Solid-state options for 1500w with K3

[WX2S]

Hi, all,

I'm interested in going QRO after I hit my personal goal of making DXCC with 100 watts and a vertical. Rig here is an Elecraft K3 with P3 panadapter.

Would like to know if anyone else is running a 1500 watt solid state amp and ATU with a similar rig.

Thanks and 73,
- Steve (WX2S.)

[KF7BBJ]

Hi Steve,

Your options are very limited.  See the attached.  I have the THP HL-2.5kfx.  I posted a review of the HL-2.5kfx on eham recently.  The ATU is the MFJ-998.  Which rig. you have should not matter unless you are looking for band-change interface between the amp. and the rig.  GL.

THP HL-2.5kfx
THP HL-2500fx (spring 2013)
SPE Expert 2k-fa
Dishtronix - Prometheus

73,
Jonathan W6GX

[N4ATS]

Dishtronix - Prometheus

Full legal limit plus some...

[WX2S]

Dishtronix - Prometheus

Full legal limit plus some...

Eleven thousand bucks, stripped. 

- WX2S

[KD8MJR]

I second the Tokyo-HYPower 2.5KFX.  That's one hell of an Amp, they don't call it the 2.5KFX for nothing
All Tokyo HY-Power builds some of the best Amps, they pay attention to every detail and they have protection circuitry that catches just about any fault before damage occurs.

[ZENKI]

If you operate CW a lot I would  consider the THP 2.5KFX. The owner of   THP will always answer your email queries  and is very helpful. 

The SPE amps still have issues with CW timing and  failing  without warning. Several members in my contest club have had issues with these amps failing on CW.
These failing are not on the early model SPE amps with known issues, but the current model amps.

If CW is not an issue with you and you mostly operate SSB, choose the amplifier with the best IMD performance. The SPE amplifiers do have very good IMD performance on SSB.
The ones that I have tested  with my radios have clean signals, without the normal ALC induced splatter that you find on so many ham 1kw solid amps. The SPE amps seem
to handle transient power spikes very well.

I second the Tokyo-HYPower 2.5KFX.  That's one hell of an Amp, they don't call it the 2.5KFX for nothing
All Tokyo HY-Power builds some of the best Amps, they pay attention to every detail and they have protection circuitry that catches just about any fault before damage occurs.

[NN4X]

Dishtronix - Prometheus

Full legal limit plus some...

Eleven thousand bucks, stripped. 

- WX2S

You get what you pay for.  The HEAT SINK weighs 35 pounds!  Think of the Prometheus as a modern-day Alpha 77DX.  It would be the last amp you'll ever need to purchase.

73,
Steve
NN4X

[K7KB]

Eleven thousand bucks is just the tip of the iceberg. I'm sure the costs would go up considerably from the impending divorce that would occur after I purchased such a beast  

John K7KB

[KF7BBJ]

Eleven thousand bucks is just the tip of the iceberg. I'm sure the costs would go up considerably from the impending divorce that would occur after I purchased such a beast  

John K7KB

You could just leave the 35lb heat sink behind for your XYL.  It will lighten up the amp. considerably when you do move out of the house

73,
Jonathan W6GX

[K9AQ]

If you lower your goal to 1KW, you will find that you have a lot more cost-effective options and it would be very hard for someone on the other end to tell the difference between 1KW and 1.5KW. 1KW, or 1.2KW amplifiers, are available from Tokyo Hy Power, ICOM, Yaesu, Ameritron, and others, for way less money.

Don
K9AQ

[KF7BBJ]

If your main interest in SS amps. is due to their auto-tune capability there are several auto-tune tubed amps. that will easily do legal limit.

73,
Jonathan W6GX

[WX2S]

If your main interest in SS amps. is due to their auto-tune capability there are several auto-tune tubed amps. that will easily do legal limit.

73,
Jonathan W6GX

Yep, that was it. Plus reliability. Recos appreciated.

73,
-Steve EX2S.