[Elecraft] K3/KPA500/KAT500 - Band Decoder for Antenna Switching

[iain macdonnell - N6ML]

On Sun, Nov 4, 2012 at 11:57 AM, rich kennedy <astro_maryland at yahoo.com> wrote:
> Hello, I currently have a K3 & KPA500, and, shortly I hope, a KAT500.  I have 3 antennas that I electronic switch with a DXEngineering RR8HP Remote Antenna Switch by manually selecting them on the DXEngineering Antenna Control Console.
>
> I wish to have some kind of band decoder and electronic switch that can replace my manual Antenna Control Console so switch the K3, the KPA500, and the KAT500 all seamlessly.
>
> What are Elecraft users recommending?

The Elecraft KRC2 is suitable for this purpose, and can get band-data
from the AUXBUS, so you don't need to worry about interactions with
the KAT500 and KPA500, which use the "BCD" lines.

You would use a "Y" cable on the K3's ACC port - one side goes to the
KRC2, the other side to the KAT500/KPA500 chain. Personally, I lopped
one of the DE15 connectors off the Y-cable and replaced it with a DE9,
which plugs straight into the KRC2, which sits onto of the rear-left
corner of the K3.

I'm using an ArraySolutions SixPak, and an Ameritron RCS-8... but it
looks like the KRC2 should be able to drive the DXE switch too...

73,

    ~iain / N6ML