I think this is a low power message indication that the atu isn't seeing enough power to do a tune. You might want to check the cable between the atu and the rf out jack on the motherboard. It can come loose and can also become damaged with the removal of the lid, etc. Also make sure the ribbon cable is seated properly. Does it only happen on an antenna, or does it also happen on a dummy load? Philip, I've only recently installed it and the cable from the ATU was locked well into place. I'll check, anyway. I'll also have a go with a dummy load. I think the general view is that I'll need to set the power level above 2 watts before I do the tune - it works OK then. I'm running it into a rather ancient Kenwood TL-120 linear which on occasion doesn't present a well-behaved load to the K2, so I get the ATU on the K2 to cope with it. If I set the power on the K2 much above 1-2 watts, the linear doesn't seem to like it ie trips out. 73 Bob 2M0KDZ #5339 _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
Build yourself an attenuator (3 or 4db should be fine), and the K2 will be
happy and the amp will be happy and the KAT2 will match all (well half - the attenuator to amp side needs to be close to 50 ohms. The K2 side should be too). Dan / WG4S / K2 #2456 <snip> If I set the power on the K2 much above 1-2 watts, the linear doesn't seem to like it ie trips out. </snip> _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
In reply to this post by Bob Towers-3
Hi Bob:
It has been my experience with several KAT2s that the KAT2 will "tune" with anything *Greater Than* 0.1 watts commanded on the Power control where it shows "Lo P." I think you have something else wrong there. Good luck... 73, Ken K3IU -----Original Message----- From: [hidden email] [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Bob Towers Sent: Tuesday, May 16, 2006 11:11 AM To: Philip Carter Cc: elecraft Subject: [Elecraft] KAT2 Lo-P message I think this is a low power message indication that the atu isn't seeing enough power to do a tune. You might want to check the cable between the atu and the rf out jack on the motherboard. It can come loose and can also become damaged with the removal of the lid, etc. Also make sure the ribbon cable is seated properly. Does it only happen on an antenna, or does it also happen on a dummy load? Philip, I've only recently installed it and the cable from the ATU was locked well into place. I'll check, anyway. I'll also have a go with a dummy load. I think the general view is that I'll need to set the power level above 2 watts before I do the tune - it works OK then. I'm running it into a rather ancient Kenwood TL-120 linear which on occasion doesn't present a well-behaved load to the K2, so I get the ATU on the K2 to cope with it. If I set the power on the K2 much above 1-2 watts, the linear doesn't seem to like it ie trips out. 73 Bob 2M0KDZ #5339 _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
In reply to this post by Bob Towers-3
Bob,
Yes, the K2 power must be set to 2 watts or above to allow the ATU to tune. The firmware will reduce the power for tuning if it is set higher, but it will not increase the power to the best of my knowledge. You may want to try an attenuator pad between the K2 and the amp if you do not need the full output of the K2 to drive that linear. An attenuator will provide a more consistent load to the K2 - I should think a 3dB attenuator would do fine, perhaps only 1 dB would provide enough smoothing - it is certainly worth a try. 73, Don W3FPR > -----Original Message----- > I think the general view is that I'll need to set the power level > above 2 watts before I do the tune - it works OK then. > > I'm running it into a rather ancient Kenwood TL-120 linear which > on occasion doesn't present a well-behaved load to the K2, so I > get the ATU on the K2 to cope with it. If I set the power on the > K2 much above 1-2 watts, the linear doesn't seem to like it ie trips out. > > 73 > > Bob > 2M0KDZ > #5339 _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
In reply to this post by Bob Towers-3
>Hi Bob: > >It has been my experience with several KAT2s that the KAT2 will "tune" with >anything *Greater Than* 0.1 watts commanded on the Power control where it >shows "Lo P." I think you have something else wrong there. > >Good luck... > >73, Ken K3IU > >Ken, Thanks for the advice. A number of other respondents have said they get Lo-P messages when the power is set at less than 1 or 2 watts. Maybe we've all got the problem! The AATU is the only part of my K2 which I didn't build: I bought it on EBay! I checked all the voltages and re-calibrated the forward and reflected power levels and all seemed OK. 73 Bob 2M0KDZ _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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