Re: [Elecraft] KPA-500 Line-Voltage Issues
I had to add a soft-start relay to my Astron RS-70A power supply to keep it from popping a 16a breaker when using it on 50 Hz. But otherwise it works fine with the transformer wired for 240v. 73, Victor, 4X6GP Rehovot, Israel Formerly K2VCO CWops no. 5 http://www.qsl.net/k2vco/ On 07-Jul-2022 01:01, Josh Fiden wrote: Transformer core can saturate if line frequency is too low. Except I’d be certain KPA-500 uses the same transformer for export to 50Hz countries so your variations are fine. Many years ago when I was young & dumb discovered this the hard way. Customers would take products with 120v/60Hz line xfrs and run them in Europe 240V/50Hz with a step-down transformer. They would saturate, overheat & pop fuses. 73, Josh W6XU Sent from my mobile device On Jul 6, 2022, at 12:51 PM, Dick Bingham wrote: Greetings everyone I hesitate to use my KPA-500 here at this CN98pi QTH. LIne frequency here varies daily between 58.xx-to-61.yy Hz __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to k2vco@gmail.com __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] COM port problems
Back when I needed a lot of serial ports I used those USB to RS232 by Digi and they solved a lot of problems. Now most of my rigs have USB interfaces, if not ethernet, and those issues are in the past. And the rigs have the sound card built in and it gets more simple. Used to have 2 or 3 rigs, several FSK interfaces, rotors and I don't remember what all run in through RS232 ports. But the main thing was you could go in and assign any port number available to any port. When you had dozen or more active at once it was a lot to keep track of. On Wed, Jul 6, 2022, 10:48 Gerry Hull wrote: > Great info, Dave. Might be a little technical for some users. > > The #1 problem most hams have is they plug their USB-To-Serial > adapters into different USB ports, and the COM port number changes. > Not only that, Windows leaves the old port number reserved much of the > time. > > I have an in-depth blog post which talks about this in layman's terms on my > blog. See > > https://blog.remote.radio/2020/11/automation-in-amateur-radio-rs-232-for.html > > As explained in that blog article, there is a way to solve this problem. > Digi, a company who has been in the business for many decades, has a > series of USB-to-Serial adapters > called Edgeport, from 1 to 16 ports. The great thing about Edgeport > devices is they have a driver and utility. If you use that, the COM port > number is associated with > the BOX, not where it is plugged in. > > Edgeport devices are quite expensive when new, but can often be found on > the surplus market (ebay, etc). They have been used to do baudot by hams > for decades. I use them all over the place. > I have 4,8, and 16-port USB-to-serials that are surplus to my needs if > anyone is interested. > > They solve the RS-232 port issue every time! > > 73, > > Gerry Hull, *W1VE *Hancock, NH USA > CWOps #191 | YCCC | CanAm Contest Coalition | Maritime Contest Club > RadioSport Manitoba | ARRL | RAC | QCWA > ARCluster dxc.w1ve.com | Telnet or telnet:7373 access | RBN direct feeds > > > > On Sun, Jul 3, 2022 at 7:04 AM Dave B via Elecraft < > elecraft@mailman.qth.net> > wrote: > > > FYI... > > > > Windows users, can use these utilities to find out what is/was connected > > to their PC's by USB etc... > > > > USBview: A Microsoft (was System Internals who MS bought) tool. > > The easiest way to find it is here:- https://ftdichip.com/utilities/ > > "Microsoft USBView - USB Connection Viewer" > > There is a link to download a zipfile that contains it:- > > https://ftdichip.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/usbview.zip > > That contains a single stand-alone exe file that is the utility. Put it > > in a folder of it's own, and create a shortcut to it for your desktop. > > > > (Also a link to a Linux version, that does work, but needs compiling > > from source, and running using sudo as it needs elevated rights to read > > the running configuration files to get the information to display.) > > > > > > Another similar tool is USBDview > > https://www.nirsoft.net/utils/usb_devices_view.html > > That shows a much more detailed list of what Windows knows about, that > > is, any USB device that was ever connected since windows was initially > > installed, regardless of if it was ever used! > > > > You can also delete instances of old / defunct devices easily with this > > very useful tool. > > (Some AV tools say it's suspect or malicious. Use VirusTotal.com to > > verify if it (or anything else) is bad, on a file by file, or webpage > > basis. ) > > > > > > Note that if for whatever reason Windows (or Linux) re-enumerates > > things, the linkage between a physical device and it's COM port number > > can (and often does!) change. Seemingly at the will of some minor deity > > somewhere... That of course, will break any software that expects some > > specific device to be at a specific COM port. > > > > Windows has the means to "Fix" that. (Known to work up to Win10, that I > > have personally tested it on.) > > Find those details here:- > > https://sourceforge.net/p/fldigi/wiki/windows_com_howto/ > > I wrote much of that after hours of "fun" some years ago... As above, > > it works well with Win-10. > > > > > > For Linux users, look up and explore the world of "udev rules". But... > > They are only really easy to setup, if a USB device has a unique > > "something" in it's USB descriptor, that the OS uses to identify it. > > Such as a Serial Number. FTDI devices have unique sn's, but Prolific, > > SiLabs and others sadly do not. So, it gets funky if you have several > > of the same type of device that all "look the same" to the OS. > > > > (Newer genuine FTDI devices also have the ability to have that serial > > number (and some other settings) re-programmed! Fakes seem to take the > > reprogramming, but the new data does not "stick". Don't ask how I found > > that out!) > > > > However, you can use the "connection path" between the OS and the > > Device, as a deciding factor, but then you
Re: [Elecraft] COM port problems
I've used a few of the Gearmo USB to RS-232 adapters, and they also seem to hold their COM port assignments constant (on any one given machine, of course). They just use the standard FTDI chipset with no special drivers. Not sure how they do it, but it works. 73... Randy, W8FN On 7/6/2022 11:46 AM, Gerry Hull wrote: As explained in that blog article, there is a way to solve this problem. Digi, a company who has been in the business for many decades, has a series of USB-to-Serial adapters called Edgeport, from 1 to 16 ports. The great thing about Edgeport devices is they have a driver and utility. If you use that, the COM port number is associated with the BOX, not where it is plugged in __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] [FS] K2 For Sale
Sold. Thanks for the interest. -mike/w1mt On Wed, Jul 6, 2022 at 7:07 PM Michael Harnage wrote: > > Pending already. > > -mike/w1mt > > On Wed, Jul 6, 2022 at 6:57 PM Michael Harnage wrote: > > > > For sale: My old faithful, Elecraft K2 serial #17xx. I bought this > > radio already built from another ham in 2005. > > > > Elecraft K2 radio [2.01H 1.02] > > KNB2 noise blanker > > KAF2 audio filter > > KAT2 antenna tuner [F1.03] > > KBT2 rechargeable battery option - battery not included - went dead > > years ago and never replaced it - everything else still in place for > > this option. > > > > I've put a 95SQ015 low drop diode in at D10 and have done the > > "Alternative Wiring for the K2's AF GAIN Control" mod. > > [https://ftp.elecraft.com/K2/Mod%20Notes%20Alerts/K2_AF_gain_app_note.pdf] > > > > I've only ever done CW with it so I don't even know how the mic jack is > > wired. > > > > It's a classic and I'll probably regret selling it at some point, but > > I have two KX3's now and that kinda makes the K2 jealous. > > > > How about $450 shipped (US). Manuals and everything K2 related will > > ship with the radio. > > > > -mike/w1mt __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
[Elecraft] Good News at Elecraft Service
I sent my K3s in for service last week. It was received at Watsonville last Thursday. I received an email today that it had been repaired and was ready to be shipped back to me. That is 3 working day turn around. I don't think they can improve that very much. Thank you Elecraft! __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] [FS] K2 For Sale
Pending already. -mike/w1mt On Wed, Jul 6, 2022 at 6:57 PM Michael Harnage wrote: > > For sale: My old faithful, Elecraft K2 serial #17xx. I bought this > radio already built from another ham in 2005. > > Elecraft K2 radio [2.01H 1.02] > KNB2 noise blanker > KAF2 audio filter > KAT2 antenna tuner [F1.03] > KBT2 rechargeable battery option - battery not included - went dead > years ago and never replaced it - everything else still in place for > this option. > > I've put a 95SQ015 low drop diode in at D10 and have done the > "Alternative Wiring for the K2's AF GAIN Control" mod. > [https://ftp.elecraft.com/K2/Mod%20Notes%20Alerts/K2_AF_gain_app_note.pdf] > > I've only ever done CW with it so I don't even know how the mic jack is wired. > > It's a classic and I'll probably regret selling it at some point, but > I have two KX3's now and that kinda makes the K2 jealous. > > How about $450 shipped (US). Manuals and everything K2 related will > ship with the radio. > > -mike/w1mt __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
[Elecraft] [FS] K2 For Sale
For sale: My old faithful, Elecraft K2 serial #17xx. I bought this radio already built from another ham in 2005. Elecraft K2 radio [2.01H 1.02] KNB2 noise blanker KAF2 audio filter KAT2 antenna tuner [F1.03] KBT2 rechargeable battery option - battery not included - went dead years ago and never replaced it - everything else still in place for this option. I've put a 95SQ015 low drop diode in at D10 and have done the "Alternative Wiring for the K2's AF GAIN Control" mod. [https://ftp.elecraft.com/K2/Mod%20Notes%20Alerts/K2_AF_gain_app_note.pdf] I've only ever done CW with it so I don't even know how the mic jack is wired. It's a classic and I'll probably regret selling it at some point, but I have two KX3's now and that kinda makes the K2 jealous. How about $450 shipped (US). Manuals and everything K2 related will ship with the radio. -mike/w1mt __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] KPA-500 Line-Voltage Issues
and, though not always well known, ferrite cores in transformers for feeding antennas can also saturate with excess RF power. The resulting RF din can be discouraging to neighbor hams and folks watching TV. 73, Fred ["Skip"] K6DGW Sparks NV DM09dn Washoe County Josh Fiden wrote on 7/6/2022 3:01 PM: Transformer core can saturate if line frequency is too low. Except I’d be certain KPA-500 uses the same transformer for export to 50Hz countries so your variations are fine. Many years ago when I was young & dumb discovered this the hard way. Customers would take products with 120v/60Hz line xfrs and run them in Europe 240V/50Hz with a step-down transformer. They would saturate, overheat & pop fuses. 73, Josh W6XU Sent from my mobile device -- This email has been checked for viruses by AVG. https://www.avg.com __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] KPA-500 Line-Voltage Issues
Transformer core can saturate if line frequency is too low. Except I’d be certain KPA-500 uses the same transformer for export to 50Hz countries so your variations are fine. Many years ago when I was young & dumb discovered this the hard way. Customers would take products with 120v/60Hz line xfrs and run them in Europe 240V/50Hz with a step-down transformer. They would saturate, overheat & pop fuses. 73, Josh W6XU Sent from my mobile device > On Jul 6, 2022, at 12:51 PM, Dick Bingham wrote: > > Greetings everyone > > I hesitate to use my KPA-500 here at this CN98pi QTH. LIne frequency here > varies daily between 58.xx-to-61.yy Hz __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] KPA500 Voltage range?
Yup. That's exactly what's happening here - except the numbers are a notch or two lower. 73 Lyn, W0LEN From: Andy Durbin [mailto:a.dur...@msn.com] Sent: Wednesday, July 06, 2022 2:58 PM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net; l...@lnainc.com Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KPA500 Voltage range? "I though Elecraft wanted HV to be kept at or above 60 to avoid unacceptable IMD. No sure where I found that but don't think I imagined it. " The problem with making measurements is that one may not like the results. It's a nice warm afternoon here in Glendale AZ and I expect every air conditioner in the street is running. Line voltage is down to 116.4 and loaded HV is well below 60 now. 1:13:59.663 KPA Mon frozen TX freq = 50314500 Hz Drv pwr = 027 W Pwr meter = 12 dots KAT SWR = 1.18 KPA SWR = 01.2 PA voltage = 56.8 V PA current = 13.7 A PA input = 778 W RF out = 495 W PA diss = 283 W PA effic = 63% Andy, k3wyc __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] KPA500 Voltage range?
"I though Elecraft wanted HV to be kept at or above 60 to avoid unacceptable IMD. No sure where I found that but don't think I imagined it. " The problem with making measurements is that one may not like the results. It's a nice warm afternoon here in Glendale AZ and I expect every air conditioner in the street is running. Line voltage is down to 116.4 and loaded HV is well below 60 now. 1:13:59.663 KPA Mon frozen TX freq = 50314500 Hz Drv pwr = 027 W Pwr meter = 12 dots KAT SWR = 1.18 KPA SWR = 01.2 PA voltage = 56.8 V PA current = 13.7 A PA input = 778 W RF out = 495 W PA diss = 283 W PA effic = 63% Andy, k3wyc __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
[Elecraft] KPA-500 Line-Voltage Issues
Greetings everyone I hesitate to use my KPA-500 here at this CN98pi QTH. LIne frequency here varies daily between 58.xx-to-61.yy Hz and line voltages vary between 110-to-130VAC due to the limitations of the governor controlling the communities 200KW hydro system (Chelan County PUD remote facility). When the refrigerator motor 'groans' I know the line frequency is approaching 58-plus Hz and the system may crash if the auxiliary 75KW diesel generator is too slow to pickup an instantaneous heavy load !! I do NOT want to chance destroying my KPA-500 here, so only use it when at CN97uj where line frequency variations amount to +/- 0.001Hz as displayed in the PUD's main control room ! 73 Dick/w7wkr === Message: 16 Date: Wed, 6 Jul 2022 12:53:12 + From: Andy Durbin To: "elecraft@mailman.qth.net" Subject: [Elecraft] KPA500 Voltage range? Message-ID: < co3pr13mb57363eeb535b89c6bc1e203d8c...@co3pr13mb5736.namprd13.prod.outlook.com > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" "My kpa500 has the taps set to provide 71-72 VDC no load and drops to 60 at 500 watts." Do you know how your house line input voltage varies? Mine can be as high as 122 and as low as 118 and the local transformer is less than 50 ft from my house. I see unloaded KPA500 voltage over 80 with tap selected to keep loaded KPA500 voltage at or above 60. If your loaded voltage does not drop below 60 for all bands, all antenna loads, and all used output powers, I see no reason to change the tap. Band, loading, and power output all have a very significant influence on efficiency, PA current, and voltage drop in the PA HV supply. Spot check values: Line voltage 122.0 Unloaded HV 81.4 TX 500 W, 6 m band, SWR 1.15, HV 60.3 Andy, k3wyc __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] KPA500 Voltage range?
"Seems a little low, but it's happy." I though Elecraft wanted HV to be kept at or above 60 to avoid unacceptable IMD. No sure where I found that but don't think I imagined it. Anyone have a reference? Andy, k3wyc __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] PRE/ATTN Button on K4D
Hi Roy, > Roy Morris, Jr. wrote: > > If the PRE/ATTN button is turned OFF, does this mean the receive AUTO > preamp/attenuation is also turned off even if it is showing ON in the menu? No. The menu setting is separate. If automatic control is enabled in the menu, and a very large signal is present that could exceed ADC range, then the K4 may *reduce* gain by backing off the preamp setting and/or adding small amounts of attenuation. After the problematic signal has disappeared, plus a few seconds, any automatic changes to gain will be reversed out, leaving you back at your original settings. In practice, automatic gain reduction rarely kicks in. I've never seen it happen outside of a Field Day scenario where antennas were in each other's near field. 73, Wayne N6KR __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] HW-16
My first rig back in the late 60’s. I worked the world as a 12 year old novice with a couple of 40 meter crystals and a dipole up about 6 feet. David, W4SMT On Sunday, July 3, 2022, 10:18 PM, Kyle Chavis wrote: I guess you got off on a light sentence!! LOL I still have my HW-16 with the HG10B VFO. Guess I should under cover it just to make sure it still works. Although I lost my first two log books I still remember my first contact back in May of 1976. 73 Kyle, WA4PGM On Sun, Jul 3, 2022 at 10:01 PM Eric Norris wrote: > The HW-16 was a great rig back then, with silent QSK and a good crystal > filter. > > I remember getting frustrated one night, and I cranked the PWR knob past > the red mark on the plate-current meter that showed the 75-watt Novice DC > input plate current limit. I had just turned 17, and worked 50 hrs at > $2/hr to buy that kit. I was going to get a QSO that night even though I > knew the FCC would soon be battering down my door and dragging me away in > handcuffs. > > Good times. > > 73 Eric WN6RVG > > On Sun, Jul 3, 2022, 1:54 PM Mike Morrow wrote: > > > > I don't know what an HW-16 is. > > > > > > The HW-16 is a vacuum tube, 90-watt (maximum) input, crystal-controlled > > CW-only Novice-band transmitter and receiver kit with built-in AC power > > supply. It covered the CW portion of only 80m, 40m, and 15m. It was > sold > > by Heath from 1967 to 1976. Its 1967 kit price was "only" $110, but > that's > > equivalent to almost $1000 in 2022. Adjusted for inflation my full-house > > KX2 50 years later was less expensive. > > > > The HW-16 was popular when I was WN5WGJ in 1968, but at age 16 I could > > never have afforded one. :-) Its long-term utility was limited by the > > one-year non-renewable Novice license of that era. > > > > Mike / KK5F > > __ > > Elecraft mailing list > > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > > Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > > > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > > Message delivered to norrislawfi...@gmail.com > __ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > Message delivered to wa4...@gmail.com > __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to df...@yahoo.com __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
[Elecraft] HW-16
I prefer the sound of a good analog CW radio like HW16 when looking at the newer full house radios. Many of the new SDR radios mask subtle amplitude variations of the signal and some atmospherics as well... de Wb8yqj Don Carlsbad, Ca. USA Date: Sun, 3 Jul 2022 22:36:03 -0400 I actually had an HW16 for a little while around 1993. Fun little rig! __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] KPA500 Voltage range?
Andy - I'm also running 120. My HV idle runs about 68v, and under full load drops to 50v @ 12a. Seems a little low, but it's happy. 73 Lyn, W0LEN -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Andy Durbin Sent: Wednesday, July 06, 2022 12:00 PM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KPA500 Voltage range? "I don't remember the AC, can check it later, but think its 231-232." Your use of nominal 240 would explain why your HV sag is a lot less than mine. I have always run my KPA500 on 120. Maybe someone who uses nominal 240 would provide their typical loaded and unloaded HV values. Andy, k3wyc __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to l...@lnainc.com __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] KPA500 Voltage range?
"I don't remember the AC, can check it later, but think its 231-232." Your use of nominal 240 would explain why your HV sag is a lot less than mine. I have always run my KPA500 on 120. Maybe someone who uses nominal 240 would provide their typical loaded and unloaded HV values. Andy, k3wyc __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] KPA500 Voltage range?
Andy, Thanks, I'm looking for the VDC allowed voltage, unloaded and loaded. I don't remember the AC, can check it later, but think its 231-232. Gordon - N1MGO On 7/6/2022 8:53 AM, Andy Durbin wrote: "My kpa500 has the taps set to provide 71-72 VDC no load and drops to 60 at 500 watts." Do you know how your house line input voltage varies? Mine can be as high as 122 and as low as 118 and the local transformer is less than 50 ft from my house. I see unloaded KPA500 voltage over 80 with tap selected to keep loaded KPA500 voltage at or above 60. If your loaded voltage does not drop below 60 for all bands, all antenna loads, and all used output powers, I see no reason to change the tap. Band, loading, and power output all have a very significant influence on efficiency, PA current, and voltage drop in the PA HV supply. Spot check values: Line voltage 122.0 Unloaded HV 81.4 TX 500 W, 6 m band, SWR 1.15, HV 60.3 Andy, k3wyc __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to gordon.lapo...@gmail.com __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] COM port problems
Great info, Dave. Might be a little technical for some users.
The #1 problem most hams have is they plug their USB-To-Serial
adapters into different USB ports, and the COM port number changes.
Not only that, Windows leaves the old port number reserved much of the time.
I have an in-depth blog post which talks about this in layman's terms on my
blog. See
https://blog.remote.radio/2020/11/automation-in-amateur-radio-rs-232-for.html
As explained in that blog article, there is a way to solve this problem.
Digi, a company who has been in the business for many decades, has a
series of USB-to-Serial adapters
called Edgeport, from 1 to 16 ports. The great thing about Edgeport
devices is they have a driver and utility. If you use that, the COM port
number is associated with
the BOX, not where it is plugged in.
Edgeport devices are quite expensive when new, but can often be found on
the surplus market (ebay, etc). They have been used to do baudot by hams
for decades. I use them all over the place.
I have 4,8, and 16-port USB-to-serials that are surplus to my needs if
anyone is interested.
They solve the RS-232 port issue every time!
73,
Gerry Hull, *W1VE *Hancock, NH USA
CWOps #191 | YCCC | CanAm Contest Coalition | Maritime Contest Club
RadioSport Manitoba | ARRL | RAC | QCWA
ARCluster dxc.w1ve.com | Telnet or telnet:7373 access | RBN direct feeds
On Sun, Jul 3, 2022 at 7:04 AM Dave B via Elecraft
wrote:
> FYI...
>
> Windows users, can use these utilities to find out what is/was connected
> to their PC's by USB etc...
>
> USBview: A Microsoft (was System Internals who MS bought) tool.
> The easiest way to find it is here:- https://ftdichip.com/utilities/
> "Microsoft USBView - USB Connection Viewer"
> There is a link to download a zipfile that contains it:-
> https://ftdichip.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/usbview.zip
> That contains a single stand-alone exe file that is the utility. Put it
> in a folder of it's own, and create a shortcut to it for your desktop.
>
> (Also a link to a Linux version, that does work, but needs compiling
> from source, and running using sudo as it needs elevated rights to read
> the running configuration files to get the information to display.)
>
>
> Another similar tool is USBDview
> https://www.nirsoft.net/utils/usb_devices_view.html
> That shows a much more detailed list of what Windows knows about, that
> is, any USB device that was ever connected since windows was initially
> installed, regardless of if it was ever used!
>
> You can also delete instances of old / defunct devices easily with this
> very useful tool.
> (Some AV tools say it's suspect or malicious. Use VirusTotal.com to
> verify if it (or anything else) is bad, on a file by file, or webpage
> basis. )
>
>
> Note that if for whatever reason Windows (or Linux) re-enumerates
> things, the linkage between a physical device and it's COM port number
> can (and often does!) change. Seemingly at the will of some minor deity
> somewhere... That of course, will break any software that expects some
> specific device to be at a specific COM port.
>
> Windows has the means to "Fix" that. (Known to work up to Win10, that I
> have personally tested it on.)
> Find those details here:-
> https://sourceforge.net/p/fldigi/wiki/windows_com_howto/
> I wrote much of that after hours of "fun" some years ago... As above,
> it works well with Win-10.
>
>
> For Linux users, look up and explore the world of "udev rules". But...
> They are only really easy to setup, if a USB device has a unique
> "something" in it's USB descriptor, that the OS uses to identify it.
> Such as a Serial Number. FTDI devices have unique sn's, but Prolific,
> SiLabs and others sadly do not. So, it gets funky if you have several
> of the same type of device that all "look the same" to the OS.
>
> (Newer genuine FTDI devices also have the ability to have that serial
> number (and some other settings) re-programmed! Fakes seem to take the
> reprogramming, but the new data does not "stick". Don't ask how I found
> that out!)
>
> However, you can use the "connection path" between the OS and the
> Device, as a deciding factor, but then you are forced into hooking
> everything up "EXACTLY" the same each time. (Hub's and all...) But it
> does work.
>
> Using them, you create "symbolic links" to the actual port used, so for
> example my VHF radio appears as /dev/ttyFT736 Regardless of which hole
> I connect it's associated FTDI serial adapter to on the PC (or via any
> hubs!) Or what /dev/ttyUSB* the OS re-assigns it to if things are
> re-enumerated for whatever reason.)
>
> For example, this is the rule for my ancient FT-736
>
> #FT-736r
> SUBSYSTEM=="tty", ATTRS{serial}=="A50285BI", SYMLINK+="ttyFT736"
>
> Flrig and most other software both accept symlinks and work well.
>
> (For the odd software title that insists on using the full /dev/ttyUSBx
> for example, they often store their settings in a file that can often be
> edited with
[Elecraft] KPA500 Voltage range?
"My kpa500 has the taps set to provide 71-72 VDC no load and drops to 60 at 500 watts." Do you know how your house line input voltage varies? Mine can be as high as 122 and as low as 118 and the local transformer is less than 50 ft from my house. I see unloaded KPA500 voltage over 80 with tap selected to keep loaded KPA500 voltage at or above 60. If your loaded voltage does not drop below 60 for all bands, all antenna loads, and all used output powers, I see no reason to change the tap. Band, loading, and power output all have a very significant influence on efficiency, PA current, and voltage drop in the PA HV supply. Spot check values: Line voltage 122.0 Unloaded HV 81.4 TX 500 W, 6 m band, SWR 1.15, HV 60.3 Andy, k3wyc __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
[Elecraft] KPA500 Voltage range?
My kpa500 has the taps set to provide 71-72 VDC no load and drops to 60 at 500 watts. Is this fine or should I change the tap from red to yellow. The yellow gives me 79-80 no load. Thanks, Gordon - N1MGO __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
