Elecraft

K3 to KAT500

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KV5J

Re: K3 to KAT500

I know very little about how all this works but my guess is that the problem maybe in the timing of the KAT500 as to when it decides the K3 has QSY'd. On SSB the frequency will vary quickly as you speak. If the KAT500 sees a new frequency for too long of a time it may think the K3 has changed frequency and invoke a tune. The longer the KAT500 waits to see if the K3 has actually changed the slower the response the KAT500 will be on a normal frequency change.

Keith

wayne burdick

Re: K3 to KAT500

Administrator

Hi all,

Improvements are being tested. In addition to better verification of the frequency count, we're going to provide a way for the K3 to send the VFO frequency to the KAT500 so it can pre-load the LC network as you tune. This will all be done in firmware.

73,
Wayne
N6KR

On Jan 28, 2014, at 7:23 AM, XE3/K5ENS <[hidden email]> wrote:

> I know very little about how all this works but my guess is that the problem
> maybe in the timing of the KAT500 as to when it decides the K3 has QSY'd.
> On SSB the frequency will vary quickly as you speak. If the KAT500 sees a
> new frequency for too long of a time it may think the K3 has changed
> frequency and invoke a tune. The longer the KAT500 waits to see if the K3
> has actually changed the slower the response the KAT500 will be on a normal
> frequency change.
>
>
> Keith

ke9uw

Re: K3 to KAT500

In reply to this post by ke9uw

I did some testing and on "auto" the KAT500 will tune (tune wrong) if I hit it with the a possibly flat topped 500 watts. When I put the KAT500 on "man" it goes into "bypass". Then I have go to "auto" and hit "tune" on the K3, the KAT500 goes back to the saved tune setup for that frequency.

Chuck, KE9UW

wa4ta

Re: K3 to KAT500

In reply to this post by Jim Brown-10

So I ordered my K3 after this discussion and decided not to get the AUX cable.
Now subsequently there is new firmware that makes me want the AUX cable (I would have got it from Elecraft if I had know of the new firmware).
If I order it from Elecraft it now costs ~$46 including shipping and waiting a week to get it.
I can get this cable locally: http://www.qvs.com/specs/CC320M1-xx_S.jpg
Will that work for the AUX cable?
K3 #7999KAT500 #1099
Thanks
73 - Tom - wa4ta

> Date: Fri, 24 Jan 2014 16:04:41 -0800
> From: [hidden email]
> To: [hidden email]
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 to KAT500
>
> On 1/24/2014 3:52 PM, tom armour wrote:
> > If I buy a K3/100 without auto tuner and a KAT500 is there any additional cable I need (other than coax) to connect the two together?
>
> Some folks feel the need for an AUX cable to tell the KAT500 what band
> it is on. I don't, because the KAT500 has a very fast frequency counter
> that can figure that out with a short burst of RF.
>
> > or does KAT500 come with all cable beeded to connect it to the K3?
>
> Yes.
> > I see a cable for KAT500 to KPA500 but not to the K3.
>
> Yes. To prevent damage to its relays, the KAT500 must be able to
> interrupt the keying line to any power amp that is used. It has an RCA
> input, and an RCA output. So ONLY if you're running an amp, you need an
> RCA-RCA between rig and KAT500, and another between KAT500 and power amp
> PTT.
>
> > Is there anything I'll be missing with the KAT500 vs the internal tuner other than portability?
>
> QRP autotune -- the KAT500 is optimized for high power, and doesn't
> autotune very well below about 10W.
>
> 73, Jim K9YC
>
>
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> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
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> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
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Don Wilhelm-4

Re: K3 to KAT500

Tom,

The fact that pins 6, 7, and 8 are designated as 'ground' indicates to
me that this is a VGA cable and those pins will be connected together.
You need a cable that is wired with all 15 pins independent of each
other - in other words, a 'stragiht-thru' cable.

If you want it fast, ask Elecraft to send it via Priority Mail, it will
arrive in 3 days.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 2/16/2014 11:54 PM, tom armour wrote:
> So I ordered my K3 after this discussion and decided not to get the AUX cable.
> Now subsequently there is new firmware that makes me want the AUX cable (I would have got it from Elecraft if I had know of the new firmware).
> If I order it from Elecraft it now costs ~$46 including shipping and waiting a week to get it.
> I can get this cable locally: http://www.qvs.com/specs/CC320M1-xx_S.jpg
> Will that work for the AUX cable?
> K3 #7999KAT500 #1099
> Thanks
> 73 - Tom - wa4ta
>

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Ian Kahn, KM4IK

Re: K3 to KAT500

In reply to this post by wa4ta

Tom,

Make sure you check the pin-outs and make sure they are the same on both
cables. Elecraft does some different things with their cables than you
might find if you bought the same cable from other sources.

Hope this helps.

-- Ian
Ian Kahn, KM4IK
Roswell, GA EM74ua
[hidden email]
K3 #281, P3 #688, KPA500 #1468
HRD v5.x/6.0 Test Team

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email]
[mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of tom armour
Sent: Sunday, February 16, 2014 11:54 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 to KAT500

So I ordered my K3 after this discussion and decided not to get the AUX
cable.
Now subsequently there is new firmware that makes me want the AUX cable (I
would have got it from Elecraft if I had know of the new firmware).
If I order it from Elecraft it now costs ~$46 including shipping and waiting
a week to get it.
I can get this cable locally: http://www.qvs.com/specs/CC320M1-xx_S.jpg
Will that work for the AUX cable?
K3 #7999KAT500 #1099
Thanks
73 - Tom - wa4ta

> Date: Fri, 24 Jan 2014 16:04:41 -0800
> From: [hidden email]
> To: [hidden email]
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 to KAT500
>
> On 1/24/2014 3:52 PM, tom armour wrote:
> > If I buy a K3/100 without auto tuner and a KAT500 is there any
additional cable I need (other than coax) to connect the two together?

>
> Some folks feel the need for an AUX cable to tell the KAT500 what band
> it is on. I don't, because the KAT500 has a very fast frequency
> counter that can figure that out with a short burst of RF.
>
> > or does KAT500 come with all cable beeded to connect it to the K3?
>
> Yes.
> > I see a cable for KAT500 to KPA500 but not to the K3.
>
> Yes. To prevent damage to its relays, the KAT500 must be able to
> interrupt the keying line to any power amp that is used. It has an
> RCA input, and an RCA output. So ONLY if you're running an amp, you
> need an RCA-RCA between rig and KAT500, and another between KAT500 and
> power amp PTT.
>
> > Is there anything I'll be missing with the KAT500 vs the internal tuner

other than portability?

>
> QRP autotune -- the KAT500 is optimized for high power, and doesn't
> autotune very well below about 10W.
>
> 73, Jim K9YC
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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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George Danner

Re: K3 to KAT500

Ian,
Just make sure the cable conforms to the Elecraft manual pin outs. Some
(many) VGA cables will connect the coax shields together at one end or even
both ends and some tie those to the ground pin and/or shell.
I made my first cable since I had 15 conductor ribbon cable & the connectors
w/shells.
For the second cable, I found a VGA cable in my junk box that had continuity
on all the pins with none of them connected together or to either shell. I
then removed the pins on one connector (broke them off) to confirm to the
manual but I don't remember which ones.
My K-Line works fine; especially since I upgraded to VFO "follow"!
73 George AI4VZ

-----Original Message-----
From: Ian Kahn - Ham
Sent: Monday, February 17, 2014 11:04 AM
To: 'tom armour' ; [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 to KAT500

Tom,

Make sure you check the pin-outs and make sure they are the same on both
cables. Elecraft does some different things with their cables than you
might find if you bought the same cable from other sources.

Hope this helps.

-- Ian
Ian Kahn, KM4IK
Roswell, GA EM74ua
[hidden email]
K3 #281, P3 #688, KPA500 #1468
HRD v5.x/6.0 Test Team

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email]
[mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of tom armour
Sent: Sunday, February 16, 2014 11:54 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 to KAT500

So I ordered my K3 after this discussion and decided not to get the AUX
cable.
Now subsequently there is new firmware that makes me want the AUX cable (I
would have got it from Elecraft if I had know of the new firmware).
If I order it from Elecraft it now costs ~$46 including shipping and waiting
a week to get it.
I can get this cable locally: http://www.qvs.com/specs/CC320M1-xx_S.jpg
Will that work for the AUX cable?
K3 #7999KAT500 #1099
Thanks
73 - Tom - wa4ta

> Date: Fri, 24 Jan 2014 16:04:41 -0800
> From: [hidden email]
> To: [hidden email]
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 to KAT500
>
> On 1/24/2014 3:52 PM, tom armour wrote:
> > If I buy a K3/100 without auto tuner and a KAT500 is there any
additional cable I need (other than coax) to connect the two together?

other than portability?

______________________________________________________________
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k6dgw

Re: K3 to KAT500

In reply to this post by wa4ta

Not positive with no schematic, but I think that's a VGA cable and does
not have all 15 pins wired straight through from one connector to the
other. If true, no, it won't work.

73,

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

On 2/16/2014 8:54 PM, tom armour wrote:
> So I ordered my K3 after this discussion and decided not to get the AUX cable.
> Now subsequently there is new firmware that makes me want the AUX cable (I would have got it from Elecraft if I had know of the new firmware).
> If I order it from Elecraft it now costs ~$46 including shipping and waiting a week to get it.
> I can get this cable locally: http://www.qvs.com/specs/CC320M1-xx_S.jpg
> Will that work for the AUX cable?
> K3 #7999KAT500 #1099

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

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