[Elecraft] Two KAT 500s Intermittent High SWR
dave ingebright
daveingeb at comcast.net
Sat Jul 19 00:28:48 EDT 2025
I own two Elecraft KAT500 autotuners (main and spare) They are finding erratic solutions on all three antenna outputs and then fault due to high SWR. It's driving me crazy due to both exhibit the same problem. One will find a solution one day, but not the next, or an hour later on the same or a different band. New coax runs. If I connect the cantenna to the end of the coax next to the antenna, same condx. Then I go back to it and it's OK.
So today I caught it. Started transmitting, and ATU went to full HIGH SWR and then into fault mode. Checked the antenna and nothing amiss. I think the small reed relays that tune the match are arcing or opening up. You guys know there are some high voltages in these tuners as they tune and operate. How does Elecraft handle this in their design?
I still think these are the best autotuners on the market, but what the heck. I have two of these exhibiting the same symptoms. Checked the catalog, $1024 on sale $25 off. Sheesh
Guess I will call the tech line and see what they say...
//dave
WB7ELY
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