[Elecraft] Interesting observations after installing antenna switch

[Steven Ayers]

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On Tue, Aug 29, 2023, 13:59 <ken.kj9b at gmail.com> wrote:

> Hi all.  I recently put a remote antenna switch in my HF system.  This
> switch (a WA4MCM kit, RAAS-4a) is capable of reading band data from several
> radios, including my Elecraft K3S.  For several years I have had a KPA-500
> amplifier in line, working seamlessly with my K3S, band switching
> automatically, etc.  In order to get band data for the new switch, I
> installed the "Y" cable that came with the KPAK3AUX Cable set that I
> purchased with the amp.  After installing the new switch, everything works
> fine, with a couple of small "quirky" things.  For the past year or so, I
> have had my amp set to automatically go into stand-by when I switch bands.
> After installing the new switch, I noticed that when changing bands, the
> amp
> no longer automatically goes to stand-by.  Furthermore, after making a band
> change and transmitting for the first time on the new band (with the amp in
> "operate" mode), the amp will drop out of "operate" shortly after keying
> up.
> No error message or error beep happens, it just drops out.  After manually
> putting the amp back in "operate" mode, everything was fine.  After I
> noticed that, I just disabled the automatic switch to stand-by feature of
> the KPA-500, and that took care of that.  Another interesting, and possibly
> more significant, anomaly I noticed after installing the new switch is
> according to the display on the amplifier, the amplifier is always on the
> 60
> meter band, displaying "5.3 MHZ".  I normally only display the temperature
> of the amplifier, but my son noticed this when he was operating from my
> station and changed the display.  When he noticed this, we were operating a
> special event station and had operated on most bands other than 60 meters
> for quite some time with the amp apparently set for 60 meters, with no
> obvious ill effects.
>
>
>
> The designer of the switch says that each band data channel only draws
> around 4 mA, with each channel buffered by a transistor switch in an
> attempt
> to isolate the band data voltage from the radio.  In my working days in the
> entertainment industry, I would use a distribution amp to give me multiple
> audio outputs when needed.  Is there such a "distribution amp" available
> for
> the band data signals?  Would the Elecraft KRC2 accomplish this?
>
>
>
> I appreciate any input offered on my situation.
>
>
>
> 73,
>
> Ken, KJ9B
>
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