[Elecraft] K3 - operation with the KPA500 and KAT500

[Fred Jensen]

Once I "trained" my KAT500 at the middle of each of its segments for 
each band and for each antenna usable on that band, I run it in MAN 
mode.  My understanding is that in MAN, it will fetch the appropriate 
values when it first smells RF [or is told on the port to the radio], 
but it won't automatically enter a tune cycle.  In AUTO, it fetchs the 
values from memory and set the relays [almost instantly], but if the 
VSWR is above a threshold, it will enter a tune cycle automatically. 
This usually isn't so good, especially on SSB.

No matter how I QSY or how far [Big Knob or band change], it never does 
an unwanted tune cycle.  It selects the preferred antenna for the band 
and I transmit.  You do have to TX to get it to fetch the right values, 
I'm certain that it doesn't follow your receive frequency.

My antennas behave a bit differently when it's raining so I saved two 
configurations using the KAT500 Utility.  The checklist then is:

1.  Go into shack
2.  Look out window
3.  If it's raining and wasn't last time I was QRV, load Wet Config
4.  If it's dry but was raining last time I was QRV, load Dry Config
5.  If it's the same as last time I was QRV, call CQ DX :-)

73,

Fred K6DGW
- Northern California Contest Club
- CU in the 2013 Cal QSO Party 5-6 Oct 2013
- www.cqp.org

On 9/24/2013 2:46 PM, John E. Reiser wrote:
> Bill, W2BLC,
>
> What is the VSWR of your antenna at 3.965?  Is the KAT500 stable with
> 100 watts?  That would be a big clue to what is going on.

W2BLC wrote"
>> KPA500 in the OPER mode.
>> KAT500 in AUTO (solid on).
>> K3 set to 25 Watts when running with the amp.