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KAT500 problem

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Barry Simpson

KAT500 problem

Yesterday I spent all day rearranging my shack which included disconnecting
and relocating my K3/KPA500/KAT500.

The gear is interconnected using the Elecraft DB15 cables from K3 to KAT500
and KAT500 to KPA500 all as per diagram on P6 (Fig 1) of the manual.

All was working great before I disassembled everything but as soon as I
switched on after completing the relocation, I had an immediate problem.
The problem is that the
K3 registers an "ERR PTT" fault which I initially thought was due to some
problem with my connections. However, this is not the case and I eventually
found that the fault condition
disappears (and the K3 acts normally) if I disconnect the DB15 cable from
the K3 to the KAT500.

I can leave it connected to the K3 but as soon as I plug it back into the
KAT500 the fault condition returns.

I have swapped the two DB15 cables but to no avail. I have also reset the
KAT500, updated the firmware and fiddled generally in the KAT500 Utility
but all to no avail.

The KAT500 still works fine with RF sensing from the K3 but I am at my wits
end as to how to cure the ERR PTT fault which is still there even with the
power disconnected to the KAT500 if the DB15 cable is plugged in.

Probably I am missing something very simple but I cannot put my finger on
it. Can anybody point me in the right direction please. I have not yet
emailed K3 Support at Elecraft and will do so later tonight if I cannot get
a solution from the learned persons on this reflector.

Thanks in anticipation of help.

73

Barry Simpson VK2BJ
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Barry Simpson

Re: KAT500 problem

Thanks Gary

I have messed and fiddled and fiddled and messed and have now swapped the
two DB15 cables back again. For whatever reason, it has now started to work
OK again. I don't know why !!

I will keep my fingers crossed that it keeps working.

73

Barry VK2BJ

On 18 March 2013 08:42, Gary Gregory <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Um...check your auxbus cables. I was sent one with incorrect pins. Try
> swap those two cables around mate. This fixed my issue here.
> Gary
>
> On 18 March 2013 18:19, Barry Simpson <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
>> Yesterday I spent all day rearranging my shack which included
>> disconnecting
>> and relocating my K3/KPA500/KAT500.
>>
>> The gear is interconnected using the Elecraft DB15 cables from K3 to
>> KAT500
>> and KAT500 to KPA500 all as per diagram on P6 (Fig 1) of the manual.
>>
>> All was working great before I disassembled everything but as soon as I
>> switched on after completing the relocation, I had an immediate problem.
>> The problem is that the
>> K3 registers an "ERR PTT" fault which I initially thought was due to some
>> problem with my connections. However, this is not the case and I
>> eventually
>> found that the fault condition
>> disappears (and the K3 acts normally) if I disconnect the DB15 cable from
>> the K3 to the KAT500.
>>
>> I can leave it connected to the K3 but as soon as I plug it back into the
>> KAT500 the fault condition returns.
>>
>> I have swapped the two DB15 cables but to no avail. I have also reset the
>> KAT500, updated the firmware and fiddled generally in the KAT500 Utility
>> but all to no avail.
>>
>> The KAT500 still works fine with RF sensing from the K3 but I am at my
>> wits
>> end as to how to cure the ERR PTT fault which is still there even with the
>> power disconnected to the KAT500 if the DB15 cable is plugged in.
>>
>> Probably I am missing something very simple but I cannot put my finger on
>> it. Can anybody point me in the right direction please. I have not yet
>> emailed K3 Support at Elecraft and will do so later tonight if I cannot
>> get
>> a solution from the learned persons on this reflector.
>>
>> Thanks in anticipation of help.
>>
>> 73
>>
>> Barry Simpson VK2BJ
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> 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
>>
>
>
>
> --
> *Gary - VK1ZZ
> Skype: Gary.VK1ZZ
> Motorhome Portable
> The Shack*
> *Elecraft K3
> P3 Panadapter
> KPA500FT
> KAT500FT**
> KX3-K
> *

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Bill W

Re: KAT500 Problem

In reply to this post by Barry Simpson

Barry,
Just curious but after your initial disconnect of your K3 station, did you plug the exact same DB15 cables back into the same individual components? Also, did you have your KAT500 hooked up the PC at anytime during the dismantling and not shut the PC down before disconnecting it? I did that and the KAT500 did not like it. Having had my own recent interaction issues I am just curious.
Bill - W0BBI
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Richard Ferch

Re: KAT500 problem

In reply to this post by Barry Simpson

Barry,

According to the current KAT500 manual, top of p. 11:

"IMPORTANT: If you are using the KAT500 with an Elecraft K3 transceiver
connected using DB15 cables as shown in Figure 1 or Figure 2, you must
apply power to the KAT500 before turning the K3 on. If you turn the K3
on before applying power to the KAT500 the K3 will not be able to
initialize correctly."

I suspect this might have something to do with your problem.

73,
Rich VE3KI

VK2BJ wrote:

> Thanks Gary
>
> I have messed and fiddled and fiddled and messed and have now swapped the
> two DB15 cables back again. For whatever reason, it has now started to work
> OK again. I don't know why !!
>
> I will keep my fingers crossed that it keeps working.
>
> 73
>
> Barry VK2BJ
>
> On 18 March 2013 08:42, Gary Gregory <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
>> Um...check your auxbus cables. I was sent one with incorrect pins. Try
>> swap those two cables around mate. This fixed my issue here.
>> Gary
>>
>> On 18 March 2013 18:19, Barry Simpson <[hidden email]> wrote:
>>
>>> Yesterday I spent all day rearranging my shack which included
>>> disconnecting
>>> and relocating my K3/KPA500/KAT500.
>>>
>>> The gear is interconnected using the Elecraft DB15 cables from K3 to
>>> KAT500
>>> and KAT500 to KPA500 all as per diagram on P6 (Fig 1) of the manual.
>>>
>>> All was working great before I disassembled everything but as soon as I
>>> switched on after completing the relocation, I had an immediate problem.
>>> The problem is that the
>>> K3 registers an "ERR PTT" fault which I initially thought was due to some
>>> problem with my connections. However, this is not the case and I
>>> eventually
>>> found that the fault condition
>>> disappears (and the K3 acts normally) if I disconnect the DB15 cable from
>>> the K3 to the KAT500.
>>>
>>> I can leave it connected to the K3 but as soon as I plug it back into the
>>> KAT500 the fault condition returns.
>>>
>>> I have swapped the two DB15 cables but to no avail. I have also reset the
>>> KAT500, updated the firmware and fiddled generally in the KAT500 Utility
>>> but all to no avail.
>>>
>>> The KAT500 still works fine with RF sensing from the K3 but I am at my
>>> wits
>>> end as to how to cure the ERR PTT fault which is still there even with the
>>> power disconnected to the KAT500 if the DB15 cable is plugged in.
>>>
>>> Probably I am missing something very simple but I cannot put my finger on
>>> it. Can anybody point me in the right direction please. I have not yet
>>> emailed K3 Support at Elecraft and will do so later tonight if I cannot
>>> get
>>> a solution from the learned persons on this reflector.
>>>
>>> Thanks in anticipation of help.
>>>
>>> 73
>>>
>>> Barry Simpson VK2BJ