[Elecraft] KPA500 not responding to K3

[iain macdonnell - N6ML]

On Thu, May 1, 2014 at 9:11 PM, Ben Collins-Sussman
<sussman at red-bean.com> 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?

What happens if you connect the K3 directly to the KPA500 (i.e. remove
the KAT500 from the picture, temporarily) ? If they still don't
cooperate, try the other cable....

73,

    ~iain / N6ML