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SPE Expert 1.3K-FA – with ATU

SPE Expert 1.3K-FA – with ATU

Price: $6,765.00

Model: SPE-1.3K-FA-ATU
Manufacturer: SPE, Italy
Availability: IN STOCK
Warranty: 2 years

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1.3 KW Solid State Fully Automatic Linear Amplifier

RF SOLUTIONS is the authorised dealer for Australia/New Zealand

  • The smallest in its class:
    • Built-in power supply and automatic antenna tuner
    • Dimensions: L 28cm, H 12cm, D 38cm (including connectors)
    • Weight: 11kg
  • The most technologically advanced solid state amplifier in the world:
    • Two powerful CPUs in use
    • More than 30,000 lines of software for performance unmatched in any other amplifier
  • Fully automatic:
    • Easy connection with transceivers from ICOM, Yaesu, Kenwood, Ten-Tec, FlexRadio, and Elecraft for immediate management of bands, tuner and antenna
    • Same performance with all makes and some homemade rigs
    • The operator only has to operate the transceiver, and the amplifier will follow automatically
  • Wide frequency coverage:
    • All amateur bands from 160m to 6m including WARC bands
    • 60m band, where permitted
  • Fully solid state:
    • Solid 1.3KW out; 50MHz band included (+/- 0.5dB)
    • Switchable in MAX (full power), MID (900W) or LOW (500w), power selected according to the operator’s requirement or automatic for amplifier protection
    • No warm-up time required, amplifier ready immediately!
    • Using one LD / MOSFET rated at 1.5KW out
  • Automatic antenna tuner built-in:
    • Capable of matching up to 5:1 SWR on HF, and 2.5:1 SWR on 6 meters
    • Capable of program controlling 4 aerials (SO239 connectors)
    • Program up to 2 aerials for each band
    • Management of UltraBeam/SteppIR aerials (tuneable)
    • Also measures the SWR of the antenna and cable system
    • Bands, aerials, tuning conditions are changed in 10 msec
    • Bands, aerials, and tuning conditions are managed so that in “STBY” only the exciter is passed through to the output
    • Max. attenuation 0.8 dB
    • ATU bypass capable
  • SO2R
  • Two transceiver inputs available:
    • Automatically switchable
  • High power gain 15 dB (all versions):
    • In “OPERATE” the required drive power is automatically set with the ALC connection
    • In “STANDBY” the exciter is automatically reset to full power
  • Very clean and low distortion output:
    • Spurious emissions RCM (C-Tick)/FCC/CE compliant
    • 3rd order distortion (two tone test) from -30 to -35 dB (typ.)
  • In 50 Ohm always perfectly matched:
    • The same protection is realized in two different ways:
    • Via hardware circuits (HW) to assure great speed
    • Thanks to the sophisticated software, the transmit relay changeover is carried out with zero current on the contacts
  • Full break-in operation (QSK)
  • Quiet operation:
    • Linear management of the speed of the cooling fans of the heatsink
    • The amplifier develops a significant amount of heat that must be removed
    • Therefore every precaution is used to keep the fan noise at the lowest possible level
    • Fan noise is significantly lower than with tube type amplifiers
  • Use:
    • Unlimited in SSB and CW
    • In FM automatically switches to “MID” if for 10 minutes a continuous signal is emitted in “MAX” (room temperature 20 degrees Celsius)
    • Full I.C.A.S. for all digital modes currently in use
  • Switching power supply:
    • Continuously operable at inputs between 100 – 255 VAC, 47-63 Hz
    • PFC (Power Factor Correction)
  • The linear can be switched ON/OFF by switching the exciter ON/OFF
  • Can be used fully remotely
  • A large LCD display allows a great deal of information:
    • Watts pep out, Vpa, Ipa, Watts, temperatures, SWR (after and before the ATU), input setting, CAT setting, band and other indications including the alarms log
  • Easy to operate:
    • Powerful and sophisticated software gives you a user-friendly unit
  • USB / RS232 ports:
    • For remote control
    • For new software releases download
  • Easy transportation:
    • A sturdy carry-bag is supplied for QSY, Field Day, DXpeditions etc.
  • Certifications:
    • RCM (C-Tick), CE, FCC

Specifications and price are subject to change without notice

Click on the images below to enlarge:

Front view

SPE Expert 1.3k FA front view

Rear panel

SPE Expert 1.3k FA rear view

Warranty Terms

RF SOLUTIONS warrants to the original Purchaser that this product shall be free from defects of materials or workmanship.

RF SOLUTIONS warrants for two (2) years from the date of original purchase that RF SOLUTIONS will provide free of charge all parts and labour necessary to correct defects in material or workmanship. The shipping costs to and from RF SOLUTIONS for warranty service work have to be paid by the Purchaser.

Customers should address requests for warranty service work to RF SOLUTIONS, who is responsible for service support.

In order to not invalidate the warranty service, the original Purchaser must complete the warranty registration card, and send it to SPE in Italy including a copy of the invoice no more than 30 days from the date of purchase.

If the original Purchaser finds any defects after having received the equipment, he must immediately notify RF SOLUTIONS of the defects found by sending the properly completed REPAIR FORM. Replacement of equipment may be offered in exceptional circumstances only and at RF SOLUTIONS’ complete discretion. However, no replacement will be offered after 21 days of purchase.

In case of a purchase of used equipment still under warranty, in order to retain the warranty’s validity, it is necessary to notify SPE in Italy and RF SOLUTIONS of the following data:

  • Receipt of purchase of used equipment
  • Invoice for the original purchase
  • Serial number (s/n) of equipment

Replacement of equipment in these circumstances is not an option. However, the warranty period shall be two (2) years from the original date of purchase, and not from any subsequent date of purchase.

The warranty does not apply if the invoice for the original purchase is missing, the s/n is undecipherable/falsified or in the case of any defect that RF SOLUTIONS determines is due to the following:

  1. Improper maintenance or repair by persons not authorised by RF SOLUTIONS to carry out such work, including the installation of parts or accessories that do not conform to the quality and specifications of the original parts.
  2. Acts of nature – such as lighting, storm & tempest, moisture or water intrusion.
  3. Misuse, abuse, neglect or improper installation, user’s manual non-observance.
  4. Carelessness, accidental or intentional damage. In addition and more specifically – possible damage caused by:
    • Exceeding power ratings of transmission lines, baluns or antennas.
    • Excessive input overdriving of amplifier.
    • Excessively high SWR on transmission lines.

RF SOLUTIONS warrants the above mentioned items only, and the Purchaser shall have no remedy and no claim for incidental or consequential damages.

It is mandatory for the Purchaser to contact RF SOLUTIONS before shipping equipment for service. When sending SPE equipment to RF SOLUTIONS for service, the following documents must be enclosed:

  • Invoice of the original purchase
  • Receipt of purchase of used equipment (if any)

By purchasing SPE equipment, the Purchaser declares his acceptance of the above warranty terms.

SPE EXPERT 1.3K-FA or SPE EXPERT 1.5K-FA?

With the release of the new SPE EXPERT 1.5K-FA, this does not mean that the SPE EXPERT 1.3K-FA has been superseded.  The SPE EXPERT 1.3K-FA is still very much a current model.

In fact, these are two wonderful products with some important differences designed into each amplifier in order to best cover the varying needs of our customers.

Dimensions and weight are identical between the two amplifier models.

This means that we keep the unmatched portability of the 1.3K-FA for the DXpeditions, which has made this amplifier irreplaceable and unmatched.

The differences between the 1.3K-FA and the 1.5K-FA are as follows:

(Please note that all other features are identical in the two models.)

SPE EXPERT 1.3K-FA

  • Solid 1.3KW PEP on every band and mode.
  • Available with or without ATU.

SPE EXPERT 1.5K-FA

  • Solid 1.5KW output on every band and mode.
  • Pre-distortion output connector for incredible linearity with SDR.
  • Only available in one version with built in ATU, which also complies with the FCC requirements.

Launch of the third series of SPE EXPERT 1.3K-FA and 1.5K-FA amplifiers

As is now well known, most of the transceivers on the market today have an issue with a strong spike at the beginning of each transmission, causing damage to both solid-state and some tube amplifiers.

This spike is present, even if you manually reduce the output power on the transceiver.

Amplifiers using LDMOS are particularly susceptible to the spikes, compared to the previous RF power mosfet generation.

In accordance with SPE’s commitment to continuous improvement of our products, we have developed a proprietary circuit which cancels any type of spikes.

This is not a simple clipper but a complex hardware circuit, not a single component, faster than the very fast LDMOS.

Unfortunately, this hardware modification cannot be applied to previous series of the SPE EXPERT amplifiers.

The slowdown of the manufacturing industry and parts availability due to the pandemic has allowed SPE to focus on and complete these upgrades.

All SPE EXPERT amplifiers delivered from September 2021 will be “Third series”.

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