[Elecraft] Remote KAT500

[Fred Jensen]

Thanks for all the input on my plan to remote my KAT500 to the base of a 
flag pole.  Plans are taking shape.  I still have a couple of specific 
questions:

1.  It appears that the "AUX cable" can be dispensed with using instead 
the KEY OUT line from the amplifier.  Before I give up on the "AUX 
cable," does anyone know how long a cable I could have?  My run will be 
about 120' [~37 m].  I think the signals in that cable are TTL levels 
but I don't know how CAT5/CAT6 twisted pair cables might work over that 
distance.

2.  With the KAT500 in its box at the antenna base, I'm trying to figure 
out how I would "train" the autotuner.  Before our move, I set my K3 to 
the center of each "bin" on each band, and tapped TUNE.  I did this for 
each of the three antennas I had on the appropriate bands.  It took 
awhile.  Thereafter, I ran the KAT500 in MAN mode and it recalled the 
right settings as I tuned in receive.  The "AUX cable" was connected. 
That method isn't going to work well with a remote KAT500.

3.  How do I get the cables into the weatherproof box?  Should I mount 
connectors [doesn't seem very good to me ... PL-259 exposed to the 
weather], or are there weatherproof entrance fittings.  One of the 
cables will be 120 VAC, probably a heavy extension cord [for 12V supply 
and the fixture to light the flag at night.

As has been pointed out, the not-so-expensive-box will be housing a 
fairly-expensive-KAT500.

73,

Fred K6DGW
- Northern California Contest Club
- CU in the Cal QSO Party 1-2 Oct 2016
- www.cqp.org