Palstar LA-1K
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| Frequency | 1.8 - 54 MHz (160 through 6 m) |
| Bands | 160m, 80m, 40m, 30m, 20m, 17m, 15m, 12m, 10m, 6m |
| TX power | 1000 W (1000 W SSB/CW (ICAS), 500 W FM/RTTY, 275 W AM. Solid-state dual LDMOS; ~13 dB gain (45-55 W drive for full output). Built-in 50 V / 42 A power supply.) |
| Modes | solid-state (LDMOS) no-tune HF/6 m linear amplifier with touchscreen |
| Weight | 12 kg (26.5 lb) - About 27 lb (~12.25 kg) shipping; compact 12.75 x 6.25 x 16.5 in - includes the internal power supply. |
| rf input | SO-239 from the transceiver (~45-55 W drive) |
| rf output | Three SO-239 antenna outputs with vacuum-relay T/R switching |
| ac in | AC mains (100-125 V 15 A or 200-250 V 10 A) - internal 50 V / 42 A supply, no external PSU needed |
| control | RF-sensing band changing (no transceiver band-data cable required); ALC/keying available |
| power req | AC mains; the power supply is built in. RF-sensing automatic band changing means no band-interface cable is needed. |
A polished, self-contained 1 kW amplifier: dual LDMOS, a built-in supply (no second box), a color touchscreen, RF-sense band changing (no control cable), three antenna outputs and vacuum-relay switching. It is compact and light for the power, very clean (FCC-lab verified), instant-on with full protection - an excellent no-tune amp for a modern HF/6 m station.
Output is 1 kW rather than full legal limit, and as a solid-state LDMOS amp it is sensitive to high SWR/mismatch (protection helps but care is needed). It is a premium-priced amplifier, AM/RTTY/FM power is reduced, and the touchscreen/feature set is more to learn than a simple amp.
The Palstar LA-1K is a compact, self-contained 1 kW LDMOS HF/6 m amplifier with a built-in supply, color touchscreen, RF-sense band changing and three antenna outputs - a clean, convenient, no-tune amp that suits a modern DX/contest or digital station. Those needing legal-limit output look to a larger amp; otherwise it is a refined, all-in-one choice.
The Palstar LA-1K is a premium, compact solid-state HF and 6-meter amplifier that delivers a full kilowatt from a pair of LDMOS transistors. It is a 'no-tune' design covering 1.8 to 54 MHz, and it is unusually self-contained: the 50-volt, 42-amp power supply is built in, so unlike many 1 kW amplifiers there is no separate supply box to buy or find room for. Operation is handled through a color TFT touchscreen, and RF sensing changes bands automatically, which means you do not even need a band-data cable to your transceiver.
It needs only about 45 to 55 watts of drive (around 13 dB of gain) to reach 1000 watts on SSB and CW (ICAS), with reduced power on FM/RTTY (500 W) and AM (275 W). The output side is built for a real station: three SO-239 antenna outputs and rugged vacuum-relay transmit/receive switching, plus automatic protection against high SWR, short circuits and over-temperature, and quiet variable-speed fans. Palstar notes it was verified clean at an FCC-certified laboratory. It is compact (about 12.75 by 6.25 by 16.5 inches) and light for the class, around 27 pounds.
The trade-offs: at 1000 watts it has less headroom than a legal-limit amplifier, and like all LDMOS amps it is sensitive to high SWR or mistuning (the protection circuits help, but a good antenna matters). It is a premium purchase at roughly $2,300-2,600, and its touchscreen and feature set take a little learning. For a modern, convenient, all-in-one amplifier, though, it is a standout.
It competes with other solid-state amplifiers such as the Elecraft KPA500 and the Ameritron ALS-1306, distinguished by its built-in supply, touchscreen and three antenna outputs.