Just a note to document what I am planning for tandem (not simultaneous) operation of my new acquired ACOM 1500 and my trusty KPA500/KAT500 combo. I'm strictly single op and no SO2R here so a single feedline to my remote antenna relay.
I bought the ACOM 1500 because I felt I needed additional power at times. It is serving that need nicely. I'm slowly getting more accustomed to the operation of a manual tune amplifier after a few years of automated operation of the Electraft line. But the KPA/KAT combo is nice for instant-on and quiet idling. I usually leave my rig on all day if I'm in the house to grab the quick DX spot. At the first spot of the day of course I need to wait 3 minutes plus tuning time before getting in the pileup. I find that 3+ minutes torture. The ACOM 1500 fan is also a bit annoying. So I've decided to put the KPA/KAT back in service in the following way. Since I have a KANT3a in my K3S I will connect the KPA/KAT to ANT1 and the ACOM 1500 to ANT2. Selection of the ANT line from the K3S will therefore exclusively provide RF to one or the other. Thanks to the internal preamp of the K3S the DIGOUT1 line is freed up to provide a signal to switch the single feedline to the antenna farm between the KPA/KAT and ACOM 1500 outputs. I haven't yet selected a legal limit A/B relay but there appear to be several available. A separate relay also driven by DIGOUT1 will switch the KEY line between the amps as well. The KPA/KAT will connect via the AUX bus as usual to provide the former automation including setting KPA per-band power levels. I'll need to put the KPA in Standby to go "barefoot" and I already have the barefoot level set to an appropriate value for the ACOM 1500. The normal drive power to the KPA is also within the range of power I already use to tune the ACOM so no problems there if I forget to put the KPA in Standby. Since DIGOUT1 is per-band and per-antenna the appropriate setting will be made for each. Of course DIGOUT1 being open collector it will need to be pulled up and appropriate buffering added to ensure safe operation of the relay coils. So with two button presses I can switch between the two amps and the two ANT connections eliminates the input switching relay and wiring. Of course if a KPA1500/KAT1500 makes a debut all of this will be replaced in a heartbeat!!! Comments or suggestions welcomed! 73 jim ab3cv ______________________________________________________________ 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 Message delivered to [email protected]
