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K3/KPA500/KAT500 SWR Problem

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Roy Morris-6

K3/KPA500/KAT500 SWR Problem

I have also experienced the FAULT LED coming on with indication of high SWR
during a SSB transmission on 75 meters. It corrects itself if I continue
talking, but it is annoying. I have firmware 1.42 loaded in the KAT500.
Roy Morris W4WFB

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Nelson Wittstock

Re: K3/KPA500/KAT500 SWR Problem

I just experienced that problem today. I was on 12 meters phone and after a
couple of words the HI SWR light came on and the KPA shut down. I put it on
Standby and put my K3 in CW mode. When I hit the key the SWR on my K3 had
only one bar. Then I went to tune position on the KAT and tapped my key and
there was all sorts of clicking and the swr bar on the K3 went nuts for a
few moments. Then the clicking stopped and the swr was back to one bar and
everything worked fine after that. I have no idea what is going on.

Nelson, K8DJC

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wayne burdick

Re: K3/KPA500/KAT500 SWR Problem

Administrator

We now have a senior project engineer assigned to overall K3/KPA500/KAT500 operational issues. Improvements to firmware and documentation will result, including a new manual specifically covering setup of the full K-Line.

Those of you who have reported problems will be contacted to make sure we have all of the details. We may even be duplicating one or two antennas to investigate whether antenna configuration, feedline, etc., could be a contributing factor. However, in many cases the resolution involves menu settings or system installation changes, and the new manual will address them.

Our goal is to make setup and operation as smooth as possible. Thanks for your patience.

73,
Wayne
N6KR

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Jerry

Re: K3/KPA500/KAT500 SWR Problem

Thanks Wayne,

We all knew that selecting the Elecraft line was the best choice we could
make and you just once again, demonstrated that.

I have the same problem with 3933kc into a windom up 50'. I found that by
turning off everything and then back on, the KAT500 would whirl and
clatter, but would find a happy place out there on the wire. It has also
happen on 20m using a Telex 7 element beam.

Best regards,

Jerry, W1IE

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email]
[mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Wayne Burdick
Sent: Monday, December 30, 2013 20:17 PM
To: Elecraft Reflector
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3/KPA500/KAT500 SWR Problem

We now have a senior project engineer assigned to overall K3/KPA500/KAT500
operational issues. Improvements to firmware and documentation will result,
including a new manual specifically covering setup of the full K-Line.

Those of you who have reported problems will be contacted to make sure we
have all of the details. We may even be duplicating one or two antennas to
investigate whether antenna configuration, feedline, etc., could be a
contributing factor. However, in many cases the resolution involves menu
settings or system installation changes, and the new manual will address
them.

Our goal is to make setup and operation as smooth as possible. Thanks for
your patience.

73,
Wayne
N6KR

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k6dgw

Re: K3/KPA500/KAT500 SWR Problem

In reply to this post by wayne burdick

On 12/30/2013 12:17 PM, Wayne Burdick wrote:
> We now have a senior project engineer assigned to overall
> K3/KPA500/KAT500 operational issues. Improvements to firmware and
> documentation will result, including a new manual specifically
> covering setup of the full K-Line.

WAYNE: FWIW: I'm running FW Ver 1.32 and have been since I got the
KAT500. I run a tribander at 70' about 150' from the shack, a
ladder-line fed sloping-V [~180' on each leg] with a DXE balun at the
tower base [9913 to the shack], and a roof-mounted GAP Titan about 12'
above my head.

I've never had this problem being discussed although 500W into the GAP
on 15m sure does annoy the WinKeyUSB. :-)

ALL: I took an afternoon right after getting the KAT500 and "trained"
it on every segment of every band using all the antennas that work on
each band [it did take most of the afternoon]. I then disabled the
antennas that don't work on each band using the KAT500 Utility, and put
the KAT500 into MANUAL. I haven't taken it out of MANUAL since and I
can't remember the last time it wanted to auto-tune. A QSY to any band
and a single DIT and it's tuned. On bands with two operable antennas,
it selects the primary one. Tapping the ANT button will select the
secondary, tapping again goes back to the primary. It's pretty slick.

As a test, those with the problem might reload 1.32 and see what happens.

73,

Fred K6DGW
- Northern California Contest Club
- CU in the 2014 Cal QSO Party 4-5 Oct 2014
- www.cqp.org

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Cady, Fred

Re: K3/KPA500/KAT500 SWR Problem

Hi Fred et al,
I think CW operators have not had the same level of problems as SSB operators, unless they are using high speed CW. The tuner seems to get all the information it needs in about a dits worth of RF. But I think it has to be pretty constant RF and the varying SSB waveform may be causing the problem. I think training (using a steady CW carrier) and then operating in MAN mode is the key, given there aren't other things going on such as RF that others have suggested.

One other thing I might suggest for SSB operators is to set up the K3 to allow CW in SSB mode (K3 CONFIG:CW WGHT, tap 1 for SSB +CW). Then when changing bands tap your key (you do have a key, don't you) and you'll tune right up on the band.

Cheers and Happy New Year everybody.
Fred KE7X

Fred Cady
fcady at ieee dot org

> WAYNE: FWIW: I'm running FW Ver 1.32 and have been since I got the
> KAT500. I run a tribander at 70' about 150' from the shack, a
> ladder-line fed sloping-V [~180' on each leg] with a DXE balun at the
> tower base [9913 to the shack], and a roof-mounted GAP Titan about 12'
> above my head.
>
> I've never had this problem being discussed although 500W into the GAP
> on 15m sure does annoy the WinKeyUSB. :-)
>
> ALL: I took an afternoon right after getting the KAT500 and "trained"
> it on every segment of every band using all the antennas that work on
> each band [it did take most of the afternoon]. I then disabled the
> antennas that don't work on each band using the KAT500 Utility, and put
> the KAT500 into MANUAL. I haven't taken it out of MANUAL since and I
> can't remember the last time it wanted to auto-tune. A QSY to any band
> and a single DIT and it's tuned. On bands with two operable antennas,
> it selects the primary one. Tapping the ANT button will select the
> secondary, tapping again goes back to the primary. It's pretty slick.
>
> As a test, those with the problem might reload 1.32 and see what
> happens.
>
> 73,
>
> Fred K6DGW
> - Northern California Contest Club
> - CU in the 2014 Cal QSO Party 4-5 Oct 2014
> - www.cqp.org
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
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>
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> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

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k6dgw

Re: K3/KPA500/KAT500 SWR Problem

My K-line is all connected via the "Elecraft 15-pin Network." If I
remember correctly, it's:

computer-->P3-->K3-->KAT500-->KPA500

or something like that. I was under the impression that the KAT500
already knows what frequency I'm about to transmit on and is ready for
me, even before it senses RF?

73,

Fred K6DGW
- Northern California Contest Club
- CU in the 2014 Cal QSO Party 4-5 Oct 2014
- www.cqp.org

On 12/30/2013 1:45 PM, Cady, Fred wrote:
> Hi Fred et al, I think CW operators have not had the same level of
> problems as SSB operators, unless they are using high speed CW. The
> tuner seems to get all the information it needs in about a dits worth
> of RF. But I think it has to be pretty constant RF and the varying
> SSB waveform may be causing the problem. I think training (using a
> steady CW carrier) and then operating in MAN mode is the key, given
> there aren't other things going on such as RF that others have
> suggested.

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Cady, Fred

Re: K3/KPA500/KAT500 SWR Problem

With the 15-pin network (I like it!), the KAT500 knows the band and selects the last used antenna and L-C for that band. It doesn't know the frequency until you transmit when it can select the ant and L-C from the segment memory (which could be different than the last used on the band, if you were on the bottom of the band and come back on and transmit on the top of the band).

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email] [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Fred Jensen
Sent: Monday, December 30, 2013 3:58 PM
To: Elecraft Reflector
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3/KPA500/KAT500 SWR Problem

My K-line is all connected via the "Elecraft 15-pin Network." If I remember correctly, it's:

computer-->P3-->K3-->KAT500-->KPA500

or something like that. I was under the impression that the KAT500 already knows what frequency I'm about to transmit on and is ready for me, even before it senses RF?

73,

Fred K6DGW
- Northern California Contest Club
- CU in the 2014 Cal QSO Party 4-5 Oct 2014
- www.cqp.org

On 12/30/2013 1:45 PM, Cady, Fred wrote:
> Hi Fred et al, I think CW operators have not had the same level of
> problems as SSB operators, unless they are using high speed CW. The
> tuner seems to get all the information it needs in about a dits worth
> of RF. But I think it has to be pretty constant RF and the varying
> SSB waveform may be causing the problem. I think training (using a
> steady CW carrier) and then operating in MAN mode is the key, given
> there aren't other things going on such as RF that others have
> suggested.

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wayne burdick

Re: K3/KPA500/KAT500 SWR Problem

Administrator

At present the KAT500 gets only band number, not VFO frequency, from the K3. We're looking at possible firmware changes that would give the KAT500 VFO info or otherwise prepare it better for the next transmission at the new in-band frequency. Details later.

Wayne
N6KR

On Dec 30, 2013, at 4:15 PM, "Cady, Fred" <[hidden email]> wrote:

> With the 15-pin network (I like it!), the KAT500 knows the band and selects the last used antenna and L-C for that band. It doesn't know the frequency until you transmit when it can select the ant and L-C from the segment memory (which could be different than the last used on the band, if you were on the bottom of the band and come back on and transmit on the top of the band).
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: [hidden email] [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Fred Jensen
> Sent: Monday, December 30, 2013 3:58 PM
> To: Elecraft Reflector
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3/KPA500/KAT500 SWR Problem
>
> My K-line is all connected via the "Elecraft 15-pin Network." If I remember correctly, it's:
>
> computer-->P3-->K3-->KAT500-->KPA500
>
> or something like that. I was under the impression that the KAT500 already knows what frequency I'm about to transmit on and is ready for me, even before it senses RF?
>
> 73,
>
> Fred K6DGW
> - Northern California Contest Club
> - CU in the 2014 Cal QSO Party 4-5 Oct 2014
> - www.cqp.org
>
> On 12/30/2013 1:45 PM, Cady, Fred wrote:
>> Hi Fred et al, I think CW operators have not had the same level of
>> problems as SSB operators, unless they are using high speed CW. The
>> tuner seems to get all the information it needs in about a dits worth
>> of RF. But I think it has to be pretty constant RF and the varying
>> SSB waveform may be causing the problem. I think training (using a
>> steady CW carrier) and then operating in MAN mode is the key, given
>> there aren't other things going on such as RF that others have
>> suggested.
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
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>
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>
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k6dgw

Re: K3/KPA500/KAT500 SWR Problem

In reply to this post by Cady, Fred

Okey dokey, not the first time my "impressioner" has had the wrong
impression. I guess that kind of makes sense actually, the only way the
KAT500 could know the exact frequency would be if the K3 sent it in the
form of a command, and I don't know if the KAT500 accepts commands on
that port, I think all 15 lines have some specific purpose.

For full disclosure: Selecting the last used antenna and L-C will
probably achieve an acceptable match in my situation every time. That
might not be so for those who move between 80 and 75, or CW and SSB on
topband.

Regardless, mine goes to the right tuning essentially instantly. I am
primarily CW but I do operate SSB in some selected contests [NAQP, SS]
and RTTY [RTTY RU, NAQP], and I have never had this problem.

I saw an email from Wayne that they are working on this fairly
intensely, I suspect there will be a solution forthcoming. I've
observed that Elecraft doesn't like a problem cropping up for multiple
customers. :-))

Any clue when I should start looking for your next book?

73,

Fred K6DGW
- Northern California Contest Club
- CU in the 2014 Cal QSO Party 4-5 Oct 2014
- www.cqp.org

On 12/30/2013 4:15 PM, Cady, Fred wrote:
> With the 15-pin network (I like it!), the KAT500 knows the band and
> selects the last used antenna and L-C for that band. It doesn't know
> the frequency until you transmit when it can select the ant and L-C
> from the segment memory (which could be different than the last used
> on the band, if you were on the bottom of the band and come back on
> and transmit on the top of the band).

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Richard Thorne-4

Re: K3/KPA500/KAT500 SWR Problem

In reply to this post by wayne burdick

That would be very slick, the tuner and amp would be ready to go after a
frequency change.

Rich - N5ZC

On 12/30/2013 6:30 PM, Wayne Burdick wrote:

> At present the KAT500 gets only band number, not VFO frequency, from the K3. We're looking at possible firmware changes that would give the KAT500 VFO info or otherwise prepare it better for the next transmission at the new in-band frequency. Details later.
>
> Wayne
> N6KR
>
> On Dec 30, 2013, at 4:15 PM, "Cady, Fred" <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
>> With the 15-pin network (I like it!), the KAT500 knows the band and selects the last used antenna and L-C for that band. It doesn't know the frequency until you transmit when it can select the ant and L-C from the segment memory (which could be different than the last used on the band, if you were on the bottom of the band and come back on and transmit on the top of the band).
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: [hidden email] [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Fred Jensen
>> Sent: Monday, December 30, 2013 3:58 PM
>> To: Elecraft Reflector
>> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3/KPA500/KAT500 SWR Problem
>>
>> My K-line is all connected via the "Elecraft 15-pin Network." If I remember correctly, it's:
>>
>> computer-->P3-->K3-->KAT500-->KPA500
>>
>> or something like that. I was under the impression that the KAT500 already knows what frequency I'm about to transmit on and is ready for me, even before it senses RF?
>>
>> 73,
>>
>> Fred K6DGW
>> - Northern California Contest Club
>> - CU in the 2014 Cal QSO Party 4-5 Oct 2014
>> - www.cqp.org
>>
>> On 12/30/2013 1:45 PM, Cady, Fred wrote:
>>> Hi Fred et al, I think CW operators have not had the same level of
>>> problems as SSB operators, unless they are using high speed CW. The
>>> tuner seems to get all the information it needs in about a dits worth
>>> of RF. But I think it has to be pretty constant RF and the varying
>>> SSB waveform may be causing the problem. I think training (using a
>>> steady CW carrier) and then operating in MAN mode is the key, given
>>> there aren't other things going on such as RF that others have
>>> suggested.
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> 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
>> ______________________________________________________________
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>

Amanda25650

Re: K3/KPA500/KAT500 SWR Problem

In reply to this post by Roy Morris-6