[Elecraft] KPA500-KAT500 tuning settings

[Bob Wilson, N6TV]

Andy,

Kenwood rigs have master/slave menu options designed to enable one Kenwood
rig to follow the frequency of another.  The KAT500 manual recommends
enabling these options, but I cannot confirm if they affect the frequency
reported by the FA; command.  If you have a null modem cable, can you
please connect it to the TS-590 COM port when these options are enabled,
and report what gets output when SPLIT is ON?

TS-590S:

Set *Menu 58* TRANSFER SPLIT FREQUENCY DATA TO ANOTHER TRANSCEIVER to *ON*
Set *Menu 59* COPY SPLIT FREQUENCY DATA TO VFO to *ON*


TS-590SG:

Set *Menu 64* TRANSFER SPLIT FREQUENCY DATA TO ANOTHER TRANSCEIVER to *ON*
Set *Menu 65* COPY SPLIT FREQUENCY DATA TO VFO to *ON*


TS-890S:


Set *Menu 7-04* Quick Data Transfer to *A (TX/RX)*

Set *Menu 7-05 *Overwrite Location (Quick Data Transfer) to *VFO*


TS-990S:

Set *Menu 7-02* Quick Data Transfer to *ON*

Set *Menu 7-03 *Overwrite Location (Quick Data Transfer) to *VFO*


73,
Bob, N6TV


On Mon, May 10, 2021 at 9:48 AM Andy Durbin <a.durbin at msn.com> wrote:

> "You can only connect a  maximum of three antennas to a KAT500."
>
> Any time you use a KAT500 with multiple antennas connected, and you also
> use a KPA500, you run the risk that the band change RF blip will fault the
> tuner, or the amplifier, or both.   This happens because the RF pulse gets
> to the amplifier before the antenna is changed.  This problem is not seen
> if the antenna is switched by an automatic antenna switch separate from the
> KAT500.
>
> The problem can be easily avoided by having KAT500 and KPA500 follow the
> TX VFO when the transceiver is in receive mode.
>
> Kenwood (at least the TS-590) does not restrict which VFO is used for TX
> or RX.  In simplex operation either VFO can be in use.  For split operation
> either VFO can be the RX VFO and the other is the TX VFO.  Kenwood also
> allows memory channels to define TX and RX frequency.  Memory channel
> frequencies do not influence FA or FB.  They only change IF.  Following
> Kenwood VFO A is, as I said before, a weak solution.   Elecraft has known
> for years how to use Kenwood IF, FA, and FB to extract the TX frequency
> regardless of which VFO is in use.  It's done in KPA500 and KPA1500.
>
> I still hold onto some fading hope that, when K4 demands less development
> attention, Elecraft will release a firmware update for the KAT500.
>
> 73,
> Andy, k3wyc
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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