*I know your issue is resolved* but this MIGHT help some people using an
IC7300 with the KAT.
I had a "kinda" similar problem where the ATU would always tune if I
changed bands. I had programmed the computer to send the new freq, then
a "memory tune" to the tuner if I switched bands, so I could always
"instant QSY" but it turns out there was a setting on the RIG that was
telling rig to activate the tuner to tune every time I QSYed more than a
certain amount. It was called "PTT Start" and was turned "ON" which
means if frequency moves more than 1% then tune next time PTT is
pushed. It took lots of frustration to finally find this issue. After
turning that off, the KAT happily memory tunes to the frequency I send
it and I can call a station with no tuning.
Tom N4LSJ
On 1/1/24 19:46, Jeff Wandling wrote:
Thanks. That's good detail. I'll recheck the manual once more. I made a
common mistake of assuming too much and not reading enough. I have tremendous
respect and faith in the engineering put into the system of the Elecraft line..
That's a long way of saying, It works brilliantly.
I just want to avoid a mistake in where the ATU-500 and KPA-500 are trying to
resolve a tune whilst the CW spews forth.
This comment and the prior comment about the Kenwood aspect (and related
command-set mentioned) are interesting. Thanks.
Aside from all that -- when folks here use the "SWR Thresholds" and use the
K3+KAT+KPA chain via Aux Serial data sharing -- what do you use for the three metrics in
SWR Thresholds?
There's a KPA Inhibit SWR, Re-tune SWR and Bypass SWR value. The recommended
values in the manuals seem frightfully high for my nerves to handle.
Any advice on *that* would be welcomed.
HNY, Thanks.
---
73, Jeff W7BRS
https://blog.w7brs.com
On Monday, January 1st, 2024 at 4:37 PM, G4GNX <g4...@g4gnx.com> wrote:
AFAICR the manual says that if an AUX cable is connected between the KAT500 and
the radio, the KAT500 will follow any frequency/band change and if a tuning
solution has already been stored for that frequency/band it will be employed
before the radio goes into TX. In other words, whilst the radio is still in RX
mode.
However, elsewhere in the manual it says that when the KAT500 receives RF, it
will also pickup the nearest tuning solution, which is a fail-safe action in
case the KAT500 does not receive data from the radio, for any reason.
This is only if the radio is a K3, K3S or K4 and if a KPA500 is in use, RF from
it is sent to the KAT500 but the AUX cable must be connected AFTER the KAT500.
i.e. K3———KAT500———KPA500.
I make no comment about using the KAT500 with a Kenwood (or other) rig.
73,
Alan - G4GNX
South Coast UK
Elecraft K4D / KPA500 / KAT500 / IC-9700
On 1 Jan 2024, at 21:56, Andy Durbin a.dur...@msn.com wrote:
"> How does your KAT500 know what frequency to use? Does it have a serial data
interface or does it depend only on the internal RF counter?
W7BRS> AUX cable between K3 to KAT-500 and KAT-500 to KPA-500. They are in
serial communication per Elecraft protcol(s), whatever those are.
What KAT500 mode (AUTO, MAN, BYP) is selected when you observe this anomaly?
W7BRS> Per manual for KAT-500/KPA-500 the stated "nominal" mode is MAN. So I leave
the KAT-500 in MAN after tuning the antenna to 1.1."
Your problem sounded a bit like the conflict between serial data frequency and RF count
when operating near a "bin" boundary. However, my only experience with that
problem is with Kenwood rigs using serial data to provide frequency to KAT500. I have no
experience with AUXBus.
For Kenwood owners one solution was to use the FDT command to desensitize the
RF counter so serial data frequency always had priority. The command
description implies it is equally applicable to AUXBus so may be worth
experimenting.
"FDT Frequency Counter Distance for Retune
GET format: FDT;
SET/RESPONSE format: FDT nn; where nn is the distance, in kHz, between the
current ATU frequency and the most recent TX frequency count for the ATU to
change ATU settings to the new frequency. The value is between 0 (interpreted
as the default of 10 kHz) thru 65535, which disables ATU tuning based on
frequency count. This is intended for customers that prefer the KAT500 only
follow the frequency provided by a serial port command or the K3/K3S/K4 AUXBUS,
or select a minimum distance between current ATU frequency and a newly counted
frequency.
FDT was introduced in firmware version 01.99."
Andy, k3wyc
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