[Elecraft] KPA500-KAT500-K3 problem

[David Ahrendts]

Sam, I run the KX3 line: KX3 to a KXPA100 to an Ameritron ALS-600 to the KAT500. Little lines all over the place, and hi-power LMR-type coax out of the linear. Cardinal rule, I am told, is to avoid those high power RF coax cables as much as possible in proximity. For instance, never drape a control cable or a display cable across the coax. You’ve probably tried all of this, but my two cents.

David Ahrendts, KC0XT, LA

> On Dec 22, 2014, at 6:24 AM, Sam Morgan <k5oai.sam at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> My K3-KAT500-KPA500 has been working fine for 5 weeks now. (added the KPA500 Nov. 10, 2014)
> 
> 
> Last night I had to move some cables around with in the rats nest behind my K3. Unrelated cables, so I thought, they were for the VGA output for the P3 to add a data switch before the external monitor. After the move everything was still working just as it should. I shut down for the night.
> 
> When I turned everything on this morning the K-Line has started acting strange.
> 
> The K3 no longer flashes the KPA500 line across the VFO B window.
> 
> I have CONFIG: PWR SET = Per Band, *BUT* the K3 no longer has 2 power settings (one for KPA500 in op and one for KPA500 in stby)
> However the KPA500 *does* change bands with the K3's change of Bands.
> 
> 
> The K3 does flash the KAT500 line in the VFO B window.
> The KAT500 does change antennas as related to the band it is on.
> The KAT500 no longer knows I have moved the K3's frequency within a band, so no longer (pretunes) to that new frequency.
> and Yes CONFIG: KAT3 shows KAT500y
> The KAT500 tunes fine when it is in AUTO and sees rf.
> 
> I even went back to a previously saved K3 configuration.
> I unseated and reseated the KAT500 to KAT500 Cable.
> 
> To summarize, I have lose the safety feature of the K3 knowing it has a KPA500 so it doesn't have 2 drive levels, and the KAT500 no longer pretunes to a new frequency when the K3 is moved to the new frequency within the same band.
> 
> Yet it seems some parts of the K-Line are still communicating with each other.
> 
> Any suggestions appreciated.
> 
> -- 
> God Bless,
> Sam Morgan
> 
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David Ahrendts   davidahrendts at me.com