[Elecraft] [K3] KPA500 glitch - firmware bug?

[Carl Clawson]

The other morning I powered up the station to have a listen but left the
KPA500 off. The rear panel power switch was left on and I had powered the
amp off the night before by the front panel switch.

There was no signal getting from the antenna to the K3, evidenced by absence
of band noise on 160 m. I turned on the amp with the front panel switch and
then it connected the antenna. (Why did I turn the amp on, you ask? I was
going to poke a band button and try a different antenna.) Somehow the KPA500
had "powered down" with its T/R switch in the wrong state. I put "powered
down" in quotes because it's a software state, not an actual physical
disconnection of power.

I suspect that if I'd powered down at the rear panel, I would have had an
antenna. But I'll never know unless it happens again.

73, Carl WS7L
K3 #486 S/W V4.48
KPA500 #750 S/W V1.11