[Elecraft] K3 + KPA500 + [future] KAT500 AND QSK
I have been following a short message dialog over on the Palstar yahoo group for the new Palstar HF-Auto automatic tuner. This started with a problem reported that the Palstar tuner does not support QSK which was uncovered when one person complained that the tuner did not work right (would fault) when an external QSK box (Ameritron) was used with the amp. QSK is 90 percent of my activity -- I mean, 90 percent of my activity is CW and it is always QSK. Until I saw this message stream above on the QSK problems of the Palstar, I naively thought that QSK was something that was always solvable with amps and tuners. Therefore, my first question. Since my plan in the next several months includes both a KPA500 and hopefully a new KAT500 -- should I be concerned that QSK will not operate as efficiently and effectively as my bare K3? Further -- I was a bit surprised that this was even a problem (for the Palstar HF-Auto). When I looked into the Ameritron QSK box, I did not expect what I found: a much more complicated arrangement then I had assumed (again, with ignorance and being innocently naive about the topic). Can one of you experts explain to me why this is such a difficult problem and most importantly, is it this difficult for the K-Line? My questions concern a future interest in a full legal limit tuner for my other rig (Icom 756 Pro III + Icom PW-1) . Thanks, 73, phil, K7PEH __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3 + KPA500 + [future] KAT500 AND QSK
This sounds strange to me. Why would the tuner care whether it is in a QSK environment? I run QSK with my K3, KPA500 and MFJ-998 with no problems. Almost sounds like there is some hot-switching going on that makes the tuner declare a SWR fault. The tuner should be outside the QSK loop anyway. I.e., the Ameritron QSK5 switches the amp in and out at CW speed. It sounds like maybe the tuner is right at the output of the PA where it connects into the QSK5. If the tuner is at the output of the QSK5, I find it hard to believe the tuner would see a problem. Phil - AD5X I have been following a short message dialog over on the Palstar yahoo group for the new Palstar HF-Auto automatic tuner. This started with a problem reported that the Palstar tuner does not support QSK which was uncovered when one person complained that the tuner did not work right (would fault) when an external QSK box (Ameritron) was used with the amp. __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3 + KPA500 + [future] KAT500 AND QSK
It appears that the HF-Auto's method of interrupting amp keying involves a separate relay, inside the ATU, that only activates when RF is sensed and the tuner considers itself tuned. This doesn't work for QSK, which depends on the amp being keyed *before* RF is generated. I would assume that QSK is included in the design criteria for the KAT-500, but we all know what it is to assume, so it's a valid concern to raise, IMO... ~iain / N6ML On Thu, Dec 22, 2011 at 9:25 AM, Phil Debbie Salas dpsa...@tx.rr.com wrote: This sounds strange to me. Why would the tuner care whether it is in a QSK environment? I run QSK with my K3, KPA500 and MFJ-998 with no problems. Almost sounds like there is some hot-switching going on that makes the tuner declare a SWR fault. The tuner should be outside the QSK loop anyway. I.e., the Ameritron QSK5 switches the amp in and out at CW speed. It sounds like maybe the tuner is right at the output of the PA where it connects into the QSK5. If the tuner is at the output of the QSK5, I find it hard to believe the tuner would see a problem. Phil - AD5X I have been following a short message dialog over on the Palstar yahoo group for the new Palstar HF-Auto automatic tuner. This started with a problem reported that the Palstar tuner does not support QSK which was uncovered when one person complained that the tuner did not work right (would fault) when an external QSK box (Ameritron) was used with the amp. __ 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 __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3 + KPA500 + [future] KAT500 AND QSK
The KAT500 works fine with QSK. It will not cause any problems. 73, Eric WA6HHQ www.elecraft.com On 12/22/2011 9:33 AM, iain macdonnell - N6ML wrote: It appears that the HF-Auto's method of interrupting amp keying involves a separate relay, inside the ATU, that only activates when RF is sensed and the tuner considers itself tuned. This doesn't work for QSK, which depends on the amp being keyed *before* RF is generated. I would assume that QSK is included in the design criteria for the KAT-500, but we all know what it is to assume, so it's a valid concern to raise, IMO... ~iain / N6ML On Thu, Dec 22, 2011 at 9:25 AM, Phil Debbie Salasdpsa...@tx.rr.com wrote: This sounds strange to me. Why would the tuner care whether it is in a QSK environment? I run QSK with my K3, KPA500 and MFJ-998 with no problems. Almost sounds like there is some hot-switching going on that makes the tuner declare a SWR fault. The tuner should be outside the QSK loop anyway. I.e., the Ameritron QSK5 switches the amp in and out at CW speed. It sounds like maybe the tuner is right at the output of the PA where it connects into the QSK5. If the tuner is at the output of the QSK5, I find it hard to believe the tuner would see a problem. Phil - AD5X I have been following a short message dialog over on the Palstar yahoo group for the new Palstar HF-Auto automatic tuner. This started with a problem reported that the Palstar tuner does not support QSK which was uncovered when one person complained that the tuner did not work right (would fault) when an external QSK box (Ameritron) was used with the amp. __ 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 __ 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 __ 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
