[Elecraft] KPA500+KAT500 interfacing

[Andy Durbin]

"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."


1 - The KAT500 schematic shows it receives  BCD band data.   I assume that could be used to control the selected antenna but I don't see how it would be useful for selecting a tuning solution.

2 - The KPA500 schematic shows that BCD band data is receive only so it does not appear to be capable of sending band data to the KAT500.

My "interesting project" computes and outputs Elecraft format BCD band data but I found no use for it and I disconnected it after initial testing.   I control my KPA500 with the serial data band command "^BN" and I control my KAT500 with the serial data frequency command "f".  My KAT500 and KPA500 always follow my TX frequency.  I placed higher priority on avoiding KAT and KPA faults than on optimizing receive performance when split.

Current KAT500 firmware can only follow VFO A (FA) if listening to a Kenwood rig that is being polled by a KPA500.  The Kenwood TX VFO may be VFO A or VFO B.

73,
Andy, k3wyc