KPA500 MCU LOAD screen
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I came in the shack yesterday and the KPA500 screen was lit with MCU LOAD
message. I did not leave the amp on. The amp was on when I arrived. I updated the firmware to the current release. This morning the same thing happened. When MCU Load message is on the screen none of the front panel buttons are active including the POWER. Have to unplug to reset. What is happening. ? How can I clear this from happening? Frank VO1HP -- Sent from: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/ ______________________________________________________________ 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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"What is happening. ? How can I clear this from happening?"
Do you have anything connected to the KPA500 "RS-232 PC" serial port? When my KPA500 went into loader mode I traced the problem (with help from Jack) to corrupted RS-232 data that was being interpreted as the KPA500 loader command. From the Programmers Ref doc - "D - download firmware The D command is used to download firmware to the KPA500. This command is for Elecraft internal use only. Accidentally issuing a D command may require a rear panel power off for recovery." My notes say: "D results in KPA500 displaying MCU LOAD. Recovery from accidental D requires rear power off, rear power on, then front panel power press." In my case the corrupted data came from my Arduino based controller but I assume RFI could also cause the problem. 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] |
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Andy
Yes I have a StarTech Ethernet to Serial port server attached to the RS232 jack. I have been trying to get it to work with the amp so that I can get rid of the PC at my remote. Thanks for the solution. Maybe there is something wrong with the server if data possibly corrupted . Have not been able to get the server working remotely with the amp Frank Vo1HP -- Sent from: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/ ______________________________________________________________ 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] |
Re: KPA500 MCU LOAD screen
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In reply to this post by VO1HPFrank
This would appear to be related to something connected to the amp either
by the RS-232 port or the AUX port. To verify if it is internal, disconnect one or the other or both. Troubleshoot by progressive isolation, otherwise, one step at a time. Be suspicious of anything which is or may be communicating with the amp. If nothing is connected, an if the problem appears, it would likely be internal to the amp. If it does not re-appear then it is something external. While it is nice to have our stations fully automated and controllable, my motto is; "more crap = more problems". I suppose it is just how much crap one is willing to endure. I prefer to keep my life simple and minimize issues. Which says less crap = less problems. Mine is connected to my K3S via the AUX communications port. I've found that to be 100% reliable. I also have a RS-232 to USB converter connected to the RS-232 {PC} port with no issues. 73 Bob, K4TAX On 2/13/2020 9:04 AM, VO1HPFrank wrote: > I came in the shack yesterday and the KPA500 screen was lit with MCU LOAD > message. I did not leave the amp on. The amp was on when I arrived. I > updated the firmware to the current release. This morning the same thing > happened. When MCU Load message is on the screen none of the front panel > buttons are active including the POWER. Have to unplug to reset. > > What is happening. ? How can I clear this from happening? > > Frank VO1HP > > > > -- > Sent from: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/ > ______________________________________________________________ > 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 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] |
Re: KPA500 MCU LOAD screen
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In reply to this post by VO1HPFrank
I have seen this also, and agree with Andy’s assessment. A program that polls the ports to find its target can also cause this issue.
Even though the KPA is displaying the MCU LOAD message, as long as no firmware data has been sent to the KPA500 and the firmware is actually not corrupt, you should be able to recover back to an operating state by powering the KPA off, then back on using the rear panel switch. I also have to mention that the KPA500 does a firmware check on power-on (when you push the front-panel power button). If that fails you will also get the MCU LOAD message. In this situation you will need to apply a fresh firmware update to the KPA to get it going. In your case the state was entered accidentally, which allows the power cycle to get you going again. Good luck with the remote serial port. And be sure to describe what you do to get it going. There are several of us interested! 73! Jack, W6FB > On Feb 13, 2020, at 8:07 AM, VO1HPFrank <[hidden email]> wrote: > > Andy > Yes I have a StarTech Ethernet to Serial port server attached to the RS232 > jack. I have been trying to get it to work with the amp so that I can get > rid of the PC at my remote. Thanks for the solution. > > Maybe there is something wrong with the server if data possibly corrupted . > Have not been able to get the server working remotely with the amp > > Frank Vo1HP > > > > -- > Sent from: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/ > ______________________________________________________________ > 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 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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In reply to this post by ANDY DURBIN
It's probably worth emphasizing that the KPA500 is only vulnerable to a spurious "D" command when it is in "powered but off" state. Perhaps the problem can be avoided by changing the sequence of remote station power up so KPA500 is only powered when the server is stable. It may also help to limit the amount of time the KPA500 is in "powered but off" state.
Seeing what the server is sending may be useful. I found my Rigol DS1054Z scope to be very helpful during my controller development. When investigating my spurious loader issue I was able to capture the offending RS-232 data and see how it could be decoded as "D" even though "D" had not been sent by my code and was not present in the TTL signal. 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] |
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