|
New to Ham Radio?
My Profile
Community
Articles
Forums
News
Reviews
Friends Remembered
Strays
Survey Question
Operating
Contesting
DX Cluster Spots
Propagation
Resources
Calendar
Classifieds
Ham Exams
Ham Links
List Archives
News Articles
Product Reviews
QSL Managers
Site Info
eHam Help (FAQ)
Support the site
The eHam Team
Advertising Info
Vision Statement
About eHam.net
|
|
You can
write your own review of the SPE Expert 1K-FA.
|
ON4VP
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Dec 13, 2011 03:30
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
So much more than a linear amplifier
|
Time owned: 3 to 6 months
|
I owned an Acom 1000 for over four years. Sold it three years ago. After midsummer 2011 I was looking for QRO power again and a fellow operator pointed my in the direction of the Expert 1K-FA. I carefully read all the reviews and comments and I was lucky to find a second hand revision 3 model less than two years of age and in a very mint condition.
This little box, not that much bigger than a base station radio, is so much more than just an amplifier. It controls two radios and four antennas. It even can do SO2R (single operator, two radios). It has a fast tuner on board matching antennas up to 3:1 and can be programmed to switch to two different antennas per band. Awesome.
Besides connecting almost every supported brand of radios you can also make the Expert sense RF to read the band, frequency, and change antennas according to this information. When PTT is pushed either of both connected radios is activated.
So far nothing than great features. I knew that the Acom 1000 is one of the most quiet amplifiers on the market so I'm rather critical to fan noise. The 1K-FA makes a bit more noise but in all aspect, even in contest mode with all 7 fans running, I can keep it on my desk without to much noise.
The only thing that I would change in the design is the solo fan that is running from start up. The Expert has to be "on" all the time because of the tuner, band selector, etc. This means even while listening one fan is always running. Not to loud but in a quiet shack I would prefer to have no fan running until really necessarily.
So I changed this by implementing a fan controller board thanks to a review done by DC5WW. Building on his idea I changed my 1K-FA this way that no fans are running from cold start until first time TX. This means the amplifier is noiseless as long as you are listening to all bands. A great improvement that SPE should implement in the next software release.
Apart from that personal touch, I think this solid state linear amplifier is really, really a fantastic piece of engineering. I use it at 600 watts most of the time. It can run pile-ups for hours and not even get hot. In full power mode, the output is even a bit better as advertised.
This is one of the finest pieces of hardware I have in my shack right now. Since the 2Kw version is out, some are selling the 1Kw version. Don't hesitate to get one. You will be spoiled. No more time to waist on tuning, working a rare dx instantly and switch bands, etc... in a split second. No warming up, flip the switch and work the dx. Awesome.
Info on the modification, build on the idea of DC5WW, can be found trough my page on qrz.com.
|
|
DK7LX
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Dec 13, 2011 01:44
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Superbe!
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
|
Gave away my ACOM and purchased this fantastic machine. All I can say: plug and play! I have it connected to a FT-2000D. Making the CAT-Connection is no big deal either. It blows out 1,2 KW on each band and works almost silent unlike other PAs. To be on air instantly without tuning and heat up time etc. is just a dream. Definately worth its prize.
|
|
IK1MDF
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Dec 5, 2011 09:59
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
A LOT!
|
Time owned: more than 12 months
|
I think that any OM should use this stuff! You keep your IK-FA off... did u Listen for a DX? In 5 seconds 1K-FA is ready to operate! No more tuning, no more whistles, no more warm-up!!! Think it over!
73 de IK1MDF N1LOR A25DF 8Q7DF
|
|
I2DMI
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Dec 3, 2011 00:42
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Wonderful toy!
|
Time owned: more than 12 months
|
Last summer I operated as CE0Y/I2DMI from Easter Island. Transceiver was a Kenwood TS-480 with an EXPERT 1KA amplifier and N1MM+MVARI software. I am very satisfied from both the hardware and software. I made about 2800 QSOs in RTTY only (AFSK mode) by using 550/600 watts of my Expert. I used it in HALF POWER and CONTEST mode. The PA temperature never went over 65°C at full duty. The fans were very quiet and I could operate while my wife was sleeping in the room. I had no RF problems so far with my DELL 6600 PC. The apparatus has never shown operative tiredness considering that the activity was made in RTTY only.
My main concern had to deal with the air transportation and the potential damage to the amplifier. I was granted by SPE that their packaging (double boxing) was guaranteed to any kind of shipping, across the Atlantic as well. I trusted in them and luckily the Expert went to E.I. and got back to Italy safe (abt 25.000 KM), along with the cases and the antenna.
Just to have an idea of the intense activity done in RTTY, please watch the video you can find at the bottom of my homepage:http://www.mdxc.org/ce0yi2dmi/
73 Frank I2DMI
|
|
W9AC
|
Rating: 4/5
|
Oct 22, 2011 18:41
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Highly Reliable Design
|
Time owned: more than 12 months
|
I purchased my amp two years ago from SteppIR. It's been a reliable amp with no difficulties and it attains full output power on all bands. The amp interfaces nicely with my transceivers although I would like to see SPE offer an output vacuum relay and/or PIN diode option.
The amp produces quite a bit of fan noise as the PA deck temperature rises but that's something owners must live with for solid-state convenience. Output power falls off a bit too as the PA deck temperature rises.
I like the amp for its no wait time power and its solid construction solid quality, but I would not rely on it as my only amp. Tube amps still offer much more cost-effective operating headroom capability and generally, output power remains constant with PA deck temperature.
|
|
N4DXB
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Sep 29, 2011 22:32
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Awe-inspiring Amp!
|
Time owned: more than 12 months
|
|
One of my favorite items in the shack. This has changed my operating procedure for the better. I have complete confidence in the amp and it's incredibly accurate tuner. It is connected to my TS-2000 and responds immediately to my changing the bands on the radio, and tunes as soon as I press the PTT. Seeing the internal temperature of the amp on it's front display is so helpful when you are operating full power. There is a half power button on the front to dial back the power output when you don't need the full 1kw (it's actually 1.1 - 1.2kw). I feed the output through a Array Solutions Power Master SWR meter to see what is really coming out of the amp. The backlit display and the compact size of this unit make it a great, but very pricy (and heavy)addition to the shack. This amp, purchased in 2008, has helped me make contacts from San Diego to New Zealand, South Korea, European Russia, and southernmost South America, as well as all the US and Canada. It feeds a Windom Wire at 55 ft and a Steppir Small Vertical with 60 radials.
|
|
IZ1TMF
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Jul 21, 2011 05:06
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Great Solid State Amplifier
|
Time owned: more than 12 months
|
This amplifier work great!!
Really fast (two second ) and you are in frequency, without tune or turn knob for more than minute like a lot of others amplifiers. All is under control, SWR,Power,Alarm and more.Quiet and no warm added in your location when is in recive or in stby, and really compact for the size ideal for expeditions, the best one with the antenna tuner inside all included.
For my point of view is a balanced union of cost and performace for the radioham with medium budget to spend for this class of amplifier.
|
|
PY2ADR
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Apr 3, 2011 12:03
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
1 year on
|
Time owned: more than 12 months
|
After 1 year - still rocking !!!
Mainly DX & Contests (SSB, CW and DATA on 1/2 pwr)no problems at all. The pwr drops a little bit after a long time running but not a big deal.
Completly satisfied.
PY2ADR / ZY2C
|
|
YV5AM
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Mar 31, 2011 11:35
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Great amplifier in small and easy to carry package
|
Time owned: more than 12 months
|
I picked up my amplifier at the factory in Rome on my way to the IARU-R1 Conference in the fall of 2008. I hand carried it in his convenient padded bag thru Dubrovnik, Frankfurt, Madrid and finally home Caracas. No trouble on any of the 3 airlines or airports.
The amplifier has been used in activation of some of the Venezuelan rare provinces and prefix like YV8 and YV9, promoted by the Radio Club with some inexperienced and young hams as operators. Once connected the amplifier to the antennas and the exciter an IC 7000, after configure the right antennas to the bands in use and going once thru the tuner settings I confidently let the novel guys operate knowing that no damage can be done,. The linear tracked automatically the band changes, if something went wrong the many protection features worked fast.
The voltages taps on the transformer primary is much convenient, when once the line voltage was very low I changed to the 100 volts tap and the rig keeps working happily. At home I use the 220 volts tap.
I bought the amplifier with the idea to be used during our IOAT islands hopping in Venezuela and possible DXpeditions but later I am using it almost all the time at home, and the big and heavy tube amplifier with the “longest” three minutes delay has been relegated to one corner of the shack
|
|
WC4X
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Feb 21, 2011 15:40
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Great amp-Loads of features
|
Time owned: 6 to 12 months
|
About one year ago, I got the wild hair to get rid of my QRO HF 2500 "rock crusher" in favor of something a little smaller with the ability to do quick changes between bands to support my mostly casual operating style. Wanting to go all solid state without totally breaking the bank, the "race" was between the THP and the SPE. I have good friends who own both and they are very satisfied with their respective decisions.
My decision was made at Dayton last year---and it was a close call---but the advanced features of the SPE won me over. I received my new amplifier in June 2010.
Steppir was very good at keeping me informed throughout the order and delivery process. They have also been excellent in responding to the two issues that I have had. They are;
1. My unit had a defective fan that produced way more noise than it should. Steppir sent me a new fan as soon as I made them aware of the problem. Easily replaced and --problem solved.
2. One of the front panel switches (Input 1/2) did not work--I only noticed it in December when I tried to use that feature for the first time. Once again, Steppir responded immediately to my quiry and after a few e mails back and forth it was determined that in fact the front panel switch was defective. Steppir put their east coast rep, Jim Streible on the case. Since I live relatively close to him, Jim actually came to my home and did the repair on the spot. Now that's service definitely above and beyond what is expected or required.
The amp itself is a dream to use. It interfaces perfectly with my 756 Pro 3 and computer. I do not miss the difference in power between 1.5KW and 1KW. At half power it is hardly working. At full power it is definitely working but not stressed. I especially appreciate the protection built into the unit to save me from those times that the wrong antenna is selected. The protection works well---every time.
In summary, this is a great little amplifier with ample power, good protection circuitry, and in the US supported well by Steppir. I have not regretted my purchase decision.
|
|
If you have any questions, problems, or suggestions about Reviews,
please email your Reviews Manager.
|
|
|
|
|
