[Elecraft] KAT500 as a remote-controlled tuner

[ANDY DURBIN]

Ok, warnings noted.   I like having my TS-590 interface controlling my local KAT500 so, if I were to try a KAT500 as a remote tuner, I'd look at the feasibility of making a control interface with a wifi link.  That link would include the capability to remote the keying interrupt.


Andy, k3wyc




________________________________
From: Jack Brindle <jackbrindle at me.com>
Sent: Saturday, November 3, 2018 7:07 PM
To: ANDY DURBIN
Cc: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KAT500 as a remote-controlled tuner

The answer is yes. But then it won’t tune and the cores will overheat from excess power trying to use a now-invalid solution. You must disable the amplifier to perform a tune or anytime the ATU needs to do any switching. It determines when it needs to do that (say from a QSY where it needs to go to a different solution). If you have fixed-frequency operation and can guarantee that the ATU won’t need to change the relays while power is high, then your analysis may be correct. Why risk it?

So what is wrong with hot switching? You get arcs across the relay contacts greatly reducing their lives. Having to replace the relays isn’t fun, but having to replace a coil because the relay won’t make contact is even worse.

There is a reason we designed the key line interrupt into the ATUs.

Jack, W6FB