[Elecraft] Elecraft CW Net Report
Good Evening, Conditions were as predicted: low noise, weak signals. What I had not expected was the depth of the QSB. S7 or 8 one moment to S2 or below the next. Lower noise helped me dig out weaker signals. Forty meters was its usual self - changing within a minute. For some reason the sun has taken a vacation. However, there were reports of rain, smoke, and fog. My brother told me of the smoke in southern Wisconsin. I had not been paying attention to the fires in British Columbia. The wind shifted a few days ago, now coming from the southeast. This has kept the cooler clouds off shore but aimed the smoke from California and southern Oregon at me. A medium orange sun, with scratchy eyes and a sore throat. On 14050.5 kHz at 2200z: W0CZ - Ken - ND K6XK - Roy - IA K0DTJ - Brian - CA K4JPN - Steve - GA On 7047.5 kHz at z: K0DTJ - Brian - CA WM5F - Dwight - ID K6PJV - Dale - CA W0CZ - Ken - ND Happy August and 73, Kevin. KD5ONS - Alice laughed. “There’s no use trying,” she said: “one can’t believe impossible things.” “I daresay you haven’t had much practice,” said the Queen. “When I was your age, I always did it for half-an-hour a day. Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast. __ 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
[Elecraft] KX3 KXPA 100 KXAT Power readings.
Good Evening I bought a used KXPA 100 with tuner that had been stored and It seems to have a difference between the power setting on the KX3 and the actual output power. When I set the Kx3 for 50 watts I get about 40 watts out into a dummy load. It’s the same when set for 100 watts, I get about 80 watts. I first noticed the difference because of the low reading on the KXPA 100 power display, so I connected the to a watt meter with a dummy load. I have ran the the calibration routine two times, and the power output is a little closer to the set power, but still lower. It is similar on all bands, not just one. I thought I was low on Voltage so I shortened the power cable to about 2 feet and verified that it’s holding up during the key up test with a fluke meter. I am also watching the amp with the computer interface program, and the input voltage is staying up in the 12.6 range or so. The amp and the KX3 both have up to date firmware. The SWR is running about 1.1 to 1.2 into my dummy load. If I crank the power to 110 watts, I get about 95 watts. I don’t see any high current conditions and nothing appears to be getting hot. You thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks in advance 72 Johnny ACØBQ -- Check out the 4SQRP website at 4sqrp.com __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] KAT500/KPA500 with IC-7610?
I have had the IC-7610 and the KPA500/KAT500 for over three years and it works very well when I switch bands with the intention of transmitting. My "nit" to pick is that the KAT500, as has been said, can not be preset by the IC-7610 in receive. It can preset the KPA500, for all bands but WARC, by using a DIY "band data" voltage cable (Icom doesn't support band data voltages for the WARC bands). If I want to *listen* to different frequencies on the IC-7610 that are on different antennas connected to the KAT500 I have to manually select the antenna on the KAT500. This makes scanning frequencies on the IC-7610 impossible. The KPA1500, that combines an amp and antenna matcher (aka tuner), can read Icom CI-V data and preset both the amp and the "tuner". This feature should have been/should be available for the KPA500 and KAT500. I believe the KPA500 and KAT500 can read data from Kenwood and Yaesu transceivers. Why was Icom left out of the mix? Ken WA2LBI On Sun, Aug 1, 2021 at 4:33 PM CUTTER DAVID via Elecraft < elecraft@mailman.qth.net> wrote: > > __ > 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 wa2...@gmail.com > __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] KAT500/KPA500 with IC-7610?
Yes, I believe you're right, Andy. At least the CI-V is capable of including frequency data - but KAT doesn't read it. The KPA does read band data, presumably from voltage. 73 Lyn, W0LEN -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Andy Durbin Sent: Sunday, August 01, 2021 2:15 PM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] KAT500/KPA500 with IC-7610? "The only downside to using Icom gear with the KPA/KAT500 is that Elecraft does not "read" the frequency "voltage" indicator and therefore does not preset the tuner to the correct values without transmitting." KPA500 only needs to know the band but KAT500 needs to know the actual frequency within the band. Isn't ICOM band voltage exactly that - a band indicator not a frequency indicator? To implement the interface properly you'd have to know the exact TX frequency which I think could be extracted from CI-V data. 73, Andy, k3wyc __ 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 l...@lnainc.com __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] KAT500/KPA500 with IC-7610?
__ 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
Re: [Elecraft] KAT500/KPA500 with IC-7610?
"Both are VERY quick to sense TX frequency. All it takes ia a dit or a tap on the mic. All they NEED from the rig are RF and a KEY or PTT voltage or closure." May work for you but are you using KAT500 antenna port selection? My issues with RF detection as the primary tuning mechanism include the fact that the KAT500 will fault before it has time to select the correct antenna for the band in use. I need the KAT500 and KPA500 to be configured before I transmit. I suspect that anyone who uses KAT500 antenna port selection would too. 73, Andy, k3wyc __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] KAT500/KPA500 with IC-7610?
On 8/1/2021 12:15 PM, Andy Durbin wrote: KPA500 only needs to know the band but KAT500 needs to know the actual frequency within the band. Both are VERY quick to sense TX frequency. All it takes ia a dit or a tap on the mic. All they NEED from the rig are RF and a KEY or PTT voltage or closure. 73, Jim K9YC __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] KCOMM for K3
For what it's worth, I downloaded it, changed the code to accept dates up to 2050, and compiled it in Lazarus successfully under Windows 10. But it didn't run -- runtime exception. I'll have to look into it further. Incidentally, the date validation function is in utils.pas, not main.pas. 73, Victor, 4X6GP Rehovot, Israel CWops #5 Formerly K2VCO https://www.qsl.net/k2vco/ On 31/07/2021 19:18, Paul Evans W4/VP9KF wrote: I downloaded the source code (still available on g4ilo.com). I don't have any Elecraft gear, but you might want to try recompiling after changing this section in the main .pas file (environment is Lazarus/Pascal): function ValidDate(d: string): boolean; begin Result := (Length(d) = 10) and (d[5] = DateSeparator) and (d[8] = DateSeparator) and Between(StrToIntDef(Copy(d,1,4),-1),1950,2020) and Between(StrToIntDef(Copy(d,6,2),-1),1,12) and Between(StrToIntDef(Copy(d,9,2),-1),1,31); end; Don't know why the limit of 2020. It may be a feature of the Pascal function. It may not. The same limit existed in the VOAProp code that Julian G4ILO also wrote. Unfortunately it's some time since he became SK, but somebody with the time and the tools might be able to dig it out to re-compile the code and might succeed. He did hint that it was quite a job under either Linux or Windows (and we're talking about the Windows 7 era, hinted in the source code comments). Any takers!? __ 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 k2vco@gmail.com __ 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
[Elecraft] KAT500/KPA500 with IC-7610?
"The only downside to using Icom gear with the KPA/KAT500 is that Elecraft does not "read" the frequency "voltage" indicator and therefore does not preset the tuner to the correct values without transmitting." KPA500 only needs to know the band but KAT500 needs to know the actual frequency within the band. Isn't ICOM band voltage exactly that - a band indicator not a frequency indicator? To implement the interface properly you'd have to know the exact TX frequency which I think could be extracted from CI-V data. 73, Andy, k3wyc __ 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
[Elecraft] K2 chassis screws (SM6WJM)
Hello Albin, SM6WJM I have some left-over black pan head Phillips 4-40 screws from assembling my K2 # 136 in June, 1999 IF you yet need some, will find a bubble envelope to send them to Sweden Cheers, Jan K1ND -- This email has been checked for viruses by AVG. https://www.avg.com __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] KAT500/KPA500 with IC-7610?
I'll chime in too, echoing what Ken says. All you need is the "tune" cable to connect the KAT500 to the rig for control of the Tune function. I also use the LDG cable (just because it's easy ...) but you can easily make your own. (I am not familiar with the Ten-a-Tuner mentioned by Buck ... perhaps it is the same?) I prefer to use the Elecraft Utilities for both KPA and KAT500 for all tuning and setup settings, but the Tune button on the rig (or tuner) works fine as well (it automatically supplies the proper power for tuning). Generally, for digital operation I set the rig to about 18% power. For SSB, up to 25%. All the rig settings are automatically stored with each saved config file. The only downside to using Icom gear with the KPA/KAT500 is that Elecraft does not "read" the frequency "voltage" indicator and therefore does not preset the tuner to the correct values without transmitting. That ultimately is not a big deal, but does produce a 2 or 3 second delay for tuning when first transmitting after a band or significant frequency change. I generally hit the utility's Tune button as soon as I change so the receiver sees a good match. 73 Lyn, W0LEN -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Ken Winterling Sent: Friday, July 30, 2021 12:41 PM To: Buck Cc: Elecraft Reflector Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KAT500/KPA500 with IC-7610? Chuck, I, too, have been using an IC-7610 with the KAT500/KPA500 combination for several years. My IC-7610 TUNER jack is connected to the TUNE jack on the rear of the KAT500 via a LDG Electronics IC-PAC-6 cable. While the TUNE button on the IC-7610 or the TUNE button on the KAT500 activates the IC-7610 10W tune function and causes the KAT500 to tune, the Elecraft KAT500 manual stated "If a tune cycle is performed, 20 watts or more will produce more accurate tuning". My procedure is to switch to RTTY mode on the IC-7610 and key the rig. The KAT500 matches the load and I return the rig to the previous mode. This literally takes only a few seconds. Yes, the TUNE button works but I have found that sometimes my method produces a better match. Be sure to follow the KAT500 "training" procedure to store your various bands and frequencies in the tuner so they can be quickly recalled. As has been mentioned, you have to manually adjust your output as you switch between the amp and full power. I have a Brother P-Touch label on the amp to remind me about max power input. As for obtaining a tuner cable, you can get one from LDG, and other vendors. The IC-PAC-6 cable is 6' long while the IC-PAC cable is 14" long. https://ldgelectronics.com/index.php/products/accessories/cables/ GL & 73! Ken WA2LBI On Fri, Jul 30, 2021 at 12:55 PM Buck wrote: > I am running that combo now. Plug a Ten-a-Tuner ($10) from W2ENY.com > into the antenna tuner jack on the back of the 7610 or 7300. When you > push the rig's tune button it will send a 10w signal for about 8 > seconds. The KAT500 reads the frequency and makes the switch also > sending the info to the KPA500. > > You have to manually reduce the drive power from the 7610 or the amp > will fault when you transmit. > > It is not as elegant as the Elecraft system but it works reasonably > well. I was told there was a cable that would connect the 7610 but I > could not get my home-brew one to work. If someone can point to a > source, I would appreciate it. > > Buck, K4IA > Honor Roll > 8BDXCC > Author EasyWayHamBooks.com > License and Operating Manuals > > On 7/30/2021 9:12 AM, Chuck Chandler wrote: > > I'm currently running the K3S with the KAT500/KPA500 combo. It works > > great. > > > > I'm starting to look at what my next rig might be, and have tentatively > > narrowed it down to the K4 and IC-7610. I know the K4 will integrate > with > > the KAT/KPA just as well as the K3 does. > > > > How about the IC-7610? Are there significant drawbacks in the > > integration? How well does the iCom handle things like training the KAT > > for a new antenna via the rig TUNE button, or changing power levels > > between barefoot and QRO, for example? Are power settings per band > > supported? > > > > Any advice appreciated! > > > > 73 de Chuck, WS1L > > > > chandler...@gmail.com > > __ 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 l...@lnainc.com __ 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] K2 keying mod kit
Is there a packaged source for the required parts or do I get them from Mouser? Thanks. Doug, W0UHU __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] KCOMM for K3
>function ValidDate(d: string): boolean; >begin > Result := (Length(d) = 10) > and (d[5] = DateSeparator) > and (d[8] = DateSeparator) > and Between(StrToIntDef(Copy(d,1,4),-1),1950,2020) > and Between(StrToIntDef(Copy(d,6,2),-1),1,12) > and Between(StrToIntDef(Copy(d,9,2),-1),1,31); > end; > > Don't know why the limit of 2020. It may be a feature of the Pascal > function. It may not. All of these functions implementing this logic are not date specific functions. 'Copy' is just copying the year out of the string representation of the date.'StrToIntDef' is just converting those 4 characters to an integer (or -1 if the conversion fails).'Between' is just returning 'True' if the integer falls between 1950 and 2020 I think 2020 was just arbitrarily picked as a year. These kind of arbitrary decisions are usually limited to code using 2 digit years.In the day it wasn't uncommon to see logic that turned a two digit year to a 19xx date if the year was greater than something like 30 and 20xx if it was less than 30 or so. Like many programs, this one has obviously outlived its expected longevity. RichardK4KRW __ 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
