Looking for clean SS HF PA w/QSK - part 5 (Elecraft)

Hi all,

"Everything goes very well with the FCC approval and there will be the KPA1500 linear amplifier official announcement soon on Elecraft list and Elecraft pages as informed Wayne, N6KR few weeks ago....

Short time after I noticed the note that FCC approval arrived and KPA1500 is ready for orders! Official announcement then appeared on the Elecraft pages as same as on the Elecraft mailing list quickly.

So new 1,5kW Solid State HF-6m PA w/QSK was born in Elecraft and it comes to be available worldwide. soon

As you know my preview parts talked about:
SPE EXPERT 1.3K-FA
ACOM 1200S
JUMA PA1000
LINEAR Amp Gemini HF-1K
Azden AZR-1000


The Elecraft KPA1500 is 1500 watt PEP output, MF, HF and 6 Meter linear amplifier. It utilizes the latest LDMOS transistor technology to provide a robust desktop amplifier in a compact cabinet, with an included companion power supply that can be located off your desktop.

The Elecraft KPA1500 was designed with the serious operator in mind. Its no-nonsense front panel shows all important parameters at a glance, with a high-contrast 32-character LCD and fast, bright LED bar graphs. Band switching is instantaneous, via control inputs or RF sensing. Protection and monitoring circuitry is extensive and foolproof, letting you focus on the job at hand — breaking pileups and overcoming the most difficult operating conditions. And it wouldn’t be an Elecraft amp without robust PIN-diode T/R switching. Like the KPA500, the KPA1500 offers fast QSK without a noisy relay!

So it looks like there is "thanks god" second 1kW+ SSPA with silent, fast and well working QSK system on the market...

The amplifier’s rugged internal ATU can handle full power with load SWR up to 3:1, while a wider matching range is allowed at lower power levels, including up to 10:1 in standby mode.

Compare to their preview products initially this KPA1500 will be available in Factory-built form only.

According to Elecraft announcement an introductory pricing is $5,995 U.S. This includes the 1500-watt linear amp. internal tuner and separate switching power supply.
Compare it to other amplifiers on the market and you will notice that it is not so bad.

The most important KPA1500 features:

- 1500W RF output
- Very compact design
- Fast, silent PIN diode T/R switching system
- Built-in Antenna Tuner with dual antenna jacks
- Compatible with nearly any transceiver
- 160-6 meters

Freq. (MHz)	Pin (W)	Pout (W)	Gain (dB)
1,9	63	1500	13,8
3,75	60	1500	14,0
5,35	50	1500	14,8
7,15	69	1500	13,4
10,125	50	1500	14,8
14,175	75	1500	13,0
18,11	81	1500	12,7
21,225	75	1500	13,0
24,93	67	1500	13,5
28,85	61	1500	13,9
52	78	1500	12,8

New KPA1500 solid-state amplifier won’t take over your entire desktop: it’s just 4,5 x 13,5 x 11,5” (HWD; 11,5 x 34 x 29 cm). The lightweight companion power supply can be placed on the floor or in any other convenient location...

According to the user guide the duty cycle at 1500W out is 10mins key down / 5mins standby.

Interesting functions:

- Automatic Band Switching mode
- Manual Band Switching mode
- Coordinated K3 and KPA1500 Band Switching mode
- Remote PC control using RJ-45 or USB
- Power meter internal calibration procedure (PWR ADJ)
- Internal automatic band selection w/master-priority to protect KPA1500
- Icom, Yaesu and BCD codes available to incorporating w/other radios

Thanks to Martin, OK1RR and OKDXF you can find more details here(CZ) or as follows:
KPA1500 User Manual.pdf
KPA1500 Pics outside.pdf
KPA1500 Pics inside.pdf
KPA1500 EMC test protocol.pdf
KPA1500 EMC test pics.pdf
KPA1500 Spectrum purity.pdf


If you remember the LinearAmp Gemini HF-1K
http://www.linamp.co.uk/gemini_HF.html 
implemented the fully solid state QSK switching. No relays. Diode switched system turned of hard by a 300V rail.

So there is another competitor on the market with robust PIN-diode T/R switching and even more power up to 1,5kW.


KPA1500 Shipments are planned to start Mid to Late October against the backlog.

Links:
KPA1500 Flyer.pdf
KPA1500 FAQ.pdf
Ordering info


73 - Petr, OK1RP
"auf die Dauer hilft nur Power" (Erich, HB9FIH)

Looking for clean SS HF PA w/QSK - part 4 (Azden)

Hi all,

next part of my investigation on the market in order to find highly reliable, output clean, compact, solid state HF-6m bands PA with 100% working, smooth QSK at around 1-1.2kW heavy-duty output and standard radio interface is here...


As you know my preview parts talked about:
SPE EXPERT 1.3K-FA
ACOM 1200S
JUMA PA1000
LINEAR Amp Gemini HF-1K

After the Japan Ham Fair I realized that two new SS amps by AZDEN are coming to the market. As I read somewhere already the AZR-550FZ looks a lot like a Tokyo Hy Power clone and the second bigger brother the AZR-1000 looks a little like an all black SPE Expert 1K...

What can we find at that moment (as Azden has nothing on their pages in Ham radio Products section yet) is as follows:

Azuru/Azden Corporation is a booth of HamFair 2017 at the company’s booth, HF (1.8 to 28 MHz band) + 50 MHz band linear amplifier “AZR – 550 FZ (maximum output 550 W)” and “AZR – 1000 (maximum output 1,000 W)” using MOS FET We released two models. Both are small and lightweight by adopting switching power supply.

● AZR-550FZ is a compact and lightweight HF band linear amplifier. By adopting the switching power supply, the total mass is only 9.2kg, it is very convenient to carry.

● MOS FET (4x MRF 150 in parallel) adopted. Maximum output is 550 W. It has the characteristics of broadband amplifier, only band filters switching are adjusted.

● Supply voltage range from AC 100V to 240V without switchover, wide range of operations can be performed not only in Japan, but also overseas DX-peditions.

● Drain current (ID), drain voltage (VD), output power (PF), reflected power (PR) can be measured with a multimeter, and the operating status of each part can be easily confirmed.

● Protection circuit is carried for each part protection. Over input, SWR excessive, abnormal overheating, drain overvoltage, overcurrent.

● Size: 232 W × 142 H × 392 D mm, Weight 9.2 kg

According to the company, this linear amplifier is domestically manufactured and the auto antenna tuner is not installed. It is a reprint version of HL – 550 FX that was released from Tokyo Hy Power. It is scheduled to be released within the year.

● AZR-1000 is a compact HF band linear amplifier. By adopting a highly efficient switching power supply circuit using SiC, it has become compact and lightweight.

● Use MOS FET (8x VRF 151 in push-pull). Maximum output is 1,000 W (SSB/CW) It adopts low distortion broadband amplifier, it can obtain 1,000 W typical power.

● Supply voltage range from AC 100V to 240V without switchover, wide range of operations can be performed not only in Japan, but also overseas DX-peditions.

● Operation status can be easily controlled by LCD display.

● Protection circuit is carried for each part protection. Over input, SWR excessive, abnormal overheating, drain overvoltage, overcurrent.

● Size: 370 W × 200 H × 300 D mm, Weight 15 kg

The display of the AZR – 1000 is a touch type and the size is 7 inches. This is for the operation of the built-in auto antenna tuner.

According to the company, this product is equipped with an auto antenna tuner of type that measures the impedance of the antenna and takes matching. In addition to the SSB/CW, RTTY etc. can also get output of 1,000 W, they says. The display is a touch type, and it is possible to connect to each company transceiver of the type that outputs band data. The product is domestically manufactured, the release is scheduled for 2018.

The AZR-1000 has six antennas switch implemented. Each antenna can be assigned to each frequency. That means, if you preset antenna and the frequency into the AZR-1000 and when transmitting, the AZR-1000 recognizes the TX frequency and switches antenna as preset. That is not all. The AZR-1000 will adopt silent switching mechanism. Some conventional ATUs alter relay sound noise. The AZR-1000 will reduce the noise sound drastically. The show model is only for displaying. "Concept of the AZR-1000 has been finished. Now we make samples and test." A staff said at Tokyo HamFair...

There is nothing about the T/R switching circuitry but it sounds promising. On the other hands remember all of the horrible T/R switching circuits in Japanese radios for past years so we should be very careful and wait for more detailed information and field tests of the QSK feature!

The AZR-550FZ should be offered at 285,000Yen ($2600).
The release date for AZR-1000 will be 2019. Price might be less than $7000.

Links:
Azden at Hamlife.co.jp
Azden.co.jp
QRZ.com

Do not hesitate to email me in case of translation help needs...


73 - Petr, OK1RP
"auf die Dauer hilft nur Power" (Erich, HB9FIH)