[Elecraft] KAT500 and VARA

[Joe Subich, W4TV]

On 2025-06-02 3:05 PM, Dick Dievendorff wrote:

> The default is 10 kHz. I don't know what the swing of a VARA signal 
 > can be.

VARA signal is relatively narrow depending on the data rate.

However, if the rig is set to e.g., 14.0598 some of the tones will
be above 14.0600 and in the "next" 20 KHz 'bin' which *might* cause
the KAT500 to retune.

> If your transceiver reliably provides the frequency (via AUXBUS or 
> the serial port), you can disable retune on frequency count by FDT
> 65535.
I'd certainly recommend setting the K3/K3S CONFIG:KAT3 KAT500Y (see
KAT500 Users Manual) and operating the KAT500 in Manual mode to
prevent unwanted retuning ... as well as avoiding the "even" 10 KHz
boundaries (between 3 and 30 MHz).

73,

    ... Joe, W4TV


On 2025-06-02 3:05 PM, Dick Dievendorff wrote:
> Jim:
> 
> If the KAT500 frequency counter observes a significant frequency excursion, it will often attempt to tune to the new frequency.
> 
> The distance for "significant" is something you can change.  The KAT500 Utility's Command Tester and programming reference will be helpful.
> 
> See the programming reference description of the FDT command.
> 
> The default is 10 kHz. I don't know what the swing of a VARA signal can be.
> 
> If your transceiver reliably provides the frequency (via AUXBUS or the serial port), you can disable retune on frequency count by FDT 65535.
> 
> 73 de Dick, K6KR
> 
> 
> ________________________________
> From: elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net <elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net> on behalf of Jim Kutsch KY2D <jim.kutsch at ky2d.com>
> Sent: Monday, June 2, 2025 10:47 AM
> To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net <elecraft at mailman.qth.net>; 'George Moss' <georgemoss at yahoo.com>
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KAT500 and VARA
> 
> George,
> I have the same issue. If you find any info, please share.
> 
> 73 Jim KY2D
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net <elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net> On
> Behalf Of George Moss via Elecraft
> Sent: Monday, June 2, 2025 12:35
> To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
> Subject: [Elecraft] KAT500 and VARA
> 
> I use Winlink/VARA for ARES email.  However, VARA sends the KAT500 off
> searching for a match on a frequency that has already been matched.  It will
> run along just fine and all of a sudden start trying to rematch.  Any
> thoughts/ideas are appreciated.
> 
> George Moss, KC4GM
> 31 Hopewell Road
> Irvington, VA  22480
> (703) 608-7894
> georgemoss at yahoo.com
>