Lo P error on K2

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Lo P error on K2

Bob-3
I searched the archives for this but did not find anything similar to the
situation with my K2.  My radio is 10 years old now and works fine except
that occasionally, on any band I select (after being tuned up on another
band), when I press "Tune" to start the KAT2 autotuner I see the Lo P
error.  To get past it, I just power the rig off, then on again, and I can
then tune the radio with no problem.

Is there anything I can do to the radio to remedy this?

Thanks,

Bob KC2JAV
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Re: Lo P error on K2

Don Wilhelm-4
Bob,

It is difficult to tell you where to look.  That message indicates that
there is less than 2 watts being produced.
If you have the power control set to less than 2 watts, that message can
be expected, just turn the power knob up for a 'cure'.

OTOH, it could be the result of damaged wattmeter diodes in the KAT2.  
Give the wattmeter a check - Set the ATU menu to CALP and connect an
external wattmeter between the KAT2 and a dummy load.
Set the power to 5 watts and do a TUNE - what does the external
wattmeter read as compared with the K2 display.  If the external
wattmeter reads 12 watts or greater while the K2 indicates less than 5
watts, then something in the KAT2 wattmeter has been damaged - the
diodes are the most likely suspects.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 10/28/2013 3:41 PM, Bob wrote:
> I searched the archives for this but did not find anything similar to the
> situation with my K2.  My radio is 10 years old now and works fine except
> that occasionally, on any band I select (after being tuned up on another
> band), when I press "Tune" to start the KAT2 autotuner I see the Lo P
> error.  To get past it, I just power the rig off, then on again, and I can
> then tune the radio with no problem.
>
> Is there anything I can do to the radio to remedy this?
>

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Re: Lo P error on K2

Bob-3
Don,

I did as you suggested this evening with the following interesting results
testing each band:

Band          Cal P            External Meter
10                5.0                     4.8
12                5.0                     5.0
15                4.6                     0.0  !!
17                5.0                     5.0
20                4.7                     5.0
30                5.1                     5.1
40                5.1                     5.1
80                5.5                     5.5
160              5.2                     1.8

Something strange is happening with 15 meters, and the funny thing is I
don't operate on that band because (right now) my only HF antenna is an OCF
dipole that does not resonate on 15 nor will it tune up on that band
(though I have tried - hopefully I did not damage the radio this way).
Any suggestions on what to do next?

73,
Bob KC2JAV


On Mon, Oct 28, 2013 at 4:01 PM, Don Wilhelm <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Bob,
>
> It is difficult to tell you where to look.  That message indicates that
> there is less than 2 watts being produced.
> If you have the power control set to less than 2 watts, that message can
> be expected, just turn the power knob up for a 'cure'.
>
> OTOH, it could be the result of damaged wattmeter diodes in the KAT2.
>  Give the wattmeter a check - Set the ATU menu to CALP and connect an
> external wattmeter between the KAT2 and a dummy load.
> Set the power to 5 watts and do a TUNE - what does the external wattmeter
> read as compared with the K2 display.  If the external wattmeter reads 12
> watts or greater while the K2 indicates less than 5 watts, then something
> in the KAT2 wattmeter has been damaged - the diodes are the most likely
> suspects.
>
> 73,
> Don W3FPR
>
>
> On 10/28/2013 3:41 PM, Bob wrote:
>
>> I searched the archives for this but did not find anything similar to the
>> situation with my K2.  My radio is 10 years old now and works fine except
>> that occasionally, on any band I select (after being tuned up on another
>> band), when I press "Tune" to start the KAT2 autotuner I see the Lo P
>> error.  To get past it, I just power the rig off, then on again, and I can
>> then tune the radio with no problem.
>>
>> Is there anything I can do to the radio to remedy this?
>>
>>
>
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