KAT2

[Aaron K5ATG]

I recently installed the KAT2 in my K2. Using a 20 meter inverted V dipole,
it was working great with no problems. Then I tried it out on a end fed
antenna and it also tuned it up. Then I switched back to my Inverted V and
every time I try to tune it up I get LO P on the display. I looked it up
and this means Low Power, so I increased the power to 15 watts and I still
get the same message. I can't increase the power any more. Does anyone know
what is happening?
Thank you

Aaron Scott
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[Don Wilhelm-4]

Aaron,

The KAT2 needs only 2 watts to TUNE - in fact the firmware limits the
power to 2 watts during a TUNE.
What was the SWR reported when you tried to tune the end-fed antenna?  
My guess is that the SWR was high.
The most common cause of LO P message is that the K2 PA cannot deliver 2
watts - and that may mean one of 2 things - the PA transistors have been
damaged, or the high SWR from the end-fed has damaged the diodes in the
KAT2 wattmeter.

Do a couple tests - set the ATU menu to CALP and connect a dummy load
(an external wattmeter between the KAT2 and dummy load is helpful).
Set the power knob to 5 watts and do a TUNE - how much power is being
delivered.  If it significantly higher than 5 watts on the external
wattmeter and shows little power on the K2 display, then the KAT2 diodes
have been damaged.

After that test, you should do a test of the base K2 PA transistors.  
Remove the KAT2 (physically remove it), and use the ANT jack on the base
K2.
Set power to 5 watts and do a TUNE.  If the power on the K2 display and
and the external wattmeter are close to 5 watts, then the K2 PA
transistors are OK and you will most likely find the problem in the KAT2
wattmeter diodes.

73,
Don W3FPR


On 3/18/2016 5:56 PM, Aaron K5ATG wrote:
> I recently installed the KAT2 in my K2. Using a 20 meter inverted V dipole,
> it was working great with no problems. Then I tried it out on a end fed
> antenna and it also tuned it up. Then I switched back to my Inverted V and
> every time I try to tune it up I get LO P on the display. I looked it up
> and this means Low Power, so I increased the power to 15 watts and I still
> get the same message. I can't increase the power any more. Does anyone know
> what is happening?
>

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