[Elecraft] KPA1500 ATU - ability to handle more than two antennas

[Wayne Burdick]

Dan,

The KPA1500’s firmware is written to accommodate many more antennas. It would be a fairly simple matter to externalize a number of them in the form of a remote-controlled antenna switch. 

This is a good example of how the amp can be tailored to user needs. The firmware could be updated to support an external switch, patch it into the normal antenna selection process (i.e. ATU retuning, ANT switch control), display its number or noun name on the LCD, etc. We even have two user-programmable switches (PF1 and PF2) that could be used as hot-keys to select specific antennas, rigs, or other configurations.

As unique station needs arise, we’ll try to address them in a timely fashion. To that end, feel free to recommend specific third-party antenna switches that we could test. We’ll work with the manufacturers to ensure smooth operation.

73,
Wayne
N6KR


> On Jan 25, 2018, at 11:48 AM, Dan AE9K <dan at ae9k.com> wrote:
> 
> While I'm awaiting the delivery of my KPA1500 I'm wondering if/how the amp's
> ATU can accommodate more than two antennas.  For example, if I have an
> antenna switch connected to one of the amp's antenna jacks is there a
> facility on the amp that would allow me to choose one of two /logical/
> antennas beyond the ANT1 / ANT2 physical selection?  Having two sets of
> memories per band per physical port would accommodate 4 antennas.  
> 
> Does the KPA1500 support this or something similar to allow for more than
> two antennas?  If not,  this seems pretty simple to implement as a firmware
> change - assuming there's enough memory available.  If memory is a
> constraint I suppose you could provide the option to halve the number of
> tuning solutions stored per segment to keep the memory footprint the same.
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> Dan
> AE9K
> 
> 
> 
> --
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