Re: [Elecraft] Strange KPA500 problem on 6M

2016-12-05 Thread AJ8MH-Radio.Joe.Hutchens
Had a similar problem when working for Motorola. Couldn't get the SWR down with the antenna connected. Even changed antennas. Dummy load OK. Finally looked at the signal on a spectrum analyzer and 80% of the power wasn't even close to the crystal frequency. Did you try driving the amp with

Re: [Elecraft] Strange KPA500 problem on 6M

2016-12-05 Thread Carl Yaffey
Wow. That was a great job of problem solving. In my case, I get the KPA fault with just 8 watts of drive from the K3S. So I doubt that’s my issue. Carl Yaffey K8NU Recording studio. cyaffeyno_s...@gmail.com 614 268 6353, Columbus OH http://www.carl-yaffey.com http://www.grassahol.com

Re: [Elecraft] Strange KPA500 problem on 6M

2016-12-05 Thread David Olean
Last summer a friend of mine got a new K3s and had problems with it on just six meters. As soon as he raised power above about 10 watts, the SWR reading went crazy and the rig gave high VSWR warnings. He checked his six meter yagi with another SWR analyzer and the antenna checked good. After

Re: [Elecraft] Strange KPA500 problem on 6M

2016-12-04 Thread W0MU
Low pass filter in line? On 12/4/2016 6:30 AM, Mike va3mw wrote: As quoted If the amp works on a dummy load, then look beyond the amp at this time until you have eliminated everything else. Somewhere else you are getting a voltage breakdown that is arcing and tripping off the amp due to

Re: [Elecraft] Strange KPA500 problem on 6M

2016-12-04 Thread Mike va3mw
As quoted If the amp works on a dummy load, then look beyond the amp at this time until you have eliminated everything else. Somewhere else you are getting a voltage breakdown that is arcing and tripping off the amp due to high swr. An MFJ analyzer will not show that. Mike va3mw > On Dec

Re: [Elecraft] Strange KPA500 problem on 6M

2016-12-03 Thread Jim Brown
On Sat,12/3/2016 9:41 PM, Vic Rosenthal wrote: Look at any cables, switches and connectors that are common to the various antennas. Yes. Lots of "off-brand" coax is junk. So are most un-branded connectors. If the PL29-style connector doesn't say Amphenol 83-1SP, it's probably junk. How well

Re: [Elecraft] Strange KPA500 problem on 6M

2016-12-03 Thread Vic Rosenthal
Look at any cables, switches and connectors that are common to the various antennas. If it is OK with the dummy load, that points to it not being the KPA. Vic 4X6GP > On 3 Dec 2016, at 23:57, Carl Yaffey wrote: > > Bottom line: I can’t get more than 200 watts out of my new

Re: [Elecraft] Strange KPA500 problem on 6M

2016-12-03 Thread HankP
Are you sure its only putting out 200 watts on 6 ??? MIne started acting that way a few weeks after I assembled it , was perfect whenI first ran thru the tests but later started doing exactly waht you describe . With an external Array Solutions Powermaster wattmeter and good dummy load it was

Re: [Elecraft] Strange KPA500 problem on 6M

2016-12-03 Thread tomb18
-05:00) To: Elecraft List <elecraft@mailman.qth.net> Subject: [Elecraft] Strange KPA500 problem on 6M Bottom line: I can’t get more than 200 watts out of my new KPA500 on 6M. It faults (HI SWR FAULT) when I try to increase the drive in order to get more output. But I get full power on 6 with a dumm

[Elecraft] Strange KPA500 problem on 6M

2016-12-03 Thread Carl Yaffey
Bottom line: I can’t get more than 200 watts out of my new KPA500 on 6M. It faults (HI SWR FAULT) when I try to increase the drive in order to get more output. But I get full power on 6 with a dummy load. Bad antenna? Don’t think so. Here’s my setup: 3 element M2 6M beam fed with high cost, low