Stray RF in KAT100

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Stray RF in KAT100

Roy Morris-6
I wanted to check out the K2/100 KAT100-1 to see if the stray RF LED was somehow caused by something wrong in the equipment (more specifically the KAT100).  I connected a MFJ 901B tuner between my Carolina Windom 80 and the KAT100.  I went into the menu and put the KAT100 into ATU CAL (bypass) mode.  I was able to tune the K2/100 into all bands at 100 watts through the MFJ and get only the single leftmost LED indication on the KAT100.  The only exception was 17 meters where four LEDs lit up at resonance.  However, with the MFJ removed and the KAT100 put back into the circuit (ATU AUTO) 17 meters displayed only the leftmost LED.  This lets me know that the stray RF is caused by the antenna or the ground or both.  In  every case when the LEDs go wild, the Bird meter between the KPA100 and the KAT100 shows the SWR does not go off zero and forward power is 100 watts.  The small amount of floating RF in the KAT100 LEDs is not causing a problem.  So I do not believe a number of occasionally flickering KAT100 LEDs necessarily indicates show stopping things are happening.  And no, I do not believe this is caused by a parasitic.  I think the Carolina Windom 80 (off center fed) antenna helps contribute to stray RF as well as the second story shack with long ground.  I have already used a 23.4 foot counterpoise (with earth ground connected and disconnected)...did not make 17 meters any better. So bottom line is: stray RF is hard to tame, its not caused by the Elecraft components, and you can live with a small amount of it.   Roy Morris  W4WFB
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