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KPA1500 no RF passthrough without amp keying

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Dave wo2x

KPA1500 no RF passthrough without amp keying

I found my KPA1500 does not have RF passthrough in standby unless the radio provides amp keying. Is this by design and any way to disable this “feature”?

I use a program called DDUtil which limits power out per band to prevent accidental overdrive of the amp. When DDUtil is in standby it disables the radio’s amp keying line and sets radio to 100 watts automatically.

Thanks
Dave wo2x

Sent from Mail for Windows 10

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Michael Walker

Re: KPA1500 no RF passthrough without amp keying

Hey Dave

I had this exact thing happen on the 6300, and what it was was that I had
T'd off the logic on the PTT lead from TX1 to another T/R relay for a
receiving antenna.

I solved the Amp issue by removing the 2nd device, replacing the 6300 with
a Flex 6600 and then using the TX2 ptt line on the 6600 for the receiving
antenna TR relay (ok, I got carried away). Short story was that the keying
line was not going fully to 0v.

Might you have done something similar?

Mike va3mw

On Fri, Oct 19, 2018 at 8:07 AM David Decoons <[hidden email]> wrote:

> I found my KPA1500 does not have RF passthrough in standby unless the
> radio provides amp keying. Is this by design and any way to disable this
> “feature”?
>
> I use a program called DDUtil which limits power out per band to prevent
> accidental overdrive of the amp. When DDUtil is in standby it disables the
> radio’s amp keying line and sets radio to 100 watts automatically.
>
> Thanks
> Dave wo2x
>
>
> Sent from Mail for Windows 10
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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]

______________________________________________________________
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Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

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Eric Swartz - WA6HHQ

Re: KPA1500 no RF passthrough without amp keying

Administrator

In reply to this post by Dave wo2x

Hi Dave,

When in standby mode the KPA1500 RF deck is bypassed by a relay and absolutely passes driver power from input to antenna without any amp keying required. If you think you are seeing something different, please contact [hidden email] and they will help you figure it out.

73,
Eric
elecraft.com
_..._

> On Oct 19, 2018, at 5:06 AM, David Decoons <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> I found my KPA1500 does not have RF passthrough in standby unless the radio provides amp keying. Is this by design and any way to disable this “feature”?
>
> I use a program called DDUtil which limits power out per band to prevent accidental overdrive of the amp. When DDUtil is in standby it disables the radio’s amp keying line and sets radio to 100 watts automatically.
>
> Thanks
> Dave wo2x
>
>
> Sent from Mail for Windows 10
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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]

Dave wo2x

Re: KPA1500 no RF passthrough without amp keying

Thanks Eric

I am seeing something different and will call after they open.

Thank you
Dave wo2x

Sent from my waxed string and tin cans.

> On Oct 19, 2018, at 9:20 AM, Eric Swartz - WA6HHQ, Elecraft <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> Hi Dave,
>
> When in standby mode the KPA1500 RF deck is bypassed by a relay and absolutely passes driver power from input to antenna without any amp keying required. If you think you are seeing something different, please contact [hidden email] and they will help you figure it out.
>
> 73,
> Eric
> elecraft.com
> _..._
>
>
>
>> On Oct 19, 2018, at 5:06 AM, David Decoons <[hidden email]> wrote:
>>
>> I found my KPA1500 does not have RF passthrough in standby unless the radio provides amp keying. Is this by design and any way to disable this “feature”?
>>
>> I use a program called DDUtil which limits power out per band to prevent accidental overdrive of the amp. When DDUtil is in standby it disables the radio’s amp keying line and sets radio to 100 watts automatically.
>>
>> Thanks
>> Dave wo2x
>>
>>
>> Sent from Mail for Windows 10
>>
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> 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]

Eric Swartz - WA6HHQ

Re: KPA1500 no RF passthrough without amp keying

Administrator

Tell the front desk I suggested you talk to Rene, our lead engineering tech on the 1500.

Eric
elecraft.com
_..._

> On Oct 19, 2018, at 6:22 AM, Dave <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> Thanks Eric
>
> I am seeing something different and will call after they open.
>
> Thank you
> Dave wo2x
>
> Sent from my waxed string and tin cans.
>
>> On Oct 19, 2018, at 9:20 AM, Eric Swartz - WA6HHQ, Elecraft <[hidden email]> wrote:
>>
>> Hi Dave,
>>
>> When in standby mode the KPA1500 RF deck is bypassed by a relay and absolutely passes driver power from input to antenna without any amp keying required. If you think you are seeing something different, please contact [hidden email] and they will help you figure it out.
>>
>> 73,
>> Eric
>> elecraft.com
>> _..._
>>
>>
>>
>>> On Oct 19, 2018, at 5:06 AM, David Decoons <[hidden email]> wrote:
>>>
>>> I found my KPA1500 does not have RF passthrough in standby unless the radio provides amp keying. Is this by design and any way to disable this “feature”?
>>>
>>> I use a program called DDUtil which limits power out per band to prevent accidental overdrive of the amp. When DDUtil is in standby it disables the radio’s amp keying line and sets radio to 100 watts automatically.
>>>
>>> Thanks
>>> Dave wo2x
>>>
>>>
>>> Sent from Mail for Windows 10
>>>
>>> ______________________________________________________________
>>> 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]

Dave wo2x

Re: KPA1500 no RF passthrough without amp keying

One other thought I will test as soon as I get home in a few,

Does the 1500 internal meter work when in standby and no keying line from radio? I was using the amp metering and not external to check pass thru.

Dave wo2x

Sent from my waxed string and tin cans.

> On Oct 19, 2018, at 9:24 AM, Eric Swartz - WA6HHQ, Elecraft <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> Tell the front desk I suggested you talk to Rene, our lead engineering tech on the 1500.
>
> Eric
> elecraft.com
> _..._
>
>
>
>> On Oct 19, 2018, at 6:22 AM, Dave <[hidden email]> wrote:
>>
>> Thanks Eric
>>
>> I am seeing something different and will call after they open.
>>
>> Thank you
>> Dave wo2x
>>
>> Sent from my waxed string and tin cans.
>>
>>> On Oct 19, 2018, at 9:20 AM, Eric Swartz - WA6HHQ, Elecraft <[hidden email]> wrote:
>>>
>>> Hi Dave,
>>>
>>> When in standby mode the KPA1500 RF deck is bypassed by a relay and absolutely passes driver power from input to antenna without any amp keying required. If you think you are seeing something different, please contact [hidden email] and they will help you figure it out.
>>>
>>> 73,
>>> Eric
>>> elecraft.com
>>> _..._
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>> On Oct 19, 2018, at 5:06 AM, David Decoons <[hidden email]> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> I found my KPA1500 does not have RF passthrough in standby unless the radio provides amp keying. Is this by design and any way to disable this “feature”?
>>>>
>>>> I use a program called DDUtil which limits power out per band to prevent accidental overdrive of the amp. When DDUtil is in standby it disables the radio’s amp keying line and sets radio to 100 watts automatically.
>>>>
>>>> Thanks
>>>> Dave wo2x
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Sent from Mail for Windows 10
>>>>
>>>> ______________________________________________________________
>>>> 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]

Dave wo2x

Re: KPA1500 no RF passthrough without amp keying

OK, here’s what’s happening.

Wattmeter in amp will NOT work unless the amp sees keying line from radio. RF passthrough still works ok but if you want to use the KPA1500 remote app as a wattmeter you need the keying line from the radio to the amp.

Any way around this, possibly with future firmware?

Dave wo2x

Sent from Mail for Windows 10

From: Dave
Sent: Friday, October 19, 2018 9:37 AM
To: Eric Swartz - WA6HHQ, Elecraft
Cc: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 no RF passthrough without amp keying

One other thought I will test as soon as I get home in a few,

Does the 1500 internal meter work when in standby and no keying line from radio? I was using the amp metering and not external to check pass thru.

Dave wo2x

Sent from my waxed string and tin cans.

Eric Swartz - WA6HHQ

Re: KPA1500 no RF passthrough without amp keying

Administrator

In reply to this post by Dave wo2x

Yes it does.

Eric
elecraft.com
_..._

> On Oct 19, 2018, at 6:36 AM, Dave <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> One other thought I will test as soon as I get home in a few,
>
> Does the 1500 internal meter work when in standby and no keying line from radio? I was using the amp metering and not external to check pass thru.
>
> Dave wo2x
>
> Sent from my waxed string and tin cans.
>
>> On Oct 19, 2018, at 9:24 AM, Eric Swartz - WA6HHQ, Elecraft <[hidden email]> wrote:
>>
>> Tell the front desk I suggested you talk to Rene, our lead engineering tech on the 1500.
>>
>> Eric
>> elecraft.com
>> _..._
>>
>>
>>
>>> On Oct 19, 2018, at 6:22 AM, Dave <[hidden email]> wrote:
>>>
>>> Thanks Eric
>>>
>>> I am seeing something different and will call after they open.
>>>
>>> Thank you
>>> Dave wo2x
>>>
>>> Sent from my waxed string and tin cans.
>>>
>>>> On Oct 19, 2018, at 9:20 AM, Eric Swartz - WA6HHQ, Elecraft <[hidden email]> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Hi Dave,
>>>>
>>>> When in standby mode the KPA1500 RF deck is bypassed by a relay and absolutely passes driver power from input to antenna without any amp keying required. If you think you are seeing something different, please contact [hidden email] and they will help you figure it out.
>>>>
>>>> 73,
>>>> Eric
>>>> elecraft.com
>>>> _..._
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> On Oct 19, 2018, at 5:06 AM, David Decoons <[hidden email]> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> I found my KPA1500 does not have RF passthrough in standby unless the radio provides amp keying. Is this by design and any way to disable this “feature”?
>>>>>
>>>>> I use a program called DDUtil which limits power out per band to prevent accidental overdrive of the amp. When DDUtil is in standby it disables the radio’s amp keying line and sets radio to 100 watts automatically.
>>>>>
>>>>> Thanks
>>>>> Dave wo2x
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Sent from Mail for Windows 10
>>>>>
>>>>> ______________________________________________________________
>>>>> 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]

Dave wo2x

Re: KPA1500 no RF passthrough without amp keying

I will call support. If I unplug the key in cable from amp the amp’s internal wattmeter does not work.

Dave wo2x

Sent from Mail for Windows 10

From: Eric Swartz - WA6HHQ, Elecraft
Sent: Friday, October 19, 2018 9:55 AM
To: Dave
Cc: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 no RF passthrough without amp keying

Yes it does.

Eric
elecraft.com
_..._

Dave wo2x

Re: KPA1500 no RF passthrough without amp keying

In reply to this post by Eric Swartz - WA6HHQ

To follow up, Rene was able to replicate the condition on the bench by removing the AUX cable from radio to amp and just applying RF when amp in standby. The internal wattmeter will not operate without the key in line.

This will be passed to the proper people in Elecraft for review.

Thanks all who made suggestions. At least I am not crazy!

Dave wo2x

Sent from Mail for Windows 10

From: Eric Swartz - WA6HHQ, Elecraft
Sent: Friday, October 19, 2018 9:55 AM
To: Dave
Cc: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 no RF passthrough without amp keying

Yes it does.

Eric
elecraft.com
_..._