I’m considering getting an external HF PA for some SOTA expeditions. Something driven by 5W-10W or so ( so compatible with either my KX2 or IC-705 ) to boost the power to 30W-50W.
Apart from the MX P50 power amp and the Micro PA-50+ (which needs a few mods to bring its performance up to acceptable) are there any other such ready built amps on sale new? I know there is the Hardrock 50 but it’s not listed as available yet.
There are second hand items like the Tokyo Hy-power 50W unit. ( I had one and sold it, damn!) Anything else?
I have a Yaesu FL-110 which is a 100W amp when driven by 10W. But it’s thirsty and weighs over 2.5kg and seems to be made from used battleship armour plate. I don’t want to use up over 10% of my luggage allowance before I consider how to get enough batteries to power it on the plane!
If you can get the latest version of the Micro PA-50+ most of the inital issues are gone.
I have just added a TRRS (4-pin 3,5mm plug) cable to trigger a MX P50 from the KX2 which worked fine as far as I can tell. I would still consider that as the goto regarding size/weight/features.
Other options I can think of Xiegu XPA125B but that is even heavier with 3.85 kg but is driven with 5W
The Neptune / 60dbn amp is from Ukraine as far as I can tell and looks interesting. But no experience
At the cheaper end of the scale - it says it is 3-30MHz - worrying is that it is sold as a CB amplifier though.
I wouldn’t believe those output power claims either and the input current is somewhat worrying.
73 Ed.
In German shops the BJ300 is sold for 25 - 30 MHz… i.e. a CB power amplifier.
Like so many, it is of course overstated when it comes to its performance data… and it will work in C mode, which is ok for FM and CW… but not for SSB. In addition, it does not have a low-pass filter in the output.
Afternoon Andy
I use an MXP, or one of Virgils (K5OOR) HF packer amps.
They appear used occasionally, I use the version that has the removable LPF boards.
Pretty bomb proof and very clean, and with the copper heatsink (later versions) can run digital modes if needed.
There was talk a couple of years ago about a new updated design that covered 160-10m but not sure if it ever went on sale.
Tim
G4YTD
For one minute there Armin I thought you were as crazy as me… then my linears are one for HF and one for 2m. The total load of 3.265kg with batteries is pretty impressive. You must use helium filled batteries.
Edit: just checked the nearest set up I have which is based on separate enclosures inside my back pack
MX-P50 HF linear in enclosure with PL259 to BNC adaptors 782g
2m Linear in enclosure 556g
PTT cable 40g
1:49 103g
40m EFHW and feeder 253g
2 x 4.2AH LiFePO4 batteries 1052g
DG Auto-ATU in enclosure 828g Total 3614g
