[Elecraft] KAT500 ANT1 problem

[Don Wilhelm]

And discard those "Amazon Special" PL-259s. Use only quality 
connectors.  It is not worth it to use off-spec connectors - you are 
witness to the pain and heartache they can cause.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 7/11/2021 4:52 PM, Dave wrote:
> If it were me, I'd replace the SO-239 on the tuner...  That way, you 
> know the issue won't come back to haunt you later.
>
> 73, and thanks,
> Dave (NK7Z)
> https://www.nk7z.net
> ARRL Volunteer Examiner
> ARRL Technical Specialist, RFI
> ARRL Asst. Director, NW Division, Technical Resources
>
> On 7/11/21 1:48 PM, kd4iz at frawg.org wrote:
>> Many thanks to Ken (K6MR), Joe (4X1RV), and Kirk (K6KAR) for your quick
>> answers and for providing the schematic information.
>> I pulled the unit and did some poke and prod testing with a DVM here 
>> on the
>> anti-static mat. My fear was that K18 had a bad contact in the ANT1
>> position. -Not!-
>> What had apparently happened was that I had a batch of the offshore made
>> "Amazon Special" PL-259s that appear to have a slightly oversize 
>> center pin.
>> The patch cable used until recently had one of them on one end. It had
>> spread the leaves on the ANT1 SO259 just enough that a good 
>> connector, when
>> perfectly centered and seated, did not make contact! Gentle 
>> recentering of
>> the leaves with a miniature flat blade screw drive yielded relief and a
>> self-administered head smack.
>> Jack Spitznagel - KD4IZ
>> Science River LLC
>> Biomedical Consulting Services
>>
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: kirk.harding at k6kar.com <kirk.harding at k6kar.com>
>> Sent: Sunday, July 11, 2021 14:07
>> To: kd4iz at frawg.org
>> Subject: RE: [Elecraft] KAT500 ANT1 problem
>>
>> Jack,
>>
>> The KAT500 schematic is on line (partial)
>> https://www.qsl.net/wb4kdi/Elecraft/KAT500/KAT500_RevA_page1.png
>> https://www.qsl.net/wb4kdi/Elecraft/KAT500/KAT500_RevA_page2.png
>> https://www.qsl.net/wb4kdi/Elecraft/KAT500/KAT500_RevA_page5.png
>>   Although all schematics aren't available, this may be enough to get 
>> you
>> going.
>>
>> 73,
>>
>> Kirk, K6KAR
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net 
>> <elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net> On
>> Behalf Of kd4iz at frawg.org
>> Sent: Sunday, July 11, 2021 12:38 PM
>> To: Elecraft at mailman.qth.net
>> Cc: 'Elecraft Support' <support at elecraft.com>
>> Subject: [Elecraft] KAT500 ANT1 problem
>>
>> All,
>>
>>
>> This is likely something very straight forward, but I do not have a
>> schematic to follow and troubleshoot.
>>
>> Symptom: ANT 1 circuit seems to be dead. No match and fault on switch 
>> from
>> ANT2 to ANT1. No receive signal.
>>
>> Tests:
>>
>> Took KAT500 out of line to by-pass tuner, antenna on ANT1 is OK and will
>> match normally with rig's internal ATU.
>>
>> With KAT500 back in line, selected each tuning position (AUTO, MAN, 
>> BYP) no
>> difference
>>
>> With KAT500 still in line, ANT2 and ANT3 work nominally.
>>
>> Checks:
>>
>> Reset to factory defaults, restored last working Configuration, no 
>> change in
>> above behavior.
>>
>>
>> If I was a betting guy, I'd guess a relay or switching diode was open,
>> however - no schematic, don't really know.
>>
>> Did I miss something
>>
>>
>>
>> Does this little beastie need to go back to the mothership?
>>
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> Jack Spitznagel - KD4IZ
>>
>> Science River LLC
>>
>> Biomedical Consulting Services
>>
>>
>>
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>>
>>
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