Easier way to adjust KPA500 fan speed

[briancom]

With the lack of sunspots, one has to scrounge for QSO's. For a non big
gun station, that means a lot of S&P and pouncing on DX cluster spots.
Lots of hopping between modes.

I use earphones always but still find it necessary to tinker with fan
speed. Keeping ambient KPA500 fan noise down and minimizing annoying fan
speed changes during QSO's, requires different initial fan speed levels
for different modes.

To adjust fan speed from the KPA500 front panel:
1) Press Menu
2) Scroll down 5 times to FAN CTL
3) Press Edit
4) Scroll up or down to value
5) Back out (2 presses)
6) Press TEMP, PWR or whatever parameter you choose to display while
operating.

This got to be a pain.  W6FB at Elecraft suggested using the ^FC command
to make the changes over the PC connection.  You could write your own
program or use the firmware program to do this. I used the firmware
program and programmed macros for speeds 0 - 4.  The firmware program is
minimized most of the time since it takes up significant screen space.
It does require a dedicated USB or COM port.

It is crude but does help.  Any better ideas?  Maybe the aux key could
be pressed into service to scroll fan speed. What would really be nice
is to have it automatic with the KPA500 knowing the mode your operating
and what fan speed you like for that mode.  I suppose some logging
program could do the same.

Another solution for some-- buy a KPA1500 which is supposed to be
whisper quiet.

73 de Brian/K3KO


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I keep mine always set on the highest speed that is not loud. I cannot
remember the number but it the fan is barely noticeable and the next speed
up seems quite loud. For casual S&P operating the loud fan never comes on
for me.

John KK9A

From: Brian K3KO
Date: Fri Feb 9 11:57:29 EST 2018

With the lack of sunspots, one has to scrounge for QSO's. For a non big
gun station, that means a lot of S&P and pouncing on DX cluster spots.
Lots of hopping between modes.

I use earphones always but still find it necessary to tinker with fan
speed. Keeping ambient KPA500 fan noise down and minimizing annoying fan
speed changes during QSO's, requires different initial fan speed levels
for different modes.

To adjust fan speed from the KPA500 front panel:
1) Press Menu
2) Scroll down 5 times to FAN CTL
3) Press Edit
4) Scroll up or down to value
5) Back out (2 presses)
6) Press TEMP, PWR or whatever parameter you choose to display while
operating.

This got to be a pain.  W6FB at Elecraft suggested using the ^FC command
to make the changes over the PC connection.  You could write your own
program or use the firmware program to do this. I used the firmware
program and programmed macros for speeds 0 - 4.  The firmware program is
minimized most of the time since it takes up significant screen space.
It does require a dedicated USB or COM port.

It is crude but does help.  Any better ideas?  Maybe the aux key could
be pressed into service to scroll fan speed. What would really be nice
is to have it automatic with the KPA500 knowing the mode your operating
and what fan speed you like for that mode.  I suppose some logging
program could do the same.

Another solution for some-- buy a KPA1500 which is supposed to be
whisper quiet.

73 de Brian/K3KO

______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Message delivered to [hidden email]