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Future of KPA500 & KAT500

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Jim Brown-10

Re: Future of KPA500 & KAT500

On 6/17/2020 1:44 PM, Josh Fiden wrote:
> Also nice to have an amp you can run from 120v if needed.

Yes. The KPA500 and KAT500 see a lot of use for 7QP and CQP expeditions,
and for 6M grid expeditions.

73, Jim K9YC
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Wes Stewart-2

Re: Future of KPA500 & KAT500

My whole home station runs on one 120VAC 20A circuit.

https://www.qrz.com/db/N7WS for stats.

Wes N7WS

On 6/17/2020 1:58 PM, Jim Brown wrote:
> On 6/17/2020 1:44 PM, Josh Fiden wrote:
>> Also nice to have an amp you can run from 120v if needed.
>
> Yes. The KPA500 and KAT500 see a lot of use for 7QP and CQP expeditions, and
> for 6M grid expeditions.
>
> 73, Jim K9YC

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Eric Swartz - WA6HHQ

Re: Future of KPA500 & KAT500

Administrator

In reply to this post by Don Putnick-6

Hi Don,

We plan to keep selling and supporting both the KPA500 and KAT500 - Sales remain strong for both. They are also compatible with the K4 and most other HF radios. :-)

73,
Eric
elecraft.com
_..._

> On Jun 16, 2020, at 9:50 PM, Don Putnick <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> With the sunset of the K3S, what are the plans for the future of the KPA500
> and KAT500? Enquiring minds want to know.
> 73 Don NA6Z
> ______________________________________________________________
>
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Charlie T, K3ICH

Re: Future of KPA500 & KAT500

In reply to this post by Nr4c

Isn't there some sort of "jumper" or ???, that will increase the gain to something other than the ridiculous and prohibitive +13 dB figure, for "international" (wink-wink) sales, sorta like the "MARS" mod in almost all radios these days?

99.9% of the chicken band users today are happy with their 5 watt radios.
However, that restrictive and useless +13 gain law does NOTHING to stop the REALLY big guns on 27.025 who typically run amps using tubes that have HANDLES on them!
(I've personally seen channel 6 mobile set-ups running power in excess of 25 kilowatts.)

73, Charlie k3ICH

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email] <[hidden email]> On Behalf Of Nr4c
Sent: Wednesday, June 17, 2020 3:14 PM
To: Paul Gacek <[hidden email]>
Cc: Don Putnick <[hidden email]>; Elecraft Reflector <[hidden email]>
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Future of KPA500 & KAT500

The KAT500 has three antenna out ports. It only needs one In so the KPA500 needs only one out port.

As for the 10 W in and 500 out idea. That is prohibited by law. They’re only allowed to sell an amp with max gain of 13dB.

Sent from my iPhone
...nr4c. bill

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Mark Goldberg

Re: Future of KPA500 & KAT500

NX1P created a modification that is legal for an individual Ham to do
at your own risk. It is more complicated than just a jumper. This is
the only site I could find it at:

https://docplayer.net/22608412-Kpa-500-modifications.html

73,

Mark
W7MLG

On Thu, Jun 18, 2020 at 8:34 AM Charlie T <[hidden email]> wrote:

>
> Isn't there some sort of "jumper" or ???, that will increase the gain to something other than the ridiculous and prohibitive +13 dB figure, for "international" (wink-wink) sales, sorta like the "MARS" mod in almost all radios these days?
>
> 99.9% of the chicken band users today are happy with their 5 watt radios.
> However, that restrictive and useless +13 gain law does NOTHING to stop the REALLY big guns on 27.025 who typically run amps using tubes that have HANDLES on them!
> (I've personally seen channel 6 mobile set-ups running power in excess of 25 kilowatts.)
>
> 73, Charlie k3ICH
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: [hidden email] <[hidden email]> On Behalf Of Nr4c
> Sent: Wednesday, June 17, 2020 3:14 PM
> To: Paul Gacek <[hidden email]>
> Cc: Don Putnick <[hidden email]>; Elecraft Reflector <[hidden email]>
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Future of KPA500 & KAT500
>
> The KAT500 has three antenna out ports. It only needs one In so the KPA500 needs only one out port.
>
> As for the 10 W in and 500 out idea. That is prohibited by law. They’re only allowed to sell an amp with max gain of 13dB.
>
> Sent from my iPhone
> ...nr4c. bill
>
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
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George Danner-2

Re: Future of KPA500 & KAT500

In reply to this post by Charlie T, K3ICH

Paula Keezer NX1P modified a KPA500 to allow it to be driven to about 500
watts by a KX3.
She published it - but I can not find it on the web.
The mod increased the gain by less than 3 db (seems I recall 2.something).
You would need the 12 to 15 watts to drive it to about 500 watts.

The modification involved removing the input pad and modifying the feed back
loop to the microprocessor.
I thought about doing the mod to be able to run a net with my KX3 if my K3
quit.
I have a KXPA and decided not to do the modification.
I can just remove my KX3 & KXPA from my truck if I ever need a backup to
drive the KPA500. Probably 10 minutes work and find the bag of portable
cables.

BTW - Ms. Keezer's modification was very detailed and she had many cautions
regarding doing the modification.
It defiantly was not a matter of "cutting a jumper" to remove the input pad.
You need remove the pad parts and change the number of turns in a
transformer.

Defiantly would void the warranty and make factory repairs iffy depending on
Elecraft's policies.
Other manufacturers I have worked with would restore the amp to factory
while repairing it.

As a ham you are not limited to the 15 db gain restriction - the
manufacturer is but not you.

73
George AI4VZ

-----Original Message-----
From: Charlie T
Sent: Thursday, June 18, 2020 9:06 AM
To: 'Nr4c'
Cc: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Future of KPA500 & KAT500

Isn't there some sort of "jumper" or ???, that will increase the gain to
something other than the ridiculous and prohibitive +13 dB figure, for
"international" (wink-wink) sales, sorta like the "MARS" mod in almost all
radios these days?

99.9% of the chicken band users today are happy with their 5 watt radios.
However, that restrictive and useless +13 gain law does NOTHING to stop the
REALLY big guns on 27.025 who typically run amps using tubes that have
HANDLES on them!
(I've personally seen channel 6 mobile set-ups running power in excess of 25
kilowatts.)

73, Charlie k3ICH

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email] <[hidden email]> On
Behalf Of Nr4c
Sent: Wednesday, June 17, 2020 3:14 PM
To: Paul Gacek <[hidden email]>
Cc: Don Putnick <[hidden email]>; Elecraft Reflector
<[hidden email]>
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Future of KPA500 & KAT500

The KAT500 has three antenna out ports. It only needs one In so the KPA500
needs only one out port.

As for the 10 W in and 500 out idea. That is prohibited by law. They’re
only allowed to sell an amp with max gain of 13dB.

Sent from my iPhone
...nr4c. bill

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Ken Winterling

Re: Future of KPA500 & KAT500

I own a KPA500 and KAT500. Both work very well with my Icom IC-7610 but
operation could be improved if they could communicate with the Icom CI-V
bus. I do not own a KPA1500 but from my research I see it can communicate
directly with the Icom CI-V bus to switch the amp AND the internal
tuner/antenna selector when connected to an Icom rig without any RF being
transmitted. The KPA500 and KAT500 have no such CI-V capability.

The Icom band data connection on the amp works but does not address the WARC
bands. There is no provision at all to communicate with the KAT500 so it
must RF sense to switch bands and select the correct antenna. While this
works well when transmitting it is of no value when you are just listening
or scanning. The KAT500 will remain on the last band and antenna where RF
was present. For example, my KAT500 has a 75M dipole on ANT 1 and a
40M-10M fan dipole on ANT 2. If I am listening on 75M and then switch
bands to 20M the KPA500 will switch bands using the band data cable I built
(but not on the WARC bands...) but the KAT500 remains on ANT 1 and tuned
for the 75M frequency. Of course, this seriously attenuates the 20M
signals.

I would like to see a plug-in product that connects to the IC-7610 (or
other Icom), the KPA500, and the KAT500 that reads the Icom CI-V bus
commands and sets BOTH the KPA500 and KAT500 to the correct band without
transmitting, and in the case of the KAT500, also selects the proper
antenna for the frequency. Since the KAT500 antenna is assigned per band
in the KAT500 programming I believe the KAT500 would only need to know the
frequency then it would select the proper antenna from its internal memory.

If such an Icom CI-V plug-in device already exists that addresses BOTH the
KPA500 and KAT500 issues outlined above please direct me to the product(s).

Thanks & 73,

Ken
WA2LBI

On Thu, Jun 18, 2020 at 12:29 PM Gmail - George <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Paula Keezer NX1P modified a KPA500 to allow it to be driven to about 500
> watts by a KX3.
> She published it - but I can not find it on the web.
> The mod increased the gain by less than 3 db (seems I recall 2.something).
> You would need the 12 to 15 watts to drive it to about 500 watts.
>
> The modification involved removing the input pad and modifying the feed
> back
> loop to the microprocessor.
> I thought about doing the mod to be able to run a net with my KX3 if my K3
> quit.
> I have a KXPA and decided not to do the modification.
> I can just remove my KX3 & KXPA from my truck if I ever need a backup to
> drive the KPA500. Probably 10 minutes work and find the bag of portable
> cables.
>
> BTW - Ms. Keezer's modification was very detailed and she had many
> cautions
> regarding doing the modification.
> It defiantly was not a matter of "cutting a jumper" to remove the input
> pad.
> You need remove the pad parts and change the number of turns in a
> transformer.
>
> Defiantly would void the warranty and make factory repairs iffy depending
> on
> Elecraft's policies.
> Other manufacturers I have worked with would restore the amp to factory
> while repairing it.
>
> As a ham you are not limited to the 15 db gain restriction - the
> manufacturer is but not you.
>
> 73
> George AI4VZ
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Charlie T
> Sent: Thursday, June 18, 2020 9:06 AM
> To: 'Nr4c'
> Cc: [hidden email]
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Future of KPA500 & KAT500
>
> Isn't there some sort of "jumper" or ???, that will increase the gain to
> something other than the ridiculous and prohibitive +13 dB figure, for
> "international" (wink-wink) sales, sorta like the "MARS" mod in almost all
> radios these days?
>
> 99.9% of the chicken band users today are happy with their 5 watt radios.
> However, that restrictive and useless +13 gain law does NOTHING to stop
> the
> REALLY big guns on 27.025 who typically run amps using tubes that have
> HANDLES on them!
> (I've personally seen channel 6 mobile set-ups running power in excess of
> 25
> kilowatts.)
>
> 73, Charlie k3ICH
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: [hidden email] <[hidden email]>
> On
> Behalf Of Nr4c
> Sent: Wednesday, June 17, 2020 3:14 PM
> To: Paul Gacek <[hidden email]>
> Cc: Don Putnick <[hidden email]>; Elecraft Reflector
> <[hidden email]>
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Future of KPA500 & KAT500
>
> The KAT500 has three antenna out ports. It only needs one In so the KPA500
> needs only one out port.
>
> As for the 10 W in and 500 out idea. That is prohibited by law. They’re
> only allowed to sell an amp with max gain of 13dB.
>
> Sent from my iPhone
> ...nr4c. bill
>
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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]
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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]

Elecraft mailing list

Re: Future of KPA500 & KAT500

In reply to this post by George Danner-2

Why would you modify your KPA500 and risk warranty, repair, and clean signals for a mere 1/2 S-Unit at best?

> On Jun 18, 2020, at 9:27 AM, Gmail - George <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> Paula Keezer NX1P modified a KPA500 to allow it to be driven to about 500
> watts by a KX3.
> She published it - but I can not find it on the web.
> The mod increased the gain by less than 3 db (seems I recall 2.something).
> You would need the 12 to 15 watts to drive it to about 500 watts.
>
> The modification involved removing the input pad and modifying the feed back
> loop to the microprocessor.
> I thought about doing the mod to be able to run a net with my KX3 if my K3
> quit.
> I have a KXPA and decided not to do the modification.
> I can just remove my KX3 & KXPA from my truck if I ever need a backup to
> drive the KPA500. Probably 10 minutes work and find the bag of portable
> cables.
>
> BTW - Ms. Keezer's modification was very detailed and she had many cautions
> regarding doing the modification.
> It defiantly was not a matter of "cutting a jumper" to remove the input pad.
> You need remove the pad parts and change the number of turns in a
> transformer.
>
> Defiantly would void the warranty and make factory repairs iffy depending on
> Elecraft's policies.
> Other manufacturers I have worked with would restore the amp to factory
> while repairing it.
>
> As a ham you are not limited to the 15 db gain restriction - the
> manufacturer is but not you.
>
> 73
> George AI4VZ
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Charlie T
> Sent: Thursday, June 18, 2020 9:06 AM
> To: 'Nr4c'
> Cc: [hidden email]
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Future of KPA500 & KAT500
>
> Isn't there some sort of "jumper" or ???, that will increase the gain to
> something other than the ridiculous and prohibitive +13 dB figure, for
> "international" (wink-wink) sales, sorta like the "MARS" mod in almost all
> radios these days?
>
> 99.9% of the chicken band users today are happy with their 5 watt radios.
> However, that restrictive and useless +13 gain law does NOTHING to stop the
> REALLY big guns on 27.025 who typically run amps using tubes that have
> HANDLES on them!
> (I've personally seen channel 6 mobile set-ups running power in excess of 25
> kilowatts.)
>
> 73, Charlie k3ICH
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: [hidden email] <[hidden email]> On
> Behalf Of Nr4c
> Sent: Wednesday, June 17, 2020 3:14 PM
> To: Paul Gacek <[hidden email]>
> Cc: Don Putnick <[hidden email]>; Elecraft Reflector
> <[hidden email]>
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Future of KPA500 & KAT500
>
> The KAT500 has three antenna out ports. It only needs one In so the KPA500
> needs only one out port.
>
> As for the 10 W in and 500 out idea. That is prohibited by law. They’re
> only allowed to sell an amp with max gain of 13dB.
>
> Sent from my iPhone
> ...nr4c. bill
>
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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]
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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]

Elecraft mailing list

Re: Future of KPA500 & KAT500

The mod applies to the ability to increase the sensitivity (gain) of the
amp by bypassing the input attenuator so that it can be driven to a
useful power output with a lower power exciter. There isn't any
suggestion that the amp should be driven beyond its normal power level.
Hence unless the exciter was dirty, clean signals is not part of the
equation.

Regards,

Mike VP8NO

18/06/2020 14:25, Phil Hystad via Elecraft wrote:

> Why would you modify your KPA500 and risk warranty, repair, and clean signals for a mere 1/2 S-Unit at best?
>
>
>
>> On Jun 18, 2020, at 9:27 AM, Gmail - George <[hidden email]> wrote:
>>
>> Paula Keezer NX1P modified a KPA500 to allow it to be driven to about 500
>> watts by a KX3.
>> She published it - but I can not find it on the web.
>> The mod increased the gain by less than 3 db (seems I recall 2.something).
>> You would need the 12 to 15 watts to drive it to about 500 watts.

k6mrmagnet

Re: Future of KPA500 & KAT500

In reply to this post by Elecraft mailing list

Before the KPA1500 was released, I ran two KPA500s in parallel. On the high bands, a K3 would not drive both amps to 500 watts. The NX1P mod enabled a full 1000 W out on all bands.

Ken K6MR

From: Phil Hystad via Elecraft<mailto:[hidden email]>
Sent: Thursday, June 18, 2020 10:28
To: Gmail - George<mailto:[hidden email]>
Cc: [hidden email]<mailto:[hidden email]>
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Future of KPA500 & KAT500

Why would you modify your KPA500 and risk warranty, repair, and clean signals for a mere 1/2 S-Unit at best?

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Jim Brown-10

Re: Future of KPA500 & KAT500

In reply to this post by Ken Winterling

Hi Ken,

All it takes to band switch both amp and tuner is a dit or a tap on the
mic.

73, Jim K9YC

On 6/18/2020 10:23 AM, Ken Winterling wrote:
> There is no provision at all to communicate with the KAT500 so it
> must RF sense to switch bands and select the correct antenna. While this
> works well when transmitting it is of no value when you are just listening
> or scanning.

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Ken Winterling

Re: Future of KPA500 & KAT500

I've had the amp and tuner for more than two years so I know about their RF
sensing. It works well when I'm changing bands with the intent of
transmitting. However, as I said, that does not work when I am
changing bands on the rig to listen to different bands or scanning
different bands. If I am on 75M and want to check the conditions on 20M I
can't simply select 20M or a 20M memory and listen. I have to transmit so
the KT500 will select the correct antenna. If I'm not on a memorized
frequency in a KAT500 "bin" it will start tuning, taking up even more
time.

I'm looking for a solution that presets the KPA500 band, the KAT500 band,
and the KAT500 antenna without transmitting. I believe an Elecraft
transceiver connected to the KPA500 and KAT500 can do that.

Ken
WA2LBI

On Thu, Jun 18, 2020 at 2:22 PM Jim Brown <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Hi Ken,
>
> All it takes to band switch both amp and tuner is a dit or a tap on the
> mic.
>
> 73, Jim K9YC
>
> On 6/18/2020 10:23 AM, Ken Winterling wrote:
> > There is no provision at all to communicate with the KAT500 so it
> > must RF sense to switch bands and select the correct antenna. While this
> > works well when transmitting it is of no value when you are just
> listening
> > or scanning.
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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]
>

john@kk9a.com

Re: Future of KPA500 & KAT500

In reply to this post by Don Putnick-6

The KAT500 only has three outputs which for me is insufficient and I
do not even operate WARC bands. For the last couple of decades I have
used a Top Ten band decoder to switch antenna relay boxes. This worked
perfectly with my Yaesu line and now with my Elecraft K3S's. You did
not mention your radio type in this post but if it has a band output
you could do the same and always be on the correct antenna.

John KK9A

Ken wa2lbi wrote:

I've had the amp and tuner for more than two years so I know about their RF
sensing. It works well when I'm changing bands with the intent of
transmitting. However, as I said, that does not work when I am
changing bands on the rig to listen to different bands or scanning
different bands. If I am on 75M and want to check the conditions on 20M I
can't simply select 20M or a 20M memory and listen. I have to transmit so
the KT500 will select the correct antenna. If I'm not on a memorized
frequency in a KAT500 "bin" it will start tuning, taking up even more
time.

I'm looking for a solution that presets the KPA500 band, the KAT500 band,
and the KAT500 antenna without transmitting. I believe an Elecraft
transceiver connected to the KPA500 and KAT500 can do that.

Ken
WA2LBI

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Ken Winterling

Re: Future of KPA500 & KAT500

In reply to this post by Don Putnick-6

John,

The radio, an IC-7610, and the fact that I use a HB band data cable to the
KPA500, was included in my original post. The band data cable switches the
bands on the amp, except for WARC, but there is no communication to the
KAT500 so it remains on the last band/frequency and antenna selected at the
last application of RF. The problem is that if I am just listening and
select another band the KAT500 will not move to the correct band and
antenna. This is not a problem if I intend to operate on the new band but
it is particularly inconvenient when simply switching between radio
memories to check for activity on stored frequencies which could be on any
band/antenna. It also affects memory scanning for the same reason. After
a band change the KAT500 is not on the correct band and antenna so the
received signal is greatly attenuated.

Elecraft transceivers "talk" to both the KPA500 and the KAT500 and keep
them updated with frequency changes so the KAT500 selects the proper tuning
and antenna for the frequency selected on the rig without transmitting.
I'm looking for a solution that mimics Elececraft's operation. An Arduino
project has been suggested to me and I might need to learn to program one
to read Icom CI-V data and communicate with both the KPA500 and KAT500 if I
can't find any other solution. Apparently I'm in a very small minority
that would find this feature useful.

As for using a Top Ten band decoder, or any other decoder, to switch the
antenna system external to the KAT500 would not help with the KAT500 issues
of remaining on the last RF-selected band and antenna. Simply changing the
antenna external to the KAT500 does not help with the KAT500 still being
tuned to the wrong band and antenna and attenuating the received signal.

*Ken *
*WA2LBI *
*LG G6 *

------ Original message------
*From: *[hidden email]
*Date: *Fri, Jun 19, 2020 09:55
*To: *[hidden email];
*Cc: *
*Subject:*Re: [Elecraft] Future of KPA500 & KAT500

The KAT500 only has three outputs which for me is insufficient and I
do not even operate WARC bands. For the last couple of decades I have
used a Top Ten band decoder to switch antenna relay boxes. This worked
perfectly with my Yaesu line and now with my Elecraft K3S's. You did
not mention your radio type in this post but if it has a band output
you could do the same and always be on the correct antenna.

John KK9A

Ken wa2lbi wrote:

I've had the amp and tuner for more than two years so I know about their RF
sensing. It works well when I'm changing bands with the intent of
transmitting. However, as I said, that does not work when I am
changing bands on the rig to listen to different bands or scanning
different bands. If I am on 75M and want to check the conditions on 20M I
can't simply select 20M or a 20M memory and listen. I have to transmit so
the KT500 will select the correct antenna. If I'm not on a memorized
frequency in a KAT500 "bin" it will start tuning, taking up even more
time.

I'm looking for a solution that presets the KPA500 band, the KAT500 band,
and the KAT500 antenna without transmitting. I believe an Elecraft
transceiver connected to the KPA500 and KAT500 can do that.

Ken
WA2LBI

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Dave-8

Re: Future of KPA500 & KAT500

In reply to this post by Don Putnick-6

Ken,

Can’t you simply press a couple of buttons on the KPA500 and the KAT500 to listen on a different band? No RF required. No tune required.

73,
Dave N8AG

Sent from Mail for Windows 10

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Ken Winterling

Re: Future of KPA500 & KAT500

In reply to this post by Don Putnick-6

Dave,

Do you own either/both the KPA500 or KAT500 and are familiar with their
operation?

The KPA500 is not involved in the receive path, it is only used for
transmitting, so it doesn't cause an issue on receive. When in standby the
amp is bypassed and the T/R circuit feeds the input to the output. That
output is connected to the KAT500 input. My antenna system, for various
bands, is connected to the three outputs.

Yes, if I just want to monitor a number of bands/frequencies I can press
the KAT500 mode button repeatedly until the unit is in BYPass so that it
won't attenuate receive signals. Unless the KAT500 is bypassed the
last tuning solution will be applied regardless of band or frequency
selected on the rig.

Then, for each frequency I want to monitor, I can then press the ANT button
on the KAT500 repeatedly until the correct antenna for the desired
frequency is selected. Depending on the memory or VFO band/frequency
selected it may be necessary to do this repeatedly. This will not work at
all in the case of scanning.

When done listening on various bands/frequencies and I want to return to
transmitting I have to press the KAT500 mode button repeatedly until the
unit is in MANual. Then press the ANT button on the KAT500 repeatedly
until the correct antenna for the desired frequency is selected. All off
this is doable but I'm looking for a more automatic system like that
built-in to the Elecraft equipment.

It appears that I need to design and build what I want. I've taken up more
than enough forum time on this subject so it can be closed.

Thanks to All,

Ken
WA2LBI

On Fri, Jun 19, 2020 at 11:47 PM Dave <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Ken,
>
> Can’t you simply press a couple of buttons on the KPA500 and the KAT500 to
> listen on a different band? No RF required. No tune required.
>
> 73,
> Dave N8AG
>
>
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