Thanks to all who provided the helpful information that completely
answers my question, both on- and off- list. The crucial information I
needed is contained in the second paragraph of Dick's reply. It seemed
logical that the KAT500 would switch bands based only on the information
provided by the band code lines, but that is nowhere stated in the
manual or in any other source I could find. It would be helpful if the
manual stated this explicitly and even showed it as a valid setup
configuration for using the tuner with Yaesu radios or others that can
provide the band code directly. Dick's verbiage, with slight
modification, would be fine.
My setup will feed the KAT500 RF input from one antenna port of my
microHAM Double Ten antenna switch. I intend to use the tuner for two
separate antennas. Antenna 1 will be connected to my 80 meter Inverted
L, which also doubles as a second radio antenna that can be tuned to
different bands if required. Antenna 2 will be connected to my 160 meter
Inverted L, which is pretty narrowband and needs a "line flattener" to
make it useful across the entire band. I'll set the tuner up to select
Antenna 1 for all bands except 160m and Antenna 2 for 160 only using the
KAT500 Utility.
I realize that the KAT500 can automatically select the correct antenna
and tuning solution when RF at a particular frequency is applied, but my
concern with using the RF sensing bandswitching only is the possibility
of hot switching the antenna selector in the KPA500 when I QSY from 160
to 80 or vice versa. I will be using the key line interrupter to the
KPA500 on the primary station, but I'd rather have the tuner select the
proper antenna prior to transmission so that I'm at least on the correct
antenna before I transmit. Coming up with the tuning solution used for
the last known frequency on each band shouldn't be a big problem. In
order to give the tuner a "heads up" before RF shows up at the input
I'll send it a BCD band code. I have band data available for each radio
available at the Accessory port of my microHAM MK2R+. I'll build up a
simple 4-bit multiplexer with simple lockout logic to steer the
appropriate band code lines to the KAT500.
As for the KPA500, I simply misremembered my experience. I looked at my
notes from when I first set up the amp and saw that I had at first been
trying to use the AUXBUS alone, and that of course won't work. There's
nothing in the KPA500 manual that says that, either. Both the KPA500 and
KAT500 manuals would benefit from having an explanatory paragraph
explaining exactly what information is carried on the AUXBUS and how it
interacts with the band select lines. I also ordered a copy of the KE7X
KPA500/KAT500 book when I bought the tuner; maybe he explains these
nuances clearly.
Again, thanks to all who helped answer my question. Now I'm awaiting
arrival of the KAT500 kit so I can start setting things up. See you in
the contests and in the pileups.
73...
Randy, W8FN
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