[Elecraft] KPA-500 / K3 firmware suggestion

[Gary Gregory]

*Just a couple of minutes with the KPA=500 will show you what drive produces
required output of the amplifier.*
*
*
*I have power on the K3 set to Per Band and normally run 30W drive to get
500W out. Antenna efficiency plays a role here too.*
*
*
*Once I had that measured the rest was simple.*
*
*
*If I require lower output I simply turn the drive down on the K3.*
*
*
*I don't see where a continuous adjustment of the K3/KPA-500 reading power
out on the K3 would be of any advantage to me as I don't see why output
power from the amplifier is that critical in normal operating practice.*
*
*
*This works fine for me, YMMV of course.*
*
*
*73's*
*Gary
*
On 8 April 2011 08:27, iain macdonnell - N6ML <ar at dseven.org> wrote:

> Actually, if I'm interpreting the messages properly, you will be able
> to switch between 500w and 100w just by placing the KPA500 in active
> or standby mode ... provided you have the AUXBUX connection in place.
> The K3 will "notice" whether the KPA500 is active or not, and choose a
> different output level (preset by you) for each situation.
>
> The continuous adjustment would be useful if you wanted to dial in a
> power level less than 500w, without having to search for it while
> watching a meter....
>
>    ~iain / N6ML
>
>
> On Thu, Apr 7, 2011 at 10:18 PM, ab2tc <ab2tc at arrl.net> wrote:
> > Hi,
> >
> > Why the negative reaction to this suggestion? I think it would be really
> > useful if I could operate the K3/KPA500 combo as if it was a single
> > transmitter with power settings from (whatever the lower K3 power is) to
> the
> > full 500W and turn the KPA-500 on and off accordingly. The real context
> is
> > what do I have to do to quickly switch from 100W to 500W when I realize I
> am
> > not going to break through the pileup. Without this feature I would have
> to
> >
> > 1) switch the KPA-500 from standby to active
> > 2) dial back the K3 power to whatever is appropriate for this band
> >
> > I am sure this can be done with a macro, but having this built in would
> be
> > more than "nifty".
> >
> > Knut
> >
> >
> > David Gilbert wrote:
> >>
> >> Aside from it possibly being "nifty", in what real world context would
> >> you find that to be useful?
> >>
> >> 73,
> >> Dave  AB7E
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> On 4/7/2011 1:55 PM, Toby Deinhardt wrote:
> >>> Hi Wayne&  the list,
> >>>
> >>> not sure if this has been suggested before, but it would be really
> nifty
> >>> if when using a KPA-500 together with a K3/100 the power would be
> >>> continuously be adjustable from milliwatts up to 500 W.
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
> > --
> > View this message in context:
> http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/KPA-500-K3-firmware-suggestion-tp6251532p6251772.html
> > Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
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