Posted by
WD6DBM on
Jul 12, 2011; 9:57am
URL: http://elecraft.85.s1.nabble.com/KPA500-and-KAT500-Ports-tp6574422.html
Elecrafters, Hear My Plea:
The K3 has two tx antenna ports available. It seems logical to me that the KPA500 would have two (output) as well. But it doesn't. I would like to see the KAT500 have two antenna ports (unbalanced) to make up for this. Running the 6m output to another coax makes sense--most (all?) band decoders and relay boxes don't handle 6m, and the lack of a second output port on the KPA500 makes it difficult to manage the 6m capability of the K3 cleanly. The KRC2 will handle the band data, but does not have a compatible relay box, manual operation, or lights to tell you what it is doing.
Right now my K3 sends HF to ANT1, that goes to an HF amp and to a TopTen band decoder and relay box. Six meters goes to ANT2 and a separate 6m amp and 6m antenna.
This gives me fully auto bandswitching on HF and 6m, save for 60m where the TopTen decoder does not recognize 0000 as a valid address.
With my already ordered KPA500
(selling both tube amps), I will have to manually switch 6m. I don't like this not because I am lazy, but the older I get the more stoopid I get and its just a matter of time before I tx into a near-infinite SWR. Knowing me, I'll do it repeatedly until something blows. Maybe multiple somethings.
I'll have to rely on the KPA500 and K3 saving themselves. Not good.
In my squandered pre-K3 life, i put key lockout relays and a sequencer for 2m EME in my system to make it failsafe and STILL blowed up the masthead preamp more times than I can count.
In my opinion, the KAT500 needs two unbalanced outputs, bandmapped, for nice tight integration with the K3, to keep things as elegant as possible. I have no opinion on balanced output(s).
No flames please. This is just my opinion--I could be wrong.
73 Eric WD6DBM
K1, KX1, K2, K3, P3, XG3, all mini modules, Elecraft Kool-Aid I-V push STAT!
KPA500 still a mere glimmer at Elecraft
Sent from my &$@!? iPhone
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