[Elecraft] KAT100 Problem

[richardjwiltgen at aol.com]

Don,

I had been trying that to no avail.  I drew up a a table with the data for all the capacitors.  After that, I decided to pull out an LDG-100pro to see what would happened.  Much to my surprise, I found out that I had been barking up the wrong tree.  The LDG responds the same way.  Both the KAT100 and the LDG fold back to 10 watts when tuning on 20 meters, regardless of whether I am using the antenna or the dummy load.  The problem is obviously in the radio, not the tuner.  It threw me for a loop because all the other bands tune up just fine.  I never would have guessed the problem was in the K2/100.  If I can't figure it out in the next couple of days, I'll just have to leave it for next fall when I return to Florida with decent test equipment.  I have been sitting around waiting for some physicians to  approve my departure.  If I had known this a couple of weeks ago, I would have had plenty of time to work on it.  I really like the K2.  In many respects, I like it better than my K3 and KX3, as it fits better with my "CW back to basics" personality.

Any new suggestions?

73,

Dick  



-----Original Message-----
From: Don Wilhelm <w3fpr at embarqmail.com>
To: richardjwiltgen <richardjwiltgen at aol.com>
Cc: elecraft <elecraft at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Sun, Jul 7, 2013 10:38 pm
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KAT100 Problem


Dick,
I figure you are using a multiband antenna.  It may be presenting a very 
ow or very high impedance to the KAT100 on 20 meters.  The solution is 
o add or subtract about 1/8 wavelength of feedline to the antenna 
ystem.  On 20 meters, that would be about 8 feet of feedline.
Of course, that may transfer the problem to another band, but keep 
rying, you will eventually be able to get it to tune properly on all bands.
73,
on W3FPR
On 7/7/2013 8:09 PM, richardjwiltgen at aol.com wrote:
 Don,

 Thanks for your prompt response.  Yes, I reduced everything to its bare 
inimum and tested it on a dry dummy load.  I am sorry; I should have stated 
hat.  I also used about different jumper cables to connect to the dummy load, 
ll yielding the same results on both 20 and 40. I also tested 10 and 80. It 
ent off scale with much sooner on 10 meters as I progressed through the 
apacitors, but there didn't seem to be any dramatic change on 80.  The results 
ith the dummy load almost precisely mirror those experienced with the antenna 
n 20 meters.  I was just using it with the antenna on 30 and 17 with excellent 
esults.  It loads the antenna beautifully on all bands 10 through 160, with the 
xception of 20.  I will check the capacitors again on 30 meters later this 
vening.  Unfortunately, I do not have a capacity meter.  I am in Florida with 
he bare minimum of test equipment and scheduled to follow the snow birds north 
his week.  i'lllet you know what results I find on 30 me
   ters.