[Elecraft] KAT500
Phil Hystad
phystad at mac.com
Sat Oct 6 13:38:38 EDT 2012
Dick,
Thanks for your more than sufficient description of the cabling needs.
peh
On Oct 6, 2012, at 9:54 AM, Dick Dievendorff <dieven at comcast.net> wrote:
> Hi, Phil,
>
> You need one 15-pin ACC cable from K3 to KAT500 and another from KAT500 to
> KPA500. The KAT500 has two 15-pin connectors, one in and one out. See
> N6TV's back panel picture at
> http://www.elecraft.com/KAT500/kat500rear_visalia.jpg the connectors are
> labeled "Control" (XCVR and AMP).
>
> This arrangement allows the ATU to interrupt the amplifier key line during
> tuning. It's a serial component to component chain, not a star, from the K3
> to the KPA500. The KAT500 wires each pin of the 15-pin connector to the
> equivalent on the other, except that the amplifier key line goes through a
> relay.
>
> If you use two 15-pin ACC cables, you do not also need an RCA connection for
> "PTT RLY" or amplifier key line. The amplifier keying line is duplicated
> within the 15-pin cable.
>
> For amplifier key line interrupt, you should use two 15-pin cables, or two
> RCA cables (radio to ATU, ATU to amplifier). But you can't use one of each.
> The RCA connectors and 15-pin ACC cables use different poles of a double
> pole amplifier key line interrupt relay.
>
> The ATU and amplifier both count transmit frequency, and both will operate
> without this 15-pin connection. The minimal connection for any radio
> (including K3) and any amplifier (including KPA500) is a two-wire cable with
> RCA plugs from radio to ATU and another from ATU to amplifier.
>
> When the KAT500 and KPA500 have band information (in the ACC cable), they
> can band switch without transmission, which turns out to be very convienent,
> particularly if band switch implies an antenna switch. The ATU returns to
> the last-used settings on the new band and your receiver works better than
> it might if the ATU were still tuned for the old band.
>
> You won't need a Y unless you have other users of the ACC connector at the
> K3 end. Some of us use the Y at the back of the K3 for FSK, PR-6, antenna
> switch band decoders and the like. You might eventually find a second Y
> useful if your needs at the back of the K3 expand. That ACC connector has a
> lot of uses.
>
> We don't currently show an order item for the 15-pin two meter cable
> separate from the Y and the little amplifier key line interrupter that form
> the KPAK3AUX kit. The cable required is the same. While I don't know the
> exact cost breakdown of the components, I would expect that the price for a
> cable-only "kit" wouldn't be a whole lot lower than the KPAK3AUX kit.
>
> The 15-pin cable in the KPAK3AUX supply is two meters long. That's a lot of
> relatively stiff cable to find a place for when the amp and ATU are one atop
> the other (either way), although some find it goes down the wall OK. You
> might find a shorter cable (perhaps 6 to 12 inches) more to your liking.
>
> Phil, AD5X, used 10-conductor shielded cable and DB15HD connectors for his
> KPA500 to MFJ ATU connection. See his KPA500 review article. which includes
> parts sources and part numbers.
> http://www.ad5x.com/images/Presentations/KPA500%20Review.pdf
>
> The K3 owner's manual shows the 15-pin ACC connector pinout. The
> KAT500/KPA500 combination uses (at most) BAND0-BAND3, AUXBUS, Ground,
> PTT/KEY, ALC, and Amp inhibit. That's 9 wires, and you can use the shield
> between the shells.
>
> 73 de Dick, K6KR
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net
> [mailto:elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Phil Hystad
> Sent: Saturday, October 06, 2012 8:42 AM
> To: Phil Hystad
> Cc: elecraft at mailman.qth.net List; Eric Swartz WA6HHQ - Elecraft
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KAT500
>
> Gang,
>
> Thanks to all who took the time to answer my question below. I now
> understand the need and the configuration. Just to be sure I will repeat
> below:
>
> When running the K3+KPA500+KAT500 together, to achieve the band
> following/switching features of the KAT500 you need an extra cable from the
> K3. Thus,
>
> 1. Y-adapter placed on the back of the K3.
> 2. One KPAK3AUX cable running from K3 (Y-adapter) to the KPA500.
> 3. One KPAK3AUX cable running from K3 (Y-adapter) to KAT500.
>
>
> I just checked the web site (Order page) and found that there is no KPAK3AUX
> cable listed as part of the KAT500 section. Of course there is with the
> KPA500 but I thought that one came with a Y-adapter as well as the cable.
>
> Question: is there a KPAK3AUX cable by itself available from Elecraft or do
> you need to buy the kit again that included the Y-adapter. Seems to me it
> would be cheaper if you could exclude the Y-adapter and that other little
> thing they include.
>
> PEH
>
>
>
>
> On Oct 5, 2012, at 9:42 PM, Phil Hystad <phystad at mac.com> wrote:
>
>> Eric,
>>
>> I have not been keeping up here but can you clarify what you are saying
> below. Here, let me ask: is this "additional" cable needed to use the
> KAT500 with a KPA500 and K3 for all normal operating. I already placed my
> order for the KAT500 and I am wondering if I ordered enough stuff. I have
> the K3+P3+KPA500.
>>
>> 73, phil, K7PEH
>>
>>
>> On Oct 5, 2012, at 9:26 PM, Eric Swartz WA6HHQ - Elecraft
> <eric at elecraft.com> wrote:
>>
>>> You will need to purchase an additional KPAK3AUX cable if you wish to
> send band data in advance of TX from the K3 to the KAT500.
>>>
>>> 73,
>>>
>>> Eric
>>>
>>> www.elecraft.com
>>> _..._
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On Oct 5, 2012, at 12:23 PM, Jim Sheldon <w0eb at cox.net> wrote:
>>>
>>>> I guess the question now becomes - Is that cable going to be supplied
> with the KAT500 or do I have to contact Elecraft and have an additional
> cable placed on the order I put in back in May, during the Dayton
> Hamvention? Been waiting patiently for that order to be filled so it would
> be nice to know if I have to order another cable before the KAT500 finally
> gets here.
>>>>
>>>> Jim Sheldon - w0EB
>>>>
>>>>> For a K-line, you'll want a 15-pin cable from K3 (after the Y) to
>>>>> the KAT500 and another from the KAT500 to the KPA500. The KAT500
>>>>> interrupts the KPA500 key line in that cable during tune, and both
>>>>> the KAT500 and KPA500 observe the K3's BAND0 thru BAND3 lines.
>>>>>
>>>>> If you aren't using a K3, then the KAT500, like the KPA500, can
>>>>> sense band changes by counting the Tx frequency.
>>>>>
>>>>> But it's very convenient to band switch the K3 and have the ATU and
>>>>> amp follow without requiring a transmission. The ATU switches to
>>>>> the last-used antenna on band switch (or to a fixed antenna you
>>>>> configure). It's nice not to have to send a "dit" to make that
>>>>> antenna switch happen.
>>>>>
>>>>> The manual is in progress.
>>>>>
>>>>> 73 de Dick, K6KR
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>> From: elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net
>>>>> [mailto:elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of DGB
>>>>> Sent: Friday, October 05, 2012 11:54 AM
>>>>> To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
>>>>> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KAT500
>>>>>
>>>>> I have currently have a y-cable at the rig for the MH MKII and the
>>>>> KPA-500.
>>>>> How will the KAT-500 play into that? A Y-Cable on the KPA-500?
>>>>> I see no manual for the KAT-500 yet!
>>>>>
>>>>> 73 Dwight NS9I
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