[Elecraft] KPA500 Default Band?

[Jim Bennett]

I have my KPA500 and KAT500 on a switch that can be set to either a K3 or a KX3. The KX3 is new (to me) and I've been using it almost exclusively since assembling this fine Christmas present. Recently I've noticed a strange behavior and am wondering if this is due to a recent firmware change or if I've simply never noticed it before. In either case, it there a way to stop it from happening? Here's the situation -

Let's say I'm operating on 40 meter CW with the KX3/KAT500/KPA500. I finish my QSO and shut down the station. Sequence of power-off's doesn't seem to make any difference, but I usually turn off KX3, KPA500, KAT500. The next morning I turn on the KPA500, it is sitting at 5.3 mHz. Why?? I've never, ever used it on 60 meters. Why would it decide to default to that band? Why would it not default to the last band it was operating on? I just tried the same scenario with the K3/KPA500/KAT500 and this does not happen. When I power the KPA500 back to life, it remembers what band I was on.

Now, the interesting thing about this is that it only seems to happen after the amp has been turned off for several hours. I just now ran through this scenario and the amp remembered that I had been on 40 meters. So, what I'm seeing is only after 5 - 8 hours of power off.

Any suggestions? It isn't a big deal - just kind of strange that this amp seems to like the 60 meter band more than I do!

Jim / W6JHB