Re: [Elecraft] Antennas for portable ops

Two picture examples are on the bottom of my QRZ page. 1. Just a wire up into the beach umbrella and over to a 16 foot fiberglass pole,with my counterpoise. South Carolina Ocean beach. 2.walking along Grismey Island, in the arctic circle with a mfj whip and counterpoise dragging. Too bad nob

Re: [Elecraft] KPA-1500 failed!

Stiction of non lubricated threads can give a false sense of tight connection. PL259/SO239 in particular can have poor contact through the ground conductors while the thread seems tight. When the threads are lubricated stiction does not occur and hand tightening always ensures that the front r

[Elecraft] Slip on adapters on PL259s

Here comes the flames:  I use slip on adapters on my PL259s that connect my rigs/tuners/etc. to the outside world on my bulkhead. I have been using this method for over 30 years and NEVER had a connector associated failure. It allows for quick connect/disconnect when shutting down for thunderst

Re: [Elecraft] New KPA500/KAT500 question

Dave, I see that you have it figured out. As to your question - the K3 and P3 connect together using the IF out coax and the RS-232 connection. The KAT500/KPA500 connect using the AUX cable - that is no interconnection between the P3 and the KAT500/KPA500, they are entirely separate. 73,

Re: [Elecraft] Slip on adapters on PL259s

Yeah! I have a Daiwa CS401 that I wanted to use to switch an antenna between to K3s. The isolation is so poor that 95 watts from one radio activates the high RF receive level on the other. Substituting a DELTA-4 solved the problem. 73, -John NI0K bill wrote on 2/17/2019 8:23 AM: Here comes th

[Elecraft] Coax Switches

I use the Alpha Delta Series. They have SO-239 and "N" connector models, two position or four position. For the price difference, I always get four position. They are not only well built switches, but they do have surge protection (gas) with a replaceable pill. Their best feature is the ver

Re: [Elecraft] Antennas for portable ops

Steve, For portable ops from a fixed location, consider a multi-band (through use of insulator links) resonant dipole. High-performance antennas for camping and backpacking have been my principal interest in ham radio for 50 years. Upon request, I can send a pdf file that describes a seven-ba

Re: [Elecraft] New KPA500/KAT500 question

Thanks Don, that was what I needed to hear on your first post. After I figured out that nothing goes through the P3 from the K3 to the KAT500, things made a lot more sense... What a nice setup I have now... I will be selling my ALS-1306, and Palstar HF-AUTO as a result of getting this little

Re: [Elecraft] Removing/connecting PL-259s

I had that happen once too many years ago with an Amphenol PL-259. Since then I make sure that they fit together before soldering! John KK9A Drew AF2Z wrote: No, a bit paranoid perhaps but I disconnect the rig entirely, including p/s cable. It's not too bad since I'm mostly a CW operator an

Re: [Elecraft] PL-259 threads closed.

Folks, let's close the PL259 threads now in the interest of reducing list email overload for the rest of our readers. 73, Eric moderator, even on my days off.. elecraft.com _..._ __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/ma

Re: [Elecraft] Removing/connecting PL-259s

Folks, let's close the PL259 threads now in the interest of reducing list email overload for the rest of our readers. 73, Eric moderator, even on my days off.. elecraft.com _..._ > On Feb 17, 2019, at 8:58 AM, wrote: > > I had that happen once too many years ago with an Amphenol PL-259. Sin

Re: [Elecraft] Antennas for portable ops

I really like the Par HF omni’s. Mono band but so easy to swap out and swr adjustment is so easy a caveman can do it. And they work great. I bought a long gun case and store all the elements, band modules,coax, balun, and tools. Just grab and go. No hiking, just drive up locations for these old bon

[Elecraft] K3 Internal Battery and Clock, and one more K2 for sale

Any experience with how long the K3’s internal battery should go before replacement? My K3, assembled in late 2013, lost six hours on the clock over the last couple of weeks. After correction it seems to be running well enough, but I wonder if this is an indication that the internal battery is

Re: [Elecraft] Slip on adapters on PL259s

Bill, We used the "slip-ons" to have quick reconfiguration of monitors on a live remote (TV) truck when we were still using UHF connectors for video. We had no failures that I remember - remote live trucks live in a very hostile environment! We used the UHF slip-ons until the conversion to BNCs

Re: [Elecraft] Clock battery in K3

Thanks, George. Since sending my earlier post I checked the date -- and it's off by 19 years. It shows a date in '00. I bought the rig in '13. From that I'll bet the power to the calendar and the clock both just went out for a while and they reset to their defaults. The Manual seems to say

Re: [Elecraft] Coax Switches

Smart man and decisions and the way to do things correctly.  Glad to see this. 73 Bob, K4TAX On 2/17/2019 9:38 AM, James F. Boehner MD via Elecraft wrote: I use the Alpha Delta Series. They have SO-239 and "N" connector models, two position or four position. For the price difference, I a

[Elecraft] Looking for a way to switch an antenna input to the KAT500

Hi, I use a Kat500 with my K3 and KX3. However, I have a number of other radios which I would like to use with the Kat500. So I'm looking for a antenna switch that can change inputs in some way based on an electronic signal. The signal can be via serial device, or network doesn't matter. Any

Re: [Elecraft] Slip on adapters on PL259s

I soldered metal hose clamps with handles, onto the quick plugs. 1 turn on the handle and odd it comes... Times 5 cables plus rotor cablr5 Sent from Xfinity Connect Application -Original Message- From: b...@w2blc.net To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: 2019-02-17 9:24:33 AM Subject: [E

Re: [Elecraft] Looking for a way to switch an antenna input to the KAT500

https://www.dowkey.com/product-category/coaxial-switches/ Sent from my iPad > On Feb 17, 2019, at 3:30 PM, Tom wrote: > > Hi, > I use a Kat500 with my K3 and KX3. However, I have a number of other radios > which I would like to use with the Kat500. So I'm looking for a antenna > switch that

Re: [Elecraft] Coax Switches

+1 , just 2 position here Sent from my iPad > On Feb 17, 2019, at 10:38 AM, James F. Boehner MD via Elecraft > wrote: > > I use the Alpha Delta Series. They have SO-239 and "N" connector models, > two position or four position. For the price difference, I always get four > position. >

Re: [Elecraft] Coax Switches / dBm & W in python

At work (RF lab), dBm power units let a feeble-minded engineer :-) use plus/minus rather than times/divide with Watts for calculations. For isolation and other calculations in the ham shack where Watts are used, a few python one-liners useful. (Python is free and runs on Windows, Mac, linux.)

[Elecraft] Coax Switches / dBm & W in python

" from math import * w2dbm = lambda x: 10 * log10(x/10) + 30 dbm2w = lambda x: 10 ** ((x-30)/10) iso = lambda pwr_W, iso_dB: dbm2w(w2dbm(pwr_W) - iso_dB) and now something like >>> iso(1500, 60) 0.001500 tells you that 1500 W with 60 dB isolation leaks 1.5 mW to the other port." Does dividing

Re: [Elecraft] Coax Switches / dBm & W in python

Thanks for the math stuff! 'Specially that last line. Good to know. Also, some emails asked where I get/what is a slip on PL259. Go here: https://www.rfparts.com/rfp530.html May be others, but that is where I got my newest ones. Bill W2BLC K-Line _

Re: [Elecraft] Coax Switches / dBm & W in python

On 2/17/19 4:32 PM, Andy Durbin wrote: " from math import * w2dbm = lambda x: 10 * log10(x/10) + 30 dbm2w = lambda x: 10 ** ((x-30)/10) iso = lambda pwr_W, iso_dB: dbm2w(w2dbm(pwr_W) - iso_dB) and now something like >>> iso(1500, 60) 0.001500 tells you that 1500 W with 60 dB isolation leaks

Re: [Elecraft] Coax Switches / dBm & W in python

I generally do DBs in my head. Just remember with power 3 db=2X, 6db-4X, 7DB=5X and 10 db=10X. It scales from there. Every 10 db is a factor of 10. 60 db is a factor of one million. Just divide 1500 by a million. For voltage the scale doubles so 20 db is 10X, 6 db is 2X, etc. Sent from my i

Re: [Elecraft] Looking for a way to switch an antenna input to the KAT500

TopTen has a nice A/B switch with pretty good isolation characteristics. See: https://toptendevices.com/products/ab-station-selector/ It requires a 12V signal for switching, I believe. Array Solutions also sells some devices that may be o

[Elecraft] Elecrat SSB net 2-17-2019

Here is the list of stations checking in to the net today. I hope I got the calls and serial numbers correct. Thanks for checking in. Elecraft SSB Net 2-17-2019 WB9JNZ     Eric  IL K3    4017    Net control NC0JW   Jim  CO   KX3 1356    Relay station K9Y

[Elecraft] low pass filters

Good day -   What is the consensus concerning low-pass filters to minimize RFI both coming in and going out  of the shack?   Is there a type or size, brand or model that comes highly recommended?  Is it prudent to employ one, regardless of whether or not there is a known, identified problem , i

Re: [Elecraft] low pass filters

A low-pass filter will not change RFI either coming into the shack or going out. There are low-pass filters in all transceivers produced by Elecraft (and most other manufacturers), and they are in both the transmit and receive path. The current FCC requirement is for the 2nd harmonic be suppres

[Elecraft] KPA1500 Power Supply Issue

Last August, I had my KPA1500 repaired by Elecraft as one PA transistor failed. They replaced both PA transistors and sent it back to me under warranty. Only the RF deck was shipped to Elecraft. The KPA1500 power supply stayed home unplugged during this time,.  I kept using my backup Amp until t

Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 Power Supply Issue

Paul, Be certain the control cable between the KPA1500 RF deck and the power supply is seated properly and the jackscrews tightened. The fact that the KPA1500 power switch does nothing is an indicator that the cable may have some problem. 73, Don W3FPR On 2/17/2019 6:41 PM, paule408--- via

[Elecraft] P3 Hub Support?

Does the P3 have (or are there plans to add) support for a USB hub on the P3? This would be very handy for those who want to have a Keypad and a Keyboard connected to the P3. __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/

Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 Power Supply Issue

Don, thanks so much for your swift reply and great suggestion.  I re-seated the grey control cable and snugged it up and the amp is working fine now! Problem solved! (Cockpit error) Thanks all,  Paul N6PSE On Sunday, February 17, 2019, 3:53:59 PM PST, Don Wilhelm wrote: Paul, Be cert

Re: [Elecraft] Looking for a way to switch an antenna input to the KAT500

Jack, Thanks for bringing this to my attention... it is just what I have been looking for to switch between my main and remote operated stations! 73, -John NI0K Jack Brindle via Elecraft Sunday, February 17, 2019 3:59 PM TopTen has a nice A/B switch with pre

Re: [Elecraft] Looking for a way to switch an antenna input to the KAT500

Hi, Yes this looks interesting as does the ones from Dewey. It seems that top ten devices also has a 6 antenna to 1 radio switch. Anyone know if it can operate the other way around? 6 radios to one antenna (kat500)? 73 Tom From: John Simmons Sent: February 17, 2019 5:10 PM To: Jack Brindle

[Elecraft] Elecraft CW Net Report

Good Evening,    Forty meters was contesters up and down the dial.  And then it all went quiet.  I ran the forty meter net for 28 minutes and worked a nice group of people.  A few of them fresh from the contest others not so fresh after hours of snow moving.  The report of good food in New Or

Re: [Elecraft] Looking for a way to switch an antenna input to the KAT500

I concur with the comments on the Top Ten 2-way switches. I'm using about 10 of them at various places in my SO2R contest station antenna and BPF switching networks. They work well and have good isolation. I'm also using a 6-way for RX antenna switching. It's simply one port switched to one of

[Elecraft] Looking for a way to switch an antenna input to the KAT500

The Top Ten box just has relays connecting between the input and one of six outputs. There is no reason that you could not use it in reverse, six radios driving one antenna. I use Top Ten relay on my expeditions automatically controlled by their band decoder which is connected to my K3S. John KK9A

Re: [Elecraft] Looking for a way to switch an antenna input to the KAT500

On 2/17/2019 6:26 PM, Randy Farmer wrote: I concur with the comments on the Top Ten 2-way switches. I'm using about 10 of them at various places in my SO2R contest station antenna and BPF switching networks. They work well and have good isolation. I On the basis of my measurements with a Vecto

Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 Power Supply Issue

Hi Paul, If the green AC light is on and the PS 50V LED is not coming on when you try to power up the amp from the RF deck front panel it indicates that the two boxes are not talking. It sounds like the control cable between the amp and PS is not fully seated. Try unscrewing it on both ends

Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 Power Supply Issue

Looks like Don beat me to the punch. (I'm reading to slow today ;-) Thanks Don! 73, Eric elecraft.com _..._ > On Feb 17, 2019, at 4:19 PM, paule408--- via Elecraft > wrote: > > Don, thanks so much for your swift reply and great suggestion. > I re-seated the grey control cable and snugged

Re: [Elecraft] Looking for a way to switch an antenna input to the KAT500

Yup, I did specify "good", not "great" isolation for the Top Ten switches. I'm aware of their limitations. I agree that it's always desirable to have 70+ dB port-to-port isolation if you can get it (and afford it), but depending on the application it's certainly not always necessary. During the