[Elecraft] [KPA500] K3S/KPA500/KAT500 - Adjusting TX Power

[David Bunte]

Bret -

W6FB - Jack, was spot on with his information regarding the differing
readings... but I have an added question. If your SGC-235 gives an
acceptable match, then why use the KAT500 at all? I think that it is seldom
a good idea to use two antenna tuners in series... at least that has been
my thinking for the past 60 years. Am I missing something.

I have a K3, P3, KPA500 & KAT500... but also have a hi power remote tuner
at the base of my vertical. My KAT500 is bypassed, UNLESS I have a failure
in my remote tuner, in which case I can bypass it, and quickly switch to
the KAT500.

If there is a compelling reason to run both tuners I could try that, but
thought that was ill advised.


Very 73 de Dave - K9FN



On Mon, Sep 4, 2017 at 8:06 AM, MaverickNH <cbjesseeNH at comcast.net> wrote:

> I'm learning about a new KPA500/KAT500 installed with my K3S. When I have
> the
> K3S power knob set, in this case, to show 420-440W peak-hold as read on the
> KPA500 LED screen, I see the KPA500 SWR showing 1-3 LEDs lit (it may stay
> at
> 1 LED or climb from 1 to 3 LEDs over 15sec TX, always below 1.5), the
> KAT500
> with SWR 1.2 LED lit, and P3TXMON indicating SWR 1.00 (it might start at
> 1.15 and settle back to 1.00 over 15sec TX). But PEP on the P3TXMON can
> range from 10-15W up to ~400W on successive 15sec periods of TX using
> WSJT-X
> FT8 (going for very distant CQs). Adjusting the K3S power knob down may
> bring P3TXMON displayed power up if its 10-15W. If the P3TXMON shows 200W
> adjusting the K3S power knob up may bring the P3TXMON power shown down.
>
> Is that how it's supposed to work?
>
> I have a P3TXMON 2000W 1.8-54MHz unit installed on my feedline at the rig
> as
> follows:  KAT500 to Common Mode Choke to P3TXMON to Bias-T to SG-235 remote
> ATU at antenna base to 43ft Vertical antenna, with some Lightning GDTs
> between at antenna base and home feedline entrance. My tuning practice is
> to
> change Frequency, turn KAT500 to BYP, tune the remote ATU, then set KAT500
> to AUTO and let it adjust on 1st TX.
>
> Bret/N4SRN
>
>
>
> --
> Sent from: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/
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