[Elecraft] Using KAT-500 without BAND Information

Wed Jan 8 19:54:45 EST 2020

Lyn,

That is very interesting. Maybe I have an issue that I do not 
understand. It sounds like your setup is working as I would have 
expected. I also have a 7300, so I will have to give that a try. I do 
not usually use the 7300 with the KAT-500 and I am a little worried 
about powering the KAT-500 from the 7300.

73,

Tom, KG3V

On 1/8/2020 4:49 PM, Lyn Norstad wrote:
>
> Coming in late on this discussion ... but wanting to add my .02 worth.
>
> I have a setup similar to Tom's, except I have the IC-7300.  With that 
> unit, the KAT500 does, in fact, follow band changes on the 7300 with 
> the */FIRST /*TUNE request.  It doesn't matter if I hit TUNE on the 
> KAT, the 7300 or in software (FT8).
>
> The KPA is already on the correct band, as it DOES follow band changes 
> on the 7300.
>
> Lyn, W0LEN
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net 
> [mailto:elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Bob McGraw K4TAX
> Sent: Thursday, December 26, 2019 12:19 PM
> To: Tom KG3V
> Cc: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Using KAT-500 without BAND Information
>
> Check the KAT500 utility to see which antennas are authorized and for 
> which bands.   You will need to supply RF from the IC7600 in order for 
> the KAT 500 to know what to do.
>
> If you have 2 antennas authorized for the same band that will confuse 
> the issue.  Also selecting LastUsed may be an issue where band data is 
> not available.
>
> Bob, K4TAX
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> > On Dec 26, 2019, at 10:58 AM, Tom KG3V <KG3V at chesbayva.com> wrote:
>
> >
>
> > Don,
>
> >
>
> > Good to hear from you. You helped me many times with K2 questions in 
> the past. Thanks for that! Hope you are enjoying the Holiday Season.
>
> >
>
> > I actually meant the TUNE button on the IC-7600. You must have meant 
> on the KAT-500, since there is not a TUNE button on the KPA-500. It 
> does not seem to matter which TUNE button I press. I think you 
> confirmed that it is working as expected. Still a bit annoying. As 
> soon as the TUNE cycle starts, of course there is RF. I guess the 
> KAT-500 is not sensing frequency DURING the TUNE event. So, any time I 
> switch Bands, I may go through a "complete" Tune cycle with an antenna 
> for the wrong Band. Of course, that most likely will not complete with 
> a match. The second TUNE cycle always selects the desired antenna.
>
> >
>
> > I think I need to send the Band information from the IC-7600 to the 
> KAT-500. My other option will be to use only one antenna with the 
> KAT-500 during Contests. Is it safe to assume that if I send the Band 
> info, this would not happen and the first TUNE cycle would be with the 
> "correct" antenna?
>
> >
>
> > 73,
>
> >
>
> > Tom, KG3V
>
> >
>
> >
>
> >
>
> >> On 12/26/2019 11:15 AM, Don Wilhelm wrote:
>
> >> Tom,
>
> >>
>
> >> If by "hit the TUNE button", you are referring to the TUNE button 
> on the KPA500, those results are completely understandable.
>
> >>
>
> >> Changing bands on your transceiver is not communicated to the 
> KAT500 yet - (it will only be communicated when you provide RF to the 
> KAT500).
>
> >>
>
> >> So the KAT500 will not switch bands and will attempt to tune on the 
> wrong antenna initially.  Once the KAT500 senses RF, it will know that 
> the band is not correct and will switch to the proper antenna for the 
> band in use.
>
> >>
>
> >> In your second scenerio, you are providing RF to the KAT500 first 
> and it will behave properly, so use that sequence.
>
> >>
>
> >> You should not have any problems with the KPA500 if you have the 
> keying cable run correctly - from the transceiver to the KAT500 and 
> then from the KAT500 to the KPA500.
>
> >> The KAT500 interrupts the keying line to the KPA500 so the tuning 
> is done only with the exciter power level.
>
> >>
>
> >> 73 and HNY,
>
> >> Don W3FPR
>
> >>
>
> >>> On 12/26/2019 9:39 AM, Tom KG3V wrote:
>
> >>> I am using a KAT-500 Tuner with an ICOM IC-7600. I am not 
> providing BAND data, which is in line with recommendations for 
> connecting this radio in the Elecraft manuals. The documents tell me 
> that RF Frequency-sensing overrides all other information. I have two 
> antennas enabled. ANT 1 is a vertical for 10-40 meters. ANT 2 is an 80 
> meter dipole. I only ENABLE ANT 2 for 80 meters and only ENABLE ANT 1 
> for all other Bands, in the KAT Config.
>
> >>>
>
> >>> If I change Bands and hit the Tune button, KAT-500 will not change 
> to the correct antenna Instead, it tries to Tune with the wrong 
> antenna. The second time I hit TUNE, it will go to the correct 
> antenna. If instead, I change Bands and hit the Key, the correct 
> antenna is selected. That is fine on CW, but not great for other 
> Modes. Is this a bug? I don't see how this could be desirable. I think 
> this would be especially bad if I have the KPA-500 powered-ON.
>
> >>>
>
> > --
>
> > Get on the Air and make some noise
>
> > Ham Blog at WWW.KG3V.COM
>
> >
>
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