Having an issue with my KPA500 and a non-elecraft radio. I’ve got an Icom
IC-705 connected to my KPA500 and KAT500. By dropping the 705’s output power to
4 watts and pressing Tune on the KAT500 with the amp in OPER mode, I’m able to
get the tuner to give me a good match on just about all bands
The TCXO is the reference frequency for about everything that takes
place in the radio. It is the master clock. If it is incorrect, then
everything else is incorrect, for the most part.
A 5 ppm TCXO, or 5 parts per million, can have an error of +/-250 Hz on
6 meters. Where as a 0.5 ppm
m;
What happens when you disconnect the AuxIO cable from the K3 to the KPA? The
other solution is to switch the RADIO setting of the KPA from K3 to something
else, either Serial or Analog. If nothing is connected to the analog band input
with RADIO = ANALOG, the KPA should work as usual.
To add a little to what Lance-W7GJ said:
Every K3 has a TCXO. Standard is the TCXO-01 with 5ppm stability which
fine if you only run CW/SSB/AM/FM. TCXO stands for Temperature Controled
Xtal Oscillator. I provides the frequency standard for the K3
synthesizers to lock to. 5ppm translates as
I thought the saying was: "When all else fails, read the manual".
John KK9A
Jim Brown K9YC wrote:
With every new thing that comes into my life, my first action is to
RTFM. I am VERY frustrated that I can't do that with my Android phone,
and was equally frustrated 20 years ago when asked to
"However, what I’m seeing is that when the amp is in OPER mode, my receive
signal strength drops way, way off to the point I have to go full AF volume to
hear signals. If I put the amp in STBY, signal levels go back to normal."
These exact symptoms have been associated in past reports with a
Jim,
See page 38 of the Rev E1 KPA500 operating manual for how to set the radio
in the KPA500 menu (not KPA500 utility). This is the current version of
the manual a available on the Elecraft website.
73,
Lyle Kk7P
On Thu, Mar 31, 2022 at 5:12 PM Jim Clymer wrote:
> In my case, it was not the
Thanks Bob,
My late night calculating in my head was off by factor of ten
5ppm at 10-MHz is +/- 50Hz and at 30-MHz 150-Hz
And I forgot that the TCXO-03 actually performed at 0.5ppm so one got
ten times better stability suing the TCXO-03.
I reviewed my actual notes for testing with the
In my case, it was not the PIN diodes themselves, but failure of R9. I'm
away from my shack right now, so may not have the resistor ID correct. It
is a 48 Ohm resistor. I fixed the problem by parallel connecting a pair of
1/4 W, 100 Ohm resistors across the open one. Problem solved. Been fine
Are you seeing and * on the KPA500 screen when using the IC-705 and the
amp is in Operate mode? If so, the amp is being keyed while the IC-705
is in receive mode. Confirmed by the fact when the amp is in STBY that
signals are normal.
Check your amp keying interface and cable wiring. You
Jim, All,
James Bennett Wrote:
> However, what I?m seeing is that when the amp is in OPER mode, my receive
> signal strength drops way, way off to the point I have to go full AF volume
> to hear signals. If I put the amp in STBY, signal levels go back to normal. I
> also notice that the amp
"What are the uses for the TCXO option in a K3? Why would I want one?"
TCXO means "Temperature Compensated Crystal Oscillator". You need one if the
frequency drift caused by rig temperature change causes a problem at the
frequencies, and with the modes, you operate. Leave the rig powered all
I was unable to try Jack’s suggestion of disconnecting the AUXIO cable - doing
so made the KPA5000 not able to go into Operate mode. So, I wanted to do the
other option he mentioned - changing the “radio” setting of the KPA to Serial
or Analog. Unfortunately, I have no idea where that setting
Are you seeing and * on the KPA500 screen when using the IC-705 and the
amp is in Operate mode? If so, the amp is being keyed while the IC-705
is in receive mode. Confirmed by the fact when the amp is in STBY that
signals are normal.
Check your amp keying interface and cable wiring. You
I noticed in Fred Cady's "Assembling the KX3-Line Station" that he mentions the
Elecraft XV222 and XV423 transverters. I hadn't paid attention to that until
just getting my 2m option for my KX3. On the website I see that all that's
available are manuals. Are these things history now?
Jeff
Bob -
The * appears when I key the K3 and the amp is in operate mode. Likewise if I
key the 705 and the amp is in operate mode, with the K3 powered on.
If I power off the K3 and place the amp in operate mode WITHOUT KEYING IT, the
* appears, so you are correct - the amp thinks it is being
OK, now this is starting to make sense. Jim’s K3 has a KIO3, not the newer
KIO3B. On the older board, the BAND and PTT lines have pullup resistors to the
Vcc rail.
When the K3 is powered off, that Vcc rail is at 0 volts, which means the
pull-ups are now pulldowns. Thus the K3 is inadvertently
The reason I don’t suspect the PIN diodes is that the KPA works properly with
the K3. The K3 does not have a magical ability to repair KPA PIN diodes, so it
most likely is not a problem there.
This is probably a K3 without the new K3S I/O board, which means it has pull-up
resistors on the BAND
A good friend needs a KIO3B or KI03B card for his K3. It engaged in a
lightning strike and loss.
Best 73,
Gary H. Harmon, Jr. - K5JWK
HAM Radio, HEATHKIT, and ATARI Archaeologist
6003 Archwood
San Antonio, TX 78239-1504
(210) 657-1549
(210) 884-6926
ghar...@idworld.net
"p.s. do you have any idea what Jack was talking about when he said "switch the
RADIO setting of the KPA from K3 to something else, either Serial or Analog”??"
KPA500 menu / Radio / (Serial/Analog/BCD/K3).
Andy, k3wyc
__
Elecraft
The email I sent earlier. You might look in your junk folder, Jim…
73,
Jack, W6FB
> From: Jack Brindle
> Subject: Re: KPA500 Issue
> Date: March 31, 2022 at 2:40:26 PM CDT
> To: James Bennett
>
> On the KPA front panel, hold the menu button to go into the menus, then
> scroll down to the
Now let me answer my own question. There is a key-line interrupter adapter that
I believe comes with the AUXIO cable. This is an HD-15 type adapter that will
block the PTT signal from the K3 to the AUXIO cable. Use this, then you will
need to connect the K3 to the KAT500/KPA500 using a phono
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