KPA500 and KAT500 Enhanced mode frequency tracking

[Rick KC2FD]

*

I have an ICOM7300 with the KAT500 and KPA500. It is an outstanding
station and it is a pleasure to operate.


I would however, like to improve the operation by incorporating band
switching and frequency tracking. We built an Arduino based converter to
convert the ICOM CI-V serial data to Kenwood compatible RS232 serial
data. This data feeds both the tuner and the amp which both switch
bands. I can also hear the tuner switching band segments as I tune the
VFO across a band and I learn frequencies in each segment.

This setup is working well except I was hoping that it could emulate
some of the descriptions in the Elecraft videos of the tuner and amp
with a K3. Specifically when going back to one of the previously learned
band segments, the transceiver still calls for the short burst of RF
prior to transmitting at full power. The videos and manual description
implies that the K3 and possibly Kenwood and Yaesu transceivers, will be
tracked by the KAT500 and NOT require that short burst of RF. Is there a
configuration in the Utility program that will allow tracking on a
non-K3 transceiver? Is there something specific in the K3 (the tracking
function on P28 of the manual) that enables this feature to NOT require
the short burst on a previously learned frequency?


*
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[ANDY DURBIN]

"the transceiver still calls for the short burst of RF prior to transmitting at full power."

Not sure I understand this.  If you implement it correctly no RF TX is required.  I see Dick suggested you contact me.  I'll be happy to share info on my controller design.  No RF TX required for my controller to keep KAT500 and KPA500 tracking my TS-590S TX frequency.

Andy, k3wyc
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[Lyn WØLEN]

Andy -

I for one would love to see it.  I need to track an IC-7300.

Thx.
73
Lyn, W0LEN


-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email]
[mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Andy Durbin
Sent: Friday, December 11, 2020 6:31 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: [Elecraft] KPA500 and KAT500 Enhanced mode frequency tracking

"the transceiver still calls for the short burst of RF prior to transmitting
at full power."

Not sure I understand this.  If you implement it correctly no RF TX is
required.  I see Dick suggested you contact me.  I'll be happy to share info
on my controller design.  No RF TX required for my controller to keep KAT500
and KPA500 tracking my TS-590S TX frequency.

Andy, k3wyc
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[Rick KC2FD]

I found my problem. The issue was that even though I successfully
incorporated enhanced mode frequency tracking from the IC7300 to the KPA500
and KAT500, the radio was keying a x0mS burst of RF even though the
frequencies were previously 'learned'. I kept looking into the Elecraft
setups, manual, programming and my converter setup. The problem however was
in a long overlooked menu setting in the 7300! Sometime in the past I had
set "SET, CONNECTORS, FUNCTION, TUNER, PTT Start", to ON which initiates a
tuning cycle to the tuner every time the VFO moves more than 1 kHz. Duh.
I've been looking for this for days. I switched it to OFF and the frequency
tracking works flawlessly. In summary, I have the the IC7300 REMOTE serial
data connector feeding an atmega328 microntroller (RX) developed on an
Arduino Uno. The code is based on an open sourced Band Decoder by the
talented guys at remoteqth.com. The TX data is now in the serial format
emulating Kenwood transceivers. This data is converted to RS232 and feeds
both the KPA500 and KAT500. The KPA500 menus must be configured to accept
SERIAL data at the correct baud rate that the converter code and IC7300 is
set to. In my case I am using 4800 baud. Although not necessary to go
faster, I may try to go up in steps to the 19200 upper limit of the 7300.
*Using this setup, the KPA500 switches bands as the IC7300 QSYs and even
more importantly, the KAT500 senses the 7300 frequency and switches to the
learned LC combinations for those band segments. This is now done WITHOUT
having to send a burst of RF to the tuner to tell it what band and frequency
segment we are now operating on. Contesters and DXers should find this very
useful as they switch from band to band or QSYing within a band. *Of course
those who operate a K3, K4, Flex or Kenwood transceiver, should be able to
do this inherently. Only ICOM transceivers require this conversion. Thanks
to Elecraft engineering, remoteqth.com and Rich W2RB for their inputs on
this project.



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[Rick KC2FD]

I found my problem. The issue was that even though I successfully
incorporated enhanced mode frequency tracking from the IC7300 to the KPA500
and KAT500, the radio was keying a x0mS burst of RF even though the
frequencies were previously 'learned'. I kept looking into the Elecraft
setups, manual, programming and my converter setup. The problem however was
in a long overlooked menu setting in the 7300! Sometime in the past I had
set "SET, CONNECTORS, FUNCTION, TUNER, PTT Start", to ON which initiates a
tuning cycle to the tuner every time the VFO moves more than 1 kHz. Duh.
I've been looking for this for days. I switched it to OFF and the frequency
tracking works flawlessly.

In summary, I have the the IC7300 REMOTE serial data connector feeding an
atmega328 microntroller (RX) developed on an Arduino Uno. The code is based
on an open sourced Band Decoder by the talented guys at remoteqth.com. The
TX data is now in the serial format emulating Kenwood transceivers. This
data is converted to RS232 and feeds both the KPA500 and KAT500. The KPA500
menus must be configured to accept SERIAL data at the correct baud rate that
the converter code and IC7300 is set to. In my case I am using 4800 baud.
Although not necessary to go faster, I may try to go up in steps to the
19200 upper limit of the 7300.

*Using this setup, the KPA500 switches bands as the IC7300 QSYs and even
more importantly, the KAT500 senses the 7300 frequency and switches to the
learned LC combinations for those band segments. This is now done WITHOUT
having to send a burst of RF to the tuner to tell it what band and frequency
segment we are now operating on. Contesters and DXers should find this very
useful as they switch from band to band or QSYing within a band. *

Of course those who operate a K3, K4, Flex or Kenwood transceiver, should be
able to do this inherently. Only ICOM transceivers require this conversion.

Thanks to Elecraft engineering, remoteqth.com and Rich W2RB for their inputs
on this project.




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[Rick KC2FD]

I found my problem. The issue was that even though I successfully
incorporated enhanced mode frequency tracking from the IC7300 to the KPA500
and KAT500, the radio was keying a x0mS burst of RF even though the
frequencies were previously 'learned'. I kept looking into the Elecraft
setups, manual, programming and my converter setup. The problem however was
in a long overlooked menu setting in the 7300! Sometime in the past I had
set "SET, CONNECTORS, FUNCTION, TUNER, PTT Start", to ON which initiates a
tuning cycle to the tuner every time the VFO moves more than 1 kHz. Duh.
I've been looking for this for days. I switched it to OFF and the frequency
tracking works flawlessly.

In summary, I have the the IC7300 REMOTE serial data connector feeding an
atmega328 microntroller (RX) developed on an Arduino Uno. The code is based
on an open sourced Band Decoder by the talented guys at remoteqth.com. The
TX data is now in the serial format emulating Kenwood transceivers. This
data is converted to RS232 and feeds both the KPA500 and KAT500. The KPA500
menus must be configured to accept SERIAL data at the correct baud rate that
the converter code and IC7300 is set to. In my case I am using 4800 baud.
Although not necessary to go faster, I may try to go up in steps to the
19200 upper limit of the 7300.

*Using this setup, the KPA500 switches bands as the IC7300 QSYs and even
more importantly, the KAT500 senses the 7300 frequency and switches to the
learned LC combinations for those band segments. This is now done WITHOUT
having to send a burst of RF to the tuner to tell it what band and frequency
segment we are now operating on. Contesters and DXers should find this very
useful as they switch from band to band or QSYing within a band. *

Of course those who operate a K3, K4, Flex or Kenwood transceiver, should be
able to do this inherently. Only ICOM transceivers require this conversion.

Thanks to Elecraft engineering, remoteqth.com and Rich W2RB for their inputs
on this project.




--
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[Rick KC2FD]

I found my problem. The issue was that even though I successfully
incorporated enhanced mode frequency tracking from the IC7300 to the KPA500
and KAT500, the radio was keying a x0mS burst of RF even though the
frequencies were previously 'learned'. I kept looking into the Elecraft
setups, manual, programming and my converter setup. The problem however was
in a long overlooked menu setting in the 7300! Sometime in the past I had
set "SET, CONNECTORS, FUNCTION, TUNER, PTT Start", to ON which initiates a
tuning cycle to the tuner every time the VFO moves more than 1 kHz. Duh.
I've been looking for this for days. I switched it to OFF and the frequency
tracking works flawlessly.

In summary, I have the the IC7300 REMOTE serial data connector feeding an
atmega328 microntroller (RX) developed on an Arduino Uno. The code is based
on an open sourced Band Decoder by the talented guys at remoteqth.com. The
TX data is now in the serial format emulating Kenwood transceivers. This
data is converted to RS232 and feeds both the KPA500 and KAT500. The KPA500
menus must be configured to accept SERIAL data at the correct baud rate that
the converter code and IC7300 is set to. In my case I am using 4800 baud.
Although not necessary to go faster, I may try to go up in steps to the
19200 upper limit of the 7300.

*Using this setup, the KPA500 switches bands as the IC7300 QSYs and even
more importantly, the KAT500 senses the 7300 frequency and switches to the
learned LC combinations for those band segments. This is now done WITHOUT
having to send a burst of RF to the tuner to tell it what band and frequency
segment we are now operating on. Contesters and DXers should find this very
useful as they switch from band to band or QSYing within a band. *

Of course those who operate a K3, K4, Flex or Kenwood transceiver, should be
able to do this inherently. Only ICOM transceivers require this conversion.

Thanks to Elecraft engineering, remoteqth.com and Rich W2RB for their inputs
on this project.




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Sent from: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/
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[Rick KC2FD]

I found my problem. The issue was that even though I successfully
incorporated enhanced mode frequency tracking from the IC7300 to the KPA500
and KAT500, the radio was keying a x0mS burst of RF even though the
frequencies were previously 'learned'. I kept looking into the Elecraft
setups, manual, programming and my converter setup. The problem however was
in a long overlooked menu setting in the 7300! Sometime in the past I had
set "SET, CONNECTORS, FUNCTION, TUNER, PTT Start", to ON which initiates a
tuning cycle to the tuner every time the VFO moves more than 1 kHz. Duh.
I've been looking for this for days. I switched it to OFF and the frequency
tracking works flawlessly.

In summary, I have the the IC7300 REMOTE serial data connector feeding an
atmega328 microntroller (RX) developed on an Arduino Uno. The code is based
on an open sourced Band Decoder by the talented guys at remoteqth.com. The
TX data is now in the serial format emulating Kenwood transceivers. This
data is converted to RS232 and feeds both the KPA500 and KAT500. The KPA500
menus must be configured to accept SERIAL data at the correct baud rate that
the converter code and IC7300 is set to. In my case I am using 4800 baud.
Although not necessary to go faster, I may try to go up in steps to the
19200 upper limit of the 7300.

*Using this setup, the KPA500 switches bands as the IC7300 QSYs and even
more importantly, the KAT500 senses the 7300 frequency and switches to the
learned LC combinations for those band segments. This is now done WITHOUT
having to send a burst of RF to the tuner to tell it what band and frequency
segment we are now operating on. Contesters and DXers should find this very
useful as they switch from band to band or QSYing within a band. *

Of course those who operate a K3, K4, Flex or Kenwood transceiver, should be
able to do this inherently. Only ICOM transceivers require this conversion.

Thanks to Elecraft engineering, remoteqth.com and Rich W2RB for their inputs
on this project.




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Sent from: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/
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