[Elecraft] KPA500 not responding to K3

[Phil Wheeler]

This will be on the reflector, Ben. I often hit 
Reply vs. Reply list!

Your description sounds like what is spec'ed in 
the KAT500 and how I have mine set up.

But the KPA/KAT500 are pretty new to me. Others 
will be more helpful.

I wonder if there are any menu settings in the K3 
which need changed?

73, Phil w7ox

On 5/1/14, 9:24 PM, Ben Collins-Sussman wrote:
> Yes indeed, the KX3 and all associated cables 
> are far away.
>
> I also doubled-checked that the new K3 has the 
> absolute latest firmware (4.38).  The KPA500 is 
> running 1.23.
>
>
> On Thu, May 1, 2014 at 11:19 PM, Phil Wheeler 
> <w7ox at socal.rr.com <mailto:w7ox at socal.rr.com>> 
> wrote:
>
>     Is the KX3 totally disconnected from the Amp?
>
>     Phil w7ox
>
>     On 5/1/14, 9:11 PM, Ben Collins-Sussman wrote:
>>     Hello friends,
>>
>>     I've been using my tiny KX3 with a KPA500 and KAT500 for many months now.
>>       The KX3 only puts out 12 watts, but the KPA500 translates it successfully
>>     into about 200W.  The KPA500 and KAT500 have been connected via the
>>     official DB15 cable sold by Elecraft, and the KX3 triggers the amp via RCA
>>     cable into the amp's PA-key connector.
>>
>>     Fast-forward to today:  I just received a K3, and I'm really excited to see
>>     the K3, KPA500, and KAT500 all just "work together" magically.  Except
>>     they're not.
>>
>>     I've connected everything exactly as shown in the KAT500 manual:
>>
>>         - K3's ACC port is connected to the tuner's XCVR port, via the official
>>         KPAK3AUX cable.
>>         - The tuner's AMP port is connected to the amp's AUX port, via the
>>         official E850463 cable.
>>
>>     I'm definitely able to use the K3 and tuner together when the amp is off.
>>       But when I turn on the amp, there appears to be no communication between
>>     amp and K3.
>>
>>         - The amp doesn't notice when I change bands on the K3.
>>         - The amp won't let me change bands at all, even when I push its band
>>         buttons!
>>         - When I put the amp into OPER and transmit 15 or 20W from the K3, the
>>         amp doesn't appear to "key" and amplify.  It just shows the exact 20W as
>>         passing through (on it's 'power' display.)
>>
>>     I've verified that the amp's RADIO option is set to 'K3'.
>>
>>     Does anyone have any ideas?
>>
>>     73 de Ben NN9S
>