[Elecraft] KAT500 question

[Ron D'Eau Claire]

Bob, it sounds like rain is changing the characteristics of that ladder line
and so altering the tuning solution required at the KAT500. 

The blinking MODE light says it's ready to tune once you apply enough RF
power. Five watts won't do it. The KAT500 cannot tune with less than 10
watts of RF applied (20 watts is required for the most accurate tuning).

73 Ron AC7AC

-----Original Message-----
From: elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of KD7YZ Bob
Sent: Monday, December 24, 2012 8:52 AM
To: K3 List
Subject: [Elecraft] KAT500 question

Howdy K3' people:

I have a KAT500. The "Auto" green LED is lit. I have previously tuned to the
best it could get on 17m.

This morning it is drizzling. The 450 ladder can sometimes act up when it is
raining.

So I begin a JT9, one-minute long, sequence. Next I hear a little chatter
and see the Red-LED come on for SWR>=3.

The "Auto" LED is now flashing. No tuning is taking place and the one-minute
transmission finishes.

I press & hold the XMIT/TUNE button and the KAT500 finds a nice SWR of
1.1 .

Next sequence comes around and the K3 switches to xmit. The KAT500 chatters
maybe once and the Red SWR LED comes on again. The "Auto" LED is now
flashing. I can do nothing about this while the K3 is transmitting.
Technically I should kill the XMIT and correct the SWR problem. We all know
this.

Fortunately I was running  but 5 watts on the JT9-1 mode so I don't believe
I did any damage.

When I used my Palstar AT2K tuner, and it was raining, I'd see the VSWR
climb, and knowing the cause, would just manually turn a knob and keep the
SWR down. Was jut something ya do when it's raining,

Is there something I am overlooking with my new automatic-tuner?




--
73
KD7YZ Bob

______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:Elecraft at mailman.qth.net

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html