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KAT500 antenna selection

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ANDY DURBIN

KAT500 antenna selection

I have a new KAT500 and am learning how to use it. I have set up the antenna switching table in the expectation that the table will be followed when I'm in Automatic mode. However, I find that the antenna switching table is also in effect when I'm in Manual mode. I cannot manually select the antenna I wish to connect because my Manual selection is overridden by the table selection appropriate for the last transmitted frequency.

Why doesn't Manual mode give me full manual control? Why can't I select the antenna I want to receive on without transmitting first? Am I doing something wrong or is this an intentional limitation of the firmware design.

Thanks and 73,

Andy k3wyc
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Dennis Moore

Re: KAT500 antenna selection

Manual/Automatic is not used for overriding antenna selection, it turns
on or off the automatic initiation of a tune cycle when high SWR is
detected for the antenna that is currently selected. Many users will
tune each of their antennas on separate bands using automatic then
switch it to manual so that it doesn't attempt to retune that antenna
again.

73, Dennis NJ6G

On 7/3/2018 08:52, ANDY DURBIN wrote:

> I have a new KAT500 and am learning how to use it. I have set up the antenna switching table in the expectation that the table will be followed when I'm in Automatic mode. However, I find that the antenna switching table is also in effect when I'm in Manual mode. I cannot manually select the antenna I wish to connect because my Manual selection is overridden by the table selection appropriate for the last transmitted frequency.
>
>
> Why doesn't Manual mode give me full manual control? Why can't I select the antenna I want to receive on without transmitting first? Am I doing something wrong or is this an intentional limitation of the firmware design.
>
>
> Thanks and 73,
>
> Andy k3wyc
> ______________________________________________________________
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Rick WA6NHC-2

Re: KAT500 antenna selection

Correct antenna selection is controlled by setting up the tuner using
the utility program. Each band can select up to three antennas to use.
One of the options is 'Last Used'. That may apply to your station.

Antenna selection cannot be determined without using the utility.

If your antennas are multiband, the tuner can be taught which antenna on
which band(s).

If the tuner is not programmed for a specific antenna on a given band,
you cannot override it from the front panel, this is logical and
protects from accidental choices.

Once you have the selection correctly set (SAVE) you can 'teach' the
tuner on each antenna on each band segment, per the manual. It will
remember (use save in the utility).

The time you take to correctly program the tuner saves you hours of
grief later. It's time WELL spent. Then leave the tuner set in manual
mode so it doesn't attempt retuning if something occurs during use (a
branch brushing a wire, an unfortunate bird action).

I DO suggest that you (after complete setup) at least glance over to
the SWR LED display during operation to ensure things are as you expect,
even after some time of successful use.

73,
Rick wa6nhc

On 7/3/2018 9:39 AM, Dennis Moore wrote:

> Manual/Automatic is not used for overriding antenna selection, it
> turns on or off the automatic initiation of a tune cycle when high SWR
> is detected for the antenna that is currently selected. Many users
> will tune each of their antennas on separate bands using automatic
> then switch it to manual so that it doesn't attempt to retune that
> antenna again.
>
> 73, Dennis NJ6G
>
>
> On 7/3/2018 08:52, ANDY DURBIN wrote:
>> I have a new KAT500 and am learning how to use it. I have set up the
>> antenna switching table in the expectation that the table will be
>> followed when I'm in Automatic mode. However, I find that the
>> antenna switching table is also in effect when I'm in Manual mode. I
>> cannot manually select the antenna I wish to connect because my
>> Manual selection is overridden by the table selection appropriate for
>> the last transmitted frequency.
>>
>>
>> Why doesn't Manual mode give me full manual control? Why can't I
>> select the antenna I want to receive on without transmitting first?
>> Am I doing something wrong or is this an intentional limitation of
>> the firmware design.
>>
>>
>> Thanks and 73,
>>
>> Andy k3wyc
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> 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
>> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
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>
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ANDY DURBIN

KAT500 antenna selection

In reply to this post by ANDY DURBIN

I've experimented more with the available selections but I still don't see why my KAT500 does what is does.

Here is a specific example of a case that I don't understand:

My configuration for 40 is Enabled 2 and 3. Preferred 2

My configuration for 20 is Enabled 1 and 3. Preferred 1

I select Auto and TX on 40 - Ant 2 is selected automatically and only 2 and 3 are manually selectable (all as expected)

I select Ant 2 and then select Bypass

I TX on 20 - Ant 2 remains selected and high SWR is shown

I attempt to manually select Ant 1 but only 2 and 3 are selectable

I select Auto and Ant 1 is auto selected. Now Ant 1 and Ant 3 are manually selectable.

When in Bypass, either the Antenna selection should not be inhibited by the selection table, or it should be forced to match the selection table. What I see is that is forced to mismatch what's in the selection table.

Would someone at Elecraft please try to duplicate this test sequence and explain why it should work this way. (I don't have a K3 and there is no frequency input to the KAT500 except for RF).

Thanks and 73,

Andy k3wyc

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Nr4c

Re: KAT500 antenna selection

In reply to this post by ANDY DURBIN

Tap the button left if the Ant LEDs to cycle thru the antennas.

Sent from my iPhone
...nr4c. bill

> On Jul 3, 2018, at 11:52 AM, ANDY DURBIN <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> I have a new KAT500 and am learning how to use it. I have set up the antenna switching table in the expectation that the table will be followed when I'm in Automatic mode. However, I find that the antenna switching table is also in effect when I'm in Manual mode. I cannot manually select the antenna I wish to connect because my Manual selection is overridden by the table selection appropriate for the last transmitted frequency.
>
>
> Why doesn't Manual mode give me full manual control? Why can't I select the antenna I want to receive on without transmitting first? Am I doing something wrong or is this an intentional limitation of the firmware design.
>
>
> Thanks and 73,
>
> Andy k3wyc
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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
> Message delivered to [hidden email]

ANDY DURBIN

KAT500 antenna selection

In reply to this post by ANDY DURBIN

Confirmed as a firmware defect by Elecraft. I don't understand how this has gone unnoticed for so long. Doesn't anyone else use bypass mode?

73,

Andy k3wyc

________________________________
From: ANDY DURBIN <[hidden email]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 3, 2018 11:02 AM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: KAT500 antenna selection

I've experimented more with the available selections but I still don't see why my KAT500 does what is does.

Here is a specific example of a case that I don't understand:

My configuration for 40 is Enabled 2 and 3. Preferred 2

My configuration for 20 is Enabled 1 and 3. Preferred 1

I select Auto and TX on 40 - Ant 2 is selected automatically and only 2 and 3 are manually selectable (all as expected)

I select Ant 2 and then select Bypass

I TX on 20 - Ant 2 remains selected and high SWR is shown

I attempt to manually select Ant 1 but only 2 and 3 are selectable

I select Auto and Ant 1 is auto selected. Now Ant 1 and Ant 3 are manually selectable.

When in Bypass, either the Antenna selection should not be inhibited by the selection table, or it should be forced to match the selection table. What I see is that is forced to mismatch what's in the selection table.

Would someone at Elecraft please try to duplicate this test sequence and explain why it should work this way. (I don't have a K3 and there is no frequency input to the KAT500 except for RF).

Thanks and 73,

Andy k3wyc

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