[Elecraft] KAT500 Performance Clarification

[Rick Bates]

Lets use the proper terms here please.  Balun is incorrect because it is inaccurate; it is either a voltage or current choke.   It may also be a transformer (4:1, 6:1, 9:1).

A 1:1 current choke is recommended for ladder line to keep common mode RF out of the shack if one does not use a balanced tuner.  Then use the shortest possible run of coax to the choke because everything downstream of the tuner is potentially high loss, more so in coax. 

Yes, the greater the bypassed mismatch, the lower the power requirements for the KAT500.  Mine has issues (is borderline) on a 75 M double extended Zepp on 75 and won't load on 160 M.  It loads everything else great so I can use the KPA500. 

Rick wa6nhc

Tiny iPhone 5 keypad, typos are inevitable

On Jan 23, 2013, at 9:12 AM, Ignacy <no9e at arrl.net> wrote:

> Perhaps KAT500 like MFJ-998 reduces the matching range at higher power.
> 
> You may try 1:1 balun. I use MFJ-998 at KW level with 80m ladderline and 1:1
> balun. No problem matching 160-80m. On higher bands almost all bands matched
> with homemade 1:1 balun but fewer with heavy-duty 1:1 commercial balun.
> 
> Ignacy