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Adding KPA100 to KAT100-2

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Tom KG3V

Adding KPA100 to KAT100-2

I am finally getting around to moving my KPA100 from the K2 case to
the EC2 enclosure that houses my KAT100 tuner. I must be missing
something obvious - basic K2 appears to work but never accesses ANT2
and none of the KAT100 SWR lights work (although the AN1/2 LEDs do
work, and think they are switching).

Here is what I think are the connections:
Internal to the EC2:
AUX connector on KPA100 to AUX header on KAT100 board
AUX 12V connector on KPA100 to AUX12v connector on KAT100 board
AUX RF connector on KPA100 to AUX RF connector on KAT100 board

External connections:
12V connected to K2 and KPA100 (but not to KAT100)
AUX/IO connector from K2 to KPA100 AUX/IO connector
K2 ANT OUT (BNC) to AUX RF (BNC) on KAT100
KPA100 RF OUT to KAT100 RF IN
ANT1 and ANT 2 to my antennas

When I try to tune, the KAT100 relays do some clicking, but no SWR
LEDs illuminate. The first time I tried this, I had the KPA100 ANT
connector open - so hopefully I did not damage anything (was running
only 20 w TUNE for a few seconds)

Possible error - do I need to connect the external AUX connector to
the KAT100 connector, instead of the KPA100 connecotr?

Any help appreciated.

73,

Tom KG3V
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Dave Van Wallaghen

RE: Adding KPA100 to KAT100-2

Hey Tom,
If I'm reading what you wrote correctly, it looks like you have it connected
correctly. Here is a link to Lyle Johnson's website if you don't have it
already: http://www.kk7p.com/k2kpa100.html
Go near the bottom of the page. He has some nice pictures of what it all
looks like connected.

If I remember right, I actually plugged (read muscled) the Aux RF connector
in reverse. Not sure if that could cause what you're seeing. Also not sure
what tuning into an open load would do either.

I'm sure that many on the list brighter than me will give you some good
advice.

Good luck & 73,
Dave W8FGU

> -----Original Message-----
> From: [hidden email] [mailto:elecraft-
> [hidden email]] On Behalf Of Tom Z
> Sent: Friday, September 07, 2007 8:55 PM
> To: [hidden email]
> Subject: [Elecraft] Adding KPA100 to KAT100-2
>
> I am finally getting around to moving my KPA100 from the K2 case to
> the EC2 enclosure that houses my KAT100 tuner. I must be missing
> something obvious - basic K2 appears to work but never accesses ANT2
> and none of the KAT100 SWR lights work (although the AN1/2 LEDs do
> work, and think they are switching).
>
> Here is what I think are the connections:
> Internal to the EC2:
> AUX connector on KPA100 to AUX header on KAT100 board
> AUX 12V connector on KPA100 to AUX12v connector on KAT100 board
> AUX RF connector on KPA100 to AUX RF connector on KAT100 board
>
> External connections:
> 12V connected to K2 and KPA100 (but not to KAT100)
> AUX/IO connector from K2 to KPA100 AUX/IO connector
> K2 ANT OUT (BNC) to AUX RF (BNC) on KAT100
> KPA100 RF OUT to KAT100 RF IN
> ANT1 and ANT 2 to my antennas
>
> When I try to tune, the KAT100 relays do some clicking, but no SWR
> LEDs illuminate. The first time I tried this, I had the KPA100 ANT
> connector open - so hopefully I did not damage anything (was running
> only 20 w TUNE for a few seconds)
>
> Possible error - do I need to connect the external AUX connector to
> the KAT100 connector, instead of the KPA100 connecotr?
>
> Any help appreciated.
>
> 73,
>
> Tom KG3V
> _______________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Post to: [hidden email]
> You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
> Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.):
> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm
> Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com

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Don Wilhelm-4

Re: Adding KPA100 to KAT100-2

In reply to this post by Tom KG3V

Tom,

Your connections all seem to be correct. It should make no difference
if the DE-9 cable is connected to the KAT100 or the KPA100 - try both.
If it works plugged into the KAT100 and not plugged to the KPA100, then
likely one of the miniature inductors in the KPA100 AUX I/O circuits is
open.

You have 3 things that could be the source of the problem - the base K2,
the KPA100 and the KAT100. I suggest you eliminate one of them to
troubleshoot the problem. I would suggest that the easiest is to
eliminate the KPA100 first - proceed as follows:

Remove the internal ribbon cable in the EC2 enclosure from the KAT100
board (leave the other internal cables in place - place the KPA100
upside down to the right of the EC2 enclosure), put the AUX I/O cable on
the KAT100 connector, and run the RF out of the base K2 to the RF IN
jack of the KAT100 - then try the base K2 and the KAT100 (without the
KPA100). Resolve any problems with that setup first, then add the
KPA100 to the mix only after the KAT100 and the base K2 are working
properly together. If you have problems only after adding the KPA100,
you have something open between the KPA100 AUX I/O connector and the end
of the ribbon cable.

73,
Don W3FPR

Tom Z wrote:

> I am finally getting around to moving my KPA100 from the K2 case to
> the EC2 enclosure that houses my KAT100 tuner. I must be missing
> something obvious - basic K2 appears to work but never accesses ANT2
> and none of the KAT100 SWR lights work (although the AN1/2 LEDs do
> work, and think they are switching).
>
> Here is what I think are the connections:
> Internal to the EC2:
> AUX connector on KPA100 to AUX header on KAT100 board
> AUX 12V connector on KPA100 to AUX12v connector on KAT100 board
> AUX RF connector on KPA100 to AUX RF connector on KAT100 board
>
> External connections:
> 12V connected to K2 and KPA100 (but not to KAT100)
> AUX/IO connector from K2 to KPA100 AUX/IO connector
> K2 ANT OUT (BNC) to AUX RF (BNC) on KAT100
> KPA100 RF OUT to KAT100 RF IN
> ANT1 and ANT 2 to my antennas
>
> When I try to tune, the KAT100 relays do some clicking, but no SWR
> LEDs illuminate. The first time I tried this, I had the KPA100 ANT
> connector open - so hopefully I did not damage anything (was running
> only 20 w TUNE for a few seconds)
>
> Possible error - do I need to connect the external AUX connector to
> the KAT100 connector, instead of the KPA100 connecotr?
>
> Any help appreciated.
>
> 73,
>
> Tom KG3V
> _______________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Post to: [hidden email]
> You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
> Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.):
> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm
> Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
>
>
>

Tom KG3V

Re: Adding KPA100 to KAT100-2

In reply to this post by Tom KG3V

Well, the good news is that everything is working fine. I actually had
two of the RF cables reversed - tried to make the connections from
memory - not smart.

This turned out to be a very easy exercise, and I like the result. Now
I keep the K2 in "barefoot" configuration, and the KPA100 and tuner
are both outboard. The only extra thing I had to do while making this
modification was to scrape paint from the side panels to get good
ground connectivity. I don't think the instructions for the KAT100-2
ever told me to do so.

Thanks for your help and comments.

73,

Tom KG3V

On 9/7/07, Dave Van Wallaghen <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Hey Tom,
> If I'm reading what you wrote correctly, it looks like you have it connected
> correctly. Here is a link to Lyle Johnson's website if you don't have it
> already: http://www.kk7p.com/k2kpa100.html
> Go near the bottom of the page. He has some nice pictures of what it all
> looks like connected.
>
> If I remember right, I actually plugged (read muscled) the Aux RF connector
> in reverse. Not sure if that could cause what you're seeing. Also not sure
> what tuning into an open load would do either.
>
> I'm sure that many on the list brighter than me will give you some good
> advice.
>
> Good luck & 73,
> Dave W8FGU
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: [hidden email] [mailto:elecraft-
> > [hidden email]] On Behalf Of Tom Z
> > Sent: Friday, September 07, 2007 8:55 PM
> > To: [hidden email]
> > Subject: [Elecraft] Adding KPA100 to KAT100-2
> >
> > I am finally getting around to moving my KPA100 from the K2 case to
> > the EC2 enclosure that houses my KAT100 tuner. I must be missing
> > something obvious - basic K2 appears to work but never accesses ANT2
> > and none of the KAT100 SWR lights work (although the AN1/2 LEDs do
> > work, and think they are switching).
> >
> > Here is what I think are the connections:
> > Internal to the EC2:
> > AUX connector on KPA100 to AUX header on KAT100 board
> > AUX 12V connector on KPA100 to AUX12v connector on KAT100 board
> > AUX RF connector on KPA100 to AUX RF connector on KAT100 board
> >
> > External connections:
> > 12V connected to K2 and KPA100 (but not to KAT100)
> > AUX/IO connector from K2 to KPA100 AUX/IO connector
> > K2 ANT OUT (BNC) to AUX RF (BNC) on KAT100
> > KPA100 RF OUT to KAT100 RF IN
> > ANT1 and ANT 2 to my antennas
> >
> > When I try to tune, the KAT100 relays do some clicking, but no SWR
> > LEDs illuminate. The first time I tried this, I had the KPA100 ANT
> > connector open - so hopefully I did not damage anything (was running
> > only 20 w TUNE for a few seconds)
> >
> > Possible error - do I need to connect the external AUX connector to
> > the KAT100 connector, instead of the KPA100 connecotr?
> >
> > Any help appreciated.
> >
> > 73,
> >
> > Tom KG3V
> > _______________________________________________
> > Elecraft mailing list
> > Post to: [hidden email]
> > You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
> > Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.):
> > http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> >
> > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm
> > Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
>
>