[Elecraft] [KX3] KXAT3 versus T1 ?

[Wayne Burdick]

Hi Phil,

The T1 can use a simple contact closure on the "ring" pin of the remote-control jack to turn power on and enable tuning. This signal is just wire-OR'ed with the T1's TUNE/PWR switch, so it works the same way: close the contact for about 1/2 second, then release. This will enable tuning -- the T1 will give you up to 3 seconds to start transmitting. If you can see the front of the T1 from your operating position, you'll see the LED turn on. You might even be able to hear the relays doing their thing, assuming the wind isn't blowing.

It may be possible to feed the contact closure for remote-control through the feedline (coax) instead of using a separate control cable. You'd need a little break-out box at each end, with RF chokes to isolate the RF from the control signal, etc. This is left as an exercise for the reader :)

73,
Wayne
N6KR


On Mar 31, 2014, at 8:47 AM, Phil Hystad <phystad at mac.com> wrote:

> Wayne ---
> 
> This is all new news to me about remote operation of the T1.  Actually, I never thought of it.  I have a T1, I have a KX3 with the built-in tuner, and I also have a KX1 and I have normally used the T1 with my KX1.
> 
> For portable ops, I have strung up make-shift 20-meter dipole antennas up in a tree but because of all kinds of factors and environment, the match is not that good usually.  The idea of using a T1 at the match point and then remote controlled should make QRP ops much better with the coax feedline losses being much lower.
> 
> So, is this a reasonable thing to try?  Sometimes, the distance to the make-shift antenna from a picnic bench (for example) is 50 feet or so and I always use 75 foot of coax.  I usually don't try ladder line for lower losses because often the feed line is running along the ground for awhile.
> 
> 73, phil, K7PEH
> 
> 
> On Mar 31, 2014, at 8:01 AM, Wayne Burdick <n6kr at elecraft.com> wrote:
> 
>> Hi Tord,
>> 
>> This is possible, though I'm not sure it would work over this distance. Meanwhile, the T1 manual shows a simple method for remote-controlled tuning via a switch closure.
>> 
>> 73,
>> Wayne
>> N6KR
>> 
>> 
>> On Mar 30, 2014, at 10:26 AM, Tord <la7mha at online.no> wrote:
>> 
>>> Wayne,
>>> 
>>> I have a KX3 and would very much like to use my brilliant T1 tuner at the
>>> feedpoint of the antenna, typically 30-50 feet away from the KX3. 
>>> The T1 has a remote control jack that enables remote tuning and auto band
>>> switching if used together with a FT-817. Are there any future plans to
>>> implement an ATU MODE for remote controlling the T1 over the ACC2 connector
>>> of the KX3? 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 73 de Tord/LA7MHA
>> 
>> 
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