[Elecraft] KPA500+KAT500 interfacing.

[Jack Brindle]

I can answer this. I believe the answer to the first question is yes. The KAT500 can follow the BDC band data. The answer to the second is definitely no. The KPA500 does not output (nor does it have the capability) BCD band data. The port has input, but does not have output drive. To go further, while the KPA can talk over the Auxbus, the KAT does not have capability to decode the data. In fact the only devices with the capability to decode KPA500 Auxbus data are the K3, K3S and K4.

While both can follow Kenwood-format serial data, and both will respond to a short transmission burst, there is an advantage to having the KAT500 follow the transceivers receive frequency since it keeps the antenna properly matched for the received frequency. In order to do this you really need to have the KAT receive the transceiver frequency stream. As others have noted, it can listen to Kenwood FA responses (which the KPA can poll for). Several folks have created rather interesting boxes that can receive band data from transceivers and communicate it to the KPA500 and KAT500. You might want to talk with Andy, K3WYC about his rather interesting project.

73,
Jack, W6FB


> On Nov 17, 2020, at 8:27 PM, Wes <wes_n7ws at triconet.org> wrote:
> 
> The answer may be no, but you're not responding to the question asked.
> 
> The KPA500 can be switched with Serial or BCD data, in addition to the Elecraft Aux Bus.  I simply want to know: 1) does the KAT500 also switch with BCD data and 2) if so, can those data come from a KPA500 that is being controlled with serial data.  (When I say Aux cable, I'm referring to the 15-pin cable that includes BCD (band) data.
> 
> 
> On 11/17/2020 12:23 PM, Don Wilhelm wrote:
>> Wes,
>> 
>> The answer is NO.  The KAT500 and KPA500 take their AUX commands from the K3(S).
>> 
>> On 11/17/2020 1:11 PM, Wes wrote:
>>> I have a K3S interfaced to the KAT500 and KPA500 using the Aux cables.
>>> 
>>> If I was to replace the K3S with a rig with only RS232 control of the KPA500, will the Kat500 still follow along using the Aux cables.  The Xcvr and Amp connections on the KAT500 seem to be more or less a pass through.
>>> 
>>> I know the KAT500 will switch using RF sensing, but that doesn't help in a receive only situation, which I often employ.
>>> 
>>> Wes  N7WS
>>> 
>>> ______________________________________________________________
>>> Elecraft mailing list
>>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>>> Post: mailto:Elecraft at mailman.qth.net
>>> 
>>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>>> Message delivered to donwilh at embarqmail.com
> 
> 
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:Elecraft at mailman.qth.net
> 
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to jackbrindle at me.com