[Elecraft] The KAT100 is Done - IMPRESSIVE!!!!

[Lee Buller]

I sure do procrastinate.  I've had this KAT100 kit in some form or other for the last year and just did not get around to getting it done.  This past weekend and last night I put the finishing touches on the KAT100 by installing the new firmware, building the control cable and then doing the calibration.  It has been about two hours from being finished.  Go figure!  
 
What a nice piece of gear.  That is an understatement too!
 
I have been on all bands and all modes ...up and down the bands ... and it matches everything.  My antennas are far from perfect too.  A TH6DXX tuned for CW (15 meters is really bad too), a 40 meter dipole thats a little to long, a 80 meter antenna cut for 3550 and an Inverted-L (135 feet) with 16 radials under it.  Matched it all and I even look at the amount of inductance and capacitance used.  Everything seemed to be OK.  I could even tell if it was Low-Z or High-Z.  Cool.  Then I tried to match the Inverted-L on 80 meters.  That did not take long at all and got a great match with it.
 
As I was playing around, I heard an EA5 on 40 meters CW.  He was calling CQ and one guy worked him and then I called him with the K2/100/KAT100 combo.  Worked the guy with a 549 and had a great 10 minute QSO.  Mojo in the KAT100????
 
Some things I noticed:
 
The noise of the unit as it tunes.  Did I see on the list a fix for that?  Like, some sort of sound asorbing material?  Sounds like the transmission fell out of the Ford.
 
I really miss an external watt meter that makes the lights jump.  I wish that the LED SWR Meter turned into a watt meter that had peak and hold.  But, that is getting a little picky.
 
The KAT100 was well worth the dollars.
 
Up next...the BFO Mod and the KPA100 Shield Mod.
 
Great device.  
 
Lee - K0WA
"Laying fat and sassy in the Perriwinkle"
 



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