Thanks, Fred! This is what I was missing: the Tune button in the K3. Didn't realize it was there, since I was using the ATU Tune before I got the KAT/KPA500 installed. I guess I should order the rest of your books (I got the K3 book long before I actually bought the rig). And I did notice that on SSB sometimes it starts tuning for no apparent reason.
Thanks to all folks who responded! Slava Baytalskiy sla...@nullserv.com W2RMS On Jun 9, 2014, at 9:22 AM, "Cady, Fred" <fc...@ece.montana.edu> wrote: > Hi Sal, > Here is a method to train your KAT500: > > Here is a procedure to set-up the tuner for all bands so that you do not have > to go through a Full Search Tuning cycle each time you change to a frequency > or band that requires retuning. > * Select the desired band on the K3 and find a clear starting frequency > near the bottom of the band. > * If you are using the KPA500 amplifier, tap OPER to put the amp into STBY > mode. > * Set up your K3 so it will output between 20 and 100 watts when holding > TUNE. > * If you are using basic band switching, tap your key to allow the tuner > to measure the present band. You must do this before selecting an antenna. > If using enhanced band switching, the tuner reads the band automatically. > * Tap the KAT500 ANT to select the required antenna. > * Tap the KAT500 MODE to select AUTO or MAN. > o Tap the KAT500 TUNE. The AUTO or MAN LED will start to flash. > o Hold the K3's TUNE to apply power to the KAT500 and it will find the > best match that it can and then stop. The SWR LEDs will show the tuning > progress and the tuner will stop clacking its relays when it finds the best > VSWR. > o Tap the K3's TUNE to stop transmitting. > * After training the tuner, you should save the configuration file. If > you have trouble with your tuner, the configuration file can be sent to > Elecraft Support of in-depth analysis. > > Hint: When training your tuner for various operating frequencies, it is > useful and instructive to monitor the tuner's operation with the KAT Utility > Operate screen. > > After doing this on all your favorite frequencies, run the tuner in MAN mode > to avoid the sometimes false tuning that occurs when running SSB in AUTO mode. > > (Above is from Chapter 3 of "The Elecraft KPA500 Amplifier and KAT500 Tuner" > by KE7X, now available from Elecraft part number E740244.) > > Cheers and 73, > Fred KE7X > > "The Elecraft K3: Design, Configuration and Operation 2nd ed" > "The Elecraft KX3 - Going for the summit" > "The Elecraft KPA500 and KAT500 - the K-Line Dream Station") > All now available from www.elecraft.com > and > KPA500 and KAT500 Quick Set Up Guide > http://www.ke7x.com/home/k-line-introduction-and-set-up-guide > > > >> -----Original Message----- >> From: Elecraft [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of >> Slava Baytalskiy >> Sent: Sunday, June 08, 2014 6:55 PM >> To: Elecraft >> Subject: [Elecraft] K3 with KPA500 and KAT500 setup >> >> Hello everyone! >> Today i've finished my K-Line! >> K3/100 with a P3/SVGA with a KAT500 with a KPA500 with a W2 (although >> W2 has not yet been put in line). >> I think i got everything to play together nicely (not that its >> difficult, the way Elecraft makes it...) I've put the KAT3 in "bypass" >> on all the bands that i'm using. >> I've selected the per-band power setting. >> I'm currently setting all bands to about 15 watts of drive and getting >> around 300W out to the antenna (a K4KIO HexBeam). >> My question is about the operation of the tuner: >> when does it actually auto-tune? When the Auto light is flashing or >> when the relays are clicking? >> Sometimes it seems to start clicking right in the middle of a QSO. Is >> that normal? Does that interrupt my signal? >> Is there a way to teach it using SCAN or something? Or do i have to PTT >> and talk into the mic on every frequency in order for it to memorize >> the LC values? >> How do people normally do this? >> >> Thanks a bunch in advance! >> >> __________________ >> Slava (Sal) B, W2RMS >> w2...@arrl.net >> >> ______________________________________________________________ >> 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 fc...@ece.montana.edu ______________________________________________________________ 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
