[K2] KAT100 odd behavior cured by reset of KPA100?

[Bill Coleman-2]

OK, I had a failure of U6 EL5146C on my KPA100, which caused me to lose the RS-232 port, since the 5 V to power the MAX 232 chip was no longer present.

Once I figured this out, I was troubleshooting the rig on the bench, and I was having trouble with the KAT100. My observations:

* The KAT100 would not turn on immediately with the K2/100. It would take several seconds for it's lights to come on after the K2/100 powered on. A check of Q1 and Q2 revealed that they were working as expected.

* Once on, the KAT100 would not respond to K2/100 control changes. Swinging the power control from low to high power would sometimes, but not always cause the KAT100 to change from low to high power and vice versa.

* When activating the Tune or Ant1/2 functions, the K2/100 would respond with "not inst". Which is weird.

* Looking at the primary K2/100 Menu showed the ATU selection showing "--". Pressing the display button resulted in "PA Ant1"

Trying to diagnose this further, I ended up going to the K2/100 Menu for the PA and turned the PA off. After this, the KAT100 responded properly to all commands, and the ATU menu showed the menu items.

Turning the PA menu back on and everything works. Weird.

Not sure what happened.

Now, I just need that EL5146C chip….

Bill Coleman, AA4LR, PP-ASEL        Mail: [hidden email]
Web: http://boringhamradiopart.blogspot.com
Quote: "Not within a thousand years will man ever fly!"
           -- Wilbur Wright, 1901

______________________________________________________________
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

[Don Wilhelm-4]

Bill,

That makes sense to me.  With KPA100 U6 removed, the KPA100 is not able
to control power properly.  Turning the PA off in the menu restores the
KAT100 to proper operation with the base K2.

73,
Son W3FPR
On 8/14/2012 1:37 PM, Bill Coleman wrote:

> OK, I had a failure of U6 EL5146C on my KPA100, which caused me to lose the RS-232 port, since the 5 V to power the MAX 232 chip was no longer present.
>
> Once I figured this out, I was troubleshooting the rig on the bench, and I was having trouble with the KAT100. My observations:
>
> * The KAT100 would not turn on immediately with the K2/100. It would take several seconds for it's lights to come on after the K2/100 powered on. A check of Q1 and Q2 revealed that they were working as expected.
>
> * Once on, the KAT100 would not respond to K2/100 control changes. Swinging the power control from low to high power would sometimes, but not always cause the KAT100 to change from low to high power and vice versa.
>
> * When activating the Tune or Ant1/2 functions, the K2/100 would respond with "not inst". Which is weird.
>
> * Looking at the primary K2/100 Menu showed the ATU selection showing "--". Pressing the display button resulted in "PA Ant1"
>
> Trying to diagnose this further, I ended up going to the K2/100 Menu for the PA and turned the PA off. After this, the KAT100 responded properly to all commands, and the ATU menu showed the menu items.
>
> Turning the PA menu back on and everything works. Weird.
>
>

______________________________________________________________
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

[Bill Coleman-2]

On Aug 15, 2012, at 8:55 AM, Don Wilhelm <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Bill,
>
> That makes sense to me.  With KPA100 U6 removed, the KPA100 is not able to control power properly.  Turning the PA off in the menu restores the KAT100 to proper operation with the base K2.

OK, so if the KPA100 has U6 removed, but a KAT100 is attached, then the system will use the EL5146C in the KAT100, and disable that in the KPA100, correct? But, this circuit is only used while transmitting, not while receiving, correct?

Still doesn't explain the weird turn-on behavior, or the "not inst" messages that were cured by turning the KPA100 Off and later back on in the PA menu. Because there is no transmission involved at all. Just turning the unit on, using the power knob, Ant1/2 button, and looking at the ATU menu.

>
> 73,
> Son W3FPR
> On 8/14/2012 1:37 PM, Bill Coleman wrote:
>> OK, I had a failure of U6 EL5146C on my KPA100, which caused me to lose the RS-232 port, since the 5 V to power the MAX 232 chip was no longer present.
>>
>> Once I figured this out, I was troubleshooting the rig on the bench, and I was having trouble with the KAT100. My observations:
>>
>> * The KAT100 would not turn on immediately with the K2/100. It would take several seconds for it's lights to come on after the K2/100 powered on. A check of Q1 and Q2 revealed that they were working as expected.
>>
>> * Once on, the KAT100 would not respond to K2/100 control changes. Swinging the power control from low to high power would sometimes, but not always cause the KAT100 to change from low to high power and vice versa.
>>
>> * When activating the Tune or Ant1/2 functions, the K2/100 would respond with "not inst". Which is weird.
>>
>> * Looking at the primary K2/100 Menu showed the ATU selection showing "--". Pressing the display button resulted in "PA Ant1"
>>
>> Trying to diagnose this further, I ended up going to the K2/100 Menu for the PA and turned the PA off. After this, the KAT100 responded properly to all commands, and the ATU menu showed the menu items.
>>
>> Turning the PA menu back on and everything works. Weird.
>>
>>
>

Bill Coleman, AA4LR, PP-ASEL        Mail: [hidden email]
Quote: "Boot, you transistorized tormentor! Boot!"
           -- Archibald Asparagus, VeggieTales

Bill Coleman, AA4LR, PP-ASEL        Mail: [hidden email]
Web: http://boringhamradiopart.blogspot.com
Quote: "Not within a thousand years will man ever fly!"
            -- Wilbur Wright, 1901

______________________________________________________________
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

[Don Wilhelm-4]

Bill,

I guess I was not clear - if the KPA100 firmware is recognized by the
base K2, then the K2 will try to use the KPA100 wattmeter (not the one
in the KAT100).

However, it will fail because the EL5146 has been removed - that causes
the K2 MCU to think there is no power output, when in fact it is
transmitting at its maximum output.  It will not be long before
something more is damaged if that condition is continued.  Shut it down
until you can get q replacement EL5146.

Your other option is to remove the KPA100 and operate with the base K2
and the KAT100 - that combination will work.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 8/16/2012 11:37 AM, Bill Coleman wrote:
>
> OK, so if the KPA100 has U6 removed, but a KAT100 is attached, then the system will use the EL5146C in the KAT100, and disable that in the KPA100, correct? But, this circuit is only used while transmitting, not while receiving, correct?
>
> Still doesn't explain the weird turn-on behavior, or the "not inst" messages that were cured by turning the KPA100 Off and later back on in the PA menu. Because there is no transmission involved at all. Just turning the unit on, using the power knob, Ant1/2 button, and looking at the ATU menu.
>
>

______________________________________________________________
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

[Bill Coleman-2]

On Aug 16, 2012, at 10:59 AM, Don Wilhelm <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Bill,
>
> Not quite.  If the KPA100 is installed, the forward power will be that of the KPA100, the KAT100 EL5146 will not be activated at all.
>
> Yes, it is only for transmitting.  It tells the K2 MCU what the power output level is.  If the EL5146 is not present or is not working, the K2 will increase drive to maximum - thus no power level control, and likely to damage the base K2 PA transistors.
>
> 73,
> Don W3FPR


OK, that's fine. I haven't tried transmitting since I removed the EL5146C. The K2/100 is still all apart on the workbench.

My parts are on the way, should be fixed soon.

Bill Coleman, AA4LR, PP-ASEL        Mail: [hidden email]
Web: http://boringhamradiopart.blogspot.com
Quote: "Not within a thousand years will man ever fly!"
            -- Wilbur Wright, 1901

______________________________________________________________
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