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Re: KPA500 and KAT500 Ports

Posted by Brendan Minish on Jul 14, 2011; 9:02am
URL: http://elecraft.85.s1.nabble.com/KPA500-and-KAT500-Ports-tp6574422p6582403.html

1/ Tuner can select only for the output port in use, this leaves 'the
other choice' available for other radios. If the tuner is currently on
antenna port 2 then it does not drive the outputs associated with
antenna port1

2/ Tuner can remember previous tunings per selected antenna driver
(rather than per port)

5/ with an input for interlocking logic the KRC500 (& thus the
KPA500/K3) could be made aware when no antenna is selected and select a
a second choice or even inhibit TX

4/ Space savings, the KRC2 has buttons and features that are not
required 'just for selecting antennas'  

6/ more reasons to buy the KAT500 ;-)


The KRC2 still does not support 6m with the K3 and much of the 'glue' to
make this happen is going to be already in the KAT500 as it is already
going to have to decode the band and band segment that the K3 is tuned
to  

73
Brendan EI6IZ
 



On Wed, 2011-07-13 at 17:01 -0700, Eric Swartz - WA6HHQ, Elecraft wrote:

> Why not just use two KRC2s? They are complete and shipping. :-)
>
> 73, Eric
>
> ---
> www.elecraft.com
>
>
> On 7/13/2011 4:22 PM, Brendan Minish wrote:
> > I think that 2 Antenna ports on the KAT500 is a good fit, after all 2
> > ports is what the K3 (+ATU) has so many of us have configured our
> > stations to work with this configuration
> >
> > I would suggest however that there be an (optional?) module (s) for the
> > KAT500 that provides for sink or source outputs, one per band (plus a
> > few more?) that can be further configured via software to to clever
> > things (like selecting 2 different antennas for 80/75m, or multiple
> > bands on one antenna )
> > It would be even nicer if this was duplicated for the second antenna
> > output either in the same module or as a second user installable module.
> >
> > These would be driven by the auxbus data that will presumably be fed to
> > the KANT500 and decoded by it's CPU anyway.
> > An input (per antenna port) that can be used to indicate to the KAT500
> > that the requested antenna is not available might also be a good idea so
> > that the KRC500 can then select the second choice on the other port
> > (complete with recalling the last used tunings for the secondary ) would
> > also be nice.
> >
> > Think of this as the functionality of (2x ?) KRC2's built in and it
> > would make for superb versatility since the KRC500 could then be
> > configured to automate pretty much any external automatic antenna
> > switching arrangement.
> >
> > I don't know if this is practical to fit into the box but it sure would
> > be nice.
> > The KRC2 may already form the basis for much of the required
> > circuitry/firmware.
> > The Sink/source outputs could be selected sink/source by internal jumper
> > and the output could be on DB15 or DIN connectors to minimise rear panel
> > real estate. (perhaps with pre-made breakout cable supplied )
> > Another option might be to have the 'Glue' internal to the KPA500 and
> > the Sink/source drivers in a 'dongle' to conserve internal space and
> > provide for easier breakout.
> >
> > 73
> > Brendan EI6IZ
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > On Tue, 2011-07-12 at 15:34 -0700, Eric Swartz - WA6HHQ, Elecraft wrote:
> >> Hi Gary,
> >>
> >> Having 4-5 RG8 antenna cables, plus the input cable, hanging out the
> >> back of the desktop ATU is both likely to pull the ATU off the desk, and
> >> will easily not fit in the box size we are planning. It also adds a lot
> >> of complexity and cost to the basic ATU in order to accommodate more
> >> connections with the needed isolation etc. We certainly do not want to
> >> price the ATU out of the range of most hams, or make it too large.
> >>
> >> Many of us use manual or automatic switches external to the amp / tuner
> >> to provide these functions.
> >>
> >> A much better solution for those needing more than two auto-selected
> >> antennas is to use an external relay switch box, controlled by the
> >> radio. This has the advantage of getting the cables, clutter, and
> >> switching network off the desktop and either under the table or outside.
> >> There are certainly a number of external antenna switches out there that
> >> can do this, but if we offered something that was tightly integrated
> >> with the K3 (and KPA500/KAT500) as a product, what features would be
> >> desirable? (Number of antennas, rigs inputs, switching options etc.)
> >>
> >> 73, Eric WA6HHQ
> >>
> >> ---
> >> www.elecraft.com
> >>
> >>
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--
73
Brendan EI6IZ

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