I'am looking for a PA with about 100-200W output. Can anybody recommend a PA?

73 de Uwe

Hi Uwe
To answer your question I don't think it matters which amp you use but obviously a modern solid state amp is probably the best answer eg. KPA500, Expert 1K or 1.3K etc. These amps have good protection, do not need an ALC connection with the Sun and give a variable output. You do need to use a PTT line from the SDR (pin13 from memory) to the amp.
Personally, I use an Elecraft KPA500 which gives a variable output of up to about 600W. A lot of the UK contests are for a maximum of 100W so I just reduce the drive level of the SunSDR2P accordingly to give 100W output from the KPA500.
I already had the Elecraft Amp as I also use a K3.
73
Ray G3XLG

Hi Ray,
Thank you for your answer. My ATU and antenna does not allow power above 200 watts at the moment. The KPA500 is very pricy but will maybe the best solution. The PA is like the TRX placed upstairs and I do not have any direct control. The PA should bypass HF when PTT is off. In case of antenna missmatch the PA should recover without alter power. The KXPA100 may also be a valid PA.

73
Uwe HB9FZG

HI Uwe
i am usine à HLA 150 for sure this amplifier doesn't have ATU
www.rmitaly.com/index.php/en/products/amplifier/item/746-hla-150-plus/746-hla-150-plus
You have also his brother
www.rmitaly.com/index.php/en/products/amplifier/item/749-hla-300-v-plus/749-hla-300-v-plus

Don't Spend your money with elecraft amplifier!
If you wants more info email me
Best 73 lolo

Hi lolo

The HLA 150 has poor performance when it comes to signal quality and CW operation
funkperlen.blogspot.com.es/2015/02/funkperlen-reloaded-hla-150-verschluckt.html
www.w8ji.com/rm_hla-150_test.htm

Of cource, the Elecraft HXPA100 is much overpriced for use with an TRX other than Elecraft.

I found today another PA which seems to be the right one: www.jumaradio.com/juma-pa100/
It's looks like it is somehow open source too.

73, Uwe

Hi Uwe,

did you find a solution for PA ?
Initially I've looked at HLA 300V and HLA 150V, I've seen other are using these amplifier without many issues.
Asking wimo.de about warranty, they offer only 6 month for HLA-150V ...

@Ray
Ray, are you able to output only ~100W on KPA500 with SunSDR2 PRO ?
How much power do you need for input, 1, 2W , does it drive properly KPA500?

Thanks !
73, Dan

Hi Dan

I have now the JUMA PA100-D PA (is a kit). There are two versions available. One with turning knobs and analog meter, the other with buttons and digital display as well as autosensing band mode. I have the digital version.
It produces about 100W with 8W input. It comes with good protection circuits like SWR, power, wrong band etc. Building took me about five evenings. The only problem is, the capacitors in the LPF must be replaced with mica types. One on the 40m band put up in smoke during testing. Other builders had the same problem. See the JUMA forum.
The PA has an RS232 connection and can communicate with JUMA, YAESU-817 and KX3 radios for selecting band etc.
The design is about 8 years old and the software is no longer maintained by the inventors. But the unit is well documented and it is very easy to repair.

Because I run this unit remotely, I get in contact with 5B4AIY for implementing some RS232 protocol to control the PA over web using a Raspberry Pi as webserver. He has developed many improvements in the firmware.

www.jumaradio.com/juma-pa100/

Thank you Uwe!
I'm also running now a remote transceiver and for the future I plan to run SunSDR2 PRO remote so I would need an amplifier that can be controlled remote.
KXPA100 tempt me now and perhaps KPA500 for the near future although both are quite expensive, 950Euro for 100W amp ... (a new Kenwood TS-480 SAT (100W) is cheaper ) but perhaps elecraft products have a better resale price.
Doing the math, SunSDR2 PRO + KXPA100 is more or less in the same price range like a Flex 6500.

Thanks!
73, Dan

Hi Dan
The Elecraft KPA500 actually outputs about 700W with 20 - 25 Watts input (depending on the band). Elecraft recommend a MAX Input of 30W only to the KPA500.
So using my SunSDR2Pro, I can easily get about 450W from the KPA500, with 12 - 15W drive. Reducing the SunSDR2Pro drive to 1 or 2 W reduces the KPA500 output to 40 to 100W.
I also have the KAT500 Tuner in line, this requires the full TONE/TUNE output of the SunSDR2Pro to tune properly but works just fine with a PTT line from the Sun to both the Tuner & the Amplifier.
73
Ray G3XLG

Hi all,

I am using a BLA 350 for the Anan 10 and the SunSDR2 Pro. This works perfectly. The PTT control cable is easy to build itself for the SunSDR.

73 de DO6BJ / Thomas