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Using KAT500 With Antenna Switch

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Ian Kahn, KM4IK

Using KAT500 With Antenna Switch

All,

In the next few weeks, I'll be ordering my KAT500. In my shack, to save
on feed line tangles, I use an MFJ 5-port remote antenna switch. Since
I only have one feed line into the shack, and thus will only use one
port on the KAT500, can I assume that I'll experience (expected) issues
with storing tuning settings in memory? By this, I mean that when I
switch back and forth between my dipole and my 5-band Hexx Beam, the
tuner will go through a tune cycle each time and not necessarily
remember the settings? This is what I expect, given that I plan to only
use one antenna port, but want to verify that my assumption is, indeed,
correct.

Thanks for the bandwidth.

73,

-- Ian
Ian Kahn, KM4IK
Roswell, GA EM74ua
[hidden email]
K3 #281, P3 #688
HRD v5.x/6.0 Test Team

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Doug VE3VS

Re: Using KAT500 With Antenna Switch

You might consider placing a simple two-port antenna switch in your shack, with two short jumpers to port one and port two on the KAT500. Then when you change from your dipole to the other antenna, it would take only a moment to set the feeline switch appropriately, and also select the required port of the KAT500. Once tuned initially for each antenna on its own port, a longer re-tuning should not be needed.
73, Doug - VE3VS

Don Wilhelm-4

Re: Using KAT500 With Antenna Switch

In reply to this post by Ian Kahn, KM4IK

Ian,

That is correct. Because of that situation, you might want to consider
another coax run to the shack, one for the HexBeam and another for the
dipole, and let the KAT500 do the switching. That way the KAT500 will
remember the (per band segment) settings for each antenna - once it is
tuned for each band segment, there is no need for re-tuning.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 1/26/2013 5:54 PM, Ian Kahn - Ham wrote:

> All,
>
> In the next few weeks, I'll be ordering my KAT500. In my shack, to
> save on feed line tangles, I use an MFJ 5-port remote antenna switch.
> Since I only have one feed line into the shack, and thus will only use
> one port on the KAT500, can I assume that I'll experience (expected)
> issues with storing tuning settings in memory? By this, I mean that
> when I switch back and forth between my dipole and my 5-band Hexx
> Beam, the tuner will go through a tune cycle each time and not
> necessarily remember the settings? This is what I expect, given that I
> plan to only use one antenna port, but want to verify that my
> assumption is, indeed, correct.
>
> Thanks for the bandwidth.
>
> 73,
>
> -- Ian
> Ian Kahn, KM4IK
> Roswell, GA EM74ua
> [hidden email]
> K3 #281, P3 #688
> HRD v5.x/6.0 Test Team
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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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Jim Brown-10

Re: Using KAT500 With Antenna Switch

On 1/26/2013 3:08 PM, Don Wilhelm wrote:
> Because of that situation, you might want to consider another coax run
> to the shack, one for the HexBeam and another for the dipole, and let
> the KAT500 do the switching. That way the KAT500 will remember the
> (per band segment) settings for each antenna - once it is tuned for
> each band segment, there is no need for re-tuning.

Yes, that would be a very good move -- IF you use more than one antenna
on the same band. NOT particularly helpful if you don't.

For example, I have a 6-port switch that automatically connects the
right one of six single-band antennas to one port of my KAT500, with
control of that switch by a band decoder. I run my SteppIR direct to
another KAT500 port. Since the KAT500 always sees the same switched
antennas on each band, it remembers the right settings and all is well.

73, Jim K9YC

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Dick Dievendorff

Re: Using KAT500 With Antenna Switch

In reply to this post by Ian Kahn, KM4IK

The KAT500 remembers tuner settings by frequency ("band segment" or "bin")
and antenna connector.

If you have five 80 meter antennas remotely switched, and they're all
different impedances, then you should expect some searching.

At the other extreme, if your 5-port remote switch selects between five
monobanders and that switching occurs before you transmit on a new band,
then the KAT500 sees the one antenna connector as a single multi-band
antenna. Tuner settings are located by frequency and antenna connector, and
as long as you choose the same antenna each time you transmit on a given
band, then you should expect quick "memory recall" tunes.

73 de Dick, K6KR

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email]
[mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Ian Kahn - Ham
Sent: Saturday, January 26, 2013 2:54 PM
To: Elecraft Reflector
Subject: [Elecraft] Using KAT500 With Antenna Switch

All,

In the next few weeks, I'll be ordering my KAT500. In my shack, to save on
feed line tangles, I use an MFJ 5-port remote antenna switch. Since I only
have one feed line into the shack, and thus will only use one port on the
KAT500, can I assume that I'll experience (expected) issues with storing
tuning settings in memory? By this, I mean that when I switch back and
forth between my dipole and my 5-band Hexx Beam, the tuner will go through a
tune cycle each time and not necessarily remember the settings? This is
what I expect, given that I plan to only use one antenna port, but want to
verify that my assumption is, indeed, correct.

Thanks for the bandwidth.

73,

-- Ian
Ian Kahn, KM4IK
Roswell, GA EM74ua
[hidden email]
K3 #281, P3 #688
HRD v5.x/6.0 Test Team

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N5GE

Re: Using KAT500 With Antenna Switch

I'm using the KAT500 here with a multi-band NVIS loop for MARS on
port one and several other antennas on port 2 which has switched
antennae on it. Some of the antennae on port 2 are in the same range
as the MARS antenna, but the KAT500 very smoothly handles the tuning
correctly on both ports.

Couldn't ask for a better tuner.

Thanks to Dick and the rest of the folks at Elecraft for another fine
product.

73,
Tom
Amateur Radio Operator N5GE
ARRL Lifetime Member
QCWA Lifetime Member

On Sun, 27 Jan 2013 06:57:19 -0800, "Dick Dievendorff"
<[hidden email]> wrote:

>The KAT500 remembers tuner settings by frequency ("band segment" or "bin")
>and antenna connector.
>
>If you have five 80 meter antennas remotely switched, and they're all
>different impedances, then you should expect some searching.
>
>At the other extreme, if your 5-port remote switch selects between five
>monobanders and that switching occurs before you transmit on a new band,
>then the KAT500 sees the one antenna connector as a single multi-band
>antenna. Tuner settings are located by frequency and antenna connector, and
>as long as you choose the same antenna each time you transmit on a given
>band, then you should expect quick "memory recall" tunes.
>
>73 de Dick, K6KR
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: [hidden email]
>[mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Ian Kahn - Ham
>Sent: Saturday, January 26, 2013 2:54 PM
>To: Elecraft Reflector
>Subject: [Elecraft] Using KAT500 With Antenna Switch
>
>All,
>
>In the next few weeks, I'll be ordering my KAT500. In my shack, to save on
>feed line tangles, I use an MFJ 5-port remote antenna switch. Since I only
>have one feed line into the shack, and thus will only use one port on the
>KAT500, can I assume that I'll experience (expected) issues with storing
>tuning settings in memory? By this, I mean that when I switch back and
>forth between my dipole and my 5-band Hexx Beam, the tuner will go through a
>tune cycle each time and not necessarily remember the settings? This is
>what I expect, given that I plan to only use one antenna port, but want to
>verify that my assumption is, indeed, correct.
>
>Thanks for the bandwidth.
>
>73,
>
>-- Ian
>Ian Kahn, KM4IK
>Roswell, GA EM74ua
>[hidden email]
>K3 #281, P3 #688
>HRD v5.x/6.0 Test Team
>
>______________________________________________________________
>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
>
>______________________________________________________________
>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

Amateur Radio Operator N5GE

Ian Kahn, KM4IK

Re: Using KAT500 With Antenna Switch

In reply to this post by Jim Brown-10

Thanks, everyone, for the feedback. Perhaps a bit of extra explanation
is order, so I make sure I'm getting/understanding the right info:

1. My father-in-law and I share the same shack, each with our own
complete setups. Since we both have transceivers, tuners, amps,
etc., running more coax into the shack is to be avoided. It just
gets too messy, and we want to avoid any possibility of
interference, other than what we already know about.
2. I use the Hexx-Beam on 20-10; I use the dipole on 40-80. I don't
use the dipole above 40m, but it is capable of 80-10m operation.

So, if I understand the comments correctly, as long as I switch antennas
at the remote switch before injecting RF into the path, the KAT 500
should be able to detect which antenna I'm on and use stored-memory
settings, thus resulting in a quick tuning cycle, after the initial
tuning setups.

If I am misunderstanding the comments, someone please correct me.
Whatever the answer is won't put me off my purchase; I just want to make
sure I have a correct understanding of what will be going on.

Thanks and 73,

--Ian

Ian Kahn, KM4IK
Roswell, GA EM74ua
[hidden email]
K3 #281, P3 #688
HRD v5.x/6.0 Test Team

On 1/26/2013 8:40 PM, Jim Brown wrote:

> On 1/26/2013 3:08 PM, Don Wilhelm wrote:
>> Because of that situation, you might want to consider another coax
>> run to the shack, one for the HexBeam and another for the dipole, and
>> let the KAT500 do the switching. That way the KAT500 will remember
>> the (per band segment) settings for each antenna - once it is tuned
>> for each band segment, there is no need for re-tuning.
>
> Yes, that would be a very good move -- IF you use more than one
> antenna on the same band. NOT particularly helpful if you don't.
>
> For example, I have a 6-port switch that automatically connects the
> right one of six single-band antennas to one port of my KAT500, with
> control of that switch by a band decoder. I run my SteppIR direct to
> another KAT500 port. Since the KAT500 always sees the same switched
> antennas on each band, it remembers the right settings and all is well.
>
> 73, Jim K9YC
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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