Elecraft

TS520S and KPA500/KAT500

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Nr4c

TS520S and KPA500/KAT500

I want to use a Kenwood 520S with my KPA500 amp. I have the cable from the 520 Remote connector to amp PTT IN.

I assume I should tune up radio with dummy load and then turn Drive down low and switch amp to Operate. Now turn up drive to get desire amp output.

Now I ask, “What have I forgotten (or never knew about tube radios))?” Anything else I need to pay attention to or what am I missing?

Sent from my iPhone
...nr4c. bill

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Don Wilhelm

Re: TS520S and KPA500/KAT500

Bill,

Since the 520S is a tube output transceiver, I think you need to tune
the PA stage into a 50 ohm dummy load so it matches the input of the KPA500.

Yes, then start at low power and bring it up until you have your desired
power out of the KPA500.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 7/21/2018 9:59 PM, Nr4c wrote:
> I want to use a Kenwood 520S with my KPA500 amp. I have the cable from the 520 Remote connector to amp PTT IN.
>
> I assume I should tune up radio with dummy load and then turn Drive down low and switch amp to Operate. Now turn up drive to get desire amp output.
>
> Now I ask, “What have I forgotten (or never knew about tube radios))?” Anything else I need to pay attention to or what am I missing?
>
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Ted Edwards W3TB

Re: TS520S and KPA500/KAT500

And will need to do that tuning repeatedly on each band.

20w drive is about right

On Sat, Jul 21, 2018 at 19:55 Don Wilhelm <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Bill,
>
> Since the 520S is a tube output transceiver, I think you need to tune
> the PA stage into a 50 ohm dummy load so it matches the input of the
> KPA500.
>
> Yes, then start at low power and bring it up until you have your desired
> power out of the KPA500.
>
> 73,
> Don W3FPR
>
> On 7/21/2018 9:59 PM, Nr4c wrote:
> > I want to use a Kenwood 520S with my KPA500 amp. I have the cable from
> the 520 Remote connector to amp PTT IN.
> >
> > I assume I should tune up radio with dummy load and then turn Drive down
> low and switch amp to Operate. Now turn up drive to get desire amp output.
> >
> > Now I ask, “What have I forgotten (or never knew about tube radios))?”
> Anything else I need to pay attention to or what am I missing?
> >
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
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> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to [hidden email]

--
73 de Ted Edwards, W3TB and GØPWW

and thinking about operating CW:
"Do today what others won't,
so you can do tomorrow what others can't."
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Martin Sole-3

Re: TS520S and KPA500/KAT500

In reply to this post by Nr4c

I might be way off here but from what I recall these older vacuum tube
final amplifier radios have output that is variable in fixed carrier
modes such as CW but which almost always produce full output in SSB. You
might be able to reduce output by winding back the mic gain but it will
likely sound a bit "thin" and any loud noises over an above nominal
speech will produce more output. When you set the carrier or drive
control that only has an effect on the CW output, it doesn't set the SSB
output.

I recall a common way to limit the output of these radios in SSB mode
was to feed a dc voltage into the external ALC input of the rig in order
to have it reduce power.

Martin, HS0ZED

On 22/07/2018 08:59, Nr4c wrote:

> I want to use a Kenwood 520S with my KPA500 amp. I have the cable from the 520 Remote connector to amp PTT IN.
>
> I assume I should tune up radio with dummy load and then turn Drive down low and switch amp to Operate. Now turn up drive to get desire amp output.
>
> Now I ask, “What have I forgotten (or never knew about tube radios))?” Anything else I need to pay attention to or what am I missing?
>
> Sent from my iPhone
> ...nr4c. bill
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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]

Wes Stewart-2

Re: TS520S and KPA500/KAT500

According to the manual which is easily located online, the transmitter power is
adjustable.

If it wasn't, a 6dB pad would do wonders.

Wes N7WS

On 7/22/2018 6:05 AM, Martin Sole wrote:

> I might be way off here but from what I recall these older vacuum tube final
> amplifier radios have output that is variable in fixed carrier modes such as
> CW but which almost always produce full output in SSB. You might be able to
> reduce output by winding back the mic gain but it will likely sound a bit
> "thin" and any loud noises over an above nominal speech will produce more
> output. When you set the carrier or drive control that only has an effect on
> the CW output, it doesn't set the SSB output.
>
> I recall a common way to limit the output of these radios in SSB mode was to
> feed a dc voltage into the external ALC input of the rig in order to have it
> reduce power.
>
> Martin, HS0ZED
>
>
>
> On 22/07/2018 08:59, Nr4c wrote:
>> I want to use a Kenwood 520S with my KPA500 amp. I have the cable from the
>> 520 Remote connector to amp PTT IN.
>>
>> I assume I should tune up radio with dummy load and then turn Drive down low
>> and switch amp to Operate. Now turn up drive to get desire amp output.
>>
>> Now I ask, “What have I forgotten (or never knew about tube radios))?”
>> Anything else I need to pay attention to or what am I missing?
>>
>> Sent from my iPhone
>> ...nr4c. bill

Martin Sole-3

Re: TS520S and KPA500/KAT500

I had a look but couldn't see how you could do that. CW yes but couldn't
figure it out for SSB. Did you read it in the manual?

Martin, HS0ZED

On 22/07/2018 20:29, Wes Stewart wrote:

> According to the manual which is easily located online, the
> transmitter power is adjustable.
>
> If it wasn't, a 6dB pad would do wonders.
>
> Wes N7WS
>
>
> On 7/22/2018 6:05 AM, Martin Sole wrote:
>> I might be way off here but from what I recall these older vacuum
>> tube final amplifier radios have output that is variable in fixed
>> carrier modes such as CW but which almost always produce full output
>> in SSB. You might be able to reduce output by winding back the mic
>> gain but it will likely sound a bit "thin" and any loud noises over
>> an above nominal speech will produce more output. When you set the
>> carrier or drive control that only has an effect on the CW output, it
>> doesn't set the SSB output.
>>
>> I recall a common way to limit the output of these radios in SSB mode
>> was to feed a dc voltage into the external ALC input of the rig in
>> order to have it reduce power.
>>
>> Martin, HS0ZED
>>
>>
>>
>> On 22/07/2018 08:59, Nr4c wrote:
>>> I want to use a Kenwood 520S with my KPA500 amp. I have the cable
>>> from the 520 Remote connector to amp PTT IN.
>>>
>>> I assume I should tune up radio with dummy load and then turn Drive
>>> down low and switch amp to Operate. Now turn up drive to get desire
>>> amp output.
>>>
>>> Now I ask, “What have I forgotten (or never knew about tube
>>> radios))?” Anything else I need to pay attention to or what am I
>>> missing?
>>>
>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>> ...nr4c. bill
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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
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> Message delivered to [hidden email]

Wes Stewart-2

Re: TS520S and KPA500/KAT500

Page 13

On 7/22/2018 7:59 AM, Martin Sole wrote:

> I had a look but couldn't see how you could do that. CW yes but couldn't
> figure it out for SSB. Did you read it in the manual?
>
> Martin, HS0ZED
>
>
> On 22/07/2018 20:29, Wes Stewart wrote:
>> According to the manual which is easily located online, the transmitter power
>> is adjustable.
>>
>> If it wasn't, a 6dB pad would do wonders.
>>
>> Wes N7WS
>>

kstover

Re: TS520S and KPA500/KAT500

In reply to this post by Martin Sole-3

I have run a TS-520 on PSK and MFSK. Diddeling with the mic gain does nothing. I used the ALC out of the rig to control the power.
Here is my tune up procedure. SSB mode, tune the final stage for maximum output. Send a tone and adjust the power output by setting the ALC voltage from the 520. I normally tuned for 25W on an external meter. Max ALC voltage is -9V. I built a box, yes Altoids, with a 9V battery and a 10K linear taper pot. The pot MUST be linear taper. Then it's just proper wiring.

The point being you must tune the rig as if you were going to use SSB including setting the mic gain where you normally use it. Don't monkey with it. My PSK meter said I was doing -35dB. Lets see ya do that with a 12V final solid state rig.

R. Kevin Stover AC0H

ARRL, FISTS, SKCC, NAQCC.
“If it doesn’t work the first time you push the button it won’t work the 20th…Just stop.”

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email] <[hidden email]> On Behalf Of Martin Sole
Sent: Sunday, July 22, 2018 8:06 AM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] TS520S and KPA500/KAT500

I might be way off here but from what I recall these older vacuum tube final amplifier radios have output that is variable in fixed carrier modes such as CW but which almost always produce full output in SSB. You might be able to reduce output by winding back the mic gain but it will likely sound a bit "thin" and any loud noises over an above nominal speech will produce more output. When you set the carrier or drive control that only has an effect on the CW output, it doesn't set the SSB output.

I recall a common way to limit the output of these radios in SSB mode was to feed a dc voltage into the external ALC input of the rig in order to have it reduce power.

Martin, HS0ZED

On 22/07/2018 08:59, Nr4c wrote:

> I want to use a Kenwood 520S with my KPA500 amp. I have the cable from the 520 Remote connector to amp PTT IN.
>
> I assume I should tune up radio with dummy load and then turn Drive down low and switch amp to Operate. Now turn up drive to get desire amp output.
>
> Now I ask, “What have I forgotten (or never knew about tube radios))?” Anything else I need to pay attention to or what am I missing?
>
> Sent from my iPhone
> ...nr4c. bill
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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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Don Wilhelm

Re: TS520S and KPA500/KAT500

The Elecraft transceivers control power differently than all other
amateur transceivers, so methods that work with others do not
necessarily work with Elecraft gear.
Set the audio level correctly first and you will have no problem. For
soundcard data modes (I don't care which one), set the audio so you have
4 bars solid on the ALC meter and the 5th bar flashing. That is the "NO
ALC" point. Set the power with the power knob.
See the article on my website www.w3fpr.com.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 7/28/2018 1:11 PM, [hidden email] wrote:
> I have run a TS-520 on PSK and MFSK. Diddeling with the mic gain does nothing. I used the ALC out of the rig to control the power.
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