http://elecraft.85.s1.nabble.com/KPA500-and-KAT500-Ports-tp6574422p6576734.html
I've had a DX Engineering remote switch mounted on the tower that has operated without failure for over 5 years. One coax line into the shack to another switch that places the coax at the rig of choice. Easy and a pleasure to operate.
I have four antennas but use a remote antenna switch at the tower. This allows me to have one 300' run of heliax into the shack. So I only need one antenna output at present.
If you already have three or more coax runs coming into the shack, check out the antenna switch from Top Ten Devices or similar products from other manufacturers. They even offer a band decoder that will automatically switch to the correct antenna -- as do others.
Well I don't know too many hams with only two or less antennas. Reading Eric's response it appears as though the KAT-500 will NOT do the job for me and I have wasted 6 months waiting time. I was lead to believe the KAT-500 would have 3 antenna outputs minimum.
> The KAT500 as designed currently has two antenna outputs. The second
> one can be configured as balanced or unbalanced.
>
> More as we get closer to release.
>
> 73, Eric
>
> ---
> www.elecraft.com
>
>
> On 7/12/2011 9:24 AM, Johnny Siu wrote:
> > Hello Eric and others,
> >
> > Business is business. While KPA500+KAT500 should first look after
> > the
> elecrafters, they should be designed in a way to attract other
> non-elecraft radio users. In the circumstances, 2 exciters input +
> some 2-3 antenna outputs in KAT500 should be attractive enough to many
> radio users. Or, I would say this requirement is simply basic and has
> already been available for other reputable linear amplifiers.
> >
> > If so unfortunate that KAT500 only has one RF input + one antenna
> > output,
> I am afraid that I have to consider other alternatives.
> >
> > I can add whatever after market switches to provide the extra
> > antenna
> selection. However, it is just simply not convenient and another mess
> of cabling around the shack.
> >
> > TNX& 73,
> >
> >
> > Johnny VR2XMC
> >
> > 從︰ Eric Tichansky NO3M<
[hidden email]>
> > 收件人︰
[hidden email]
> > 傳送日期︰ 2011年07月13日 (週三) 12:04 AM
> > 主題︰ Re: [Elecraft] KPA500 and KAT500 Ports
> >
> > Another very reasonable switch for the "kit" builder:
> >
http://home.comcast.net/~kk1l/kk1l_2x6switch/> >
> > I trunk three of those from an old Sixpack for up to 18 antennas
> > (still have 4 unused slots!) and they've worked flawlessly.
> > Total cost of PCB, parts, and LMB Heeger aluminum box was perhaps
> > around $145.
> >
> > - eric NO3M
> >
> > On 07/12/11 11:01, WILLIS COOKE wrote:
> >> You know that Ameritron, Array Solutions and some others have
> >> remote
> antenna
> >> switches available at reasonable prices. Since these things take
> >> space,
> it is
> >> nice that they can be remote mounted, even outside in some cases.
> >> It
> seems a
> >> better solution to me than to add a kilobuck to the KPA500 price
> >> and
> make it the
> >> size of a small refrigerator when the requirements vary from person
> >> to
> person
> >> and the chance of pleasing more than a small portion of the users
> >> is
> small. I
> >> prefer the small box that is possible to take on a DXpedition or to
> Field Day
> >> and just endure the horrible pain of changing the coax when you
> >> change
> bands.
> >> The main thing that discourages me from buying an eight pack from
> >> Array
> is that
> >> I don't have enough antennas to keep it from being lonesome.
> >>
> >> Willis 'Cookie' Cooke
> >> K5EWJ& Trustee N5BPS, USS Cavalla, USS Stewart
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> ________________________________
> >> From: Eric<
[hidden email]>
> >> To:
[hidden email]
> >> Sent: Tue, July 12, 2011 4:57:10 AM
> >> Subject: [Elecraft] KPA500 and KAT500 Ports
> >>
> >> 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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