KAT-500 interface cable question

[Clint Talmadge]

New guy here with a question. I am about to get a KAT-500 to mate to my
IC-7300. In searching for the Molex connector I need to make an interface
cable for the radio to the tuner, I came across the MFJ-5124I cable which
MFJ sells to mate their 99* series auto-tuners to Icom radios. The
connectors on the tuner end are the same as used on the KAT-500. The wiring
is the same with one addition. Where there is no ground connection from the
sleeve of the 3.5MM stereo plug specified in the KAT-500 manual, the MFJ
cable has the sleeve connected to the ground pin of the Icom connector.
Seeing the that the sleeve of the 3.5mm stereo connector on the KAT-500 is
chassis grounded anyway I think I can use the MFJ cable to interface my
KAT-500 to my IC-7300.  Does anyone see the flaw in my thinking? (about the
cable, not the radio) de W5CPT
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[Don Wilhelm]

The wiring for the Icom AH4 Interface is detailed on page 8 of the
KAT500 manual.  Pin 4 of the Molex connector is connected to the shield
(shell) of the T-R-S plug.

I don't know how the MFJ cable is wired.

BTW - there are no hyphens in Elecraft product designations, so it is
the "KAT500" and not the "KAT-500".

73,
Don W3FPR

On 11/2/2018 10:45 AM, Clint Talmadge wrote:

> New guy here with a question. I am about to get a KAT-500 to mate to my
> IC-7300. In searching for the Molex connector I need to make an interface
> cable for the radio to the tuner, I came across the MFJ-5124I cable which
> MFJ sells to mate their 99* series auto-tuners to Icom radios. The
> connectors on the tuner end are the same as used on the KAT-500. The wiring
> is the same with one addition. Where there is no ground connection from the
> sleeve of the 3.5MM stereo plug specified in the KAT-500 manual, the MFJ
> cable has the sleeve connected to the ground pin of the Icom connector.
> Seeing the that the sleeve of the 3.5mm stereo connector on the KAT-500 is
> chassis grounded anyway I think I can use the MFJ cable to interface my
> KAT-500 to my IC-7300.  Does anyone see the flaw in my thinking? (about the
> cable, not the radio) de W5CPT

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[Clint Talmadge]

On Fri, Nov 2, 2018 at 10:10 AM Don Wilhelm <[hidden email]> wrote:

> The wiring for the Icom AH4 Interface is detailed on page 8 of the
> KAT500 manual.  Pin 4 of the Molex connector is connected to the shield
> (shell) of the T-R-S plug.
>
> I don't know how the MFJ cable is wired.
>
> BTW - there are no hyphens in Elecraft product designations, so it is
> the "KAT500" and not the "KAT-500".
>
> 73,
> Don W3FPR
>

You are correct sir. The MFJ cable is wired exactly as the table in the
KAT500 manual.
And mea culpa on the dash in the desiginator. I won't do that again.
Thank you,
p.s. I ordered my KAT500 this morning. The next item on my "gonna get" list
is the KPA500.
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[Clint Talmadge]

From: <[hidden email]>
Date: Fri, Nov 2, 2018 at 10:54 AM
Subject: RE: [Elecraft] KAT-500 interface cable question
To: <[hidden email]>
Cc: Clint Talmadge <[hidden email]>


Clint,

I looked at that as a possibility, did a cursory look at an MFJ auto-tuner
schematic, then decided that it was too easy to make one with spare parts
and heat shrink. I would hate to spend $20 plus shipping - only to have to
cut off the heat shrink on the MFJ cable, disassemble, do surgery to
replace the Molex, and put on new heat shrink if I chose poorly.

Using the home brew cable, my 7300 and 7100 both work well with the KAT500
which I use with a KPA500. Next projects will be to make a patching switch
to pop between the two for when I do simplex DV on HF.

I have not tried to use my KX3 with the KPA/KAT500 combo, but assume it
would be easy.

KD4IZ
Jack Spitznagel
FM19oo



Jack - etal - I checked my parts and did not have the 4 Pin Molex needed,
or the 2.1mm power plug. In looking for the Molex connector I found the
cable which is exactly what is needed. The connectors and the wiring are as
specified in the manual. When I first looked into it I thought the sleeve
of the 3.5mm Stereo plug was left open but it was pointed out to me that it
is in fact also ties to pin 4 of the Moles which is ground.

You are very correct about the $20 plus shipping but I figured I would have
to order the other two connectors and pay shipping on them also. One of the
joys of living "out in the woods" is being able to string wires and install
towers any where you want, but when you need a part you get to pay
shipping.
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[kd4iz]

Clint,

I looked at that as a possibility, did a cursory look at an MFJ auto-tuner schematic, then decided that it was too easy to make one with spare parts and heat shrink. I would hate to spend $20 plus shipping - only to have to cut off the heat shrink on the MFJ cable, disassemble, do surgery to replace the Molex, and put on new heat shrink if I chose poorly.

Using the home brew cable, my 7300 and 7100 both work well with the KAT500 which I use with a KPA500. Next projects will be to make a patching switch to pop between the two for when I do simplex DV on HF.

I have not tried to use my KX3 with the KPA/KAT500 combo, but assume it would be easy.

KD4IZ
Jack Spitznagel
FM19oo



-----Original Message-----
From: Don Wilhelm <[hidden email]>
Sent: Friday, November 2, 2018 11:11
To: Clint Talmadge <[hidden email]>; [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KAT-500 interface cable question

The wiring for the Icom AH4 Interface is detailed on page 8 of the
KAT500 manual.  Pin 4 of the Molex connector is connected to the shield
(shell) of the T-R-S plug.

I don't know how the MFJ cable is wired.

BTW - there are no hyphens in Elecraft product designations, so it is the "KAT500" and not the "KAT-500".

73,
Don W3FPR

On 11/2/2018 10:45 AM, Clint Talmadge wrote:

> New guy here with a question. I am about to get a KAT-500 to mate to
> my IC-7300. In searching for the Molex connector I need to make an
> interface cable for the radio to the tuner, I came across the
> MFJ-5124I cable which MFJ sells to mate their 99* series auto-tuners
> to Icom radios. The connectors on the tuner end are the same as used
> on the KAT-500. The wiring is the same with one addition. Where there
> is no ground connection from the sleeve of the 3.5MM stereo plug
> specified in the KAT-500 manual, the MFJ cable has the sleeve connected to the ground pin of the Icom connector.
> Seeing the that the sleeve of the 3.5mm stereo connector on the
> KAT-500 is chassis grounded anyway I think I can use the MFJ cable to
> interface my
> KAT-500 to my IC-7300.  Does anyone see the flaw in my thinking?
> (about the cable, not the radio) de W5CPT

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[Ken Winterling]

The LDG IC-PAC-6 tuner cable is plug-n-play with the KAT500 and Icom’s that
support the mating external tuner connector.  It is 6’ long and costs $12
(plus shipping).  This is the same cable that came from my LDG tuner and it
works with my KAT500.

The cable also comes in a 14” version but that might be a rather snug fit
even if the KAT500 is stacked with a KPA500.  You wouldn’t have much room
to move either device to see the rear panels unless you moved the stack as
a unit.

LDG Electronics IC-PAC-6
SKU: ZLD-IC-PAC-6
https://www.gigaparts.com/ldg-electronics-ic-pac-6.html

Ken
WA2LBI

On Fri, Nov 2, 2018 at 12:14 Clint Talmadge <[hidden email]> wrote:

> From: <[hidden email]>
> Date: Fri, Nov 2, 2018 at 10:54 AM
> Subject: RE: [Elecraft] KAT-500 interface cable question
> To: <[hidden email]>
> Cc: Clint Talmadge <[hidden email]>
>
>
> Clint,
>
> I looked at that as a possibility, did a cursory look at an MFJ auto-tuner
> schematic, then decided that it was too easy to make one with spare parts
> and heat shrink. I would hate to spend $20 plus shipping - only to have to
> cut off the heat shrink on the MFJ cable, disassemble, do surgery to
> replace the Molex, and put on new heat shrink if I chose poorly.
>
> Using the home brew cable, my 7300 and 7100 both work well with the KAT500
> which I use with a KPA500. Next projects will be to make a patching switch
> to pop between the two for when I do simplex DV on HF.
>
> I have not tried to use my KX3 with the KPA/KAT500 combo, but assume it
> would be easy.
>
> KD4IZ
> Jack Spitznagel
> FM19oo
>
>
>
> Jack - etal - I checked my parts and did not have the 4 Pin Molex needed,
> or the 2.1mm power plug. In looking for the Molex connector I found the
> cable which is exactly what is needed. The connectors and the wiring are as
> specified in the manual. When I first looked into it I thought the sleeve
> of the 3.5mm Stereo plug was left open but it was pointed out to me that it
> is in fact also ties to pin 4 of the Moles which is ground.
>
> You are very correct about the $20 plus shipping but I figured I would have
> to order the other two connectors and pay shipping on them also. One of the
> joys of living "out in the woods" is being able to string wires and install
> towers any where you want, but when you need a part you get to pay
> shipping.
>

--

Ken
WA2LBI

Sent from one of my mobile devices
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