[Elecraft] KPA500 with K3 in TUNE mode?

[Bob Naumann]

While automating this (disable PTT to the amp for the first transmission
after a band change - just like Tokyo Hy-Power does) should be part of the
eventual Elecraft tuner /amp implementation, and not just when in tune mode,
I'm surprised that pressing the "OPER/STBY" button on the front panel of the
KPA500 constitutes "a lot of ergonomic overhead"?

I think of what was "normal" with something like a Drake C-line, MN2000
tuner and L4B amplifier. Now, there's some ergonomic overhead!

Times and perspectives certainly have changed.

73,

Bob W5OV


-----Original Message-----
From: elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Randy Farmer
Sent: Tuesday, May 10, 2011 9:49 PM
To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
Subject: [Elecraft] KPA500 with K3 in TUNE mode?

I'm busily preparing for my new KPA500 and working out all the station 
interface details. One of my antennas uses an SGC SG-235 remote tuner, 
which will support the amp's 500W output but must be tuned at lower 
power. I currently just hold the K3's TUNE button to generate about 20W 
to tune the SG-235. Once the tuner has found and memorized a match at a 
given frequency, it only takes a very short burst of low power RF to 
reset on QSY, but it really needs to be done at 100W or less. This is no 
problem with the barefoot K3 -- I can recall the tune setup with a 
couple of dashes from the keyer.  This technique would be disastrous 
once the KPA500 is online, so I'm clearly going to need a way to 
initially transmit at lower power after a band change to wake the tuner 
up. I realize I could select the menu option to drop the amp offline 
after every band change, but since I need to turn the amp off only with 
one of several antennas, this is a lot of ergonomic overhead.

With the K3 and KPA500 integrated and talking via the AUXBUS will the 
firmware keep the amp  offline when the K3 is in TUNE mode? This would 
be really useful for my particular setup, and for anyone who uses a 
remote tuner. I've looked over the manual for the KPA500 and it says 
nothing about the behavior in this case.

If the amp stays live in TUNE, perhaps a future revision of the firmware 
could present a menu item to let the user choose whether or not the amp 
will be enabled in TUNE mode.

73...
Randy, W8FN
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