[Elecraft] KAT500 won't tune the 6 meter antenna

[Jack Brindle]

Yes. Check the KAT500 specs on page 2 of the KAT500 manual. The tuner is limited to matching no more than a 10:1 SWR in the HF range, and lower at VHF. Note that this is specified for 500 watts of power, so you may be able to get a little more. 13:1 indicates a very bad match, however. You will be burning up most of your TX power in the coax between the tuner and the antenna.

By far the best thing you can do is to fix the antenna so that is presents a much better impedance to the feed line (and thus the tuner). Doing so will get much more of that precious power into the air.

- Jack B, W6FB
 
> On Jul 5, 2015, at 3:15 PM, George Rebong <ke6te.9 at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> My KAT500 doesn't tune my 6 meter antenna. I tried it on AUTO mode and MANUAL mode. The antenna has 13:1 SWR.  The KAT500 relays doesn't make noise when I keyed the K3.  Did I miss something?
> 73
> George KE6TE
> 
> Sent from my iPad
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:Elecraft at mailman.qth.net
> 
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to jackbrindle at me.com