KAT500 lost serial comms - try factory defaults?

[Frank R. Oppedijk-3]

Hi all,

I’ve used my KAT500 with pleasure for many years, but recently a problem has arisen: I’ve lost the serial communication feature. I’ve already swapped the KXUSB cable with another one (home-brew) so I’m pretty sure it’s not the KXUSB that’s gone kaput. And the PC is doing USB comms fine (e.g. the USB interfaces to my K3), so I guess it’s not the PC or the USB port either.

I’m contemplating trying a KAT500 factory reset. But two questions arise:
1. Can I do a factory reset without having the serial comms working (so: can I do a factory reset other than from within the KAT500 Utility)?
2. What antennas are enabled after a factory reset?

(Question 2 is because I have multiple antennas connected to the KAT500, and if the factory defaults would be that only ANT1 would be enabled, I would lose functionality until I’ve got the KAT500 repaired…)

Hope the collective wisdom of the group can help me out.

73 de Frank PA4N
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[Rick Bates, NK7I]

Frank,

I would start with a complete power removal (not just off) to the KAT500
and the computer (unplugged from power).  Then go have a cuppa.  When
you get back, plug the power in and restart it and test.

I have found that some devices (more in the USB realm) occasionally
'stick' when exposed to RF and that a long power removal is the only
cure.  If it's a frequent event, you have an RFI issue to deal with
(better grounding and bonding is the first place to start for that).

GL,
Rick NK7I



On 12/4/2020 8:22 AM, Frank R. Oppedijk wrote:

> Hi all,
>
> I’ve used my KAT500 with pleasure for many years, but recently a problem has arisen: I’ve lost the serial communication feature. I’ve already swapped the KXUSB cable with another one (home-brew) so I’m pretty sure it’s not the KXUSB that’s gone kaput. And the PC is doing USB comms fine (e.g. the USB interfaces to my K3), so I guess it’s not the PC or the USB port either.
>
> I’m contemplating trying a KAT500 factory reset. But two questions arise:
> 1. Can I do a factory reset without having the serial comms working (so: can I do a factory reset other than from within the KAT500 Utility)?
> 2. What antennas are enabled after a factory reset?
>
> (Question 2 is because I have multiple antennas connected to the KAT500, and if the factory defaults would be that only ANT1 would be enabled, I would lose functionality until I’ve got the KAT500 repaired…)
>
> Hope the collective wisdom of the group can help me out.
>
> 73 de Frank PA4N
> ______________________________________________________________
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[ANDY DURBIN]

"2. What antennas are enabled after a factory reset?"

On all bands ANT 1, 2, and 3 are enabled and "preferred" is set to "last used"

I don't know what the Utility sends for "Reset Configuration".  The documented reset command is:

RSTx (Reset, SET only)
SET format: RST0; or RST1;
RST0; resets the microcontroller without saving state in EEPROM. This is equivalent to removing the power plug and plugging it back in again. RST1; simulates pressing the power off button which saves current state in EEPROM before reset.
RST may be ignored while transmitting.

Neither RST0; nor RST1; appear to clear the memorized settings so I suspect the Utility uses another command.  Now I may have to find out what that is ....

73,
Andy, k3wyc
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[ANDY DURBIN]

"Neither RST0; nor RST1; appear to clear the memorized settings so I suspect the Utility uses another command.  Now I may have to find out what that is ....  "


The  utility commanded reset sequence appears to be:

;
l;
eeinit;

KAT500 replies with its identity.

"EEINIT (Clear configuration and frequency memories, SET only)
SET format: EEINIT; erases EEPROM containing frequency memories, per-band settings and all configuration selections, including the current RS-232 speed. Configuration and per-band settings are formatted to default values during restart after a microcontroller reset. EEINIT; does not change the KAT500 serial number or its fault table.
EEINIT; is ignored while the ATU is tuning or transmitting.
EEINIT is used by the KAT500 Utility Configuration page Reset to Factory Defaults button."

I expect the KAT500 could be reset with a terminal emulator but that would require KAT500 to be capable of receiving serial data input.  It seems very unlikely to me that a serial port issue would be fixed by the reset, unless caused by an incorrect baud setting.

73,
Andy, k3wyc
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[Dick Dievendorff-4]

The KAT500 utility sends EEINIT;

SET format: EEINIT; erases EEPROM containing frequency memories, per-band
settings and all
configuration selections, including the current RS-232 speed. Configuration
and per-band settings are
formatted to default values during restart after a microcontroller reset.
EEINIT; does not change the
KAT500 serial number or its fault table.

RST0 and RST1 have to do with resetting (restarting) the microcontroller.

73 de Dick, K6KR



-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email] <[hidden email]> On
Behalf Of Andy Durbin
Sent: Friday, December 4, 2020 09:29
To: [hidden email]
Subject: [Elecraft] KAT500 lost serial comms - try factory defaults?

"2. What antennas are enabled after a factory reset?"

On all bands ANT 1, 2, and 3 are enabled and "preferred" is set to "last
used"

I don't know what the Utility sends for "Reset Configuration".  The
documented reset command is:

RSTx (Reset, SET only)
SET format: RST0; or RST1;
RST0; resets the microcontroller without saving state in EEPROM. This is
equivalent to removing the power plug and plugging it back in again. RST1;
simulates pressing the power off button which saves current state in EEPROM
before reset.
RST may be ignored while transmitting.

Neither RST0; nor RST1; appear to clear the memorized settings so I suspect
the Utility uses another command.  Now I may have to find out what that is
....

73,
Andy, k3wyc
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[Frank R. Oppedijk-3]

Hi all,

A follow-up on my problem: today I’ve opened up the belly of the KAT500 and have done some testing. With no USB cable connected and the KAT500 powered up, the Q1 drain voltage is 2.39V, where I would expect 5V. Also the gate voltage is 2.30V, where I would expect it to be floating. With the power off, I’ve measure the drain-gate resistance. It’s 5.5 k ohms. Oops!

My conclusion must be that Q1 has failed. So now I’m about to learn how to SMD components, hi hi.

Thanks for your help so far.

73 de Frank PA4N

> On 4 Dec 2020, at 17:35, Rick Bates, NK7I <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> Frank,
>
> I would start with a complete power removal (not just off) to the KAT500 and the computer (unplugged from power).  Then go have a cuppa.  When you get back, plug the power in and restart it and test.
>
> I have found that some devices (more in the USB realm) occasionally 'stick' when exposed to RF and that a long power removal is the only cure.  If it's a frequent event, you have an RFI issue to deal with (better grounding and bonding is the first place to start for that).
>
> GL,
> Rick NK7I
>
>
>
> On 12/4/2020 8:22 AM, Frank R. Oppedijk wrote:
>> Hi all,
>>
>> I’ve used my KAT500 with pleasure for many years, but recently a problem has arisen: I’ve lost the serial communication feature. I’ve already swapped the KXUSB cable with another one (home-brew) so I’m pretty sure it’s not the KXUSB that’s gone kaput. And the PC is doing USB comms fine (e.g. the USB interfaces to my K3), so I guess it’s not the PC or the USB port either.
>>
>> I’m contemplating trying a KAT500 factory reset. But two questions arise:
>> 1. Can I do a factory reset without having the serial comms working (so: can I do a factory reset other than from within the KAT500 Utility)?
>> 2. What antennas are enabled after a factory reset?
>>
>> (Question 2 is because I have multiple antennas connected to the KAT500, and if the factory defaults would be that only ANT1 would be enabled, I would lose functionality until I’ve got the KAT500 repaired…)
>>
>> Hope the collective wisdom of the group can help me out.
>>
>> 73 de Frank PA4N
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> 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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> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
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---
drs. ing. Frank R. Oppedijk
QRD
Oostvaardersdiep 9
1309 AA  Almere
tel: 036 - 737 00 55
GSM: 06 - 26 214 365

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