[Elecraft] Update on KAT500/KPA500 firmware tweaks

[Fred Jensen]

On 1/31/2014 12:41 PM, Bill W2BLC wrote:
> Sure am looking forward to a successful fix for the tuner's problems -
> then I will be able to use my tuner and amp. Otherwise, I will return to
> a manual tuner and tube based amplifier. This has not been a pleasant
> experience. I have to wonder how it is that the internal tuner to the K3
> works so well - yet the external 500 Watt tuner does not.
>
> Bill W2BLC K-Line (????)

I've asked this several times, not gotten an answer, just continuing 
complaints:

I'm running KAT500 FW Version 1.32 which came with my KAT500 [there are 
no KAT500 FW files in the location the KAT500 Utility looks for them], 
so I've never done an FW upload.

I have NEVER experienced this problem with my K3-KPA500-KAT500 combo 
once I took the time to train it on all the band segment-antenna 
combinations I have [I operate it in MAN mode].  I don't doubt that the 
problem is real, and I don't doubt that it is very annoying, and we know 
the smart folk at Elecraft are working on it.  But ...

Once more ... has anyone reloaded an earlier version of the FW, such as 
for example, 1.32?  If it works for me, it ought to work for everyone, 
no?  OK, admittedly, this involves computers so that's not a foregone 
conclusion, :-) but it should be worth a try.  I follow the "If it's not 
broke, don't fix it" theory.  If new FW implements something that I want 
or will affect me, I get it.  For the record, the K3 is FW version 4.58, 
I haven't uploaded that in a long time either.

73,

Fred K6DGW
- Northern California Contest Club
- CU in the 2014 Cal QSO Party 4-5 Oct 2014
- www.cqp.org