[Elecraft] KAT100-1 and KAT100-2 impressions

[Don Brown]

Hi

I am one of the KAT100 field testers and Wayne asked us to post our impre=
ssions on the kit on the reflector. =20

I have 2 K2's so I decided to build one KAT100-1 and A KAT100-2. The KAT1=
00-1 will go on SN 2174 and sets under the K2. The kit went together quic=
kly and easily. The field testers found a few little problems with the ma=
nuals that have been corrected. The tuner is very fast and it is so well =
integrated with the K2 system, the firmware will figure out options you h=
ave in your K2 and act accordingly. For instance if you have a KPA100 it =
will set up for that (the normal situation) but if you have a remote moun=
ted KPA100 with the K2 driving through the KAT2 the firmware will realize=
 that and configure the KAT2 to straight through and ANT1 output. You cou=
ld also use the KAT100 with a QRP K2 without the KPA100. The kit is every=
 bit up to the normally expected quality from Elecraft. The manual is exc=
ellent and the design is typical overkill. 2000 volt capacitors and .8 or=
 .94 inch toroids wound with #20 wire. The tuner is rated at 150 watts bu=
t could probably take more. The relays are rated a 10 amps. =20

The KAT100-1 comes with a case matching the K2 except it is only 1.5 inch=
es high. It took me about 5 hours to build but I build at a fairly fast r=
ate and it will most likely take most other builders a little longer (I h=
ave built 7 K2's 3 K1's 4 KPA100's and 2 KAT100's). As with all Elecraft =
kits there is almost no internal wiring. The boards plug together like th=
e K2 and there are a few wires from the SO239 connectors and that's it. I=
t has two SO239 antenna connectors selected from the K2 just like the KAT=
2 and an automatically selected low power or hi power SWR bridge that wil=
l work from .2 watts to over 100 watts. The antenna, power range and SWR =
are indicated on the on the front panel of the KAT100 by different colore=
d LED's.

The KAT100-2 went together a little faster because I had already done the=
 KAT100-1 and knew what to expect. The -2 only comes with front and rear =
punched and silk screened  panels for the EC2 enclosure. You will need to=
 buy the EC2 if you select this option. This was the version I was most i=
nterested in because I was planning to remote mount the KPA100 into the s=
ame EC2 box with the KAT100 and drive it with K2 SN 1808 set up with the =
KAT2, KIO2 and battery. This will allow the K2 to be used as a battery po=
wered QRP radio in the field and QRO 100 watt with tuner in the shack wit=
h no internal changes. Just unplug 3 cables on the back of the K2 and go =
(power, RF and interface).

I was pleasantly surprised at how easy this was to do. Every thing just p=
lugged in. The KAT100 has connectors for the RF in to the KPA100 and the =
AUX 12 volt cable plugs into the KAT100 to power it from the KPA100. You =
will need to build a cable to connect the K2 KIO2 to the KPA100 and a sho=
rt 50 ohm PL239 cable to connect the KPA100 to the KAT100. You also need =
a short BNC cable to connect the K2 ANT1 to the AUX RF in on the KAT100. =
The internal 10 pin interface cable from the KPA100 is routed to the KAT1=
00 so the 9 pin connectors on the PA and AT are in parallel. You can use =
either 9 pin to connect up the K2. The speaker in the KPA100 is not used =
but could be used as a remote speaker with a simple wire change and a 1/8=
 male to 1/8 male speaker cable. The toroids are a little large and the w=
ire is stiff but I did not find them hard to wind

I think the tuner was worth the wait. Another first class product from El=
ecraft. I can't wait for the next kit they may have up their sleeve.

Don Brown
KD5NDB


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