Barry: The KPA500 has a dedicated serial port for its PC connection and another dedicated serial connector for connection to a Kenwood radio.
The KAT500 has one serial port, which is intended for connection to a PC. The strategy we'd planned for the KAT500 is to band switch on Tx signal or the BAND lines on the ACC connector, and the KAT500 does that automatically. But as you point out, KPA500 performs band switch when it receives a serial Kenwood command, and the KAT500 waits for a transmitted signal. There are a couple of strategies: I've heard of small microcontroller projects that listen to a Kenwood radio serial connection and set the 4 BAND lines on the accessory connector to band switch. An alternative might be a microcontroller that has two serial ports, one that accepts (or at least tolerates) the Kenwood command set, and another serial port that emits the KAT500 command needed to change frequenices. While RS-232 is not a "bus" system, you can sometimes Tee off a listener. I did implement a KAT500 command that accepts FA with an 11-digit frequency, down to the Hz, and when the KAT500 receives that command, it performs a "memory recall tune" for that frequency. This was done for a colleague who is working on a Kenwood implementation. But we didn't design the KAT500 to accept the complete Kenwood command set. If the Kenwood radio happens to send a command like "AN1;", the KAT500 will switch antennas to its ANT1. 73 de Dick, K6KR -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Barry Simpson Sent: Saturday, March 30, 2013 1:36 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [Elecraft] KPA500 and KAT500 with Kenwood Good morning I have been using my TS590 with the serial cable connected to the KPA500 and that works nicely to change bands automatically once set up in the menu. The KPA500 is also connected to my KAT500 using the K3 cables (they are simply left in place and the K3 is switched off when using the TS590). However, with the TS590, the KAT500 does not change bands as the KPA500 does, other than with RF sensing. So I have the situation where the KPA500 does change bands with the TS590 but the KAT500 doesn't. Does anyone know if there is a way to implement auto band change on the KAT500 with Kenwood equipment so that it changes at the same time as the KPA500 ? I await any responses with interest. Thanks and 73 Barry Simpson VK2BJ ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[email protected] 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:[email protected] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
