remoting KPA500 tuner at antenna base

[John Fritze]

I know this has been covered once before but I am wondering if anyone has
any further info on using the KPA500 remotely at a vertical antenna base?
The pictures from the previous discussion are no longer available.  I am
not seeing much in the archives.

So, here's my dilemma:

I have been using a MFJ tuner which has just crapped out. It figures as it
is poorly rated, but there is not much available for tuning higher power
installations (read: KPA500). So the question is: If I set up a KAT500 for
only antenna 1 and put it in automatic mode, to always power up if
connected to 12V will it automatically tune my vertical with no other
intervention from me? My installation is such that if I need to reprogram
it with newer firmware  I can just bring the tuner to the shack. I do not
need to change antennas, manually tune or flip between auto and manual or
byp.  Has anyone done this and how has it worked?  Has weather been an
issue if properly protected?

If this looks like it would work for me, does anyone have a god suggestion
for a weather proof box to mount it in?  It needs to survive the upstate NY
winters.  I am thinking Pelican or similar.

OK to reply off list too.

--
John Fritze Jr
K2QY
[hidden email]
AARA president 2013
ACACES secretary 2013
Albany County RACES Radio Officer
ARES ENY DEC Northern District
Hudson Div. Asst. Director
Twitter: @k2qy
401 261 4996 (cell)
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[ab2tc]

Hi,

There seems to be an uptick in interest in this concept recently (I have responded to several E-mails over the last few weeks). I have run my KAT500 remotely in Upstate NY for almost a year now with absolutely no problems due to temperature or weather. Here is a few pictures:

http://ab2tc.com/img_0124.jpg
http://ab2tc.com/img_0128.jpg
http://ab2tc.com/img_0179.jpg
http://ab2tc.com/img_0181.jpg

The enclosure is a feed container found here:

http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2753804&utm_source=googleproduct&utm_campaign=2753804&utm_medium=cse&mr:referralID=e69722b5-5062-11e2-8751-001b2166c2c0

Having it in full auto mode with auto turn on when power is applied *should* work. Are you mostly CW or mostly SSB? On SSB a potential problem is that the tuner may decide to start tuning while you are talking and that is *not* nice. I was running an MFJ tuner like that for about a year before I decided to put in a cable for the tune button so I could run it in semi automatic mode where it would never start tuning on its own. With the KAT500 I have had full remote control using a wireless serial server from Lantronix almost since day one:

http://www.lantronix.com/device-networking/external-device-servers/wibox.html

For a short while I was using an Ethernet connection, but it created a large number of birdies. Wireless has no interference below 30MHz whatsoever. Give it a try. You will enjoy it.

Knut - AB2TC

John Fritze wrote

I know this has been covered once before but I am wondering if anyone has
any further info on using the KPA500 remotely at a vertical antenna base?
The pictures from the previous discussion are no longer available.  I am
not seeing much in the archives.

So, here's my dilemma:

I have been using a MFJ tuner which has just crapped out. It figures as it
is poorly rated, but there is not much available for tuning higher power
installations (read: KPA500). So the question is: If I set up a KAT500 for
only antenna 1 and put it in automatic mode, to always power up if
connected to 12V will it automatically tune my vertical with no other
intervention from me? My installation is such that if I need to reprogram
it with newer firmware  I can just bring the tuner to the shack. I do not
need to change antennas, manually tune or flip between auto and manual or
byp.  Has anyone done this and how has it worked?  Has weather been an
issue if properly protected?

If this looks like it would work for me, does anyone have a god suggestion
for a weather proof box to mount it in?  It needs to survive the upstate NY
winters.  I am thinking Pelican or similar.

OK to reply off list too.

--
John Fritze Jr
K2QY
[hidden email]
AARA president 2013
ACACES secretary 2013
Albany County RACES Radio Officer
ARES ENY DEC Northern District
Hudson Div. Asst. Director
Twitter: @k2qy
401 261 4996 (cell)
<snip>