K3 to KAT500
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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? or does KAT500 come with all cable beeded to connect it to the K3? I see a cable for KAT500 to KPA500 but not to the K3.
Is there anything I'll be missing with the KAT500 vs the internal tuner other than portability? I hope to be able to make an order soon. Thanks 73 - Tom - wa4ta ______________________________________________________________ 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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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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Apart from Jim's advice below, I would supplement as follows:
1. If you have no intention to take K3 as portable use or your K3 is a station rig, I would go for KAT500. This will give you the future liberty of buying a KPA500 or other linear amplifier. 2. Once you have a linear, the internal KAT3 tuner will become redundant. In fact, I sold the KAT3 to subsidize the purchase of KAT500. I am using KX3 for portable use. 73 Johnny VR2XMC ________________________________ 寄件人︰ Jim Brown <[hidden email]> 收件人︰ [hidden email] 傳送日期︰ 2014年01月25日 (週六) 8:04 AM 主題︰ 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 ______________________________________________________________ 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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ThanksGreat input so far!It is really helping me finalize my decision.
A few more notes/questions:I have an old tube amp (fl-2100) that does about 600w max I intend to use until I get the money together for a KPA500. I currently use a manual tuner that I could potentially put in line if I want to run QRP.I do not intend to move the K3 a lot. I have another radio I can use portable. With the old amp should I have an AUX cable? or is the RCA cables Rig->KAT500->Amp enough? 73 - Tom - wa4ta > Date: Sat, 25 Jan 2014 09:27:07 +0800 > From: [hidden email] > To: [hidden email] > Subject: [Elecraft] K3 to KAT500 > > Apart from Jim's advice below, I would supplement as follows: > > 1. If you have no intention to take K3 as portable use or your K3 is a station rig, I would go for KAT500. This will give you the future liberty of buying a KPA500 or other linear amplifier. > 2. Once you have a linear, the internal KAT3 tuner will become redundant. In fact, I sold the KAT3 to subsidize the purchase of KAT500. I am using KX3 for portable use. > > 73 > > Johnny VR2XMC > > > ________________________________ > 寄件人︰ Jim Brown <[hidden email]> > 收件人︰ [hidden email] > 傳送日期︰ 2014年01月25日 (週六) 8:04 AM > 主題︰ 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 > ______________________________________________________________ > 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 ______________________________________________________________ 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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Tom,
KAT500 has built-in internal frequency counter for auto band switching. The supplied cable with KAT500 will be good enough. The aux cable will be more useful if you eventually have the KPA500. I suggest you download the operation manual of KAT500. There are connection diagram inside the manual which will give you very good ideas. 73 Johnny Vr2XMC ________________________________ 寄件人︰ tom armour <[hidden email]> 收件人︰ "[hidden email]" <[hidden email]> 傳送日期︰ 2014年01月25日 (週六) 10:27 AM 主題︰ Re: [Elecraft] K3 to KAT500 ThanksGreat input so far!It is really helping me finalize my decision. A few more notes/questions:I have an old tube amp (fl-2100) that does about 600w max I intend to use until I get the money together for a KPA500. I currently use a manual tuner that I could potentially put in line if I want to run QRP.I do not intend to move the K3 a lot. I have another radio I can use portable. With the old amp should I have an AUX cable? or is the RCA cables Rig->KAT500->Amp enough? 73 - Tom - wa4ta > Date: Sat, 25 Jan 2014 09:27:07 +0800 > From: [hidden email] > To: [hidden email] > Subject: [Elecraft] K3 to KAT500 > > Apart from Jim's advice below, I would supplement as follows: > > 1. If you have no intention to take K3 as portable use or your K3 is a station rig, I would go for KAT500. This will give you the future liberty of buying a KPA500 or other linear amplifier. > 2. Once you have a linear, the internal KAT3 tuner will become redundant. In fact, I sold the KAT3 to subsidize the purchase of KAT500. I am using KX3 for portable use. > > 73 > > Johnny VR2XMC > > > ________________________________ > 寄件人︰ Jim Brown <[hidden email]> > 收件人︰ [hidden email] > 傳送日期︰ 2014年01月25日 (週六) 8:04 AM > 主題︰ 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 > ______________________________________________________________ > 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 ______________________________________________________________ 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 ______________________________________________________________ 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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In reply to this post by wa4ta
On 1/24/2014 6:27 PM, tom armour wrote:
> With the old amp should I have an AUX cable? or is the RCA cables Rig->KAT500->Amp enough? That's what you MUST use. I don't know anything about PTT for that particular amplifier, so you should investigate voltage and current to make sure it's OK with the K3. Most modern amps are. 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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In reply to this post by Johnny Siu
The internal 100 Watt ATU is really a fine piece of work. It is quiet
and fast - displaying no bad habits. I cannot say that about the KAT500! The latter has a habit of retuning in the middle of a QSO. It is disconcerting, making noises and flashing various lights and sometimes kicking the KPA500 into standby. Even placing the tuner in MAN does not keep it quiet. I would recommend waiting on that purchase until the bugs have been worked out. Elecraft is currently working on the problem - in the interim I have some very exensive paper weights. Bill W2BLC K-Line(???) ______________________________________________________________ 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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Bill,
Something's surely wrong. My same setup works flawlessly.....always has. Have you contacted Elecraft? 73 Ken - K0PP On Jan 25, 2014 7:21 AM, "Bill W2BLC" <[hidden email]> wrote: > The internal 100 Watt ATU is really a fine piece of work. It is quiet and > fast - displaying no bad habits. > > I cannot say that about the KAT500! The latter has a habit of retuning in > the middle of a QSO. It is disconcerting, making noises and flashing > various lights and sometimes kicking the KPA500 into standby. Even placing > the tuner in MAN does not keep it quiet. I would recommend waiting on that > purchase until the bugs have been worked out. > > Elecraft is currently working on the problem - in the interim I have some > very exensive paper weights. > > Bill W2BLC K-Line(???) > ______________________________________________________________ > 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 > 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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In reply to this post by Bill-3
I've had that retuning happen, but I think it's when I get into the mic and flat top or whatever. Maybe too much mic gain...not sure. But it is annoying.
Chuck, KE9UW
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In reply to this post by Ken G Kopp
Bill is correct. In it's current state the KAT500 has a major flaw. I wants to retune at inopportune
times. Elecraft has responded to this problem but has not released new firmware to correct the problem. I'm not saying you shouldn't order one now but be aware the problem is real. Keith |
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It is enough of a problem that I have been running 100 Watts using the
K3's internal tuner for several weeks - waiting for the fix to be delivered. My best description of the KAT500's behavior? It is possessed! Bill W2BLC K-Line(???) ______________________________________________________________ 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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Like many, I am curious to learn if/how this issue will be solved for those
who experience it. I think it is interesting that there are a number of us who have not seen that problem AT ALL. I am one of the lucky ones, and my antenna does present a challenge to the tuner, since it is "close" to resonance only on 30 meters. Good luck to all. 73 de Dave - K9FN On Mon, Jan 27, 2014 at 1:30 PM, Bill W2BLC <[hidden email]> wrote: > It is enough of a problem that I have been running 100 Watts using the > K3's internal tuner for several weeks - waiting for the fix to be delivered. > > My best description of the KAT500's behavior? It is possessed! > > Bill W2BLC K-Line(???) > > > ______________________________________________________________ > 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 > 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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In reply to this post by Bill-3
I wonder why I have never seen this problem. Maybe it is sporadic with different KAT500 instances or possibly it is because I am about 99 percent CW. Maybe this problem is more evident with SSB?
73, phil, K7PEH, K-Line !! On Jan 27, 2014, at 10:30 AM, Bill W2BLC <[hidden email]> wrote: > It is enough of a problem that I have been running 100 Watts using the K3's internal tuner for several weeks - waiting for the fix to be delivered. > > My best description of the KAT500's behavior? It is possessed! > > Bill W2BLC K-Line(???) > > > ______________________________________________________________ > 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 ______________________________________________________________ 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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Phil -
You may be onto something... I have never tried SSB with the KAT500. Dave - K9FN On Mon, Jan 27, 2014 at 2:02 PM, Phil Hystad <[hidden email]> wrote: > I wonder why I have never seen this problem. Maybe it is sporadic with > different KAT500 instances or possibly it is because I am about 99 percent > CW. Maybe this problem is more evident with SSB? > > 73, phil, K7PEH, K-Line !! > > > On Jan 27, 2014, at 10:30 AM, Bill W2BLC <[hidden email]> wrote: > > > It is enough of a problem that I have been running 100 Watts using the > K3's internal tuner for several weeks - waiting for the fix to be delivered. > > > > My best description of the KAT500's behavior? It is possessed! > > > > Bill W2BLC K-Line(???) > > > > > > ______________________________________________________________ > > 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 > > ______________________________________________________________ > 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 > 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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Yes - you may be onto something indeed! Have you ever watched a
frequency counter while speaking on SSB? As the KAT500 measures the frequency you are transmitting on to determine what tuning memory to go use - this may well be the problem. Mid QSO, the frequency counter determines you are now transmitting on a new frequency and the tuner goes nuts. This may be experienced more by some operators than others - due, in part, to their particular voice characteristics. CW would enter no variables for the frequency counter to misinterpret. For whatever reason it fails, the tuner and amp are of no use to me - hence, I am happily running 100 Watts using the infallible KAT3 internal antenna tuner. It is quiet, fast, and has never failed me. I am heard where I want to be, some saying there is little to no difference without the 500 Watt amp. These are the folks I QSO with every day - so those reports count. The expensive tuner and amp may well be headed down the road - factory built and six months old - I am not pleased. Will I purchase a replacement amp and tuner? I really do not know. The jury is out and no decisions have been made about any changes yet. Bill W2BLC K-Line(???) ______________________________________________________________ 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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The "solution" is for the K3 to just tell the KAT500 what frequency it is on. We have all this Elecraft equipment connected together but a lack of "communication" between them is the problem.
Keith |
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Keith -
I do not believe that is the problem. My K3 "tells" the KAT500 what frequency it is on as soon as I change frequency on the K3 (or the KPA500). If not cabled appropriately, then, of course the KAT500 needs a bit of RF to know what frequency it is on. The problem is that for some users, even after the KAT500 knows what frequency the K3 is on, and has a match, it sometimes thinks the frequency has changed, and tries to find a new solution. At lease that is the way I understand the problem as reported by those who actually have it. I do consider myself fortunate to not see that issue here, but as someone else has speculated, that may be due to the fact that I don't operate SSB. When I first started using the KAT500 I did not have all the cabling optimized for my setup... I got one more cable, connected it and all now seems to be perfect. 73 de Dave - K9FN On Tue, Jan 28, 2014 at 9:37 AM, XE3/K5ENS <[hidden email]> wrote: > The "solution" is for the K3 to just tell the KAT500 what frequency it is > on. > We have all this Elecraft equipment connected together but a lack of > "communication" between them is the problem. > > Keith > > > > -- > View this message in context: > http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/K3-to-KAT500-tp7583270p7583398.html > Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com. > ______________________________________________________________ > 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 > 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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In reply to this post by KV5J
I agree - once you have done the drudgery of setting the tune memories
up for the bands you use, the KPA500 should merely track the K3's VFO. Seems to me that would be fool proof - maybe??? Change the operation of the AUTO MAN and BYP switches to: AUTO - will tune anytime if needed MAN - only tracks the VFO to locate the proper memory BYP - tuner is out of the circuit and only the antenna selector operates Have to see what Elecraft does with this problem - hope it is soon. I'd like to use my KPA500. Bill W2BLC K-Line (???) ______________________________________________________________ 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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In reply to this post by David Bunte
Dave,
The K3 does not tell the KAT500 what frequency it is on. It only tells what band it is on and the KAT500 returns to the last frequency on the band. Keith |
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Keith -
Thanks for that correction. Since I do not move around a lot on any given band, that distinction did not even register with me. Dave - K9FN On Tue, Jan 28, 2014 at 10:03 AM, XE3/K5ENS <[hidden email]> wrote: > Dave, > > The K3 does not tell the KAT500 what frequency it is on. It only tells > what > band it is on and the KAT500 returns to the last frequency on the band. > > Keith > > > > -- > View this message in context: > http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/K3-to-KAT500-tp7583270p7583401.html > Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com. > ______________________________________________________________ > 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 > 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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