPA1500 and paid a lot more for it than the LA1K."? Please take time to go over my 5-Apr-2023 post /g/la1k/message/1182 in which I pointed out the KPA1500 is a bargain comparing with the USD $3,695.95 LA-1K (just 1kW) and the USD $1,695.00 HF-AUTO combined; totaling USD $5,390.95. So truth be told! 73, Ray KJ5MI |
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Ray,?
I think I can speak for a number of this forum's members. You aren't happy with your LA-1K, you didn't like your "Mighty Fine Junk" Amp. Now, moving on to Elecraft, I would bet that in a few months, you will be picking it apart! That's fine, it's America and the 1st Amendment is great.....but for the sake of a lot of us, please move along.....We get your point :) Peace and 73 K8MCN |
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From: [email protected] <[email protected]> on behalf of K8MCN Kelly <k8mcn@...>
Sent: Tuesday, May 9, 2023 7:29 AM To: [email protected] <[email protected]> Subject: Re: [la1k] Inferior Design Implementation ?
[Edited Message Follows] I think I can speak for a number of this forum's members. You aren't happy with your LA-1K, you didn't like your "Mighty Fine Junk" Amp. Now, moving on to Elecraft, I would bet that in a few months, you will be picking it apart! That's fine, it's America and the 1st Amendment is great.....but for the sake of a lot of us, please move along.....We get your point :) Peace and 73 K8MCN |
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From: [email protected] <[email protected]> on behalf of K8MCN Kelly <k8mcn@...>
Sent: Tuesday, May 9, 2023 7:27 AM To: [email protected] <[email protected]> Subject: Re: [la1k] Inferior Design Implementation ?
Ray,?
I think I can speak for a number of this forum's members. You aren't happy with? your LA-1K, you didn't like "Mighty Fine Junk." Now, moving on to Elecraft, I would bet that in a few months, you will be picking it apart! That's fine, it's America and the 1st Amendment is great.....but for the sake of a lot of us, please move along.....We get your point :) Peace and 73 K8MCN |
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On Wed, May 10, 2023 at 01:05 PM, Fred, W9KEY wrote:
Geeeez - I'm in awe of the extraordinary amount of bitching & complaining over a silly burned out bulb in a switch!Hey Fred, when searching for a schematic drawing package for the LA-1K, I came across John Whitt's webpage (AI4FR) where he has a detailed account of numerous serious issues relating to his brand new LA-1K. This link will take you to said webpage.? Please read it very carefully to fully appreciate the serious nature of the problem. Oh btw, you will find in this post /g/la1k/message/1436 seeing other LA-1K owners, having like issues, might tend to agree with Mr. Whitt (AI4FR) that "In the end I have learned that Palstar makes a great tuner but that can not be said for the LA-1K which I think is their first venture into amplifiers. They are happy to take your order but if there is an issue it will be your fault. Also, question them at your own risk..." 73 Ray KJ5MI |
Ron - WD8T
Eric Clanton
Fred, W9KEY