KAT100 Control and Menu Problems

[Roy Morris-6]

Yesterday the air conditioning went out in my ham shack while I was using my K2/100.  The temperature went up to 95F, and the K2 became quite hot while running at 100 watts.  I noticed that when I changed bands and held TUNE, the K2 would not cycle back to receive after a few seconds.  I also lost the ability to switch the KAT100 between antennas 1 and 2.  The display showed the power and two dashes where the SWR normally displays in TUNE mode.   The menu setting was ATU AUTO.  I went into the menu and tried to go through all the ATU settings.  The menu was locked on AUTO and would change to *set to ant 1* (may not be exact words) when I rotated the VFO knob and would change back by itself to ATU AUTO.  I turned off the K2 and turned it back on.  The MENU would then let me scroll normally past AUTO and the KPA100 relays clacked as they should.  When I left the menu (still in ATU AUTO) and returned to normal operation, I noticed the KPA100 would not operate (seek resonance) and again no SWR indication (only two bars) on the right side of the display.  In this locked up condition I could get the power indication on all bands in TUNE mode except 60 meters.

Today I turned on the K2 and all functions are normal.  This might be a heat related problem.  Maybe the little elves in the AUX BUS were exhausted and had a heat stroke.  The very latest firmware has been installed in all units, and all mods have been made.  The 160 and 60 meter boards are installed.  I am using an Astron VS35M power supply over two feet away from the K2.  Two cables go from the power supply to the KPA100 and the KAT100.
Can anyone explain what is happening?  Do I have a real problem and where might I look to correct this?  I was thinking about using some freeze spray on parts in the KAT100 if it locks up again.  Roy Morris  W4WFB
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[Don Wilhelm-3]

Roy,

I may be wrong, but I would suspect a bad solder joint somewhere - things
expand when they get hot and your symptoms do not sound like there is any
particular component that has failed.  Because your stated problem seems to
center around the SWR display, I would look at the circuits associated with
the wattmeter (in the KAT100).

73,
Don W3FPR

> -----Original Message-----
>
> Yesterday the air conditioning went out in my ham shack while I
> was using my K2/100.  The temperature went up to 95F, and the K2
> became quite hot while running at 100 watts.  I noticed that when
> I changed bands and held TUNE, the K2 would not cycle back to
> receive after a few seconds.  I also lost the ability to switch
> the KAT100 between antennas 1 and 2.  The display showed the
> power and two dashes where the SWR normally displays in TUNE
> mode.   The menu setting was ATU AUTO.  I went into the menu and
> tried to go through all the ATU settings.  The menu was locked on
> AUTO and would change to *set to ant 1* (may not be exact words)
> when I rotated the VFO knob and would change back by itself to
> ATU AUTO.  I turned off the K2 and turned it back on.  The MENU
> would then let me scroll normally past AUTO and the KPA100 relays
> clacked as they should.  When I left the menu (still in ATU AUTO)
> and returned to normal operation, I noticed the KPA100 would not
> operate (seek resonance) and again no SWR indication (only two
> bars) on the right side of the display.  In this locked up
> condition I could get the power indication on all bands in TUNE
> mode except 60 meters.
>
> Today I turned on the K2 and all functions are normal.  This
> might be a heat related problem.  Maybe the little elves in the
> AUX BUS were exhausted and had a heat stroke.  The very latest
> firmware has been installed in all units, and all mods have been
> made.  The 160 and 60 meter boards are installed.  I am using an
> Astron VS35M power supply over two feet away from the K2.  Two
> cables go from the power supply to the KPA100 and the KAT100.
> Can anyone explain what is happening?  Do I have a real problem
> and where might I look to correct this?  I was thinking about
> using some freeze spray on parts in the KAT100 if it locks up
> again.  Roy Morris  W4WFB
>

--
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