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KX1 ATU problem

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KD0FIN

KX1 ATU problem

So I just installed the KXB3080 and completed the 2 resistor "power mod" but now my ATU doesn't seem to be working. It gives me power and SWR reading when I use the "tune" function but I don't hear the relays clicking and it isn't matching anything anymore. It might be unrelated but also it seems to be very hard to find signals as well. I could hear a couple faint ones on 80m but everything else seemed dead. The radio was working as normally as I could tell after installing the KXB3080, and I don't think I could have screwed up the the 2 resistors enough to cause any problems?

KD0FIN

Re: KX1 ATU problem

Well I figured out my problem (operator error). The ATU was in Calibrate mode and not Tune mode. So it is working now. However, when I try to tune 30m the power jumps straight to 6.3W (!) and doesn't fluctuate like the power reading does on other bands (40m jumps from around 4.6-5.1 watts with a 12v supply) Not to mention that the ATU gives me a somewhat poor SWR (1:2.8) on 30m even when it used to match relatively well (<1:2). I don't currently use 30m so it's not a big deal to me but something doesn't seem right...?

Luke <>< KD0FIN

KD0FIN wrote

So I just installed the KXB3080 and completed the 2 resistor "power mod" but now my ATU doesn't seem to be working. It gives me power and SWR reading when I use the "tune" function but I don't hear the relays clicking and it isn't matching anything anymore. It might be unrelated but also it seems to be very hard to find signals as well. I could hear a couple faint ones on 80m but everything else seemed dead. The radio was working as normally as I could tell after installing the KXB3080, and I don't think I could have screwed up the the 2 resistors enough to cause any problems?

Don Wilhelm-4

Re: KX1 ATU problem

In reply to this post by KD0FIN

Is it possible that you upgraded the firmware when you added the
KXB3080? If so, the menu entries are set to default, and that means it
is set to ATU CAL - check the menu.

73,
Don W3FPR

KD0FIN wrote:

> So I just installed the KXB3080 and completed the 2 resistor "power mod" but
> now my ATU doesn't seem to be working. It gives me power and SWR reading
> when I use the "tune" function but I don't hear the relays clicking and it
> isn't matching anything anymore. It might be unrelated but also it seems to
> be very hard to find signals as well. I could hear a couple faint ones on
> 80m but everything else seemed dead. The radio was working as normally as I
> could tell after installing the KXB3080, and I don't think I could have
> screwed up the the 2 resistors enough to cause any problems?
>
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>
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Don Wilhelm-4

Re: KX1 ATU problem

In reply to this post by KD0FIN

Luke,

I believe 6.3 W is the maximum that is displayed by the KX1 (that often
is the power level indicated when I am calibrating the tuner wattmeter
for an SWR=2.0 with my 100 ohm dummy load attached. So what 6.3 W
indicated usually means is that you are trying to operate into an open
circuit or a very high impedance. Think about what changes may have
occurred to your antenna on 30 meters since the last time you checked -
are you using the same length feedline? (as one example of how a change
can easily creep in). I doubt it is the tuner. You can check the tuner
by tuning into a dummy load - try that and see if it works, and if so,
take a critical look at your antenna.

73,
Don W3FPR

KD0FIN wrote:

> Well I figured out my problem (operator error). The ATU was in Calibrate mode
> and not Tune mode. So it is working now. However, when I try to tune 30m the
> power jumps straight to 6.3W (!) and doesn't fluctuate like the power
> reading does on other bands (40m jumps from around 4.6-5.1 watts with a 12v
> supply) Not to mention that the ATU gives me a somewhat poor SWR (1:2.8) on
> 30m even when it used to match relatively well (<1:2). I don't currently use
> 30m so it's not a big deal to me but something doesn't seem right...?
>
> Luke <>< KD0FIN
>
>
>
> KD0FIN wrote:
>
>> So I just installed the KXB3080 and completed the 2 resistor "power mod"
>> but now my ATU doesn't seem to be working. It gives me power and SWR
>> reading when I use the "tune" function but I don't hear the relays
>> clicking and it isn't matching anything anymore. It might be unrelated but
>> also it seems to be very hard to find signals as well. I could hear a
>> couple faint ones on 80m but everything else seemed dead. The radio was
>> working as normally as I could tell after installing the KXB3080, and I
>> don't think I could have screwed up the the 2 resistors enough to cause
>> any problems?
>>
>>
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
> No virus found in this incoming message.
> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
> Version: 9.0.709 / Virus Database: 270.14.103/2558 - Release Date: 12/11/09 05:06:00
>
>