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Re: Antenna switching question

Posted by Richard Ferch-2 on Feb 22, 2018; 7:59pm
URL: http://elecraft.85.s1.nabble.com/Antenna-switching-question-tp7638399p7638409.html

The KAT500 remembers its settings for each band/port combination. You can
connect several antennas to a given port through external switches, but if
two of those antennas are ever used on the same band, there is a danger
that the KAT500's settings that work with one of the antennas will be wrong
for the other antenna that you use on the same band/port combination,
requiring the KAT500 to retune every time you switch between those
antennas. To avoid this situation, you should try to make sure to the
extent possible that on any band where you use more than one antenna, those
antennas are connected to different ports on the KAT500.

Since you have three different antennas that are used on 20 and 15, you
should try to ensure that those three antennas are connected to separate
ports on the KAT500. That means that the LPDA, the vertical and the dipole
should all be on separate ports. In your case, once you have done that the
only antennas you have left are single-band antennas that you do not use on
any band that is shared with any other antenna, so you can put them on
whichever port you want.

If you are likely to be switching back and forth between two antennas
because their bands are often open at the same time, it might be best to
separate those antennas to minimize the number of times you need to operate
a manual antenna switch. That suggests putting the 160m inverted L on the
same port as the LPDA, to minimize the amount of switching back and forth
between 160 and 80/75 (where you use the other two antennas). The 6m
antenna can go anywhere; wherever you are least often likely to have to
switch back and forth, e.g. on the same port as the dipole.

73,
Rich VE3KI

WS1L wrote:

When I build the KAT500, what is the best use of the 3 ports available to
maximize it's tuning algorithm?  In other words, how can I maximize the
likelihood that a band change or QSY will result in a rapid tune due to
prior memorization, versus a somewhat longer full tune?
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