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Kenwood TS-590SG with KPA500 amp?

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Steven C Veal

Kenwood TS-590SG with KPA500 amp?

Hello all:
I have a KPA500 on order to use with my Kenwood TS-590SG (and with my Elecraft KX3). I would appreciate any suggestions on the best way to interface the TS-590SG and the amp.
In reviewing the Kenwood manual and some of the Yahoo groups, it appears that there are at least two ways to interface to the amp. The 590SG offers a mechanical relay as well as a solid state relay for amplifier switching.
The mechanical relay is apparently fairly foolproof but is noisy. The solid state relay is quieter or near silent but apparently has some issues in keying the KPA500. I don't do CW, so rapid keying is not really an issue with me.
I would appreciate any advice on the best way to interface these two. I attempted a cursory scan of previous mail list posts but the number of postings is voluminous. IS THERE A QUICK WAY TO SEARCH PREVIOUS POSTS?
Thanks all in advance for your responses!Steve, N5SKHWeatherford, TX
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Michael Walker

Re: Kenwood TS-590SG with KPA500 amp?

Steve

All HF amps the same regardless of the vender.

This pretty much sums it up.

http://rin3.blogspot.ca/2014/12/how-to-key-your-amplifiers-with-ts-590g.html

You can ignore the pin 7 part if that helps (that is option 2)

Pin 2 of the DIN connector goes to ground (or the shield of an RCA cable)
Pin 4 goes to the center of the RCA connector you'll need for the amp.

What that does is that when the radio goes into Transmit, Pin 4 is grounded
and that turns the KPA500 on in TX mode.

You don't require any external devices or additional keying relays unless
you like to wear a belt and suspenders. :)

That should work just fine for decades.

I hope that helps, Mike va3mw

On Fri, Jan 22, 2016 at 7:54 PM, Steven C Veal <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Hello all:
> I have a KPA500 on order to use with my Kenwood TS-590SG (and with my
> Elecraft KX3). I would appreciate any suggestions on the best way to
> interface the TS-590SG and the amp.
> In reviewing the Kenwood manual and some of the Yahoo groups, it appears
> that there are at least two ways to interface to the amp. The 590SG offers
> a mechanical relay as well as a solid state relay for amplifier switching.
> The mechanical relay is apparently fairly foolproof but is noisy. The
> solid state relay is quieter or near silent but apparently has some issues
> in keying the KPA500. I don't do CW, so rapid keying is not really an issue
> with me.
> I would appreciate any advice on the best way to interface these two. I
> attempted a cursory scan of previous mail list posts but the number of
> postings is voluminous. IS THERE A QUICK WAY TO SEARCH PREVIOUS POSTS?
> Thanks all in advance for your responses!Steve, N5SKHWeatherford, TX
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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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Cliff Frescura

Re: Kenwood TS-590SG with KPA500 amp?

In reply to this post by Steven C Veal

I have an old TS-940 working with the KPA500. I used the ACC amp
connections on the back on the Kenwood for PTT, which I believe is a DIP
mechanical relay - not loud at all. In addition, the KPA500 sniffs the
RS-232 line between the Kenwood and my logging PC running DXLabs to
automatically switch bands on the KPA when the frequency changes via the
computer or via the radio.

73,

Cliff K3LL

-----Original Message-----
From: Elecraft [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Steven
C Veal
Sent: Friday, January 22, 2016 4:55 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: [Elecraft] Kenwood TS-590SG with KPA500 amp?

Hello all:
I have a KPA500 on order to use with my Kenwood TS-590SG (and with my
Elecraft KX3). I would appreciate any suggestions on the best way to
interface the TS-590SG and the amp.
In reviewing the Kenwood manual and some of the Yahoo groups, it appears
that there are at least two ways to interface to the amp. The 590SG offers a
mechanical relay as well as a solid state relay for amplifier switching.
The mechanical relay is apparently fairly foolproof but is noisy. The solid
state relay is quieter or near silent but apparently has some issues in
keying the KPA500. I don't do CW, so rapid keying is not really an issue
with me.
I would appreciate any advice on the best way to interface these two. I
attempted a cursory scan of previous mail list posts but the number of
postings is voluminous. IS THERE A QUICK WAY TO SEARCH PREVIOUS POSTS?
Thanks all in advance for your responses!Steve, N5SKHWeatherford, TX
______________________________________________________________
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delivered to [hidden email]

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Michael Walker

Re: Kenwood TS-590SG with KPA500 amp?

Oh, I meant to add, I let the amp sniff RF and it just works. No issues.

This is at my remote base where I have seen the amp start up at -20C
without issue and after time, I can actually get it up to 0C. :)

The equipment is kept in a non-heated room and seems to work no matter
what. I'm impressed.

Mike va3mw

On Fri, Jan 22, 2016 at 8:54 PM, Cliff Frescura <[hidden email]> wrote:

> I have an old TS-940 working with the KPA500. I used the ACC amp
> connections on the back on the Kenwood for PTT, which I believe is a DIP
> mechanical relay - not loud at all. In addition, the KPA500 sniffs the
> RS-232 line between the Kenwood and my logging PC running DXLabs to
> automatically switch bands on the KPA when the frequency changes via the
> computer or via the radio.
>
> 73,
>
> Cliff K3LL
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Elecraft [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of
> Steven
> C Veal
> Sent: Friday, January 22, 2016 4:55 PM
> To: [hidden email]
> Subject: [Elecraft] Kenwood TS-590SG with KPA500 amp?
>
> Hello all:
> I have a KPA500 on order to use with my Kenwood TS-590SG (and with my
> Elecraft KX3). I would appreciate any suggestions on the best way to
> interface the TS-590SG and the amp.
> In reviewing the Kenwood manual and some of the Yahoo groups, it appears
> that there are at least two ways to interface to the amp. The 590SG offers
> a
> mechanical relay as well as a solid state relay for amplifier switching.
> The mechanical relay is apparently fairly foolproof but is noisy. The solid
> state relay is quieter or near silent but apparently has some issues in
> keying the KPA500. I don't do CW, so rapid keying is not really an issue
> with me.
> I would appreciate any advice on the best way to interface these two. I
> attempted a cursory scan of previous mail list posts but the number of
> postings is voluminous. IS THERE A QUICK WAY TO SEARCH PREVIOUS POSTS?
> Thanks all in advance for your responses!Steve, N5SKHWeatherford, TX
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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]
>

Mark Goldberg

Re: Kenwood TS-590SG with KPA500 amp?

In reply to this post by Michael Walker

I can't add much more, but the recent KPA500 software supports the
serial connection to the TS-590. You don't really need it, but it
helps by switching to the right band before you transmit, for example
if you are working crossband spit it switches to the band you are
going to be transmitting on rather than where you are receiving on. I
have usb to the computer and RS232 to the KPA500 and everything works.
It is just extra belts and suspenders, but it works well. The
frequency based switching does too.

I still manage to screw something up in haste about twice a month. The
KPA500 faults and lights up the big idiot light. A reset of the fault
brings it back on line with no problems.

73,

Mark
W7MLG

On Fri, Jan 22, 2016 at 6:49 PM, Michael Walker <[hidden email]> wrote:
> Steve
>
> All HF amps the same regardless of the vender.
>
> This pretty much sums it up.
>
> http://rin3.blogspot.ca/2014/12/how-to-key-your-amplifiers-with-ts-590g.html
>
>
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Jack Brindle-2

Re: Kenwood TS-590SG with KPA500 amp?

As Mark points out, the latest firmware (at the beta page) works quite well with Kenwoord transceivers. If you are using the KPA500 with a Kenwood transceiver, be sure to update your firmware to V1.47 - you should see a difference in how well it works. And, if you have any comments, I’m all ears…

73,

Jack Brindle, W6FB
Elecraft Engineering

> On Jan 22, 2016, at 6:18 PM, Mark Goldberg <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> I can't add much more, but the recent KPA500 software supports the
> serial connection to the TS-590. You don't really need it, but it
> helps by switching to the right band before you transmit, for example
> if you are working crossband spit it switches to the band you are
> going to be transmitting on rather than where you are receiving on. I
> have usb to the computer and RS232 to the KPA500 and everything works.
> It is just extra belts and suspenders, but it works well. The
> frequency based switching does too.
>
> I still manage to screw something up in haste about twice a month. The
> KPA500 faults and lights up the big idiot light. A reset of the fault
> brings it back on line with no problems.
>
> 73,
>
> Mark
> W7MLG
>
> On Fri, Jan 22, 2016 at 6:49 PM, Michael Walker <[hidden email]> wrote:
>> Steve
>>
>> All HF amps the same regardless of the vender.
>>
>> This pretty much sums it up.
>>
>> http://rin3.blogspot.ca/2014/12/how-to-key-your-amplifiers-with-ts-590g.html
>>
>>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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]

w4jsh

Re: Kenwood TS-590SG with KPA500 amp?

In reply to this post by Steven C Veal

Steven,
Just wondered if you ever got your TS590sg working with your KPA500.
If so, what was your solution?
I have a KPA500 and am considering a TS590sg. Just want to make sure they will play well together.
Any helpful information regarding the two units would be much appreciated.
Thanks!
Jeff, W4JSH