+++++++++++++++++++ KAT100 Information Available Before Announcement See also KAT100 Notes (After Announcement) +++++++++++++++++++ Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2002 15:05:50 -0800 From: Eric Swartz WA6HHQ - Elecraft Organization: Elecraft To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] Re: KAT100 To clarify my previous posting: The KAT100 is a 100W ATU that operates identically to the KAT2 ATU with control from the K2/100's front panel buttons. 73, Eric =============== Eric Swartz WA6HHQ - Elecraft wrote: > > We plan to offer the KAT100 both in its own enclosure and as a board that will > fit in the bottom of the EC2 so you can combine it with your other projects. It > will communicate with the K2 via the KIO2 in the K2 (or via the built in KIO2 in > the K2/100). +++++++++++++++++++ Date: Mon, 13 May 2002 17:49:50 -0700 From: Eric Swartz WA6HHQ - Elecraft Organization: Elecraft To: Francis Belliveau Cc: elecraft at mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Beautiful! plus K2 in the EC2 hookup? Well before Xmas :^) 73, Eric ==== Francis Belliveau wrote: > > On: Friday, May 10, 2002 11:29 AM > > wrote: > > > ... > > Wayne and Eric will hate me for this question.....but is anyone aware of > > the time frame on the heavy ATU that will go with the amp? ++++++++++++++++++++ Date: Mon, 20 May 2002 11:13:18 -0700 From: Eric Swartz WA6HHQ - Elecraft Organization: Elecraft To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: Fw: [Elecraft] 100W Autotunner? Current plans are for the 100W external K2 ATU (KAT100) to be out by September or earlier. It currently looks like it will be available both in a approximately 1 inch high enclosure that will fit under the K2 and also as a raw board that can be mounted in the bottom of the EC2 (in a similar manner to the RF board in the K2). It basically is a scaled up KAT2 and will integrate with the K2's front panel and menu identically to the KAT2. All of this is preliminary and subject to change as we get closer to release. We will post here as we get more details. 73, Eric WA6HHQ ++++++++++++++++++++++ Date: Wed, 05 Jun 2002 10:45:34 -0700 From: Wayne Burdick Organization: Elecraft To: Elecraft Subject: [Elecraft] KAT100 QRO tuner survey The KAT100 QRO tuner for the K2/100 will be offered as a PC-board-only kit for those who want to use their own enclosure. You'll also be able to purchase KAT100-compatible front and back panels for the EC2. (The EC2 is a blank project enclosure that matches the K2.) The KAT100 PCB will fit into the bottom of the EC2, leaving the entire upper portion of the cabinet free for use with other station accessories of your choice. We're also considering one other cabinet for the KAT100: one that's approximately half the height of the EC2. This would allow you to put the KAT100 underneath the K2, although the half-height cabinet would not allow a lot of room for other accessories. To determine what the need for these packaging options will be, we're doing a very brief survey. Please indicate which of the following options you would be most likely to purchase: 1. KAT100 PC board kit only 2. KAT100 + front/back panels for the EC2 (EC2 required) 3. KAT100 + half-height enclosure (EC15) Please send your responses ONLY to n6kr at elecraft.com, not the reflector. Pricing and other details about the KAT100 will be posted at a later date. Thanks, Wayne N6KR +++++++++++++++++++ Date: Wed, 05 Jun 2002 13:00:07 -0700 From: Wayne Burdick Organization: Elecraft To: Elecraft Subject: [Elecraft] KAT100: EC2 vs. EC15 Thanks for all of the survey resonses (of which we now have plenty). Based on these, it looks like close to an even split between those who want to put their KAT100 in an EC2 and those who prefer the half-height cabinet (EC15). So we'll offer both options, as well as a board-only kit. Other details on the KAT100 will be posted later. 73, Wayne ++++++++++++++++++++ From: "Lyle Johnson" To: Subject: RE: [Elecraft] KPA-100 with K2 ATU Date: Wed, 5 Jun 2002 20:06:38 -0700 Hello Daniel! > If I want to use the KPA-100 in the future, and still want to tune up my > antennas? Right now, you have to use an external ATU with the KPA100. When the KAt100 is available, then you can use it. > What ATU should I use, and if I can use the K2 ATU how do set up so that > the K2 will bring the 100W down to 3W, then put it back to 100W and > bypass the 20W tuner to transmit?? Just turn the power control knob on the front panel from less than 1W to 100W. If ytou want to use a KAT2 inside the K2 and de-integrate the KPA100, you can do this in the EC2. There are two web pages that show how to do this. > I would like to do this in the EC2 if necessary. The KAT100 will be able to fit in the EC2, or the smaller EC15. 73, Lyle KK7P +++++++++++++++++++ Date: Wed, 05 Jun 2002 21:07:22 -0700 From: Wayne Burdick Organization: Elecraft To: ham_tech at juno.com Cc: elecraft at mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] KAT100/KAT2/KPA100 interaction Daniel, If the K2 detects both tuners in the system, it will put the KAT2 into through mode (CALP) and force it to antenna 1. The KAT100 will then be the only tuner doing anything. If the K2 detects a KPA100 in the system, the TUNE mode power level will be 20 watts. If not, it will be 3 watts, and this will work with either the KAT2 or the KAT100. Like the KAT2, the KAT100 will have have two antenna jacks, controllable with the ANT1/2 switch on the K2 front panel. 73, Wayne N6KR ham_tech at juno.com wrote: > > Hi, > > If I want to use the KPA-100 in the future, and still want to tune up my > antennas? > > What ATU should I use, and if I can use the K2 ATU how do set up so that > the K2 will bring the 100W down to 3W, then put it back to 100W and > bypass the 20W tuner to transmit?? I would like to do this in the EC2 if > necessary. > > DAniel +++++++++++++++++++ From: "Lyle Johnson" To: , "Elecraft" Subject: RE: [Elecraft] KPA-100 with K2 ATU Date: Fri, 7 Jun 2002 08:52:46 -0700 Hello Tim! > Now I'm getting confused again :-) With the KPA100 INSTALLED in the K2 > and the KAT2 removed, my understanding is that it will tune and transmit > at QRP levels (under 5 watts) as well as the 100 watt level... With the KPA100 installed, the K2/100 has a TUNE power level of 20 watts. It has an OPERATING power range from 1 to 100 watts. Of course, once you have activated TUNE, you can turn the power control up or down to change it, but the next time you activate TUINE it will again be at 20 watts. If you remove power from the KPA100 power connector (the Anderson power pole connector) and instead apply power to the ORIGINAL K2 power connector, then the KPA100 RF amplifer section is not powered and the K2/100 will operate at the K2's original, QRP TUNE and OPERATING power settings. In this mode, the K2/100 still uses the SO-239 RF connector. 73, Lyle KK7P +++++++++++++++++++++ Date: Fri, 26 Jul 2002 09:36:27 -0700 From: Wayne Burdick Organization: Elecraft To: kevinrock at earthlink.net Cc: Elecraft reflector Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Re: ATU for K2/100 kevinrock at earthlink.net wrote: > Any hints on when these gadgets will become available to the rank and file K2 builders? Hi Kevin, We've been shooting for September. We'll have the PC boards and prototype enclosures here in about 2 weeks, so things are on schedule so far. 73, Wayne N6KR +++++++++++++++++++++ Date: Tue, 20 Aug 2002 17:15:55 -0700 From: Eric Swartz WA6HHQ - Elecraft Organization: Elecraft To: Elecraft at mailman.qth.net Cc: QRP-L Subject: [Elecraft] Elecraft KAT100 Antenna Tuner - Preview pics Ok - Since the KAT is out of the bag ;^) here is a link with some preliminary pictures and features for the KAT100 150W ATU. http://www.elecraft.com/kat100/kat100_page.htm The KAT100 is basically a KAT2 on steroids. It fits in a 1.2" low profile enclosure that uses the same footprint as the K2 and interfaces to the K2 in an identical manner as the KAT2 QRP ATU. It will auto tune down to QRP power levels (1/2W). The response at the San Diego ARRL convention last weekend was overwhelming! Needless to say we are working overtime to get it into production. Please do not call or email us with questions about features or pricing at this time. We ar not taking orders yet for the KAT100. We will be in field test in September and expect to ship it in October. We will begin taking orders and post additional pictures and information on the web page and this list some time between now and then. Stay tuned! 73, Eric WA6HHQ ========= Mike Harris wrote: > > What I carelessly forgot to mention was that I had eyeballed the new > > Antenna Tuner. > > Coming from the pre-digital meter-movement era of 30 years ago (in my > > Escondido High School days as "radio club president"), I can certify > > that the across-the-board incremental digital display, is both > > graphically beautiful and technologically appropriate. I predict that > > you guys (and girls) will love it. ++++++++++++++++ Date: Tue, 20 Aug 2002 21:03:29 -0700 From: Wayne Burdick Organization: Elecraft To: Michael E Dobson Cc: Elecraft at mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] EC2 versin of KAT100 Antenna Tuner Michael E Dobson wrote: > Wow!! I've got to have one of these. However, if the interface is via > the DB9 on the KIO2 or KPA100.... Michael, The KAT100 has a variety of extra (and very useful) connectors on both the rear panel and on the PC board. We put them there to allow for future system expansion. They can accomodate a wide range of other equipment that you might want to build into the EC2 (full height) version of the tuner. Rather than speculate on what that equipment might be, I'll let you use your imagination. 73, Wayne N6KR +++++++++++++++ Date: Tue, 20 Aug 2002 22:07:41 -0700 From: Wayne Burdick Organization: Elecraft To: Robert Fanfant Cc: JimWMiller at aol.com, mike.harris at horizon.co.fk, elecraft at mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] Re: K2/100 Antenna Tuner only with K2? Robert Fanfant wrote: > Will the tuner only work with a K2? Rob (and others): The KAT100 is designed specifically for the K2/100 and the K2. It's a match physically and electrically. It takes advantage of the K2's menu system and LCD for control and display, allowing us to keep the cost low and performance high. If we ever do offer a stand-alone ATU (with some sort of metering--probably a lot more expensive), we'll do it in such a way that you'll be able to upgrade your KAT100. We have no plans for other tuners presently. Our goal was simply to create a matching tuner for the K2/100 that offered the same features as the KAT2. 73, Wayne N6KR ++++++++++++++++ From: "Don Brown" To: "Steve Knell" , "Elecraft" Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Elecraft KAT100 Antenna Tuner - Preview pics Date: Wed, 21 Aug 2002 08:02:53 -0500 Hi You will still be able to use computer control with a special Y connector= the tuner does not need any of the RS-232 signals to function. =20 Don Brown KD5NDB ----- Original Message ----- From: Steve Knell Sent: Wednesday, August 21, 2002 3:37 AM To: Elecraft at mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Elecraft KAT100 Antenna Tuner - Preview pics If the KAT100 interfaces to the K2 using the DB9 connector, I guess this means that it wouldn't be possible to use computer control together with = the K2/100+KAT100? 73 Steve AB6ZA/G0CKP ++++++++++++++++ From: "Don Brown" To: "Elecraft" Subject: Re: [Elecraft] EC2 version of KAT100 Antenna Tuner Date: Wed, 21 Aug 2002 09:24:04 -0500 Hi >From looking at the pictures I assume the KAT100 is powered by the KPA100= from the 9 pin connector and a short jumper from the KPA100 output to th= e KAT100 for the RF. =20 What is the BNC connector for? (is it used when the KAT100 is in low powe= r mode) a guess. Is the internal SWR circuit used only for the meter on the front panel or= is it used for the tuning. =20 Can the KAT100 be used with a QRP K2 in place of the KAT2. If so it would= be a nice way for someone with a K2 that is planning to move up to a KPA= 100 at a later date to save money. You could build the KAT100 and use it = QRP and be ready for the KPA100 with out needing the KAT2 unless you want= ed to go portable. The tiewraps for the toroids is a nice. Don Brown KD5NDB ----- Original Message ----- From: Don Brown Sent: Wednesday, August 21, 2002 8:45 AM To: Mike Rioux; Elecraft Subject: Re: [Elecraft] EC2 version of KAT100 Antenna Tuner Hi I think this is correct - when the K2 finds a KAT2 and a KAT100 installed= at the same time it will place the KAT2 into bypass mode (CALS, CALP) so= if you mounted a BNC connector on the back of the EC2 connected to the R= F in of the KPA100 then you could use a short BNC to BNC cable to connect= the K2 KAT2 output to the remote mounted KPA100. Wayne or Eric can elabo= rate and/or confirm this. Don Brown KD5NDB ++++++++++++++++ Date: Wed, 21 Aug 2002 08:00:55 -0700 From: Wayne Burdick Organization: Elecraft To: Steve Knell Cc: Elecraft at mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] Re: KAT100 Antenna Tuner and RS232? Steve, Computer control CAN be done, with any variation on the system. In either the KIO2 case or the K2/100 case, you use a "Y" verison of the cable that connects to the K2. One cable goes to the PC, the other to the ATU. All necessary connectors and cable are supplied with the relevant kits, as well as complete instructions. 73, Wayne Steve Knell wrote: > > If the KAT100 interfaces to the K2 using the DB9 connector, I guess this > means that it wouldn't be possible to use computer control together with the > K2/100+KAT100? +++++++++++++++ Date: Wed, 21 Aug 2002 10:16:12 -0700 From: Wayne Burdick Organization: Elecraft To: Elecraft Subject: [Elecraft] KAT100 performance vs. competition Someone asked me how the KAT100 would compare in tuning times and impedance-matching range to another very well-known auto-tuner kit. Tuning times: We can't report exact figures yet, but early testing shows an average tune time of around 2.5 seconds. Very rarely does a tune-up take more than 5 seconds. These times compare favorably to the competing unit. Tune times may drop further once we begin optimizing the firmware. However, the important thing to keep in mind (with both the KAT100 and the KAT2) is that the L/C settings for *both* antennas, on all bands, are recalled instantly once initial tune-ups have been completed. The new settings take effect immediately, in receive mode. You don't have to key the transmitter. Switching from antenna 1 to antenna 2 takes about a quarter of a second, allowing you to A/B test on receive or transmit as often as you'd like. Of course this comparison is not relevant to the competing unit, which has only one antenna jack. Matching range: The KAT100 will handle a wider range in most cases because we used capacitors rated at 1600 and 2000 volts, vs. 500 volts in the competing unit. These high-voltage caps will also survive exposure to very high peak power levels, well in excess of what the KPA100 is capable of. Detailed specifications for the KAT100 will be posted next month. 73, Wayne N6KR ++++++++++++ Date: Wed, 21 Aug 2002 17:21:34 -0700 From: "John, KI6WX" To: Elecraft Mailing List Subject: [Elecraft] KAT100 Antenna Tuner In EC2 Enclosure I plan on updating the KI6WX web site to reflect the changes necessary to install a KAT100 tuner inside an EC2 enclosure. This material will be posted shortly after the KAT100 becomes available from Elecraft. I will probably add this material to the existing article on installing the KPA100 in an EC2 enclosure. I am certain that I will be able to find a way to retain full functionality of the K2/100 when the KPA100 and KAT100 are installed in the EC2 enclosure. My web site may be accessed at: http://home.pacbell.net/johngreb/KI6WX.html -John KI6WX +++++++++++++++++ Date: Wed, 21 Aug 2002 17:12:39 -0500 To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net From: Tom Hammond =?iso-8859-1?Q?N=D8SS?= Subject: [Elecraft] KAT100/KPA100 FAQ Hi Folks: The recent 'showing' of the KAT100 at a west coast hamfest has generated quite a stir among readers of this reflector. Though I don't have (nearly) all the answers, I have prepared a (presently) fairly short set of FAQ's regarding the KAT100 and the KPA100. This document is only 8Kb in size and can be found at: home.earthlink.net/~n0ss/kat100-kpa100_faq.txt I'll try to update the file periodically as time and traffic permits. The link info on my site will reflect the date of last revision. There's a bit more on my site than just the KAT100 info. If you are interested, go to: home.earthlink.net/~n0ss/ and then drop down to the bottom of the page and visit my DOWNLOAD site. Regards, Tom Hammond N0SS +++++++++++++++++ Date: Thu, 22 Aug 2002 22:57:55 -0500 To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net From: Tom Hammond =?iso-8859-1?Q?N=D8SS?= Subject: [Elecraft] SORRY... Sorry... sorry...! OK... now I realize what the problem was... The link ON MY WEB PAGE (itself) was in error. Trust me, it now works just fine. Here all along, I thought that folks were complaining about the URL I had included in my POSTING, rather than the one on the web page. Dumb, Tom... really dumb.! Now, you can go to: http://home.earthlink/net/~n0ss/download.html and then drop down a bit on the page and click on the yellow-highlighted link to my KAT100-KPA100 FAQ and it really WILL appear before your very eyes! Of course, you can go DIRECTLY top the FAQ by clicking on this URL: http://home.earthlink.net/~n0ss/kat100-kpa100_faq.txt NOTE: DO NOT TRY TO HAND-TYPE THIS URL IN WITHOUT USING AN UNDERLINE CHARACTER BETWEEN "kap100" and "faq". The forced underlining of URLs by most software does a great job of obscuring REAL underlines within an URL. 73, Tom Hammond N0SS +++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++ Date: Wed, 02 Oct 2002 18:05:05 -0700 From: Eric Swartz WA6HHQ - Elecraft Organization: Elecraft To: Kevin Schuchmann Cc: elecraft at mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KAT100 - Status We are kitting for Field Test right now and expect to ship to the testers next week. We plan to ship production before the end of this month, if not sooner. As soon as we ship to the Field Testers we will add it to our on line order form. We will post pricing at that time too. Stay tuned! 73, Eric WA6HHQ Elecraft ====== Kevin Schuchmann wrote: > > well its October now did the kat make it into field test and does an October ship date still look possible? > > Kevin > WA6FWF +++++++++++++++