Palstar LA-1K Review - 1 kW Solid-State LDMOS HF amplifier (6 to 160M)
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 29 มิ.ย. 2024
- Here’s a full review of the Palstar LA-1K, it’s a 1 kW dual LDMOS solid-state HF linear. It covers from 6 to 160 meters. The LA-1K as RF sensing allowing automatic band switching without having to interface the radio. It has a very nice color display touch screen which includes a power meter and a live SWR meter. It supports up to 3 antennas. Despite a low IMD distortion of -35dB it supports "pure signal" (low distortion) with a dedicated RCA port to connect your SDR. You can update the firmware via the front USB port.
For more information, please visit:
www.palstar.com/en/la1k/
73 Pascal VA2PV - วิทยาศาสตร์และเทคโนโลยี
Just took delivery on this amp. Brought in 240V wiring for it and the amp runs very quiet. I am very impressed with the reports I am getting with it too.
Thanks Pascal for that accurate review, as usual very interesting, keep up the good work...!
Thank you Serge, merci! 73 Pascal VA2PV
My LA-1K was shipped to me in supposed fully working condition. However when it arrived, the power supply was D.O.A. So, living in Ohio, me, my wife and our good friend Brian took a trip to Palstar just down the road off Hwy 75. When we got there, I told Paul about this and he said " did you bring the Amp?". I told him that I did and he told me to bring it in. Without a word to me he asked Mark to open the amp and take a look, to see what the issue was. Mark took it apart super quick speed and determined that the power supply was indeed dead. So, Paul asked Mark to install a new power supply on the spot. Mark answered all of my many questions and Paul did as well. In less than a hours time, Mark had not only installed the new power supply and tested for operation, but he re-calibrated all bands and he installed a copy of the latest firmware, not on the site yet. My amp is NOT under warranty, yet Paul and Mark did this for me for less than $160.00. I have to say that not only is Palstar equipment the best I have ever used but, Paul, Eve, Mark and the gang treat you like family. Palstar forever!!!!
I'm glad to hear what you have said. I was going to buy a Yaesu V-1000 but they cancelled my order after a month when Yeasu stopped making them. Then the store offered me an Ameritron AL-80B, I thought not. Then i found Palstar. I will say their customer service is first rate. Cannot wait to get the amp and matching tuner up on the air.
Nice to see more amplifiers moving to LDMOS technology. These are going to be very robust amplifiers, and perfect for remote operation. Nice review!
Thank you Anthony. 73 Pascal VA2PV
Great review
Very in depth and informitive
Thanks
Awesome video! Thanks for the review.
Thanks for watching Mark. 73 Pascal VA2PV
Thank you for the review.
Thanks for watching William. 73 Pascal VA2PV
Absolutely love this amp. Great video. I know a few folks who own one. Their a pleasure to operate. I use an acom 1000 which is also an awesome amp. I also have the HF auto tuner. So at some point I will purchase the Palstar amp to match that. It will work awesome with my flex system. 73s AA1US. .
I love it too ;-) Thanks for watching! 73 Pascal VA2PV
Love the amp. That might be what I need, being I don't own a amp yet. Great video, thank you for sharing this.
Thanks for watching. 73 Pascal VA2PV
I'm new to the hobby but in all my reading Palstar seems to be really well constructed pays attention to detail. Even the cosmetics.
I agree with you. The LA-1K is a very good amplifier. I have the LA-1K and the HF-Auto in my shack.
Richard I just purchased the HF -Auto and love it, I am in the market for a solid state amp 1k+ . Question. If you work the LA-1K hard how loud are the fan(s)? Thank you.
I enjoyed your video very much. I have reviewed it a number of times. I since have purchased the LA-1K , and Auto Tuner as well as the DL2K. I also want to let you know that you use the word VERY 26 times in your video.....
I know, it's like "ok" ;-) 73
Very nice video and thanks for sharing. I have a question concerning the HF coverage of this amp. Is it a continuous coverage amplifier even outside of the Ham bands? I operate on MARS frequencies when are outside of the Ham bands and need an amplifier such as this for my MARS operations. Any information would greatly be appreciated. Thanks.
Thanks for the video Pascal - on the back of your TS-890S what are you connecting to to access PTT to run line to amp?
Love your shack!
I bought the LA-1K and HF-Auto. They are very well made, and work very well. I would like to see Palstar modify the firmware on the LA-1K so that the Output Power sampling rate is increased, and it displays the peak value on the display, and places a purple vertical bar in the bargraph at that peak value. The frequency data can be moved to the right.. There is a German ham that has built his own ldmos amplifier, and he is sampling his output power at 10,000 times a second, so he captures true peak values and updates the display more frequently. The Output Power display isn't fast enough for the SSB mode. What do you think?
I listened to your review and just bought the LA-1K amp. Very nice amp. How do you set your ALC base value, I have read the manual but not sure if I am operating it correctly.
I keep my drive low and adjust it manually, I have multiple HF radios I prefer not using the ALC. For this type of interconnection I recommand you read carefully your radio and the amplifier manual prior of doing the connection. I used all the time the LA-1K and love it. 73 Pascal VA2PV
I am W2UH, Hiram. Nice video. I do have some questions since you have had this amp for some time. I disregard the reviews left 1 week after receiving the unit. To me those don't count. 3 questions:
Do you still have the amp? If so is it still performing the same way as in this video?
If you do not have this amp any longer then why not?
Have you ever had to have it repaired?
Thanks for your time de W2UH, Hiram
Thanks Pascal for your video. I just picked up an LA-1K. Curious when you performed the test what was your RF Level and Mic Gain Level. 73's de N9AOU
Hard to say, I don't even remember the rig I used ? 73 Pascal VA2PV
I know this was from a year ago, but I'm looking at one of these amps. Great video. How come you didn't get the matching hf-auto tuner too?
I had bought my MFJ-998 prior to the amp and the Palstar equivalent was too expensive at the time. 73
He doesn't need one, he uses a Steppir which tunes itself.
@@johnratcliffe6438 True, I used it only on the 80M inverted V. 73
Hi there my friend , can you use this amp on warc bands too
You still must connect Transceiver RF output to the LA-1K via a coax. And, still connect a PTT cable from the transceiver to the LA-1K... so why are you saying you don't need a cable? Very confusing and misleading. Correct me if I misheard.
Nice video - could you say something about tuning with a Linear Amp active? 73 de HB9GNK
Thanks. I always tune while the amp is in standby, than it detect via RF the frequency and I'm good to go. 73 Pascal VA2PV
Can antenna ports be mapped to bands for automatic antenna selection?
Great job! Too bad it is very difficult to find these amps.
Mine broke couple times already, is in Ohio getting the power supply replace right now
@5:06... Blacklight is for dancing with white pants on Saturday night fever !
So funny, true, just realize that I said blacklight instead of backlight. I have a good excuse I'm a French Canadian, hihi. 73 Pascal VA2PV
@@Laboenligne And I am a Belgian french speaking ham operator too... Mais j'avais trouvé ça "drôle" sans moquerie pour autant. 73 Eric ON6CV.
And what is the power output like on 6m ?
Would like to have seen the connections you made on the back.
Hi Matt, I show it in the video but very quickly, see at 7:20. 73 Pascal VA2PV
What are u using for a tuner? The HF-Auto? Mine keeps telling me it won't tune but I've been operating fine w/ my LDG for some time. I think I'll have to call Palstar.
I have a MFJ-998. See my review. th-cam.com/video/n0MC4wU4-1s/w-d-xo.html
@@Laboenligne Thanx. I was using an LDG AT-1000 & blew out the tuner AND the finals in my 101MP. Now it's gotta go in for svc! LDG's sending me another one right away. I think I'll back off & average 800 watts becz the LDG is rated lower. I hope I didn't blow out the amp. I doubt it! But my HF-Auto was defective so I had to send it in. Waiting on it now. Bad luck all around here! :(
Do you use the hf auto also?
Hi Friend. For me to have a full TX at 2.420Kilohertz with 2Kw, could you help me?
Hi, this amp is for ham radio, for other applications please contact the manufacturer.
Can you explain what you mean when you say the amp is RF sensing but not PTT sensing.
OK I think I understand what you are saying in that you have to manually switch the COAX to the right radio that you want to use. Right?
@@MacsForever1 Hi David, I mean that it won't transmit (amplify) if it detects RF and there's no PTT. So the PTT needs to be connected. Yes, it will detect the incoming RF and it doesn't care from which radio. Se my video below for more information on my multiple HF setup. 73 Pascal VA2PV
th-cam.com/video/9FntelKOjoc/w-d-xo.html
I'm assuming that it does WARC bands too? Like 17m?
Yes. 73
For sure, Palstar's are a very good products but, the Acom's solide state amplifiers are at another level in terms of engineering and construction.
I can't say for ACOM as I have Palstar, but still very satisfied. I really like the RF sensing feature which allows me to use different HF radios without any physical connections except the PTT and the coax. 73 Pascal VA2PV
@@Laboenligne like Acom's amplifiers mod 600/700/1200s . Enjoy your Palstar!
DID YOU HAVE AN AUTO TUNER CONNECTED?
WHat mode are you using for this test? RTTY or CW?
CW. 73
How much is the power reduced on 120v?
I can't say I never tried. Ask the manufacturer, my guess would be about 600W. 73 Pascal VA2PV
Question... where can a person go to learn how to operate a ham radio?
That's depends of your geographic location. I'm in Canada, and you can get information on the Industry Canada website www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/025.nsf/eng/h_00040.html and www.rac.ca/study-guides-2/ in the USA check out www.arrl.org/studying-for-a-technician-license hope this help. 73
No 17m on this amp? Thank U
OMG, yes there is, but it seem that I skip it in my test. Thank you.
What tuner are you using?
I'm using the MFJ-998 (1.5kW auto tuner). 73 Pascal VA2PV
Laboenligne.ca So I assume and you didn’t show this in the video at least I didn’t see it is that you keep the amp in standby then key and use auto tune or in my case it would be the palstar HF auto and then take it out of standby and you’re ready to go?
I hope you like it. Ill rather buy a om power. Or a old heathkit amp.
I do like it, look at my older video (before mai 2018) I had a top shape Heathkit amp SB-221. But now I cover from 6 to 160M continuous with 1Kw. This is perfect with my new SteppIR antenna that covers from 6 to 40M. 73 Pascal VA2PV
KM3KM amp is only $2500. It is a Kit but only requires a wiring connecting some cables and solder 4 RF connectors, it is actually the similar product with better pricing.Just FYI.
Good amp but the fan is loud..