Re: [Elecraft] K3 Filter Attenuation Gain Make Up
Thanks for the info Ken. I was wondering about any detrimental effects of those higher gain settings; now that I know nothing is wrong (sounds like just a normal insertion loss with the narrow filter) I've backed mine down to 3. I also put the new synthesizer in the rig and I honestly can't tell the difference now between it and my K3S in terms of the receiver performance and quietness. Now I just have to come up with the money to allow me to keep the K3! tnx es 73, LS W5QD -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/K3-Filter-Attenuation-Gain-Make-Up-tp7614756p7614757.html Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.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] K3 Filter Attenuation Gain Make Up
Per Jim’s note below: I recently upgraded to the new Synthesizers for my ancient K3 #951. I have 5 Pole 2.7s in both receivers, but multiple 8 Pole narrower filters as well as a 5 pole 200Hz that always was hard to listen to. I read through the manual and Fred’s excellent K3 book and found that higher gain was not recommended. I had 4dB or more gain on a few filters especially narrow CW. I decided to experiment with lower gain settings. When I reduced the gain to 2-3 dB the “ringing” in the narrow filters reduced a LOT! That coupled with the new Synths has made the old K3 come to life all over again. It is truly amazing in pileups. Individual signals just pop out of the mess. Thanks to Howard at Elecraft for digging up old invoices with factory mods and updates. And thanks to Elecraft for engineering such an amazing upgrade to an old radio! Cheers, Ken N6TZV > > -- > > Message: 3 > Date: Fri, 26 Feb 2016 09:07:03 -0800 > From: Jim Brown> To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net > Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 5 pole vs 8 pole filters - attenuation in > the passband > Message-ID: <56d08637.5020...@audiosystemsgroup.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252; format=flowed > > On Fri,2/26/2016 8:50 AM, lstavenhagen wrote: >> Quick question - do the 8 pole roofing filters have more attenuation, as a >> general rule, in their passbands than the 5 pole? > > Yes, but the difference doesn't matter -- it's in the IF, not the front > end. Further, there is an menu adjustment for each filter to equalize > the IF gain when switching between filters. > > The advantage of 8-pole filters is smoother response in the passband of > wider filters, and steeper skirts. In general, roofing filters are only > needed for high QRM conditions like contesting. Their function is to > protect the DSP from overload by strong signals outside the desired > passband. When the DSP IF is set to a bandwidth close to that of the > roofing filter, the two filters cascade to provide even steeper skirts. > Again, needed only under contest conditions. > > It's amazing the things one can learn by reading the manual. :) > > 73, Jim K9YC > > > -- > > Message: 4 > Date: Fri, 26 Feb 2016 10:22:37 -0700 (MST) > From: lstavenhagen > To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net > Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 5 pole vs 8 pole filters - attenuation in > the passband > Message-ID: <1456507357324-7614639.p...@n2.nabble.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii > > Well, yes, to spill the beans on this: it was when I was reviewing the filter > gains on my K3 the other day that this came up. I built my K3 with the stock > 2.7khz 5 pole filter in FL1 and an 8 pole 400hz in FL2 - however, to even > out FL1 and FL2 requires the gain to be nearly maxed out for FL2 (8 db gain, > IIRC). My K3S, however, has 8 pole 2.8khz and 400hz in goth FL1 and 2, > respectively. But they're almost dead even in terms of attenuation with FL2 > set at only 2 db gain. > > So that led me to wonder if the 5 pole in my K3 had less attenuation in > general, accounting for the difference. Just a curiosity for me. > > 73, > LS > W5QD > __ 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] K3 IF Attenuation?
I've been using an AFEDRI SDR as a panadapter for my K3 for about a year now using HDSDR. I use it every day but when I powered things up yesterday, the panadapter connection has suddenly experienced a lot of attenuation. I don't know at this point if the issue is in the K3 IF output or the AFEDRI input. The AFEDRI has adjustable RF gain and I can still see the signals if I crank the RF gain to the max but I have lost on the order of 20 dB in the IF connection. (I normally run the AFEDRI with about 20 dB of gain but I have to crank it up to 40 dB now to see the signals from the K3). I've tried rebooting things and checked the first layer of things like the coax cable but I haven't found the cause of this big attenuation. I went into the K3 menu and toggled the KXV3 off and on but that didn't help either. Thought I would ask if anybody has experienced attenuation like this in the K3's IF output. Dave K8JDC __ 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] K3 IF Attenuation?
I should have mentioned that the K3's receive level is normal. Preamp is off and attenuator is off. S-meter levels on the K3 receiver are normal. The problem I'm seeing is only in the IF connection. Dave K8JDC On Sat, Nov 1, 2014 at 10:30 AM, Dave C k8j...@gmail.com wrote: I've been using an AFEDRI SDR as a panadapter for my K3 for about a year now using HDSDR. I use it every day but when I powered things up yesterday, the panadapter connection has suddenly experienced a lot of attenuation. I don't know at this point if the issue is in the K3 IF output or the AFEDRI input. The AFEDRI has adjustable RF gain and I can still see the signals if I crank the RF gain to the max but I have lost on the order of 20 dB in the IF connection. (I normally run the AFEDRI with about 20 dB of gain but I have to crank it up to 40 dB now to see the signals from the K3). I've tried rebooting things and checked the first layer of things like the coax cable but I haven't found the cause of this big attenuation. I went into the K3 menu and toggled the KXV3 off and on but that didn't help either. Thought I would ask if anybody has experienced attenuation like this in the K3's IF output. Dave K8JDC __ 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] K3 Receive Attenuation with KPA500 in Operate
You may both be right! I haven't checked my KPAK3AUX cable for actual wires but I bet there are 15 wires because I know that the pins not to be connected are snipped off in the DE15HD plug-end of the cable. -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of iain macdonnell - N6ML Sent: Thursday, August 01, 2013 10:00 PM To: Ron D'Eau Claire Cc: Elecraft Reflector Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Receive Attenuation with KPA500 in Operate That's not what the KPA500 manual says :- Elecraft K3 Cable Connections This is available direct from Elecraft (pg 16): order KPAK3AUX . Pins not shown have no connection. The table shows only 10 pins. Elsewhere in the KPA500 manual, it is stated that pin 7 must not be connected to the K3. I don't have a KPAK3AUX cable to test, as I made my own custom cables. 73, ~iain / N6ML On Thu, Aug 1, 2013 at 7:51 PM, Ron D'Eau Claire r...@cobi.biz wrote: The KPA3AUX cable DOES connect all 15 pins, Ian. It is simply a straight-through cable, unlike a common VGA cable. If you want to use a separate PTT line (e.g. to route through some other equipment that needs to control the amp, such as a Stepp-IR controller) you need to use the Key Line Interrupter shown in Figure 2 that opens the PTT line in the DB15 cable. 73 Ron AC7AC -Original Message- From: dse...@dseven.org [mailto:dse...@dseven.org] On Behalf Of iain macdonnell - N6ML Sent: Thursday, August 01, 2013 7:01 PM To: Ron D'Eau Claire Cc: bwru...@gmail.com; Elecraft Reflector Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Receive Attenuation with KPA500 in Operate Brian was referring to his cable lineup (quoted below). Brian, you do need two HD15 cables The point that Fred was making is that one of them needs to be the Elecraft KPAK3AUX, whilst the other one could be a straight-through cable with all 15 pins connected. The KPAK3AUX does not connect all 15 pins, and that's important. There is no harm in using two KPAK3AUX's, and that is actually the safest configuration (cables designed for VGA monitor use will not necessarily work). The KAT500 should tune when the KPA500 is in operate mode, though - there is a specific configuration for that in the KAT500 Utility. On the Configuration tab, click Edit Configuration..., then in the Amplifier Key Interrupt Power tab , click Optimize for Elecraft KPA500. 73, ~iain / N6ML On Thu, Aug 1, 2013 at 6:48 PM, Ron D'Eau Claire r...@cobi.biz wrote: Where do you see two DB15 cables in a diagram Brian? Ron AC7AC -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Brian F. Wruble Sent: Thursday, August 01, 2013 4:57 PM To: Cady, Fred Cc: Elecraft Reflector Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Receive Attenuation with KPA500 in Operate F red, thanks. I am using that cable both places where my diagram says DB15 Cable. I guess I needed to have invested in only one. Everything seems to work, and the tuner protection works as well. I proved that by lowering K3 output power to 5 watts (just to be safe), allowing the KPA500 to key and asking the KAT500 to re-tune. it refuses to do so. That is the right result. 73, Brian *Brian F. Wruble, C.F.A. *70 is the new 40.* * Mail: 1107 Key Plaza, PMB 447 Key West, FL 33040-4077 Summers: P.O.Box 57, 7400 Augustine Herman Highway, Georgetown, MD 21930 eFax 305.768.0278 On Thu, Aug 1, 2013 at 7:08 PM, Cady, Fred fc...@ece.montana.edu wrote: Hi Brian, Make sure you are using a KPAK3AUX cable somewhere between the K3 and the KPA500. It can be between the K3 and the KAT or the KAT and the KPA. You can use a full DE15HD cable other places but the KPAK3AUX cable needs to be in there somewhere. Cheers, Fred KE7X The Elecraft K3: Design, Configuration and Operation The Elecraft KX3 - Going for the Summit (soon - The Elecraft K-Line - KPA500 and KAT500) -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Brian F. Wruble Sent: Thursday, August 01, 2013 4:17 PM To: d...@w3fpr.com Cc: Elecraft Reflector Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Receive Attenuation with KPA500 in Operate Hi Don, Thanks for the prompt response. Yes, I am using the DB15 and the PTT line. I got it working. Here is my new cable lineup: 1. ACC on K3 (DB15) DB15 Y Cable | DB15 Cable XCVR (DB15) On KAT500 | And | ACC on Navigator Interface 2. RS232 on K3 XCVR (RS232) on P3 3. PC on P3 RS232 on Navigator Interface 4. AMP on KAT500 (DB15) DB15 Cable AUX1 (DB15) on KPA500 5. NO PTT LINE into KPA500 or into KAT500 6. No Key Line Interupter anyplace. With this lineup, is the KAT500 protected from
Re: [Elecraft] K3 Receive Attenuation with KPA500 in Operate
You are quite right Ian. All 15 pins are NOT used as shown in the KPA500 manual (Table 1, pg 4). What I should have said is that all of the lines used are straight through. VGA cables are not wired that way. Pins 1, 4, 6, 7, and 8 are not used. IF you buy a straight-through 15 pin cable, just break those pins off at the male connector. (That's what I did.) 73, Ron AC7AC -Original Message- From: dse...@dseven.org [mailto:dse...@dseven.org] On Behalf Of iain macdonnell - N6ML Sent: Thursday, August 01, 2013 9:00 PM To: Ron D'Eau Claire Cc: bwru...@gmail.com; Elecraft Reflector Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Receive Attenuation with KPA500 in Operate That's not what the KPA500 manual says :- Elecraft K3 Cable Connections This is available direct from Elecraft (pg 16): order KPAK3AUX . Pins not shown have no connection. The table shows only 10 pins. Elsewhere in the KPA500 manual, it is stated that pin 7 must not be connected to the K3. I don't have a KPAK3AUX cable to test, as I made my own custom cables. 73, ~iain / N6ML On Thu, Aug 1, 2013 at 7:51 PM, Ron D'Eau Claire r...@cobi.biz wrote: The KPA3AUX cable DOES connect all 15 pins, Ian. It is simply a straight-through cable, unlike a common VGA cable. If you want to use a separate PTT line (e.g. to route through some other equipment that needs to control the amp, such as a Stepp-IR controller) you need to use the Key Line Interrupter shown in Figure 2 that opens the PTT line in the DB15 cable. 73 Ron AC7AC -Original Message- From: dse...@dseven.org [mailto:dse...@dseven.org] On Behalf Of iain macdonnell - N6ML Sent: Thursday, August 01, 2013 7:01 PM To: Ron D'Eau Claire Cc: bwru...@gmail.com; Elecraft Reflector Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Receive Attenuation with KPA500 in Operate Brian was referring to his cable lineup (quoted below). Brian, you do need two HD15 cables The point that Fred was making is that one of them needs to be the Elecraft KPAK3AUX, whilst the other one could be a straight-through cable with all 15 pins connected. The KPAK3AUX does not connect all 15 pins, and that's important. There is no harm in using two KPAK3AUX's, and that is actually the safest configuration (cables designed for VGA monitor use will not necessarily work). The KAT500 should tune when the KPA500 is in operate mode, though - there is a specific configuration for that in the KAT500 Utility. On the Configuration tab, click Edit Configuration..., then in the Amplifier Key Interrupt Power tab , click Optimize for Elecraft KPA500. 73, ~iain / N6ML On Thu, Aug 1, 2013 at 6:48 PM, Ron D'Eau Claire r...@cobi.biz wrote: Where do you see two DB15 cables in a diagram Brian? Ron AC7AC -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Brian F. Wruble Sent: Thursday, August 01, 2013 4:57 PM To: Cady, Fred Cc: Elecraft Reflector Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Receive Attenuation with KPA500 in Operate F red, thanks. I am using that cable both places where my diagram says DB15 Cable. I guess I needed to have invested in only one. Everything seems to work, and the tuner protection works as well. I proved that by lowering K3 output power to 5 watts (just to be safe), allowing the KPA500 to key and asking the KAT500 to re-tune. it refuses to do so. That is the right result. 73, Brian *Brian F. Wruble, C.F.A. *70 is the new 40.* * Mail: 1107 Key Plaza, PMB 447 Key West, FL 33040-4077 Summers: P.O.Box 57, 7400 Augustine Herman Highway, Georgetown, MD 21930 eFax 305.768.0278 On Thu, Aug 1, 2013 at 7:08 PM, Cady, Fred fc...@ece.montana.edu wrote: Hi Brian, Make sure you are using a KPAK3AUX cable somewhere between the K3 and the KPA500. It can be between the K3 and the KAT or the KAT and the KPA. You can use a full DE15HD cable other places but the KPAK3AUX cable needs to be in there somewhere. Cheers, Fred KE7X The Elecraft K3: Design, Configuration and Operation The Elecraft KX3 - Going for the Summit (soon - The Elecraft K-Line - KPA500 and KAT500) -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Brian F. Wruble Sent: Thursday, August 01, 2013 4:17 PM To: d...@w3fpr.com Cc: Elecraft Reflector Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Receive Attenuation with KPA500 in Operate Hi Don, Thanks for the prompt response. Yes, I am using the DB15 and the PTT line. I got it working. Here is my new cable lineup: 1. ACC on K3 (DB15) DB15 Y Cable | DB15 Cable XCVR (DB15) On KAT500 | And | ACC on Navigator Interface 2. RS232 on K3 XCVR (RS232) on P3 3. PC on P3 RS232 on Navigator Interface 4. AMP on KAT500 (DB15) DB15 Cable AUX1 (DB15
[Elecraft] K3 Receive Attenuation with KPA500 in Operate
Hi all: I am running a newly assembled K-Line --- K3/100, KPA500 and KAT500. The K3 is pretty loaded with KRX3, KAT3, KXV3A, etc. I just noticed that received signals are down 4 S-units when the KPA500 is in Operate. In Standby, signals pop right up. Reading past reflector emails on the topic, I found one thread that suggested this may have to do with the state of the KPA500 PTT. I found that pulling the PTT RCA plug out ended the problem. Then I replaced the PTT plug, and still had no problem. However, once I actually transmitted, and the PTT acted to key the KPA500, the problem recurred Low sigs when the amp is in Operate, Full sigs when in Standby. Has anyone figured out a fix for this? 73 de Brian W3BW *Brian F. Wruble, C.F.A. *70 is the new 40.* * Mail: 1107 Key Plaza, PMB 447 Key West, FL 33040-4077 Summers: P.O.Box 57, 7400 Augustine Herman Highway, Georgetown, MD 21930 eFax 305.768.0278 __ 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 Receive Attenuation with KPA500 in Operate
Brian, I have heard this before, and as I recall it has to do with the DB15 cable and the PTT cable when used together. Are you using the PTT cable in addition to the cable from the K3 ACC cable? If so, pin 10 of the cable should not be included. See the note on page 8 of the KAT500 manual. Normally you would not have to use the PTT cable with the K3. See pages 3 and 4 of the KAT500 manual. For this arrangement, piin 10 of the ACC cable must be present. If you have other devices that need access ti the K3 Key Out line, you would use the PTT cable AND use the key line interrupter to disconnect pin 10 from the DB15 Interface cable without the need for removing pin 10. . 73, Don W3FPR On 8/1/2013 4:30 PM, Brian F. Wruble wrote: Hi all: I am running a newly assembled K-Line --- K3/100, KPA500 and KAT500. The K3 is pretty loaded with KRX3, KAT3, KXV3A, etc. I just noticed that received signals are down 4 S-units when the KPA500 is in Operate. In Standby, signals pop right up. Reading past reflector emails on the topic, I found one thread that suggested this may have to do with the state of the KPA500 PTT. I found that pulling the PTT RCA plug out ended the problem. Then I replaced the PTT plug, and still had no problem. However, once I actually transmitted, and the PTT acted to key the KPA500, the problem recurred Low sigs when the amp is in Operate, Full sigs when in Standby. __ 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 Receive Attenuation with KPA500 in Operate
Hi Don, Thanks for the prompt response. Yes, I am using the DB15 and the PTT line. I got it working. Here is my new cable lineup: 1. ACC on K3 (DB15) DB15 Y Cable | DB15 Cable XCVR (DB15) On KAT500 | And | ACC on Navigator Interface 2. RS232 on K3 XCVR (RS232) on P3 3. PC on P3 RS232 on Navigator Interface 4. AMP on KAT500 (DB15) DB15 Cable AUX1 (DB15) on KPA500 5. NO PTT LINE into KPA500 or into KAT500 6. No Key Line Interupter anyplace. With this lineup, is the KAT500 protected from the KPA500 keying when the KAT500 is tuning? I must admit, I have mightily confused myself in this process. Thanks again, Brian W3BW *Brian F. Wruble, C.F.A. *70 is the new 40.* * Mail: 1107 Key Plaza, PMB 447 Key West, FL 33040-4077 Summers: P.O.Box 57, 7400 Augustine Herman Highway, Georgetown, MD 21930 eFax 305.768.0278 On Thu, Aug 1, 2013 at 5:01 PM, Don Wilhelm w3...@embarqmail.com wrote: Brian, I have heard this before, and as I recall it has to do with the DB15 cable and the PTT cable when used together. Are you using the PTT cable in addition to the cable from the K3 ACC cable? If so, pin 10 of the cable should not be included. See the note on page 8 of the KAT500 manual. Normally you would not have to use the PTT cable with the K3. See pages 3 and 4 of the KAT500 manual. For this arrangement, piin 10 of the ACC cable must be present. If you have other devices that need access ti the K3 Key Out line, you would use the PTT cable AND use the key line interrupter to disconnect pin 10 from the DB15 Interface cable without the need for removing pin 10. . 73, Don W3FPR On 8/1/2013 4:30 PM, Brian F. Wruble wrote: Hi all: I am running a newly assembled K-Line --- K3/100, KPA500 and KAT500. The K3 is pretty loaded with KRX3, KAT3, KXV3A, etc. I just noticed that received signals are down 4 S-units when the KPA500 is in Operate. In Standby, signals pop right up. Reading past reflector emails on the topic, I found one thread that suggested this may have to do with the state of the KPA500 PTT. I found that pulling the PTT RCA plug out ended the problem. Then I replaced the PTT plug, and still had no problem. However, once I actually transmitted, and the PTT acted to key the KPA500, the problem recurred Low sigs when the amp is in Operate, Full sigs when in Standby. __ 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 Receive Attenuation with KPA500 in Operate
Hi Brian, Make sure you are using a KPAK3AUX cable somewhere between the K3 and the KPA500. It can be between the K3 and the KAT or the KAT and the KPA. You can use a full DE15HD cable other places but the KPAK3AUX cable needs to be in there somewhere. Cheers, Fred KE7X The Elecraft K3: Design, Configuration and Operation The Elecraft KX3 - Going for the Summit (soon - The Elecraft K-Line - KPA500 and KAT500) -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Brian F. Wruble Sent: Thursday, August 01, 2013 4:17 PM To: d...@w3fpr.com Cc: Elecraft Reflector Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Receive Attenuation with KPA500 in Operate Hi Don, Thanks for the prompt response. Yes, I am using the DB15 and the PTT line. I got it working. Here is my new cable lineup: 1. ACC on K3 (DB15) DB15 Y Cable | DB15 Cable XCVR (DB15) On KAT500 | And | ACC on Navigator Interface 2. RS232 on K3 XCVR (RS232) on P3 3. PC on P3 RS232 on Navigator Interface 4. AMP on KAT500 (DB15) DB15 Cable AUX1 (DB15) on KPA500 5. NO PTT LINE into KPA500 or into KAT500 6. No Key Line Interupter anyplace. With this lineup, is the KAT500 protected from the KPA500 keying when the KAT500 is tuning? I must admit, I have mightily confused myself in this process. Thanks again, Brian W3BW *Brian F. Wruble, C.F.A. *70 is the new 40.* * Mail: 1107 Key Plaza, PMB 447 Key West, FL 33040-4077 Summers: P.O.Box 57, 7400 Augustine Herman Highway, Georgetown, MD 21930 eFax 305.768.0278 On Thu, Aug 1, 2013 at 5:01 PM, Don Wilhelm w3...@embarqmail.com wrote: Brian, I have heard this before, and as I recall it has to do with the DB15 cable and the PTT cable when used together. Are you using the PTT cable in addition to the cable from the K3 ACC cable? If so, pin 10 of the cable should not be included. See the note on page 8 of the KAT500 manual. Normally you would not have to use the PTT cable with the K3. See pages 3 and 4 of the KAT500 manual. For this arrangement, piin 10 of the ACC cable must be present. If you have other devices that need access ti the K3 Key Out line, you would use the PTT cable AND use the key line interrupter to disconnect pin 10 from the DB15 Interface cable without the need for removing pin 10. . 73, Don W3FPR On 8/1/2013 4:30 PM, Brian F. Wruble wrote: Hi all: I am running a newly assembled K-Line --- K3/100, KPA500 and KAT500. The K3 is pretty loaded with KRX3, KAT3, KXV3A, etc. I just noticed that received signals are down 4 S-units when the KPA500 is in Operate. In Standby, signals pop right up. Reading past reflector emails on the topic, I found one thread that suggested this may have to do with the state of the KPA500 PTT. I found that pulling the PTT RCA plug out ended the problem. Then I replaced the PTT plug, and still had no problem. However, once I actually transmitted, and the PTT acted to key the KPA500, the problem recurred Low sigs when the amp is in Operate, Full sigs when in Standby. __ 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 Receive Attenuation with KPA500 in Operate
Brian, Yes, the KAT500 is protected. That is inherent in the K3 ACC (DB15) cable going first to the KAT500 and then to the KPA500 There is a Keyout-LP signal in the ACC cable to the KAT500 (and then onward to the KPA500). The KAT500 interrupts that signal (to the KPA500) when the KAT500 needs to tune. That Keyout-LP signal is what all the instructions about the DB15 pin 10 concern themselves with. 73, Don W3FPR On 8/1/2013 6:16 PM, Brian F. Wruble wrote: Hi Don, Thanks for the prompt response. Yes, I am using the DB15 and the PTT line. I got it working. Here is my new cable lineup: 1. ACC on K3 (DB15) DB15 Y Cable | DB15 Cable XCVR (DB15) On KAT500 | And | ACC on Navigator Interface 2. RS232 on K3 XCVR (RS232) on P3 3. PC on P3 RS232 on Navigator Interface 4. AMP on KAT500 (DB15) DB15 Cable AUX1 (DB15) on KPA500 5. NO PTT LINE into KPA500 or into KAT500 6. No Key Line Interupter anyplace. With this lineup, is the KAT500 protected from the KPA500 keying when the KAT500 is tuning? I must admit, I have mightily confused myself in this process. Thanks again, Brian W3BW __ 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 Receive Attenuation with KPA500 in Operate
F red, thanks. I am using that cable both places where my diagram says DB15 Cable. I guess I needed to have invested in only one. Everything seems to work, and the tuner protection works as well. I proved that by lowering K3 output power to 5 watts (just to be safe), allowing the KPA500 to key and asking the KAT500 to re-tune. it refuses to do so. That is the right result. 73, Brian *Brian F. Wruble, C.F.A. *70 is the new 40.* * Mail: 1107 Key Plaza, PMB 447 Key West, FL 33040-4077 Summers: P.O.Box 57, 7400 Augustine Herman Highway, Georgetown, MD 21930 eFax 305.768.0278 On Thu, Aug 1, 2013 at 7:08 PM, Cady, Fred fc...@ece.montana.edu wrote: Hi Brian, Make sure you are using a KPAK3AUX cable somewhere between the K3 and the KPA500. It can be between the K3 and the KAT or the KAT and the KPA. You can use a full DE15HD cable other places but the KPAK3AUX cable needs to be in there somewhere. Cheers, Fred KE7X The Elecraft K3: Design, Configuration and Operation The Elecraft KX3 - Going for the Summit (soon - The Elecraft K-Line - KPA500 and KAT500) -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Brian F. Wruble Sent: Thursday, August 01, 2013 4:17 PM To: d...@w3fpr.com Cc: Elecraft Reflector Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Receive Attenuation with KPA500 in Operate Hi Don, Thanks for the prompt response. Yes, I am using the DB15 and the PTT line. I got it working. Here is my new cable lineup: 1. ACC on K3 (DB15) DB15 Y Cable | DB15 Cable XCVR (DB15) On KAT500 | And | ACC on Navigator Interface 2. RS232 on K3 XCVR (RS232) on P3 3. PC on P3 RS232 on Navigator Interface 4. AMP on KAT500 (DB15) DB15 Cable AUX1 (DB15) on KPA500 5. NO PTT LINE into KPA500 or into KAT500 6. No Key Line Interupter anyplace. With this lineup, is the KAT500 protected from the KPA500 keying when the KAT500 is tuning? I must admit, I have mightily confused myself in this process. Thanks again, Brian W3BW *Brian F. Wruble, C.F.A. *70 is the new 40.* * Mail: 1107 Key Plaza, PMB 447 Key West, FL 33040-4077 Summers: P.O.Box 57, 7400 Augustine Herman Highway, Georgetown, MD 21930 eFax 305.768.0278 On Thu, Aug 1, 2013 at 5:01 PM, Don Wilhelm w3...@embarqmail.com wrote: Brian, I have heard this before, and as I recall it has to do with the DB15 cable and the PTT cable when used together. Are you using the PTT cable in addition to the cable from the K3 ACC cable? If so, pin 10 of the cable should not be included. See the note on page 8 of the KAT500 manual. Normally you would not have to use the PTT cable with the K3. See pages 3 and 4 of the KAT500 manual. For this arrangement, piin 10 of the ACC cable must be present. If you have other devices that need access ti the K3 Key Out line, you would use the PTT cable AND use the key line interrupter to disconnect pin 10 from the DB15 Interface cable without the need for removing pin 10. . 73, Don W3FPR On 8/1/2013 4:30 PM, Brian F. Wruble wrote: Hi all: I am running a newly assembled K-Line --- K3/100, KPA500 and KAT500. The K3 is pretty loaded with KRX3, KAT3, KXV3A, etc. I just noticed that received signals are down 4 S-units when the KPA500 is in Operate. In Standby, signals pop right up. Reading past reflector emails on the topic, I found one thread that suggested this may have to do with the state of the KPA500 PTT. I found that pulling the PTT RCA plug out ended the problem. Then I replaced the PTT plug, and still had no problem. However, once I actually transmitted, and the PTT acted to key the KPA500, the problem recurred Low sigs when the amp is in Operate, Full sigs when in Standby. __ 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 Receive Attenuation with KPA500 in Operate
Where do you see two DB15 cables in a diagram Brian? Ron AC7AC -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Brian F. Wruble Sent: Thursday, August 01, 2013 4:57 PM To: Cady, Fred Cc: Elecraft Reflector Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Receive Attenuation with KPA500 in Operate F red, thanks. I am using that cable both places where my diagram says DB15 Cable. I guess I needed to have invested in only one. Everything seems to work, and the tuner protection works as well. I proved that by lowering K3 output power to 5 watts (just to be safe), allowing the KPA500 to key and asking the KAT500 to re-tune. it refuses to do so. That is the right result. 73, Brian *Brian F. Wruble, C.F.A. *70 is the new 40.* * Mail: 1107 Key Plaza, PMB 447 Key West, FL 33040-4077 Summers: P.O.Box 57, 7400 Augustine Herman Highway, Georgetown, MD 21930 eFax 305.768.0278 On Thu, Aug 1, 2013 at 7:08 PM, Cady, Fred fc...@ece.montana.edu wrote: Hi Brian, Make sure you are using a KPAK3AUX cable somewhere between the K3 and the KPA500. It can be between the K3 and the KAT or the KAT and the KPA. You can use a full DE15HD cable other places but the KPAK3AUX cable needs to be in there somewhere. Cheers, Fred KE7X The Elecraft K3: Design, Configuration and Operation The Elecraft KX3 - Going for the Summit (soon - The Elecraft K-Line - KPA500 and KAT500) -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Brian F. Wruble Sent: Thursday, August 01, 2013 4:17 PM To: d...@w3fpr.com Cc: Elecraft Reflector Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Receive Attenuation with KPA500 in Operate Hi Don, Thanks for the prompt response. Yes, I am using the DB15 and the PTT line. I got it working. Here is my new cable lineup: 1. ACC on K3 (DB15) DB15 Y Cable | DB15 Cable XCVR (DB15) On KAT500 | And | ACC on Navigator Interface 2. RS232 on K3 XCVR (RS232) on P3 3. PC on P3 RS232 on Navigator Interface 4. AMP on KAT500 (DB15) DB15 Cable AUX1 (DB15) on KPA500 5. NO PTT LINE into KPA500 or into KAT500 6. No Key Line Interupter anyplace. With this lineup, is the KAT500 protected from the KPA500 keying when the KAT500 is tuning? I must admit, I have mightily confused myself in this process. Thanks again, Brian W3BW *Brian F. Wruble, C.F.A. *70 is the new 40.* * Mail: 1107 Key Plaza, PMB 447 Key West, FL 33040-4077 Summers: P.O.Box 57, 7400 Augustine Herman Highway, Georgetown, MD 21930 eFax 305.768.0278 On Thu, Aug 1, 2013 at 5:01 PM, Don Wilhelm w3...@embarqmail.com wrote: Brian, I have heard this before, and as I recall it has to do with the DB15 cable and the PTT cable when used together. Are you using the PTT cable in addition to the cable from the K3 ACC cable? If so, pin 10 of the cable should not be included. See the note on page 8 of the KAT500 manual. Normally you would not have to use the PTT cable with the K3. See pages 3 and 4 of the KAT500 manual. For this arrangement, piin 10 of the ACC cable must be present. If you have other devices that need access ti the K3 Key Out line, you would use the PTT cable AND use the key line interrupter to disconnect pin 10 from the DB15 Interface cable without the need for removing pin 10. . 73, Don W3FPR On 8/1/2013 4:30 PM, Brian F. Wruble wrote: Hi all: I am running a newly assembled K-Line --- K3/100, KPA500 and KAT500. The K3 is pretty loaded with KRX3, KAT3, KXV3A, etc. I just noticed that received signals are down 4 S-units when the KPA500 is in Operate. In Standby, signals pop right up. Reading past reflector emails on the topic, I found one thread that suggested this may have to do with the state of the KPA500 PTT. I found that pulling the PTT RCA plug out ended the problem. Then I replaced the PTT plug, and still had no problem. However, once I actually transmitted, and the PTT acted to key the KPA500, the problem recurred Low sigs when the amp is in Operate, Full sigs when in Standby. __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3 Receive Attenuation with KPA500 in Operate
Brian was referring to his cable lineup (quoted below). Brian, you do need two HD15 cables The point that Fred was making is that one of them needs to be the Elecraft KPAK3AUX, whilst the other one could be a straight-through cable with all 15 pins connected. The KPAK3AUX does not connect all 15 pins, and that's important. There is no harm in using two KPAK3AUX's, and that is actually the safest configuration (cables designed for VGA monitor use will not necessarily work). The KAT500 should tune when the KPA500 is in operate mode, though - there is a specific configuration for that in the KAT500 Utility. On the Configuration tab, click Edit Configuration..., then in the Amplifier Key Interrupt Power tab , click Optimize for Elecraft KPA500. 73, ~iain / N6ML On Thu, Aug 1, 2013 at 6:48 PM, Ron D'Eau Claire r...@cobi.biz wrote: Where do you see two DB15 cables in a diagram Brian? Ron AC7AC -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Brian F. Wruble Sent: Thursday, August 01, 2013 4:57 PM To: Cady, Fred Cc: Elecraft Reflector Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Receive Attenuation with KPA500 in Operate F red, thanks. I am using that cable both places where my diagram says DB15 Cable. I guess I needed to have invested in only one. Everything seems to work, and the tuner protection works as well. I proved that by lowering K3 output power to 5 watts (just to be safe), allowing the KPA500 to key and asking the KAT500 to re-tune. it refuses to do so. That is the right result. 73, Brian *Brian F. Wruble, C.F.A. *70 is the new 40.* * Mail: 1107 Key Plaza, PMB 447 Key West, FL 33040-4077 Summers: P.O.Box 57, 7400 Augustine Herman Highway, Georgetown, MD 21930 eFax 305.768.0278 On Thu, Aug 1, 2013 at 7:08 PM, Cady, Fred fc...@ece.montana.edu wrote: Hi Brian, Make sure you are using a KPAK3AUX cable somewhere between the K3 and the KPA500. It can be between the K3 and the KAT or the KAT and the KPA. You can use a full DE15HD cable other places but the KPAK3AUX cable needs to be in there somewhere. Cheers, Fred KE7X The Elecraft K3: Design, Configuration and Operation The Elecraft KX3 - Going for the Summit (soon - The Elecraft K-Line - KPA500 and KAT500) -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Brian F. Wruble Sent: Thursday, August 01, 2013 4:17 PM To: d...@w3fpr.com Cc: Elecraft Reflector Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Receive Attenuation with KPA500 in Operate Hi Don, Thanks for the prompt response. Yes, I am using the DB15 and the PTT line. I got it working. Here is my new cable lineup: 1. ACC on K3 (DB15) DB15 Y Cable | DB15 Cable XCVR (DB15) On KAT500 | And | ACC on Navigator Interface 2. RS232 on K3 XCVR (RS232) on P3 3. PC on P3 RS232 on Navigator Interface 4. AMP on KAT500 (DB15) DB15 Cable AUX1 (DB15) on KPA500 5. NO PTT LINE into KPA500 or into KAT500 6. No Key Line Interupter anyplace. With this lineup, is the KAT500 protected from the KPA500 keying when the KAT500 is tuning? I must admit, I have mightily confused myself in this process. Thanks again, Brian W3BW *Brian F. Wruble, C.F.A. *70 is the new 40.* * Mail: 1107 Key Plaza, PMB 447 Key West, FL 33040-4077 Summers: P.O.Box 57, 7400 Augustine Herman Highway, Georgetown, MD 21930 eFax 305.768.0278 On Thu, Aug 1, 2013 at 5:01 PM, Don Wilhelm w3...@embarqmail.com wrote: Brian, I have heard this before, and as I recall it has to do with the DB15 cable and the PTT cable when used together. Are you using the PTT cable in addition to the cable from the K3 ACC cable? If so, pin 10 of the cable should not be included. See the note on page 8 of the KAT500 manual. Normally you would not have to use the PTT cable with the K3. See pages 3 and 4 of the KAT500 manual. For this arrangement, piin 10 of the ACC cable must be present. If you have other devices that need access ti the K3 Key Out line, you would use the PTT cable AND use the key line interrupter to disconnect pin 10 from the DB15 Interface cable without the need for removing pin 10. . 73, Don W3FPR On 8/1/2013 4:30 PM, Brian F. Wruble wrote: Hi all: I am running a newly assembled K-Line --- K3/100, KPA500 and KAT500. The K3 is pretty loaded with KRX3, KAT3, KXV3A, etc. I just noticed that received signals are down 4 S-units when the KPA500 is in Operate. In Standby, signals pop right up. Reading past reflector emails on the topic, I found one thread that suggested this may have to do with the state of the KPA500 PTT. I found that pulling the PTT RCA plug out ended the problem. Then I replaced the PTT
Re: [Elecraft] K3 Receive Attenuation with KPA500 in Operate
Figure 1, Page 4, KAT500 manual *Brian F. Wruble, C.F.A. *70 is the new 40.* * Mail: 1107 Key Plaza, PMB 447 Key West, FL 33040-4077 Summers: P.O.Box 57, 7400 Augustine Herman Highway, Georgetown, MD 21930 eFax 305.768.0278 On Thu, Aug 1, 2013 at 9:48 PM, Ron D'Eau Claire r...@cobi.biz wrote: Where do you see two DB15 cables in a diagram Brian? Ron AC7AC -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Brian F. Wruble Sent: Thursday, August 01, 2013 4:57 PM To: Cady, Fred Cc: Elecraft Reflector Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Receive Attenuation with KPA500 in Operate F red, thanks. I am using that cable both places where my diagram says DB15 Cable. I guess I needed to have invested in only one. Everything seems to work, and the tuner protection works as well. I proved that by lowering K3 output power to 5 watts (just to be safe), allowing the KPA500 to key and asking the KAT500 to re-tune. it refuses to do so. That is the right result. 73, Brian *Brian F. Wruble, C.F.A. *70 is the new 40.* * Mail: 1107 Key Plaza, PMB 447 Key West, FL 33040-4077 Summers: P.O.Box 57, 7400 Augustine Herman Highway, Georgetown, MD 21930 eFax 305.768.0278 On Thu, Aug 1, 2013 at 7:08 PM, Cady, Fred fc...@ece.montana.edu wrote: Hi Brian, Make sure you are using a KPAK3AUX cable somewhere between the K3 and the KPA500. It can be between the K3 and the KAT or the KAT and the KPA. You can use a full DE15HD cable other places but the KPAK3AUX cable needs to be in there somewhere. Cheers, Fred KE7X The Elecraft K3: Design, Configuration and Operation The Elecraft KX3 - Going for the Summit (soon - The Elecraft K-Line - KPA500 and KAT500) -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Brian F. Wruble Sent: Thursday, August 01, 2013 4:17 PM To: d...@w3fpr.com Cc: Elecraft Reflector Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Receive Attenuation with KPA500 in Operate Hi Don, Thanks for the prompt response. Yes, I am using the DB15 and the PTT line. I got it working. Here is my new cable lineup: 1. ACC on K3 (DB15) DB15 Y Cable | DB15 Cable XCVR (DB15) On KAT500 | And | ACC on Navigator Interface 2. RS232 on K3 XCVR (RS232) on P3 3. PC on P3 RS232 on Navigator Interface 4. AMP on KAT500 (DB15) DB15 Cable AUX1 (DB15) on KPA500 5. NO PTT LINE into KPA500 or into KAT500 6. No Key Line Interupter anyplace. With this lineup, is the KAT500 protected from the KPA500 keying when the KAT500 is tuning? I must admit, I have mightily confused myself in this process. Thanks again, Brian W3BW *Brian F. Wruble, C.F.A. *70 is the new 40.* * Mail: 1107 Key Plaza, PMB 447 Key West, FL 33040-4077 Summers: P.O.Box 57, 7400 Augustine Herman Highway, Georgetown, MD 21930 eFax 305.768.0278 On Thu, Aug 1, 2013 at 5:01 PM, Don Wilhelm w3...@embarqmail.com wrote: Brian, I have heard this before, and as I recall it has to do with the DB15 cable and the PTT cable when used together. Are you using the PTT cable in addition to the cable from the K3 ACC cable? If so, pin 10 of the cable should not be included. See the note on page 8 of the KAT500 manual. Normally you would not have to use the PTT cable with the K3. See pages 3 and 4 of the KAT500 manual. For this arrangement, piin 10 of the ACC cable must be present. If you have other devices that need access ti the K3 Key Out line, you would use the PTT cable AND use the key line interrupter to disconnect pin 10 from the DB15 Interface cable without the need for removing pin 10. . 73, Don W3FPR On 8/1/2013 4:30 PM, Brian F. Wruble wrote: Hi all: I am running a newly assembled K-Line --- K3/100, KPA500 and KAT500. The K3 is pretty loaded with KRX3, KAT3, KXV3A, etc. I just noticed that received signals are down 4 S-units when the KPA500 is in Operate. In Standby, signals pop right up. Reading past reflector emails on the topic, I found one thread that suggested this may have to do with the state of the KPA500 PTT. I found that pulling the PTT RCA plug out ended the problem. Then I replaced the PTT plug, and still had no problem. However, once I actually transmitted, and the PTT acted to key the KPA500, the problem recurred Low sigs when the amp is in Operate, Full sigs when in Standby. __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft
Re: [Elecraft] K3 Receive Attenuation with KPA500 in Operate
Got it. Thanks. Figure 1 in the KAT500 manual leads one to believe that both cables need to be KPAK3AUX, as both DB15 cables in the diagram are labeled 3, and one of the cables has the warning not to use a standard VGA cable. The note, 3 also suggests 2 of that particular Elecraft cable. An obvious conclusion --- though wrong --- is that both need to be the same, and both could be the special Elecraft (KPAK3AUX) cable or a modified VGA cable to be the same as the KPAK3AUX.. My understanding on the tuner issue was that the KAT500 could be damaged by going through a retune cycle at high power. Thus, some kind of safety lockout is needed to prevent that. If I can configure the KAT500 to tune when the KPA500 is in operate mode, how do I prevent that kind of damage from occurring? Brian *Brian F. Wruble, C.F.A. *70 is the new 40.* * Mail: 1107 Key Plaza, PMB 447 Key West, FL 33040-4077 Summers: P.O.Box 57, 7400 Augustine Herman Highway, Georgetown, MD 21930 eFax 305.768.0278 On Thu, Aug 1, 2013 at 10:00 PM, iain macdonnell - N6ML a...@dseven.orgwrote: Brian was referring to his cable lineup (quoted below). Brian, you do need two HD15 cables The point that Fred was making is that one of them needs to be the Elecraft KPAK3AUX, whilst the other one could be a straight-through cable with all 15 pins connected. The KPAK3AUX does not connect all 15 pins, and that's important. There is no harm in using two KPAK3AUX's, and that is actually the safest configuration (cables designed for VGA monitor use will not necessarily work). The KAT500 should tune when the KPA500 is in operate mode, though - there is a specific configuration for that in the KAT500 Utility. On the Configuration tab, click Edit Configuration..., then in the Amplifier Key Interrupt Power tab , click Optimize for Elecraft KPA500. 73, ~iain / N6ML On Thu, Aug 1, 2013 at 6:48 PM, Ron D'Eau Claire r...@cobi.biz wrote: Where do you see two DB15 cables in a diagram Brian? Ron AC7AC -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Brian F. Wruble Sent: Thursday, August 01, 2013 4:57 PM To: Cady, Fred Cc: Elecraft Reflector Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Receive Attenuation with KPA500 in Operate F red, thanks. I am using that cable both places where my diagram says DB15 Cable. I guess I needed to have invested in only one. Everything seems to work, and the tuner protection works as well. I proved that by lowering K3 output power to 5 watts (just to be safe), allowing the KPA500 to key and asking the KAT500 to re-tune. it refuses to do so. That is the right result. 73, Brian *Brian F. Wruble, C.F.A. *70 is the new 40.* * Mail: 1107 Key Plaza, PMB 447 Key West, FL 33040-4077 Summers: P.O.Box 57, 7400 Augustine Herman Highway, Georgetown, MD 21930 eFax 305.768.0278 On Thu, Aug 1, 2013 at 7:08 PM, Cady, Fred fc...@ece.montana.edu wrote: Hi Brian, Make sure you are using a KPAK3AUX cable somewhere between the K3 and the KPA500. It can be between the K3 and the KAT or the KAT and the KPA. You can use a full DE15HD cable other places but the KPAK3AUX cable needs to be in there somewhere. Cheers, Fred KE7X The Elecraft K3: Design, Configuration and Operation The Elecraft KX3 - Going for the Summit (soon - The Elecraft K-Line - KPA500 and KAT500) -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Brian F. Wruble Sent: Thursday, August 01, 2013 4:17 PM To: d...@w3fpr.com Cc: Elecraft Reflector Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Receive Attenuation with KPA500 in Operate Hi Don, Thanks for the prompt response. Yes, I am using the DB15 and the PTT line. I got it working. Here is my new cable lineup: 1. ACC on K3 (DB15) DB15 Y Cable | DB15 Cable XCVR (DB15) On KAT500 | And | ACC on Navigator Interface 2. RS232 on K3 XCVR (RS232) on P3 3. PC on P3 RS232 on Navigator Interface 4. AMP on KAT500 (DB15) DB15 Cable AUX1 (DB15) on KPA500 5. NO PTT LINE into KPA500 or into KAT500 6. No Key Line Interupter anyplace. With this lineup, is the KAT500 protected from the KPA500 keying when the KAT500 is tuning? I must admit, I have mightily confused myself in this process. Thanks again, Brian W3BW *Brian F. Wruble, C.F.A. *70 is the new 40.* * Mail: 1107 Key Plaza, PMB 447 Key West, FL 33040-4077 Summers: P.O.Box 57, 7400 Augustine Herman Highway, Georgetown, MD 21930 eFax 305.768.0278 On Thu, Aug 1, 2013 at 5:01 PM, Don Wilhelm w3...@embarqmail.com wrote: Brian, I have heard this before, and as I recall
Re: [Elecraft] K3 Receive Attenuation with KPA500 in Operate
Brian, please also visit the KAT500 Utility's Edit Configuration page and check that you've clicked the button that says Optimize for KPA500 if you have a KPA500. With that info, the KAT500 can interrupt the KPA500's key line whenever it needs to in order to tune. 73 de Dick, K6KR -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Brian F. Wruble Sent: Thursday, August 01, 2013 16:57 PM To: Cady, Fred Cc: Elecraft Reflector Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Receive Attenuation with KPA500 in Operate F red, thanks. I am using that cable both places where my diagram says DB15 Cable. I guess I needed to have invested in only one. Everything seems to work, and the tuner protection works as well. I proved that by lowering K3 output power to 5 watts (just to be safe), allowing the KPA500 to key and asking the KAT500 to re-tune. it refuses to do so. That is the right result. 73, Brian *Brian F. Wruble, C.F.A. *70 is the new 40.* * Mail: 1107 Key Plaza, PMB 447 Key West, FL 33040-4077 Summers: P.O.Box 57, 7400 Augustine Herman Highway, Georgetown, MD 21930 eFax 305.768.0278 On Thu, Aug 1, 2013 at 7:08 PM, Cady, Fred fc...@ece.montana.edu wrote: Hi Brian, Make sure you are using a KPAK3AUX cable somewhere between the K3 and the KPA500. It can be between the K3 and the KAT or the KAT and the KPA. You can use a full DE15HD cable other places but the KPAK3AUX cable needs to be in there somewhere. Cheers, Fred KE7X The Elecraft K3: Design, Configuration and Operation The Elecraft KX3 - Going for the Summit (soon - The Elecraft K-Line - KPA500 and KAT500) -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Brian F. Wruble Sent: Thursday, August 01, 2013 4:17 PM To: d...@w3fpr.com Cc: Elecraft Reflector Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Receive Attenuation with KPA500 in Operate Hi Don, Thanks for the prompt response. Yes, I am using the DB15 and the PTT line. I got it working. Here is my new cable lineup: 1. ACC on K3 (DB15) DB15 Y Cable | DB15 Cable XCVR (DB15) On KAT500 | And | ACC on Navigator Interface 2. RS232 on K3 XCVR (RS232) on P3 3. PC on P3 RS232 on Navigator Interface 4. AMP on KAT500 (DB15) DB15 Cable AUX1 (DB15) on KPA500 5. NO PTT LINE into KPA500 or into KAT500 6. No Key Line Interupter anyplace. With this lineup, is the KAT500 protected from the KPA500 keying when the KAT500 is tuning? I must admit, I have mightily confused myself in this process. Thanks again, Brian W3BW *Brian F. Wruble, C.F.A. *70 is the new 40.* * Mail: 1107 Key Plaza, PMB 447 Key West, FL 33040-4077 Summers: P.O.Box 57, 7400 Augustine Herman Highway, Georgetown, MD 21930 eFax 305.768.0278 On Thu, Aug 1, 2013 at 5:01 PM, Don Wilhelm w3...@embarqmail.com wrote: Brian, I have heard this before, and as I recall it has to do with the DB15 cable and the PTT cable when used together. Are you using the PTT cable in addition to the cable from the K3 ACC cable? If so, pin 10 of the cable should not be included. See the note on page 8 of the KAT500 manual. Normally you would not have to use the PTT cable with the K3. See pages 3 and 4 of the KAT500 manual. For this arrangement, piin 10 of the ACC cable must be present. If you have other devices that need access ti the K3 Key Out line, you would use the PTT cable AND use the key line interrupter to disconnect pin 10 from the DB15 Interface cable without the need for removing pin 10. . 73, Don W3FPR On 8/1/2013 4:30 PM, Brian F. Wruble wrote: Hi all: I am running a newly assembled K-Line --- K3/100, KPA500 and KAT500. The K3 is pretty loaded with KRX3, KAT3, KXV3A, etc. I just noticed that received signals are down 4 S-units when the KPA500 is in Operate. In Standby, signals pop right up. Reading past reflector emails on the topic, I found one thread that suggested this may have to do with the state of the KPA500 PTT. I found that pulling the PTT RCA plug out ended the problem. Then I replaced the PTT plug, and still had no problem. However, once I actually transmitted, and the PTT acted to key the KPA500, the problem recurred Low sigs when the amp is in Operate, Full sigs when in Standby. __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3 Receive Attenuation with KPA500 in Operate
Hi Brian, When the KAT500 is tuning, it breaks the keying line (one of the pins in the HD15 connector) going to the KPA500, so the amp will be unkeyed during tuning, and then keyed again when tuning completes. Some amps cannot handle keying being interrupted while they are making power (known as hot-switching), so the KAT500 is setup by default to not interrupt keying if it detects a high power level, but the KPA500 does not have that problem, so you can reconfigure the kAT500 using the utility as described. 73, ~iain / N6ML On Thu, Aug 1, 2013 at 7:12 PM, Brian F. Wruble bwru...@gmail.com wrote: Got it. Thanks. Figure 1 in the KAT500 manual leads one to believe that both cables need to be KPAK3AUX, as both DB15 cables in the diagram are labeled 3, and one of the cables has the warning not to use a standard VGA cable. The note, 3 also suggests 2 of that particular Elecraft cable. An obvious conclusion --- though wrong --- is that both need to be the same, and both could be the special Elecraft (KPAK3AUX) cable or a modified VGA cable to be the same as the KPAK3AUX.. My understanding on the tuner issue was that the KAT500 could be damaged by going through a retune cycle at high power. Thus, some kind of safety lockout is needed to prevent that. If I can configure the KAT500 to tune when the KPA500 is in operate mode, how do I prevent that kind of damage from occurring? Brian *Brian F. Wruble, C.F.A. 70 is the new 40. * Mail: 1107 Key Plaza, PMB 447 Key West, FL 33040-4077 Summers: P.O.Box 57, 7400 Augustine Herman Highway, Georgetown, MD 21930 eFax 305.768.0278 On Thu, Aug 1, 2013 at 10:00 PM, iain macdonnell - N6ML a...@dseven.org wrote: Brian was referring to his cable lineup (quoted below). Brian, you do need two HD15 cables The point that Fred was making is that one of them needs to be the Elecraft KPAK3AUX, whilst the other one could be a straight-through cable with all 15 pins connected. The KPAK3AUX does not connect all 15 pins, and that's important. There is no harm in using two KPAK3AUX's, and that is actually the safest configuration (cables designed for VGA monitor use will not necessarily work). The KAT500 should tune when the KPA500 is in operate mode, though - there is a specific configuration for that in the KAT500 Utility. On the Configuration tab, click Edit Configuration..., then in the Amplifier Key Interrupt Power tab , click Optimize for Elecraft KPA500. 73, ~iain / N6ML On Thu, Aug 1, 2013 at 6:48 PM, Ron D'Eau Claire r...@cobi.biz wrote: Where do you see two DB15 cables in a diagram Brian? Ron AC7AC -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Brian F. Wruble Sent: Thursday, August 01, 2013 4:57 PM To: Cady, Fred Cc: Elecraft Reflector Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Receive Attenuation with KPA500 in Operate F red, thanks. I am using that cable both places where my diagram says DB15 Cable. I guess I needed to have invested in only one. Everything seems to work, and the tuner protection works as well. I proved that by lowering K3 output power to 5 watts (just to be safe), allowing the KPA500 to key and asking the KAT500 to re-tune. it refuses to do so. That is the right result. 73, Brian *Brian F. Wruble, C.F.A. *70 is the new 40.* * Mail: 1107 Key Plaza, PMB 447 Key West, FL 33040-4077 Summers: P.O.Box 57, 7400 Augustine Herman Highway, Georgetown, MD 21930 eFax 305.768.0278 On Thu, Aug 1, 2013 at 7:08 PM, Cady, Fred fc...@ece.montana.edu wrote: Hi Brian, Make sure you are using a KPAK3AUX cable somewhere between the K3 and the KPA500. It can be between the K3 and the KAT or the KAT and the KPA. You can use a full DE15HD cable other places but the KPAK3AUX cable needs to be in there somewhere. Cheers, Fred KE7X The Elecraft K3: Design, Configuration and Operation The Elecraft KX3 - Going for the Summit (soon - The Elecraft K-Line - KPA500 and KAT500) -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Brian F. Wruble Sent: Thursday, August 01, 2013 4:17 PM To: d...@w3fpr.com Cc: Elecraft Reflector Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Receive Attenuation with KPA500 in Operate Hi Don, Thanks for the prompt response. Yes, I am using the DB15 and the PTT line. I got it working. Here is my new cable lineup: 1. ACC on K3 (DB15) DB15 Y Cable | DB15 Cable XCVR (DB15) On KAT500 | And | ACC on Navigator Interface 2. RS232 on K3 XCVR (RS232) on P3 3. PC on P3 RS232 on Navigator Interface 4. AMP on KAT500 (DB15) DB15 Cable AUX1 (DB15) on KPA500 5
Re: [Elecraft] K3 Receive Attenuation with KPA500 in Operate
Pin 10, in the K3 ACC is the Key Out line that goes first to the KAT500 in the KPAK3AUX cable and then on to the KPA in the second DB15 cable. When the KAT institutes a tune cycle, it opens that line so it is interrupted from going onto the KPA. Thus the amp won't be keyed and putting out power when the KAT is tuning. The Amplifier key Interrupt power configuration in the KAT is there because in some amplifiers (somebody may be using the KAT with a brand X amp) you cannot interrupt the amp's keying line at more than a certain power output without damaging the amp. So the KAT is delivered with that interrupt power set at 29 watts (I think). If the power coming into the KAT is more than that when the KAT wants to tune, it won't open the keying line to save damaging the amp but that, of course, could damage the KAT. So, because the KPA can be operating at full power out and won't suffer any damage by opening its keying line, you should configure the KAT as Ian says to optimize i t for the KPA500. Cheers, Fred KE7X Fred Cady fcady at ieee dot org -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft- boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Brian F. Wruble Sent: Thursday, August 01, 2013 8:13 PM To: iain macdonnell - N6ML Cc: Elecraft Reflector Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Receive Attenuation with KPA500 in Operate Got it. Thanks. Figure 1 in the KAT500 manual leads one to believe that both cables need to be KPAK3AUX, as both DB15 cables in the diagram are labeled 3, and one of the cables has the warning not to use a standard VGA cable. The note, 3 also suggests 2 of that particular Elecraft cable. An obvious conclusion --- though wrong --- is that both need to be the same, and both could be the special Elecraft (KPAK3AUX) cable or a modified VGA cable to be the same as the KPAK3AUX.. My understanding on the tuner issue was that the KAT500 could be damaged by going through a retune cycle at high power. Thus, some kind of safety lockout is needed to prevent that. If I can configure the KAT500 to tune when the KPA500 is in operate mode, how do I prevent that kind of damage from occurring? Brian *Brian F. Wruble, C.F.A. *70 is the new 40.* * Mail: 1107 Key Plaza, PMB 447 Key West, FL 33040-4077 Summers: P.O.Box 57, 7400 Augustine Herman Highway, Georgetown, MD 21930 eFax 305.768.0278 On Thu, Aug 1, 2013 at 10:00 PM, iain macdonnell - N6ML a...@dseven.orgwrote: Brian was referring to his cable lineup (quoted below). Brian, you do need two HD15 cables The point that Fred was making is that one of them needs to be the Elecraft KPAK3AUX, whilst the other one could be a straight-through cable with all 15 pins connected. The KPAK3AUX does not connect all 15 pins, and that's important. There is no harm in using two KPAK3AUX's, and that is actually the safest configuration (cables designed for VGA monitor use will not necessarily work). The KAT500 should tune when the KPA500 is in operate mode, though - there is a specific configuration for that in the KAT500 Utility. On the Configuration tab, click Edit Configuration..., then in the Amplifier Key Interrupt Power tab , click Optimize for Elecraft KPA500. 73, ~iain / N6ML On Thu, Aug 1, 2013 at 6:48 PM, Ron D'Eau Claire r...@cobi.biz wrote: Where do you see two DB15 cables in a diagram Brian? Ron AC7AC -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Brian F. Wruble Sent: Thursday, August 01, 2013 4:57 PM To: Cady, Fred Cc: Elecraft Reflector Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Receive Attenuation with KPA500 in Operate F red, thanks. I am using that cable both places where my diagram says DB15 Cable. I guess I needed to have invested in only one. Everything seems to work, and the tuner protection works as well. I proved that by lowering K3 output power to 5 watts (just to be safe), allowing the KPA500 to key and asking the KAT500 to re-tune. it refuses to do so. That is the right result. 73, Brian *Brian F. Wruble, C.F.A. *70 is the new 40.* * Mail: 1107 Key Plaza, PMB 447 Key West, FL 33040-4077 Summers: P.O.Box 57, 7400 Augustine Herman Highway, Georgetown, MD 21930 eFax 305.768.0278 On Thu, Aug 1, 2013 at 7:08 PM, Cady, Fred fc...@ece.montana.edu wrote: Hi Brian, Make sure you are using a KPAK3AUX cable somewhere between the K3 and the KPA500. It can be between the K3 and the KAT or the KAT and the KPA. You can use a full DE15HD cable other places but the KPAK3AUX cable needs to be in there somewhere. Cheers, Fred KE7X The Elecraft K3: Design, Configuration and Operation The Elecraft KX3 - Going for the Summit (soon - The Elecraft K-Line - KPA500 and KAT500
Re: [Elecraft] K3 Receive Attenuation with KPA500 in Operate
The KAT500 needs to be able to interrupt the KPA500 key line in order to tune with exciter power. One 15-pin cable runs from the K3 to the KAT500, and another runs from the KAT500 to the KPA500. This diagram is in the KAT500 owner's manual. 73 de Dick, K6KR -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Brian F. Wruble Sent: Thursday, August 01, 2013 19:13 PM To: iain macdonnell - N6ML Cc: Elecraft Reflector Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Receive Attenuation with KPA500 in Operate Got it. Thanks. Figure 1 in the KAT500 manual leads one to believe that both cables need to be KPAK3AUX, as both DB15 cables in the diagram are labeled 3, and one of the cables has the warning not to use a standard VGA cable. The note, 3 also suggests 2 of that particular Elecraft cable. An obvious conclusion --- though wrong --- is that both need to be the same, and both could be the special Elecraft (KPAK3AUX) cable or a modified VGA cable to be the same as the KPAK3AUX.. My understanding on the tuner issue was that the KAT500 could be damaged by going through a retune cycle at high power. Thus, some kind of safety lockout is needed to prevent that. If I can configure the KAT500 to tune when the KPA500 is in operate mode, how do I prevent that kind of damage from occurring? Brian *Brian F. Wruble, C.F.A. *70 is the new 40.* * Mail: 1107 Key Plaza, PMB 447 Key West, FL 33040-4077 Summers: P.O.Box 57, 7400 Augustine Herman Highway, Georgetown, MD 21930 eFax 305.768.0278 On Thu, Aug 1, 2013 at 10:00 PM, iain macdonnell - N6ML a...@dseven.orgwrote: Brian was referring to his cable lineup (quoted below). Brian, you do need two HD15 cables The point that Fred was making is that one of them needs to be the Elecraft KPAK3AUX, whilst the other one could be a straight-through cable with all 15 pins connected. The KPAK3AUX does not connect all 15 pins, and that's important. There is no harm in using two KPAK3AUX's, and that is actually the safest configuration (cables designed for VGA monitor use will not necessarily work). The KAT500 should tune when the KPA500 is in operate mode, though - there is a specific configuration for that in the KAT500 Utility. On the Configuration tab, click Edit Configuration..., then in the Amplifier Key Interrupt Power tab , click Optimize for Elecraft KPA500. 73, ~iain / N6ML On Thu, Aug 1, 2013 at 6:48 PM, Ron D'Eau Claire r...@cobi.biz wrote: Where do you see two DB15 cables in a diagram Brian? Ron AC7AC -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Brian F. Wruble Sent: Thursday, August 01, 2013 4:57 PM To: Cady, Fred Cc: Elecraft Reflector Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Receive Attenuation with KPA500 in Operate F red, thanks. I am using that cable both places where my diagram says DB15 Cable. I guess I needed to have invested in only one. Everything seems to work, and the tuner protection works as well. I proved that by lowering K3 output power to 5 watts (just to be safe), allowing the KPA500 to key and asking the KAT500 to re-tune. it refuses to do so. That is the right result. 73, Brian *Brian F. Wruble, C.F.A. *70 is the new 40.* * Mail: 1107 Key Plaza, PMB 447 Key West, FL 33040-4077 Summers: P.O.Box 57, 7400 Augustine Herman Highway, Georgetown, MD 21930 eFax 305.768.0278 On Thu, Aug 1, 2013 at 7:08 PM, Cady, Fred fc...@ece.montana.edu wrote: Hi Brian, Make sure you are using a KPAK3AUX cable somewhere between the K3 and the KPA500. It can be between the K3 and the KAT or the KAT and the KPA. You can use a full DE15HD cable other places but the KPAK3AUX cable needs to be in there somewhere. Cheers, Fred KE7X The Elecraft K3: Design, Configuration and Operation The Elecraft KX3 - Going for the Summit (soon - The Elecraft K-Line - KPA500 and KAT500) -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Brian F. Wruble Sent: Thursday, August 01, 2013 4:17 PM To: d...@w3fpr.com Cc: Elecraft Reflector Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Receive Attenuation with KPA500 in Operate Hi Don, Thanks for the prompt response. Yes, I am using the DB15 and the PTT line. I got it working. Here is my new cable lineup: 1. ACC on K3 (DB15) DB15 Y Cable | DB15 Cable XCVR (DB15) On KAT500 | And | ACC on Navigator Interface 2. RS232 on K3 XCVR (RS232) on P3 3. PC on P3 RS232 on Navigator Interface 4. AMP on KAT500 (DB15) DB15 Cable AUX1 (DB15) on KPA500 5. NO PTT LINE into KPA500 or into KAT500 6
Re: [Elecraft] K3 Receive Attenuation with KPA500 in Operate
The KPA3AUX cable DOES connect all 15 pins, Ian. It is simply a straight-through cable, unlike a common VGA cable. If you want to use a separate PTT line (e.g. to route through some other equipment that needs to control the amp, such as a Stepp-IR controller) you need to use the Key Line Interrupter shown in Figure 2 that opens the PTT line in the DB15 cable. 73 Ron AC7AC -Original Message- From: dse...@dseven.org [mailto:dse...@dseven.org] On Behalf Of iain macdonnell - N6ML Sent: Thursday, August 01, 2013 7:01 PM To: Ron D'Eau Claire Cc: bwru...@gmail.com; Elecraft Reflector Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Receive Attenuation with KPA500 in Operate Brian was referring to his cable lineup (quoted below). Brian, you do need two HD15 cables The point that Fred was making is that one of them needs to be the Elecraft KPAK3AUX, whilst the other one could be a straight-through cable with all 15 pins connected. The KPAK3AUX does not connect all 15 pins, and that's important. There is no harm in using two KPAK3AUX's, and that is actually the safest configuration (cables designed for VGA monitor use will not necessarily work). The KAT500 should tune when the KPA500 is in operate mode, though - there is a specific configuration for that in the KAT500 Utility. On the Configuration tab, click Edit Configuration..., then in the Amplifier Key Interrupt Power tab , click Optimize for Elecraft KPA500. 73, ~iain / N6ML On Thu, Aug 1, 2013 at 6:48 PM, Ron D'Eau Claire r...@cobi.biz wrote: Where do you see two DB15 cables in a diagram Brian? Ron AC7AC -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Brian F. Wruble Sent: Thursday, August 01, 2013 4:57 PM To: Cady, Fred Cc: Elecraft Reflector Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Receive Attenuation with KPA500 in Operate F red, thanks. I am using that cable both places where my diagram says DB15 Cable. I guess I needed to have invested in only one. Everything seems to work, and the tuner protection works as well. I proved that by lowering K3 output power to 5 watts (just to be safe), allowing the KPA500 to key and asking the KAT500 to re-tune. it refuses to do so. That is the right result. 73, Brian *Brian F. Wruble, C.F.A. *70 is the new 40.* * Mail: 1107 Key Plaza, PMB 447 Key West, FL 33040-4077 Summers: P.O.Box 57, 7400 Augustine Herman Highway, Georgetown, MD 21930 eFax 305.768.0278 On Thu, Aug 1, 2013 at 7:08 PM, Cady, Fred fc...@ece.montana.edu wrote: Hi Brian, Make sure you are using a KPAK3AUX cable somewhere between the K3 and the KPA500. It can be between the K3 and the KAT or the KAT and the KPA. You can use a full DE15HD cable other places but the KPAK3AUX cable needs to be in there somewhere. Cheers, Fred KE7X The Elecraft K3: Design, Configuration and Operation The Elecraft KX3 - Going for the Summit (soon - The Elecraft K-Line - KPA500 and KAT500) -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Brian F. Wruble Sent: Thursday, August 01, 2013 4:17 PM To: d...@w3fpr.com Cc: Elecraft Reflector Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Receive Attenuation with KPA500 in Operate Hi Don, Thanks for the prompt response. Yes, I am using the DB15 and the PTT line. I got it working. Here is my new cable lineup: 1. ACC on K3 (DB15) DB15 Y Cable | DB15 Cable XCVR (DB15) On KAT500 | And | ACC on Navigator Interface 2. RS232 on K3 XCVR (RS232) on P3 3. PC on P3 RS232 on Navigator Interface 4. AMP on KAT500 (DB15) DB15 Cable AUX1 (DB15) on KPA500 5. NO PTT LINE into KPA500 or into KAT500 6. No Key Line Interupter anyplace. With this lineup, is the KAT500 protected from the KPA500 keying when the KAT500 is tuning? I must admit, I have mightily confused myself in this process. Thanks again, Brian W3BW *Brian F. Wruble, C.F.A. *70 is the new 40.* * Mail: 1107 Key Plaza, PMB 447 Key West, FL 33040-4077 Summers: P.O.Box 57, 7400 Augustine Herman Highway, Georgetown, MD 21930 eFax 305.768.0278 On Thu, Aug 1, 2013 at 5:01 PM, Don Wilhelm w3...@embarqmail.com wrote: Brian, I have heard this before, and as I recall it has to do with the DB15 cable and the PTT cable when used together. Are you using the PTT cable in addition to the cable from the K3 ACC cable? If so, pin 10 of the cable should not be included. See the note on page 8 of the KAT500 manual. Normally you would not have to use the PTT cable with the K3. See pages 3 and 4 of the KAT500 manual. For this arrangement, piin 10 of the ACC cable must be present. If you have other devices that need access ti the K3 Key Out line, you would use the PTT cable AND use
Re: [Elecraft] K3 Receive Attenuation with KPA500 in Operate
That's correct Brian. But note that Figure 1 does *not* show a PTT cable. The note associated with that figure for both of those cables says E850463 Aux interface cables with male and female connectors.You can order E850463 from Elecraft or you can make your own (See E850463 Aux Cable Wiring, above). Those are both straight through 15 pin cables as shown in Table 1 on page 4. The wiring is given for those who wish to make or buy a straight through DB15 cable instead of ordering the Elecraft cable. Either will work FB.. The issue is to NOT use a VGA cable, which is not wired straight through. If you want to use a separate PTT cable for any reason, Figure 2 shows how to do that. That's usually because one needs to interrupt the PTT like such as to inhibit a Stepper-IR controller which cannot tune with full QRO power applied. Thanks, Ron AC7AC From: Brian F. Wruble [mailto:bwru...@gmail.com] Sent: Thursday, August 01, 2013 7:01 PM To: Ron D'Eau Claire Cc: Elecraft Reflector Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Receive Attenuation with KPA500 in Operate Figure 1, Page 4, KAT500 manual *Brian F. Wruble, C.F.A. 70 is the new 40. * Mail: 1107 Key Plaza, PMB 447 Key West, FL 33040-4077 Summers: P.O.Box 57, 7400 Augustine Herman Highway, Georgetown, MD 21930 eFax 305.768.0278 On Thu, Aug 1, 2013 at 9:48 PM, Ron D'Eau Claire r...@cobi.biz wrote: Where do you see two DB15 cables in a diagram Brian? Ron AC7AC -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Brian F. Wruble Sent: Thursday, August 01, 2013 4:57 PM To: Cady, Fred Cc: Elecraft Reflector Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Receive Attenuation with KPA500 in Operate F red, thanks. I am using that cable both places where my diagram says DB15 Cable. I guess I needed to have invested in only one. Everything seems to work, and the tuner protection works as well. I proved that by lowering K3 output power to 5 watts (just to be safe), allowing the KPA500 to key and asking the KAT500 to re-tune. it refuses to do so. That is the right result. 73, Brian *Brian F. Wruble, C.F.A. *70 is the new 40.* * Mail: 1107 Key Plaza, PMB 447 Key West, FL 33040-4077 Summers: P.O.Box 57, 7400 Augustine Herman Highway, Georgetown, MD 21930 eFax 305.768.0278 On Thu, Aug 1, 2013 at 7:08 PM, Cady, Fred fc...@ece.montana.edu wrote: Hi Brian, Make sure you are using a KPAK3AUX cable somewhere between the K3 and the KPA500. It can be between the K3 and the KAT or the KAT and the KPA. You can use a full DE15HD cable other places but the KPAK3AUX cable needs to be in there somewhere. Cheers, Fred KE7X The Elecraft K3: Design, Configuration and Operation The Elecraft KX3 - Going for the Summit (soon - The Elecraft K-Line - KPA500 and KAT500) -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Brian F. Wruble Sent: Thursday, August 01, 2013 4:17 PM To: d...@w3fpr.com Cc: Elecraft Reflector Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Receive Attenuation with KPA500 in Operate Hi Don, Thanks for the prompt response. Yes, I am using the DB15 and the PTT line. I got it working. Here is my new cable lineup: 1. ACC on K3 (DB15) DB15 Y Cable | DB15 Cable XCVR (DB15) On KAT500 | And | ACC on Navigator Interface 2. RS232 on K3 XCVR (RS232) on P3 3. PC on P3 RS232 on Navigator Interface 4. AMP on KAT500 (DB15) DB15 Cable AUX1 (DB15) on KPA500 5. NO PTT LINE into KPA500 or into KAT500 6. No Key Line Interupter anyplace. With this lineup, is the KAT500 protected from the KPA500 keying when the KAT500 is tuning? I must admit, I have mightily confused myself in this process. Thanks again, Brian W3BW *Brian F. Wruble, C.F.A. *70 is the new 40.* * Mail: 1107 Key Plaza, PMB 447 Key West, FL 33040-4077 Summers: P.O.Box 57, 7400 Augustine Herman Highway, Georgetown, MD 21930 eFax 305.768.0278 On Thu, Aug 1, 2013 at 5:01 PM, Don Wilhelm w3...@embarqmail.com wrote: Brian, I have heard this before, and as I recall it has to do with the DB15 cable and the PTT cable when used together. Are you using the PTT cable in addition to the cable from the K3 ACC cable? If so, pin 10 of the cable should not be included. See the note on page 8 of the KAT500 manual. Normally you would not have to use the PTT cable with the K3. See pages 3 and 4 of the KAT500 manual. For this arrangement, piin 10 of the ACC cable must be present. If you have other devices that need access ti the K3 Key Out line, you would use the PTT cable AND use the key line interrupter to disconnect pin 10 from the DB15 Interface cable without the need for removing pin 10. . 73, Don W3FPR
Re: [Elecraft] K3 Receive Attenuation with KPA500 in Operate
Actually the KPA500 amplifier is designed to have its PTT line hot switched at full power. See page Key Line Hot Switching on page 14 of the manual. The 29 watt limit was set as default to keep people from blowing up other less robust amplifiers by switching the PTT line at full power. When using the KPA500 with the KAT500, in the Utility Program click Optimize for KPA500 to adjust the settings to take full advantage of the capabilities of the K-line equipment (see Amplifier Key Interrupt Power on page 29 of the KAT500 Owner's Manual). 73 Ron AC7AC -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Cady, Fred Sent: Thursday, August 01, 2013 7:29 PM To: 'bwru...@gmail.com' Cc: 'Elecraft Reflector' Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Receive Attenuation with KPA500 in Operate Pin 10, in the K3 ACC is the Key Out line that goes first to the KAT500 in the KPAK3AUX cable and then on to the KPA in the second DB15 cable. When the KAT institutes a tune cycle, it opens that line so it is interrupted from going onto the KPA. Thus the amp won't be keyed and putting out power when the KAT is tuning. The Amplifier key Interrupt power configuration in the KAT is there because in some amplifiers (somebody may be using the KAT with a brand X amp) you cannot interrupt the amp's keying line at more than a certain power output without damaging the amp. So the KAT is delivered with that interrupt power set at 29 watts (I think). If the power coming into the KAT is more than that when the KAT wants to tune, it won't open the keying line to save damaging the amp but that, of course, could damage the KAT. So, because the KPA can be operating at full power out and won't suffer any damage by opening its keying line, you should configure the KAT as Ian says to optimize i t for the KPA500. Cheers, Fred KE7X Fred Cady fcady at ieee dot org -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft- boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Brian F. Wruble Sent: Thursday, August 01, 2013 8:13 PM To: iain macdonnell - N6ML Cc: Elecraft Reflector Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Receive Attenuation with KPA500 in Operate Got it. Thanks. Figure 1 in the KAT500 manual leads one to believe that both cables need to be KPAK3AUX, as both DB15 cables in the diagram are labeled 3, and one of the cables has the warning not to use a standard VGA cable. The note, 3 also suggests 2 of that particular Elecraft cable. An obvious conclusion --- though wrong --- is that both need to be the same, and both could be the special Elecraft (KPAK3AUX) cable or a modified VGA cable to be the same as the KPAK3AUX.. My understanding on the tuner issue was that the KAT500 could be damaged by going through a retune cycle at high power. Thus, some kind of safety lockout is needed to prevent that. If I can configure the KAT500 to tune when the KPA500 is in operate mode, how do I prevent that kind of damage from occurring? Brian *Brian F. Wruble, C.F.A. *70 is the new 40.* * Mail: 1107 Key Plaza, PMB 447 Key West, FL 33040-4077 Summers: P.O.Box 57, 7400 Augustine Herman Highway, Georgetown, MD 21930 eFax 305.768.0278 On Thu, Aug 1, 2013 at 10:00 PM, iain macdonnell - N6ML a...@dseven.orgwrote: Brian was referring to his cable lineup (quoted below). Brian, you do need two HD15 cables The point that Fred was making is that one of them needs to be the Elecraft KPAK3AUX, whilst the other one could be a straight-through cable with all 15 pins connected. The KPAK3AUX does not connect all 15 pins, and that's important. There is no harm in using two KPAK3AUX's, and that is actually the safest configuration (cables designed for VGA monitor use will not necessarily work). The KAT500 should tune when the KPA500 is in operate mode, though - there is a specific configuration for that in the KAT500 Utility. On the Configuration tab, click Edit Configuration..., then in the Amplifier Key Interrupt Power tab , click Optimize for Elecraft KPA500. 73, ~iain / N6ML On Thu, Aug 1, 2013 at 6:48 PM, Ron D'Eau Claire r...@cobi.biz wrote: Where do you see two DB15 cables in a diagram Brian? Ron AC7AC -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Brian F. Wruble Sent: Thursday, August 01, 2013 4:57 PM To: Cady, Fred Cc: Elecraft Reflector Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Receive Attenuation with KPA500 in Operate F red, thanks. I am using that cable both places where my diagram says DB15 Cable. I guess I needed to have invested in only one. Everything seems to work, and the tuner protection works as well. I proved that by lowering K3 output power to 5 watts (just to be safe), allowing the KPA500 to key and asking the KAT500 to re-tune
Re: [Elecraft] K3 Receive Attenuation with KPA500 in Operate
That's not what the KPA500 manual says :- Elecraft K3 Cable Connections This is available direct from Elecraft (pg 16): order KPAK3AUX . Pins not shown have no connection. The table shows only 10 pins. Elsewhere in the KPA500 manual, it is stated that pin 7 must not be connected to the K3. I don't have a KPAK3AUX cable to test, as I made my own custom cables. 73, ~iain / N6ML On Thu, Aug 1, 2013 at 7:51 PM, Ron D'Eau Claire r...@cobi.biz wrote: The KPA3AUX cable DOES connect all 15 pins, Ian. It is simply a straight-through cable, unlike a common VGA cable. If you want to use a separate PTT line (e.g. to route through some other equipment that needs to control the amp, such as a Stepp-IR controller) you need to use the Key Line Interrupter shown in Figure 2 that opens the PTT line in the DB15 cable. 73 Ron AC7AC -Original Message- From: dse...@dseven.org [mailto:dse...@dseven.org] On Behalf Of iain macdonnell - N6ML Sent: Thursday, August 01, 2013 7:01 PM To: Ron D'Eau Claire Cc: bwru...@gmail.com; Elecraft Reflector Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Receive Attenuation with KPA500 in Operate Brian was referring to his cable lineup (quoted below). Brian, you do need two HD15 cables The point that Fred was making is that one of them needs to be the Elecraft KPAK3AUX, whilst the other one could be a straight-through cable with all 15 pins connected. The KPAK3AUX does not connect all 15 pins, and that's important. There is no harm in using two KPAK3AUX's, and that is actually the safest configuration (cables designed for VGA monitor use will not necessarily work). The KAT500 should tune when the KPA500 is in operate mode, though - there is a specific configuration for that in the KAT500 Utility. On the Configuration tab, click Edit Configuration..., then in the Amplifier Key Interrupt Power tab , click Optimize for Elecraft KPA500. 73, ~iain / N6ML On Thu, Aug 1, 2013 at 6:48 PM, Ron D'Eau Claire r...@cobi.biz wrote: Where do you see two DB15 cables in a diagram Brian? Ron AC7AC -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Brian F. Wruble Sent: Thursday, August 01, 2013 4:57 PM To: Cady, Fred Cc: Elecraft Reflector Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Receive Attenuation with KPA500 in Operate F red, thanks. I am using that cable both places where my diagram says DB15 Cable. I guess I needed to have invested in only one. Everything seems to work, and the tuner protection works as well. I proved that by lowering K3 output power to 5 watts (just to be safe), allowing the KPA500 to key and asking the KAT500 to re-tune. it refuses to do so. That is the right result. 73, Brian *Brian F. Wruble, C.F.A. *70 is the new 40.* * Mail: 1107 Key Plaza, PMB 447 Key West, FL 33040-4077 Summers: P.O.Box 57, 7400 Augustine Herman Highway, Georgetown, MD 21930 eFax 305.768.0278 On Thu, Aug 1, 2013 at 7:08 PM, Cady, Fred fc...@ece.montana.edu wrote: Hi Brian, Make sure you are using a KPAK3AUX cable somewhere between the K3 and the KPA500. It can be between the K3 and the KAT or the KAT and the KPA. You can use a full DE15HD cable other places but the KPAK3AUX cable needs to be in there somewhere. Cheers, Fred KE7X The Elecraft K3: Design, Configuration and Operation The Elecraft KX3 - Going for the Summit (soon - The Elecraft K-Line - KPA500 and KAT500) -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Brian F. Wruble Sent: Thursday, August 01, 2013 4:17 PM To: d...@w3fpr.com Cc: Elecraft Reflector Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Receive Attenuation with KPA500 in Operate Hi Don, Thanks for the prompt response. Yes, I am using the DB15 and the PTT line. I got it working. Here is my new cable lineup: 1. ACC on K3 (DB15) DB15 Y Cable | DB15 Cable XCVR (DB15) On KAT500 | And | ACC on Navigator Interface 2. RS232 on K3 XCVR (RS232) on P3 3. PC on P3 RS232 on Navigator Interface 4. AMP on KAT500 (DB15) DB15 Cable AUX1 (DB15) on KPA500 5. NO PTT LINE into KPA500 or into KAT500 6. No Key Line Interupter anyplace. With this lineup, is the KAT500 protected from the KPA500 keying when the KAT500 is tuning? I must admit, I have mightily confused myself in this process. Thanks again, Brian W3BW *Brian F. Wruble, C.F.A. *70 is the new 40.* * Mail: 1107 Key Plaza, PMB 447 Key West, FL 33040-4077 Summers: P.O.Box 57, 7400 Augustine Herman Highway, Georgetown, MD 21930 eFax 305.768.0278 On Thu, Aug 1, 2013 at 5:01 PM, Don Wilhelm w3...@embarqmail.com wrote: Brian, I have heard this before, and as I recall it has to do with the DB15 cable and the PTT cable when used together