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KXAT3 Internal Antenna Tuner Question

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fred carvalho

KXAT3 Internal Antenna Tuner Question

Is there any documentation on ATU which explains how it stores antenna
matching parameters in its memory, if it ever does ?
It seems to me that after actioning on the ATU and getting a good match on
a given frequency, when I get back to it again, after tuning on some other
bands, using the same antenna, it losts the antenna info and needs to be
re-tuned. Is it how it works ?

Thanks Fred

--
Fred - PY2XB

*Other Calls*: PY2FXH, PY2FXH/W2, PY2XB/0, F/PY2XB, ZX2XB, PT7BXB,
PY2XB/PY0F, PQ0F, VP5/PY2XB, PW2IO (SA-071), ZX8W (SA-060), PY2XB/1
(SA-029), 8P9XB, PQ8XB (SA-045), ZX2S (SA-028); W4/PY2XB, 3D2XB

*Team member*: PW2M (SA-071), PX8J (SA-041), T30PY/T30SIX, PT0S
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Don Wilhelm-4

Re: KXAT3 Internal Antenna Tuner Question

Fred,

The KXAT3 does remember the setting on each band segment. I cannot
recall the width of the band segments, but I suggest you do a TUNE on
the bottom of each band, then move up 20 kHz and do a TUNE again.
When you go back to that same band segment, the tuning combination
should be recalled automatically with no additional operations on your part.
If you do a TUNE again (at that point in time) the KXAT3 will initiate a
new tune cycle and throw away the previously remembered values. In
other words, do not do an additional TUNE unless you change antennas.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 2/5/2013 5:32 PM, Fred Carvalho wrote:
> Is there any documentation on ATU which explains how it stores antenna
> matching parameters in its memory, if it ever does ?
> It seems to me that after actioning on the ATU and getting a good match on
> a given frequency, when I get back to it again, after tuning on some other
> bands, using the same antenna, it losts the antenna info and needs to be
> re-tuned. Is it how it works ?
>
> Thanks Fred
>

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Don Wilhelm-4

Re: KXAT3 Internal Antenna Tuner Question

I forgot to add - when initiallly setting up the band segments -
continue the TUNE cycles until you reach the top of the band.
After that, all is automatic when you return to that band segment.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 2/5/2013 6:12 PM, Don Wilhelm wrote:

> Fred,
>
> The KXAT3 does remember the setting on each band segment. I cannot
> recall the width of the band segments, but I suggest you do a TUNE on
> the bottom of each band, then move up 20 kHz and do a TUNE again.
> When you go back to that same band segment, the tuning combination
> should be recalled automatically with no additional operations on your
> part.
> If you do a TUNE again (at that point in time) the KXAT3 will initiate
> a new tune cycle and throw away the previously remembered values. In
> other words, do not do an additional TUNE unless you change antennas.
>
> 73,
> Don W3FPR
>
> On 2/5/2013 5:32 PM, Fred Carvalho wrote:
>> Is there any documentation on ATU which explains how it stores antenna
>> matching parameters in its memory, if it ever does ?
>> It seems to me that after actioning on the ATU and getting a good
>> match on
>> a given frequency, when I get back to it again, after tuning on some
>> other
>> bands, using the same antenna, it losts the antenna info and needs to be
>> re-tuned. Is it how it works ?
>>
>> Thanks Fred
>>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
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>
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>

mzilmer

Re: KXAT3 Internal Antenna Tuner Question

Don, I have a related question.

A lot of my HF operations are Navy-Marine Corps MARS. All of our allocated frequencies are outside the ham bands, and many are not even close to a band edge. How does the K3 remember ATU settings outside the bands, or does it even have logic to support this? I generally run the ATU when tuning to another MARS frequency far outside the bands.

Yes, I have the KBPF3 gen purpose filter, and everything is working fine outside the ham bands.

Thanks,
Matt Zilmer, W6NIA

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email] [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Don Wilhelm
Sent: Tuesday, February 05, 2013 3:16 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KXAT3 Internal Antenna Tuner Question

I forgot to add - when initiallly setting up the band segments - continue the TUNE cycles until you reach the top of the band.
After that, all is automatic when you return to that band segment.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 2/5/2013 6:12 PM, Don Wilhelm wrote:

> Fred,
>
> The KXAT3 does remember the setting on each band segment. I cannot
> recall the width of the band segments, but I suggest you do a TUNE on
> the bottom of each band, then move up 20 kHz and do a TUNE again.
> When you go back to that same band segment, the tuning combination
> should be recalled automatically with no additional operations on your
> part.
> If you do a TUNE again (at that point in time) the KXAT3 will initiate
> a new tune cycle and throw away the previously remembered values. In
> other words, do not do an additional TUNE unless you change antennas.
>
> 73,
> Don W3FPR
>
> On 2/5/2013 5:32 PM, Fred Carvalho wrote:
>> Is there any documentation on ATU which explains how it stores
>> antenna matching parameters in its memory, if it ever does ?
>> It seems to me that after actioning on the ATU and getting a good
>> match on a given frequency, when I get back to it again, after tuning
>> on some other bands, using the same antenna, it losts the antenna
>> info and needs to be re-tuned. Is it how it works ?
>>
>> Thanks Fred
>>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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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Don Wilhelm-4

Re: KXAT3 Internal Antenna Tuner Question

Matt,

I really don't have a definitive answer, but I would think it would
behave similarly.
Wayne may have a better answer or at least a pointer.

I do know you can manually set the ATU inductance and capacitance which
works in places where you cannot transmit, but I don't know about
automatic.
Of course, if TUNE works, then it works (it should), but I don't know
about the memories.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 2/5/2013 6:50 PM, Matthew Zilmer wrote:

> Don, I have a related question.
>
> A lot of my HF operations are Navy-Marine Corps MARS. All of our allocated frequencies are outside the ham bands, and many are not even close to a band edge. How does the K3 remember ATU settings outside the bands, or does it even have logic to support this? I generally run the ATU when tuning to another MARS frequency far outside the bands.
>
> Yes, I have the KBPF3 gen purpose filter, and everything is working fine outside the ham bands.
>
> Thanks,
> Matt Zilmer, W6NIA
>
>

Michael Adams

Re: KXAT3 Internal Antenna Tuner Question

In reply to this post by mzilmer

Matt --

That's something that I've wondered myself, for similar reasons.

I have noticed that the MARS frequencies closest to the amateur bands (e.g.
low 4MHz) are remembered by the KAT3, while those further outside (e.g.
high 4MHz) are not.

At this point, I know by experience which of the frequencies I regularly
use do/don't need to tuned up. But for those times when I might need to
use other frequencies.... it could be handy information to have.

--
*Michael D. Adams* (N1EN)
Poquonock, Connecticut | [hidden email]

On Tue, Feb 5, 2013 at 6:50 PM, Matthew Zilmer <[hidden email]>wrote:

> Don, I have a related question.
>
> A lot of my HF operations are Navy-Marine Corps MARS. All of our
> allocated frequencies are outside the ham bands, and many are not even
> close to a band edge. How does the K3 remember ATU settings outside the
> bands, or does it even have logic to support this? I generally run the ATU
> when tuning to another MARS frequency far outside the bands.
>
> Yes, I have the KBPF3 gen purpose filter, and everything is working fine
> outside the ham bands.
>
> Thanks,
> Matt Zilmer, W6NIA
>
>

WM3M

Re: KXAT3 Internal Antenna Tuner Question

Not sure I completely follow this since I think the KXAT3 is the tuner for
the KX3, but questions seem to apply to K3.
I have both K3 and KX3 and use both on MARS freqs. The KXAT3 in the KX3
does remember the settings for all the MARS freqs I use.
I do not have the internal tuner for the K3 but do have the KAT500, it also
remembers the settings for all my MARS freqs. The K3 will not transmit
close to its IF freq, so I normally the KX3 for those.
Hope this helps?
Emory WM3M

-----Original Message-----
From: Michael Adams
Sent: Tuesday, February 05, 2013 7:22 PM
To: [hidden email] List
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KXAT3 Internal Antenna Tuner Question

Matt --

That's something that I've wondered myself, for similar reasons.

I have noticed that the MARS frequencies closest to the amateur bands (e.g.
low 4MHz) are remembered by the KAT3, while those further outside (e.g.
high 4MHz) are not.

At this point, I know by experience which of the frequencies I regularly
use do/don't need to tuned up. But for those times when I might need to
use other frequencies.... it could be handy information to have.

--
*Michael D. Adams* (N1EN)
Poquonock, Connecticut | [hidden email]

On Tue, Feb 5, 2013 at 6:50 PM, Matthew Zilmer
<[hidden email]>wrote:

> Don, I have a related question.
>
> A lot of my HF operations are Navy-Marine Corps MARS. All of our
> allocated frequencies are outside the ham bands, and many are not even
> close to a band edge. How does the K3 remember ATU settings outside the
> bands, or does it even have logic to support this? I generally run the
> ATU
> when tuning to another MARS frequency far outside the bands.
>
> Yes, I have the KBPF3 gen purpose filter, and everything is working fine
> outside the ham bands.
>
> Thanks,
> Matt Zilmer, W6NIA
>
>

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Matt Zilmer

Re: KXAT3 Internal Antenna Tuner Question

In reply to this post by Don Wilhelm-4

Thanks, Don. I'll readdress the question to Wayne and hope he has
time for an answer.

73!

matt W6NIA

On Tue, 05 Feb 2013 19:06:54 -0500, you wrote:

>Matt,
>
>I really don't have a definitive answer, but I would think it would
>behave similarly.
>Wayne may have a better answer or at least a pointer.
>
>I do know you can manually set the ATU inductance and capacitance which
>works in places where you cannot transmit, but I don't know about
>automatic.
>Of course, if TUNE works, then it works (it should), but I don't know
>about the memories.
>
>73,
>Don W3FPR
>
>On 2/5/2013 6:50 PM, Matthew Zilmer wrote:
>> Don, I have a related question.
>>
>> A lot of my HF operations are Navy-Marine Corps MARS. All of our allocated frequencies are outside the ham bands, and many are not even close to a band edge. How does the K3 remember ATU settings outside the bands, or does it even have logic to support this? I generally run the ATU when tuning to another MARS frequency far outside the bands.
>>
>> Yes, I have the KBPF3 gen purpose filter, and everything is working fine outside the ham bands.
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Matt Zilmer, W6NIA
>>
>>
>
>______________________________________________________________
>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

Matt Zilmer

Re: KXAT3 Internal Antenna Tuner Question

In reply to this post by Michael Adams

Hi Michael,

Well, for those close-in freqs, it's not been a problem here. I was
thinking around 11 or 12 MHz where there isn't a ham band in sight for
a considerable span.

73,
matt W6NIA

On Tue, 05 Feb 2013 19:22:11 -0500, you wrote:

>Matt --
>
>That's something that I've wondered myself, for similar reasons.
>
>I have noticed that the MARS frequencies closest to the amateur bands (e.g.
>low 4MHz) are remembered by the KAT3, while those further outside (e.g.
>high 4MHz) are not.
>
>At this point, I know by experience which of the frequencies I regularly
>use do/don't need to tuned up. But for those times when I might need to
>use other frequencies.... it could be handy information to have.

Michael Adams

Re: KXAT3 Internal Antenna Tuner Question

Matt --

I'm not even sure I'd call the lack of memory on the KAT3 on those far-out
frequencies a "problem". For me, at least, it's curiosity and potentially
useful information in the future.

The only time the lack of memory has been inconvenient is when I've joined
SHARES nets in progress (and have to remember to go aside and tune first,
since SHARES tends to be further away from the amateur bands), or when
bouncing around during the Armed Forces Day test.

--
*Michael D. Adams* (N1EN)
Poquonock, Connecticut | [hidden email]

On Tue, Feb 5, 2013 at 7:54 PM, Matt Zilmer <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Hi Michael,
>
> Well, for those close-in freqs, it's not been a problem here. I was
> thinking around 11 or 12 MHz where there isn't a ham band in sight for
> a considerable span.
>
> 73,
> matt W6NIA
>
> On Tue, 05 Feb 2013 19:22:11 -0500, you wrote:
>
> >Matt --
> >
> >That's something that I've wondered myself, for similar reasons.
> >
> >I have noticed that the MARS frequencies closest to the amateur bands
> (e.g.
> >low 4MHz) are remembered by the KAT3, while those further outside (e.g.
> >high 4MHz) are not.
> >
> >At this point, I know by experience which of the frequencies I regularly
> >use do/don't need to tuned up. But for those times when I might need to
> >use other frequencies.... it could be handy information to have.
>

NZ9E

Re: KXAT3 Internal Antenna Tuner Question

From Don W3FPR on Feb 05, 2013; 6:06pm Re: KXAT3 Internal Antenna Tuner Question [trimmed]:

> I do know you can manually set the ATU inductance and capacitance which works in places where you cannot transmit

Don,

How do you manually set the KXAT3's L's & C's?

Does the "AK" command (read KXAT3 relays) also work for "write" purposes?

Thanks,
Bob NZ9E