Re: [Elecraft] KAT500 - does it earth antenna connections

[Andy Durbin]

"You don't need to manually choose an antenna on startup. It remembers what
was last used on each band (assuming you are using an Elecraft or Kenwood
rig with it). I think it will still remember the last used even in a dumb
situation without knowledge from the radio; it just needs the radio support
to have "per-band" memory."

No radio support is needed for antenna per-band memory.  All the KAT500 needs 
to know is the TX frequency.  It then decides which antenna to select based on 
"band" and the antenna preferences defined by the KAT500 PC Utility.

A weakness of this design is that, if only RF sensing is used for frequency 
determination, the KAT500 may fault due to a mismatched load before the 
appropriate antenna has been selected for the new band.

Antenna selection can be performed by serial command but, even though my 
controller is capable of that, I have seen no reason to replicate the antenna 
selection logic already built into the KAT500.   There is a caveat though -  
the internal antenna selection logic doesn't work correctly when KAT500 is in 
BYP mode.  (The workaround for that defect is to never use BYP mode.  MAN mode 
with Byp active is electrically the same and antenna selection does work 
correctly in that configuration).

73,
Andy, k3wyc
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Re: [Elecraft] KAT500 - does it earth antenna connections

[David Aslin G3WGN]

So if I have one antenna port which no longer seems to function (port 2) the 
GDT may be a good suspect?
Suggestions for troubleshooting invited
73, David G3WGN M6O WJ6O



Sent from my Galaxy

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Re: [Elecraft] KAT500 - does it earth antenna connections

[Jack Brindle via Elecraft]

This is not quite correct. It does not connect unused antenna ports to ground. 
It does have a GDT and 1 meg resistor to ground on each port, however.
When power is off to the KAT500, ANT1 is connected directly to the input port.

But you are correct in that it has three output antenna ports.

73,
Jack, W6FB



> On Sep 30, 2021, at 9:46 AM, Greg Mitchell  wrote:
> 
> It has 3 antenna connections, not 4. It grounds the unused ones and selects
> antenna 1 on power-off. I put my dummy-load on antenna 1 so my station is
> disconnected from the antennas when powered down.
> 
> On Thu, Sep 30, 2021 at 10:40 AM David Ferrington, M0XDF <
> m0...@alphadene.co.uk > wrote:
> 
>> Sorry if this is obvious, but I haven’t bought a KAT500 yet (to go with
>> the KPA500 I managed to pick up from a fellow ham). I’m aware there are 4
>> selectable antenna connectors. Does it ground or earth the ones not
>> currently selected?
>> 
>> 73 de David, M0XDF (K3 #174, P3 #108)
>> 
>> For disappearing acts, it's hard to beat what happens to the eight hours
>> supposedly left after eight of sleep and eight of work.
>> -Doug Larson
>> 
>> __
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Re: [Elecraft] KAT500 - does it earth antenna connections

[Ray]

The Ground should be Attached to the Equipment,
Not to the Antenna lead.
Ray WA6VAB  K3 


From: David Ferrington, M0XDF
Sent: Thursday, September 30, 2021 8:20 AM
To: Ted Edwards W3TB
Cc: ElecraftList
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KAT500 - does it earth antenna connections

Or connect a dummy load via a power meter (Bird 43) to antenna 1, so you can 
check power output against a third party meter.
73 de David, M0XDF
-- 
It came to me that reform should begin at home, and since that day I have
not had time to remake the world. -Will Durant, historian (1885-1981)

> On 30 Sep 2021, at 16:10, Ted Edwards W3TB  wrote:
> 
> Interesting idea.
> I have two antennas, so I could connect my ground to #1 and antennas to #2 
> and #3?
> Just manually choose an antenna on start-up.   Hm-m-m-m-m.
> 
> On Thu, Sep 30, 2021 at 9:54 AM David Ferrington, M0XDF 
> mailto:m0...@alphadene.co.uk>> wrote:
> Thanks Greg - guess I should learn to count!
> 73 de David, M0XDF
> 
> If people knew how hard I worked to get my mastery, it wouldn't seem so 
> wonderful after all. -Michelangelo Buonarroti, sculptor, painter, architect, 
> and poet (1475-1564) 
> 
> > On 30 Sep 2021, at 15:46, Greg Mitchell  > <mailto:kb1...@arrl.net>> wrote:
> > 
> > It has 3 antenna connections, not 4. It grounds the unused ones and selects 
> > antenna 1 on power-off. I put my dummy-load on antenna 1 so my station is 
> > disconnected from the antennas when powered down.
> > 
> > On Thu, Sep 30, 2021 at 10:40 AM David Ferrington, M0XDF 
> >  > <mailto:m0...@alphadene.co.uk><mailto:m0...@alphadene.co.uk 
> > <mailto:m0...@alphadene.co.uk>>> wrote:
> > Sorry if this is obvious, but I haven’t bought a KAT500 yet (to go with the 
> > KPA500 I managed to pick up from a fellow ham). I’m aware there are 4 
> > selectable antenna connectors. Does it ground or earth the ones not 
> > currently selected?
> > 
> > 73 de David, M0XDF (K3 #174, P3 #108)
> > 
> > For disappearing acts, it's hard to beat what happens to the eight hours 
> > supposedly left after eight of sleep and eight of work.
> > -Doug Larson 
> > 
> > __
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> -- 
> 73 de Ted Edwards, W3TB and GØPWW
> 
> and thinking about operating CW:
> "Do today what others won't,
> so you can do tomorrow what others can't."

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Re: [Elecraft] KAT500 - does it earth antenna connections

[David Ferrington, M0XDF]

Or connect a dummy load via a power meter (Bird 43) to antenna 1, so you can 
check power output against a third party meter.
73 de David, M0XDF
-- 
It came to me that reform should begin at home, and since that day I have
not had time to remake the world. -Will Durant, historian (1885-1981)

> On 30 Sep 2021, at 16:10, Ted Edwards W3TB  wrote:
> 
> Interesting idea.
> I have two antennas, so I could connect my ground to #1 and antennas to #2 
> and #3?
> Just manually choose an antenna on start-up.   Hm-m-m-m-m.
> 
> On Thu, Sep 30, 2021 at 9:54 AM David Ferrington, M0XDF 
> mailto:m0...@alphadene.co.uk>> wrote:
> Thanks Greg - guess I should learn to count!
> 73 de David, M0XDF
> 
> If people knew how hard I worked to get my mastery, it wouldn't seem so 
> wonderful after all. -Michelangelo Buonarroti, sculptor, painter, architect, 
> and poet (1475-1564) 
> 
> > On 30 Sep 2021, at 15:46, Greg Mitchell  > > wrote:
> > 
> > It has 3 antenna connections, not 4. It grounds the unused ones and selects 
> > antenna 1 on power-off. I put my dummy-load on antenna 1 so my station is 
> > disconnected from the antennas when powered down.
> > 
> > On Thu, Sep 30, 2021 at 10:40 AM David Ferrington, M0XDF 
> >  >  > >> wrote:
> > Sorry if this is obvious, but I haven’t bought a KAT500 yet (to go with the 
> > KPA500 I managed to pick up from a fellow ham). I’m aware there are 4 
> > selectable antenna connectors. Does it ground or earth the ones not 
> > currently selected?
> > 
> > 73 de David, M0XDF (K3 #174, P3 #108)
> > 
> > For disappearing acts, it's hard to beat what happens to the eight hours 
> > supposedly left after eight of sleep and eight of work.
> > -Doug Larson 
> > 
> > __
> > Elecraft mailing list
> > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft 
> >  
> >  > >
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> > >
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> > >
> > 
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> > >
> > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html 
> >   > >
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> > >
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> 
> -- 
> 73 de Ted Edwards, W3TB and GØPWW
> 
> and thinking about operating CW:
> "Do today what others won't,
> so you can do tomorrow what others can't."

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Re: [Elecraft] KAT500 - does it earth antenna connections

[Greg Mitchell]

You don't need to manually choose an antenna on startup. It remembers what
was last used on each band (assuming you are using an Elecraft or Kenwood
rig with it). I think it will still remember the last used even in a dumb
situation without knowledge from the radio; it just needs the radio support
to have "per-band" memory. I could be wrong. I know it remembers fine with
my K3.

On Thu, Sep 30, 2021 at 11:11 AM Ted Edwards W3TB 
wrote:

> Interesting idea.
> I have two antennas, so I could connect my ground to #1 and antennas to #2
> and #3?
> Just manually choose an antenna on start-up.   Hm-m-m-m-m.
>
> On Thu, Sep 30, 2021 at 9:54 AM David Ferrington, M0XDF <
> m0...@alphadene.co.uk> wrote:
>
>> Thanks Greg - guess I should learn to count!
>> 73 de David, M0XDF
>>
>> If people knew how hard I worked to get my mastery, it wouldn't seem so
>> wonderful after all. -Michelangelo Buonarroti, sculptor, painter,
>> architect, and poet (1475-1564)
>>
>> > On 30 Sep 2021, at 15:46, Greg Mitchell  wrote:
>> >
>> > It has 3 antenna connections, not 4. It grounds the unused ones and
>> selects antenna 1 on power-off. I put my dummy-load on antenna 1 so my
>> station is disconnected from the antennas when powered down.
>> >
>> > On Thu, Sep 30, 2021 at 10:40 AM David Ferrington, M0XDF <
>> m0...@alphadene.co.uk > wrote:
>> > Sorry if this is obvious, but I haven’t bought a KAT500 yet (to go with
>> the KPA500 I managed to pick up from a fellow ham). I’m aware there are 4
>> selectable antenna connectors. Does it ground or earth the ones not
>> currently selected?
>> >
>> > 73 de David, M0XDF (K3 #174, P3 #108)
>> >
>> > For disappearing acts, it's hard to beat what happens to the eight
>> hours supposedly left after eight of sleep and eight of work.
>> > -Doug Larson
>> >
>> > __
>> > Elecraft mailing list
>> > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft <
>> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft>
>> > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm <
>> http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm>
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>> >
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>> > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html <
>> http://www.qsl.net/donate.html>
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>> __
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>
>
>
> --
> 73 de Ted Edwards, W3TB and GØPWW
>
> and thinking about operating CW:
> "Do today what others won't,
> so you can do tomorrow what others can't."
>
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Re: [Elecraft] KAT500 - does it earth antenna connections

[Ted Edwards W3TB]

Interesting idea.
I have two antennas, so I could connect my ground to #1 and antennas to #2
and #3?
Just manually choose an antenna on start-up.   Hm-m-m-m-m.

On Thu, Sep 30, 2021 at 9:54 AM David Ferrington, M0XDF <
m0...@alphadene.co.uk> wrote:

> Thanks Greg - guess I should learn to count!
> 73 de David, M0XDF
>
> If people knew how hard I worked to get my mastery, it wouldn't seem so
> wonderful after all. -Michelangelo Buonarroti, sculptor, painter,
> architect, and poet (1475-1564)
>
> > On 30 Sep 2021, at 15:46, Greg Mitchell  wrote:
> >
> > It has 3 antenna connections, not 4. It grounds the unused ones and
> selects antenna 1 on power-off. I put my dummy-load on antenna 1 so my
> station is disconnected from the antennas when powered down.
> >
> > On Thu, Sep 30, 2021 at 10:40 AM David Ferrington, M0XDF <
> m0...@alphadene.co.uk > wrote:
> > Sorry if this is obvious, but I haven’t bought a KAT500 yet (to go with
> the KPA500 I managed to pick up from a fellow ham). I’m aware there are 4
> selectable antenna connectors. Does it ground or earth the ones not
> currently selected?
> >
> > 73 de David, M0XDF (K3 #174, P3 #108)
> >
> > For disappearing acts, it's hard to beat what happens to the eight hours
> supposedly left after eight of sleep and eight of work.
> > -Doug Larson
> >
> > __
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> http://www.qsl.net/donate.html>
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-- 
73 de Ted Edwards, W3TB and GØPWW

and thinking about operating CW:
"Do today what others won't,
so you can do tomorrow what others can't."
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Re: [Elecraft] KAT500 - does it earth antenna connections

[David Ferrington, M0XDF]

Thanks Greg - guess I should learn to count!
73 de David, M0XDF

If people knew how hard I worked to get my mastery, it wouldn't seem so 
wonderful after all. -Michelangelo Buonarroti, sculptor, painter, architect, 
and poet (1475-1564) 

> On 30 Sep 2021, at 15:46, Greg Mitchell  wrote:
> 
> It has 3 antenna connections, not 4. It grounds the unused ones and selects 
> antenna 1 on power-off. I put my dummy-load on antenna 1 so my station is 
> disconnected from the antennas when powered down.
> 
> On Thu, Sep 30, 2021 at 10:40 AM David Ferrington, M0XDF 
> mailto:m0...@alphadene.co.uk>> wrote:
> Sorry if this is obvious, but I haven’t bought a KAT500 yet (to go with the 
> KPA500 I managed to pick up from a fellow ham). I’m aware there are 4 
> selectable antenna connectors. Does it ground or earth the ones not currently 
> selected?
> 
> 73 de David, M0XDF (K3 #174, P3 #108)
> 
> For disappearing acts, it's hard to beat what happens to the eight hours 
> supposedly left after eight of sleep and eight of work.
> -Doug Larson 
> 
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Re: [Elecraft] KAT500 - does it earth antenna connections

[Greg Mitchell]

It has 3 antenna connections, not 4. It grounds the unused ones and selects
antenna 1 on power-off. I put my dummy-load on antenna 1 so my station is
disconnected from the antennas when powered down.

On Thu, Sep 30, 2021 at 10:40 AM David Ferrington, M0XDF <
m0...@alphadene.co.uk> wrote:

> Sorry if this is obvious, but I haven’t bought a KAT500 yet (to go with
> the KPA500 I managed to pick up from a fellow ham). I’m aware there are 4
> selectable antenna connectors. Does it ground or earth the ones not
> currently selected?
>
> 73 de David, M0XDF (K3 #174, P3 #108)
>
> For disappearing acts, it's hard to beat what happens to the eight hours
> supposedly left after eight of sleep and eight of work.
> -Doug Larson
>
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