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KAT500 retuing problem

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RLVZ

KAT500 retuing problem

It sounds like the KAT500's re-tuning problem is pretty wide spread. I
got tired of my KAT500's "chattering" and sold it. I fully expect Elecraft
will get the problem fixed... which is a lot better than other 3. These
days, it's getting common for new radios from all manufacturers to be released
with major bugs in them. Kind of like the Affordable Health Care Act and
"we need to pass it now, and we'll find out what's in it after it's
released".

73, Dick

I have talked to a couple of local hams with K-Lines about the problem.
> They have experienced the same KAT500 retuning problem, but wrote it off
> as the tuner being overly sensitive to "stray RF." This make me curious
> as to how widespread this problem actually is and how many users just
> accept the problem?

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David Bunte

Re: KAT500 retuing problem

I am also interested in learning about the resolution of this issue... as a
KAT500 is #1 on my current "wish list" for the shack. One friend got his
very early on... ordered the day they were first shown at Dayton... I have
never heard him mention any problems. (I think if he had a problem I would
have heard about it, but am not certain).

I borrowed one from a friend who bought it only for QSO party use when
portable. I have been using it for several months, on 60 - 10 meters with
my 30' Flag Pole vertical. I do not need a tuner on this non-resonant
antenna if I am on 30 meters, and I use a different tuner on 80. I have
made HUNDREDS of QSOs in that time with this setup and I have NEVER seen
the "re-tune" issue that some are experiencing. I stored tuning solutions
everywhere I operate and then leave the tuner in the manual position. That
may be the key to not needing or seeing any retuning during a QSO.

Obviously, the situation exists, and I have been luckier than some, but I
will not hesitate to purchase one as soon as I am able.

Very 73

On Sat, Jan 11, 2014 at 12:16 PM, <[hidden email]> wrote:

> It sounds like the KAT500's re-tuning problem is pretty wide spread. I
> got tired of my KAT500's "chattering" and sold it. I fully expect
> Elecraft
> will get the problem fixed... which is a lot better than other 3. These
> days, it's getting common for new radios from all manufacturers to be
> released
> with major bugs in them. Kind of like the Affordable Health Care Act and
> "we need to pass it now, and we'll find out what's in it after it's
> released".
>
> 73, Dick
>
>
> I have talked to a couple of local hams with K-Lines about the problem.
> > They have experienced the same KAT500 retuning problem, but wrote it off
> > as the tuner being overly sensitive to "stray RF." This make me curious
> > as to how widespread this problem actually is and how many users just
> > accept the problem?
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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
>

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Toby Pennington

Re: KAT500 retuing problem

My KAT 500 attemps to retune at times. This last firmware release seems to
make this problem worse, so went back to 1.41.

Usually setting the tuner to manual after I retune helps from the retune
ritual a second time, but not always.

Fottunately, I am using mostly resonant antennas so don't need the tuner
that much.

But the problem does exist. Toby K4NH

----- Original Message -----
From: "David Bunte" <[hidden email]>
To: <[hidden email]>
Cc: <[hidden email]>
Sent: Saturday, January 11, 2014 9:33 AM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KAT500 retuing problem

>I am also interested in learning about the resolution of this issue... as a
> KAT500 is #1 on my current "wish list" for the shack. One friend got his
> very early on... ordered the day they were first shown at Dayton... I have
> never heard him mention any problems. (I think if he had a problem I
> would
> have heard about it, but am not certain).
>
> I borrowed one from a friend who bought it only for QSO party use when
> portable. I have been using it for several months, on 60 - 10 meters with
> my 30' Flag Pole vertical. I do not need a tuner on this non-resonant
> antenna if I am on 30 meters, and I use a different tuner on 80. I have
> made HUNDREDS of QSOs in that time with this setup and I have NEVER seen
> the "re-tune" issue that some are experiencing. I stored tuning solutions
> everywhere I operate and then leave the tuner in the manual position.
> That
> may be the key to not needing or seeing any retuning during a QSO.
>
> Obviously, the situation exists, and I have been luckier than some, but I
> will not hesitate to purchase one as soon as I am able.
>
> Very 73
>
>
> On Sat, Jan 11, 2014 at 12:16 PM, <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
>> It sounds like the KAT500's re-tuning problem is pretty wide spread. I
>> got tired of my KAT500's "chattering" and sold it. I fully expect
>> Elecraft
>> will get the problem fixed... which is a lot better than other 3. These
>> days, it's getting common for new radios from all manufacturers to be
>> released
>> with major bugs in them. Kind of like the Affordable Health Care Act
>> and
>> "we need to pass it now, and we'll find out what's in it after it's
>> released".
>>
>> 73, Dick
>>
>>
>> I have talked to a couple of local hams with K-Lines about the problem.
>> > They have experienced the same KAT500 retuning problem, but wrote it
>> > off
>> > as the tuner being overly sensitive to "stray RF." This make me
>> > curious
>> > as to how widespread this problem actually is and how many users just
>> > accept the problem?
>>
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> 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
>>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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

k5oai

Re: KAT500 retuing problem

In reply to this post by RLVZ

I think I'll put the reflector on mute for a while,
until the KAT500 derangement syndrome has fallen out of vogue.

Does my KAT500
*occasionally* retune when I think it's unnecessary,
yes.

Am I going to jump on the
OMG Elecraft is trying to shaft us bandwagon,
heck no!

sorry but I find the last comparison beyond the pale,
I guess I'm a Kool Aid drinker, since I do not think Elecraft should be
compared to either other radio manufactures, nor especially to the
outright lies that come from the other despicable source you mentioned.

I would place the Elecraft guys in the rarefied class of a manufacturer
that doesn't do as you said.

/me slithers back under my rf/dx proofed solar shield
sm

On 1/11/2014 11:16 AM, [hidden email] wrote:
> It sounds like the KAT500's re-tuning problem is pretty wide spread. I
> got tired of my KAT500's "chattering" and sold it. I fully expect Elecraft
> will get the problem fixed... which is a lot better than other 3. These
> days, it's getting common for new radios from all manufacturers to be released
> with major bugs in them. Kind of like the Affordable Health Care Act and
> "we need to pass it now, and we'll find out what's in it after it's
> released".
>
> 73, Dick

--
GB & 73
K5OAI
Sam Morgan
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k6dgw

Re: KAT500 retuing problem

In reply to this post by David Bunte

Attention all of you with KAT500 "random retuning problems": Has anyone
tried reverting to an earlier FW version? I haven't updated since I
first got the KAT500, and I simply do not have this problem. After NAQP
is over, I'll start the utility and post the version I'm running. I've
seen lots of tests with chokes, baluns, and the link, just never any
trying out an earlier FW version.

73,

Fred K6DGW
- Northern California Contest Club
- CU in the 2014 Cal QSO Party 4-5 Oct 2014
- www.cqp.org

On 1/11/2014 9:33 AM, David Bunte wrote: