[Elecraft] K-Line: Connections?

[Dick Dievendorff]

Hi, Jim

In your K Line configuration the cabling I would suggest is a 15 pin Accessory cable between K3 and KAT500 and another from KAT500 to KPA500.  In that cable are four band lines, AUXBUS, and amplifier key line.  Both the KAT500 and KPA500 can connect via serial port connections to a PC program.  I use a four port  USB to serial adapter, in the past I used an inexpensive four port ABCD switch.  

The K3 communicates band change to KAT500 and KPA500, both change bands without requiring transmission.  Both KAT500 and KPA500 count Tx frequency and can change bands on Tx. 

A K3 will drive a KPA500 to full power with about 25 to 30 watts.  The KAT500 tunes well at about that power level.  To tune, the KAT500 will interrupt the amplifier key line, adjust its L network with the K3 power alone, then restore the amp key for full power transmission.  Whether this is done automatically or manually is sort of up to you, there is a mode switch on the KAT500.

Both the KAT500 and KPA500 run fine without a PC connection.  You do need to install firmware through a serial connection using utility programs like the K3 and P3 Utilities. Both the KPA500 and KAT500 utilities have an Operate page that provide a one page view of operational state.  The KAT500 Utility also has some configuration capability. 

73 de Dick, K6KR


On Oct 4, 2012, at 7:41 PM, Jim Miller <jim at jtmiller.com> wrote:

> I'm considering adding the KPA500 and KAT500 to my K3/P3. I've got a couple
> of questions.
> 
> 1. How does all this communicate with each other? Will it be through the
> serial connections or some AUXBUS cabling? The two pictures on the website
> don't show how this is done.
> 2. In talking with others about how they use their amps and tuners (not
> Elecraft) they tell me about all they gyrations they go through to achieve
> tuning. Will the K3/KPA500/KAT500 just do the right thing when the K3 tune
> button is depressed, i.e. tune at 5W as it does at present? Or will it
> require manual intervention?
> 
> 73
> 
> Jim ab3cv
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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