[Elecraft] K3/KPA500/KAT500 SWR Problem

[Fred Jensen]

On 12/30/2013 12:17 PM, Wayne Burdick wrote:
> We now have a senior project engineer assigned to overall
> K3/KPA500/KAT500 operational issues. Improvements to firmware and
> documentation will result, including a new manual specifically
> covering setup of the full K-Line.

WAYNE:  FWIW: I'm running FW Ver 1.32 and have been since I got the 
KAT500.  I run a tribander at 70' about 150' from the shack, a 
ladder-line fed sloping-V [~180' on each leg] with a DXE balun at the 
tower base [9913 to the shack], and a roof-mounted GAP Titan about 12' 
above my head.

I've never had this problem being discussed although 500W into the GAP 
on 15m sure does annoy the WinKeyUSB. :-)

ALL:  I took an afternoon right after getting the KAT500 and "trained" 
it on every segment of every band using all the antennas that work on 
each band [it did take most of the afternoon].  I then disabled the 
antennas that don't work on each band using the KAT500 Utility, and put 
the KAT500 into MANUAL.  I haven't taken it out of MANUAL since and I 
can't remember the last time it wanted to auto-tune.  A QSY to any band 
and a single DIT and it's tuned.  On bands with two operable antennas, 
it selects the primary one.  Tapping the ANT button will select the 
secondary, tapping again goes back to the primary.  It's pretty slick.

As a test, those with the problem might reload 1.32 and see what happens.

73,

Fred K6DGW
- Northern California Contest Club
- CU in the 2014 Cal QSO Party 4-5 Oct 2014
- www.cqp.org