[Elecraft] KPA500+KAT500 interfacing

[Jack Brindle]

I received a bit of further information this morning. The KAT500 only uses the band data to validate that the received frequency (from the K3) is on the indicated band. It does not use it for anything else.

Further, the KPA500 only uses band data to select the band. In general, the KPA doesn’t care about the frequency - it really has no frequency-sensitive elements. The KPA does not receive frequency from the K3, and only uses the Kenwood data (or Icom band voltage) to select a band. Thus there is no data to be sent.

I believe you are searching for a solution that gathers transceiver frequency and sends it to the KAT500. Or, allow the KAT500 to use its built-in frequency measurement system to select the bin.

Jack, W6FB


> On Nov 18, 2020, at 8:00 AM, Wes <wes_n7ws at triconet.org> wrote:
> 
> Thanks Andy.
> 
> I'm starting to get my head around this.  "Tis a pity that Elecraft didn't allow for the KPA500 to control the KAT500 via the band data bus and have an integrated Amp/Tuner combo that didn't require a proprietary interface.
> 
> The tuning solutions are in the tuner memory so telling it, or letting it measure, the frequency recalls them.
> 
> Wes
> 
> 
> On 11/18/2020 3:02 AM, Andy Durbin wrote:
>> "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
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
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> 
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