[Elecraft] KPA500-KAT500 tuning settings

[Wes]

Well, to me it wasn't easy.  If the KPA500 and KAT500 are used together and the 
KPA500 is turned on, then the tuner tracks (VFO A only) but I found it necessary 
to fuss with some timing to keep the KAT500 from changing tuning states during a 
transmission.  If the KPA500 isn't tuned on, then the tuner is dumb.  IIRC (it's 
been awhile), turning on "AI" auto information on the TS-890 fixes this but 
introduces the problem that trying to use the "CW-T" (CW auto tune) feature on 
the '890 sends the KAT500 into never-never land.  Some will argue that r-f 
sensing works, which is true if you want to transmit.  If you just want to 
listen, you are out of luck.

Wes  N7WS



,On 5/9/2021 10:23 AM, Bob Wilson, N6TV wrote:
> On Sun, May 9, 2021 at 9:33 AM Wes <wes_n7ws at triconet.org 
> <mailto:wes_n7ws at triconet.org>> wrote:
>
>     This despite the claim: "The KAT500 Automatic Antenna Tuner is designed to be
>     closely integrated with the Elecraft K3 transceiver and the Elecraft KPA500
>     amplifier although it may be easily used with other transceivers and
>     amplifiers."
>
>     The last part is simply not true, IMHO, of course.
>
>
> I guess that depends on how you define "easily".   Plug and play cables and 
> plus some menu configuration seems pretty easy to me, if you have a Kenwood rig.
>
> IMHO, the KAT500 and KPA500 /is/ very easy to use with Kenwood radios, with 
> VFO A auto-track, once connected property.  It's all well documented in the 
> KAT500 Owner's Manual 
> <https://ftp.elecraft.com/KAT500/Manuals%20Downloads/E740183%20Rev%20D1%20KAT500%20Owner's%20Manual.pdf> 
> (pages 16 - 18), and Elecraft can supply KPA500/KAT500 interface cables for a 
> long list of non-Elecraft transceivers, listed here:
>
> https://elecraft.com/products/75-discount-on-a-kpa500-kat500-power-combo 
> <https://elecraft.com/products/75-discount-on-a-kpa500-kat500-power-combo>
>
> The S-BOX <https://bit.ly/S-BOX> can provide plug and play interfaces in more 
> complex environments, when you need even more devices connected to the Kenwood 
> serial port, such as SteppIR controllers and Bandmaster band decoders.
>
> Some combinations (Icom, Yaesu) do not provide frequency auto-track with just 
> cables, though Yaesu support should be easy to add to the KAT500 / KPA500 
> firmware since they've already done the code for the KPA1500.  In the 
> meantime, N4PY Pegasus Plus software <http://www.n4py.com/pegasus-plus.html> 
> can transform any supported transceiver's frequency into Kenwood format for 
> the KAT500 as well, plus there are Icom/Yaesu/Kenwood translating hardware 
> solutions available in some microHAM devices such as the MK2R+.
>
> 73,
> Bob, N6TV
> https://bit.ly/S-BOX <https://bit.ly/S-BOX>