Re: [Elecraft] Triggering KPA500 from 2 Radios
David, There should be no attenuation if you keep both transceivers on a same band. By the way, there is a device used mostly by the contesters who need to share an amplifier: http://www.acom-bg.com/xvcr.html Using it with K3: http://www.kotarov.com/projects/k3-and-acom-2s1 73, Val LZ1VB I have been using my K3/KPA500 setup for quite sometime. I am using the standard cable between the K3 ACC port and the KPA500 AUX for communications between the radio and the amp. This has worked perfectly from the beginning. At some time in the past, I wanted to use my Yaesu MKV Field to excite the amp. I connected both radios tho the KPA500 through a 2-position coax switch. I also connect a cable from the MKV to the KPA PA. KEY jack. When I switched the amp from standby to operate, there was a huge attenuation of the MKV's received signal. When I unplugged the K3-KPA AUX cable the problem went away. The received signal level was fine and the amp produced +/-500 watts with about 40 watts of drive from the MKV. An earlier message on the reflector indicated that this signal attenuation with the AUX cable connected was likely due to voltage signals on the AUX lines. I remove the MKV from the system and forgot about. Well, I've rearranged my operating desk and would like to use the MKV a little; I sure do like operating "the old monster"! Next to the K3 it is the best radio I have had on the desk. So, back to the amp issue. Has anyone connected two radios--one being a K3 using the AUX cable--to the KPA500, without having to plug/unplug cables to get everything to play nicely? 73 de K6SBA David in Santa Barbara, CA __ 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] Triggering KPA500 from 2 Radios
Hi David, I've been doing this for at least a year, and it works fine. However, I always leave the K3 powered ON when I'm using the other radios, and I can switch between radios by switching only the coaxial switch. I just tried turning OFF the K3 while trying to drive the amp from the KX3, and I see the rx signal level on the KX3 drops, just as you stated. Turn the K3 back on, and the signal level returns to normal, and the KX3 drives the KPA500 to around the 150 to 200 watt range. I currently have the KX3 and K2/100 set up with the K3 this way, and all work well. I haven't experienced any adverse side-effects in doing this, and none of the radios involved have lost any of their smoke. 73, Dale WA8SRA > I have been using my K3/KPA500 setup for quite sometime. I am using the > standard cable between the K3 ACC port and the KPA500 AUX for > communications > between the radio and the amp. This has worked perfectly from the > beginning. At some time in the past, I wanted to use my Yaesu MKV Field > to > excite the amp. I connected both radios tho the KPA500 through a > 2-position > coax switch. I also connect a cable from the MKV to the KPA PA. KEY > jack. > When I switched the amp from standby to operate, there was a huge > attenuation of the MKV's received signal. When I unplugged the K3-KPA AUX > cable the problem went away. The received signal level was fine and the > amp > produced +/-500 watts with about 40 watts of drive from the MKV. An > earlier > message on the reflector indicated that this signal attenuation with the > AUX > cable connected was likely due to voltage signals on the AUX lines. I > remove the MKV from the system and forgot about. > > Well, I've rearranged my operating desk and would like to use the MKV a > little; I sure do like operating "the old monster"! Next to the K3 it is > the best radio I have had on the desk. So, back to the amp issue. Has > anyone connected two radios--one being a K3 using the AUX cable--to the > KPA500, without having to plug/unplug cables to get everything to play > nicely? > > 73 de K6SBA > David in Santa Barbara, CA > __ 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] Triggering KPA500 from 2 Radios
David, Yes, the AUX cable connected to the K3 will cause the KPA500 to "do strange things" when attempts are made to use the KPA500 with another transceiver. And those "strange things" will depend on whether the K3 is powered on or off. May I suggest that you alter the K3 to KPA500 AUX cable by inserting a switch in line with it. There are computer switches for SVGA monitors to switch one monitor between two computers. Inserting one of those switches between the K3 and the KPA500 should allow you to manually disconnect the K3 AUX cable when using the MKV. 73, Don W3FPR On 5/2/2014 7:30 PM, David Inger wrote: I have been using my K3/KPA500 setup for quite sometime. I am using the standard cable between the K3 ACC port and the KPA500 AUX for communications between the radio and the amp. This has worked perfectly from the beginning. At some time in the past, I wanted to use my Yaesu MKV Field to excite the amp. I connected both radios tho the KPA500 through a 2-position coax switch. I also connect a cable from the MKV to the KPA PA. KEY jack. When I switched the amp from standby to operate, there was a huge attenuation of the MKV's received signal. When I unplugged the K3-KPA AUX cable the problem went away. The received signal level was fine and the amp produced +/-500 watts with about 40 watts of drive from the MKV. An earlier message on the reflector indicated that this signal attenuation with the AUX cable connected was likely due to voltage signals on the AUX lines. I remove the MKV from the system and forgot about. Well, I've rearranged my operating desk and would like to use the MKV a little; I sure do like operating "the old monster"! Next to the K3 it is the best radio I have had on the desk. So, back to the amp issue. Has anyone connected two radios--one being a K3 using the AUX cable--to the KPA500, without having to plug/unplug cables to get everything to play nicely? __ 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] Triggering KPA500 from 2 Radios
I have been using my K3/KPA500 setup for quite sometime. I am using the standard cable between the K3 ACC port and the KPA500 AUX for communications between the radio and the amp. This has worked perfectly from the beginning. At some time in the past, I wanted to use my Yaesu MKV Field to excite the amp. I connected both radios tho the KPA500 through a 2-position coax switch. I also connect a cable from the MKV to the KPA PA. KEY jack. When I switched the amp from standby to operate, there was a huge attenuation of the MKV's received signal. When I unplugged the K3-KPA AUX cable the problem went away. The received signal level was fine and the amp produced +/-500 watts with about 40 watts of drive from the MKV. An earlier message on the reflector indicated that this signal attenuation with the AUX cable connected was likely due to voltage signals on the AUX lines. I remove the MKV from the system and forgot about. Well, I've rearranged my operating desk and would like to use the MKV a little; I sure do like operating "the old monster"! Next to the K3 it is the best radio I have had on the desk. So, back to the amp issue. Has anyone connected two radios--one being a K3 using the AUX cable--to the KPA500, without having to plug/unplug cables to get everything to play nicely? 73 de K6SBA David in Santa Barbara, CA __ 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
