Hi Doug VE3MV, I have noticed a similar anomaly with the per-band power control. I suspect a bug in the firmware.
I run FW 4.39 on my K3/100 with the AUX cable to the KPA500 (#192) running FW 1.02. (Where did you find version 1.11?) I have set the K3 CONFIG:PWR SET to PER BAND, and I have set the KPA500 MENU: AUXBUS to ON, as Richard, WB4VMH and Ken, K3IU have responded to you. Additionally, I have set the KPA500 MENU: BAND CHG to STBY. This is supposed to switch the amp to standby after a band change, which it does. I set two power levels per band. When the amp is on STANDBY, I set 100 watts on the K3. And, when the amp is on OPERATE, I set the power out of the K3 to whatever it takes to produce 500 watts out from the amp (25 to 31 watts depending on the band). My expectation is that the power out from the K3 will switch to 100 watts whenever the amp is in STANDBY mode and then drop to the appropriate lower level whenever I put the amp in OPERATE mode by tapping the operate/standby switch on the amp. This works perfectly as long as I use the switch on the amp to go back and forth from STANDBY to OPERATE. *** But, If I change bands on the K3, and the amp automatically goes into STANDBY mode as a result, as it should because I have set the KPA500 MENU: BAND CHG to STBY, the dual power switching feature doesn't work. *** The K3 seems to "remember" the last power level that was set. This anomaly persists even if you return to the original band and put the amp in OPERATE mode. This is wrong. It risks over driving the amp for anyone who reasonably expects a low power level whenever the amp is in OPERATE mode, and high power whenever the amp is in STANDBY mode, whether it is invoked by a button tap on the amp or a band change. I did it twice before I figured out what was happening. Luckily, there was no damage. Now I don't trust the dual power level feature. I have to check the power on the K3 whenever I change bands. I realize that my situation is slightly different from yours Doug. But I think they are related. I took the time to describe it as best I could because I have confidence that Elecraft will let me know what I have missed, or fix this in a future firmware release. Having dual K3 power levels per band dependent on whether the KPA500 is in STANDBY or OPERATE mode is a superb feature_ if only I could get it to work properly. Many thanks to all, and 73, John, W2GW ----- Original Message ----- From: "D Joyce" <d_jo...@sympatico.ca> To: "Elecraft List" <elecraft@mailman.qth.net> Sent: Friday, August 12, 2011 11:41 PM Subject: [Elecraft] KPA500 Question re the K3s per band power control > Group: I'm checking out a recently completed KPA500 (#234) running FW > V1.11 with a K3/10 running FW Ver 4.36. The K3/100 with which it will > eventually be used is otherwise tied up and I wanted to confirm the the > per-band power control feature when used with the K3. (I'm using the AUX > interface cable.) > > It doesn't seem to work as described in the KPA500 Owner's Manual Rev B - > see page 9 Item 4 under Transmitting. If I put the Amp in Standby and set > the K3 for 5 W as a low power level and then turn the Amp to Operate and > run the K3 up to a drive level of about 8 W to produce about 100 Watts > from the KPA500, then when I turn the Amp back to Standby the power level > is 8 W not 5W. > > Perhaps the per-band power control is dependent on using a K3/100 not a > K3/10. > > Anyone else seeing the same thing? > > 73, Doug VE3MV > > > > > ______________________________________________________________ > 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
