[Elecraft] KAT2: SWR Accuracy

2008-04-08 Thread Michael Linden
  I've just completed alignement of my KAT2 and am a bit dismayed by its SWR 
accuracy.
   
I feel pretty confident that I found the true dip in C55 at a value of 12. 
I then aligned the forward power (R1) using an OHR WM-2 that was aligned on 40m 
against test equipment. The 50 Ohm dummy load I'm using reads a flat 1.0:1 up 
into the 2m region on an MFJ-259B. I'm fairly happy with the forward 
calibration which yielded the following results:
   
  BAND  K2WM-2
  160  4.4   5.0
  804.6   5.0
  404.9   5.0
  305.2   5.0
  204.9   4.9
  175.0   5.0
  155.1   4.9
  125.5   5.0
  105.6   5.0
   
I initially calibrated reflected power (R2) by measuring the 
wiper-to-ground resistance on R1 and setting R2 for the same wiper-go-ground 
resistance. The reflected calibration results range from 1.0:1 on 160m to 1.2:1 
on 10m into the 50 Ohm dummy load. However, the SWR readings I see when using a 
25 Ohm dummy load (confirmed on MFJ-259B) aren't very good. The KAT2's 25 Ohm 
dummy load readings range from 1.7:1 on 160m to 1.2:1 on 10m.
   
Given the preceding results, I decided to set the reflected adjustment (R2) 
to show 2.0:1 on 40m into the 25 Ohm dummy load. This time, the results varied 
from 2.1:1 on 160m to 1.3:1 on 10m. I have considered going back and 
readjusting R2 to show an average reading of 2.0:1 across the bands into the 25 
Ohm load (higher than 2.0:1 on 160m, lower than 2.0:1 on 10m -- a compromise).
   
Is the accuracy displayed above typical of the KAT2? If not, maybe I need 
to go back and reevaluate my C55 calibration (although I felt pretty confident 
that it is correct).
   
Thanks, Michael N9BDF, K2 #4137
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Re: [Elecraft] KAT2: SWR Accuracy

2008-04-08 Thread Don Brown

Hi

Your numbers look normal to me. You may be able to improve the calibration 
using a 100 and 25 ohm load. This is how I do the calibration.


First get it into the ball park with the manual calibration method
Then alternate with the 100 and 25 ohm load and adjust C55 to get the same 
reverse reading
Increase the reverse pot to indicate 2.0 SWR and check at both loads for the 
same reading tweak C55 if needed
Go back and adjust the forward power to agree with your external calibrated 
meter with a 50 ohm load
Check the 25 and 100 ohm SWR readings again for a 2.0 value. The forward and 
reverse settings will interact so you may need to do all of the above 
several times to get it set up correctly.


Your loads should not have cables connected to them. They should connect 
directly to the tuner connectors. I built my loads into standard UHF 
connectors (PL-239) and use BNC adapters for the KAT2 or directly for the 
KAT100. I used two 51 ohm in parallel for the 25 ohm,  one 100 ohm for the 
100 ohm load and two 100 ohm resistors in parallel for the 50 ohm load. The 
resistors are 2 and 5 watt MOS types and mounted inside the connector. It is 
OK to use a cable with the 50 ohm load when using the WM-2 but as a final 
check I connect the 50 ohm load directly to the KAT2 and check for a 1.0:1 
reading


Thanks

Don Brown
KD5NDB

K3 S/N  0575

--
From: Michael Linden [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Tuesday, April 08, 2008 7:02 AM
To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net
Subject: [Elecraft] KAT2: SWR Accuracy

 I've just completed alignement of my KAT2 and am a bit dismayed by its 
SWR accuracy.


   I feel pretty confident that I found the true dip in C55 at a value of 
12. I then aligned the forward power (R1) using an OHR WM-2 that was 
aligned on 40m against test equipment. The 50 Ohm dummy load I'm using 
reads a flat 1.0:1 up into the 2m region on an MFJ-259B. I'm fairly happy 
with the forward calibration which yielded the following results:


 BAND  K2WM-2
 160  4.4   5.0
 804.6   5.0
 404.9   5.0
 305.2   5.0
 204.9   4.9
 175.0   5.0
 155.1   4.9
 125.5   5.0
 105.6   5.0

   I initially calibrated reflected power (R2) by measuring the 
wiper-to-ground resistance on R1 and setting R2 for the same 
wiper-go-ground resistance. The reflected calibration results range from 
1.0:1 on 160m to 1.2:1 on 10m into the 50 Ohm dummy load. However, the SWR 
readings I see when using a 25 Ohm dummy load (confirmed on MFJ-259B) 
aren't very good. The KAT2's 25 Ohm dummy load readings range from 1.7:1 
on 160m to 1.2:1 on 10m.


   Given the preceding results, I decided to set the reflected adjustment 
(R2) to show 2.0:1 on 40m into the 25 Ohm dummy load. This time, the 
results varied from 2.1:1 on 160m to 1.3:1 on 10m. I have considered going 
back and readjusting R2 to show an average reading of 2.0:1 across the 
bands into the 25 Ohm load (higher than 2.0:1 on 160m, lower than 2.0:1 on 
10m -- a compromise).


   Is the accuracy displayed above typical of the KAT2? If not, maybe I 
need to go back and reevaluate my C55 calibration (although I felt pretty 
confident that it is correct).


   Thanks, Michael N9BDF, K2 #4137
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