++++++++++++++++++ KAT100 Info After Announcement See also KAT100 Info (Info Before Announcement) ++++++++++++++++++ Date: Fri, 11 Oct 2002 15:09:32 -0700 From: Eric Swartz WA6HHQ - Elecraft Organization: Elecraft To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net, QRP-L , GQRP Subject: [Elecraft] Elecraft KAT100 ATU Released We have just added the new KAT100 150W external ATU (also QRP ready) for the K2 and K2/100 to our web page and order forms at http://www.elecraft.com The direct link for the KAT100 page is: http://www.elecraft.com/kat100/kat100_page.htm We will be introducing the KAT100 for sale next week at the Pacificon ARRL convention in Concord, CA, Oct. 19th. The KAT100 is an ideal match for the K2/100, and will also work with the K2. It can easily handle 150 watts, and its 10 LEDs accurately monitor SWR during transmit. Like the KAT2, the KAT100 includes two antenna jacks--it's like having two ATUs in one. Because of its tight integration with the K2, the KAT100 offers many advantages over other external auto-tuners: Low profile (1.2" high) design -- same footprint as the K2. L/C settings stored in EEPROM--instant recall on band or antenna change Matches 10:1 SWR loads. Automatic power reduction when TUNE is pressed Dual-range bridge allows tune-up with as little as 0.2 watts Direct display of power, SWR, and other data on the K2's LCD Interfaces directly with the K2 via the AUX port (DB9 + 'Y' cable on KPA100 or KIO2). Same K2 control and menu features as the KAT2 QRP tuner. The low-profile KAT100-1 ($239) can be placed beneath the K2, while the full-height KAT100-2 ($219) is intended for side-by-side arrangement with the K2 and mounts inside the EC-2 project enclosure. The KAT100-2 includes front and rear panels that match our EC2. (EC2 sold separately.) Pre-wound toroids for the KAT100 kit are also available from Mychael, AA3WF. There is a link on our KAT100 page to his order form. 73, Eric WA6HHQ ++++++++++++++++++ Date: Sat, 12 Oct 2002 09:02:41 -0700 From: Wayne Burdick Organization: Elecraft To: Rich Lentz Cc: 'Phil Wheeler' , 'kb1dxc' , Elecraft at mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] KAT100 and KIO2-like interfaces Rich (and others), Yes, it would be possible to roll your own minimal interface to go from the K2 Control board, to a DB9 in the top cover, and then to the KAT100. A major reason for the existence of the KIO2 is to get signals like the AuxBus safely in and out of the K2. It has all of the connectors required to do this cleanly, and is well-shielded and decoupled. Any interface you substitute should meet the same criteria, or you could end up with a lot of RF on the AuxBus line during transmit. 73, Wayne Rich Lentz wrote: > > Are you sure that the KIO2 is needed to control the KAT100??? It may be > the easiest way to explain, in a hurry, however it would be much easier > and cheaper without it. > > I have not tried it without the KIO2 (Don't have the KAT100), however, > looking at the schematics for the KPA100, K2, KIO2, etc. the pins on the > DB9 that go to the computer are not used on the other modules. The > signals used on the other modules are passed through the KIO2 with no > modification (other than RF filter/suppression). So, it appears to me > that with the necessary control-board modifications (made with or as > described in either the KIO2 or KPA100 manuals) and installation of a > DB9 connector with these same control signals (on the correct pins) and > minus the PC/CAT signals (as the KIO2 is not installed). Thus you would > only wire out to pins 6, 7, 8, & 9 on the DB9 (with RF > filter/suppression as shown on the KIO2/KPA100 diagram). Then a cable > connecting the K2 to the KAT100 would properly control the KAT100. > > Rich - KE0X > ++++++++++++++++++ Date: Sun, 13 Oct 2002 07:41:07 -0700 From: Wayne Burdick Organization: Elecraft To: Jerry T Dowell Cc: elecraft at mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] KAT100 + KAT2 => OK Jerry T Dowell wrote: > ....problem....both tuners are controlled from TUNE. Jerry, The K2 firmware is tolerant of every possible system configuration. If a KAT100 (and/or KPA100) is found connected along with a KAT2, the KAT2 is put into "through" mode (actually CALP), with its ANT 1 jack selected. The TUNE switch and ATU menu entry will then control only the KAT100. Also, the KAT100, like the KPA100, has a low-impedance, high-current buffer for driving the "VFDET" line (forward power sense). Since this buffer has a disable (tri-state) control, we can decide which module will control VFDET. Either a KAT100 or a KPA100 will "capture" VRFET from a KAT2, and if both a KAT100 and KPA100 are present, the KPA100 wins. This is covered in detail in the KAT100 manual. 73, Wayne N6KR ++++++++++++++++++ From: "Don Brown" To: "Jim Campbell" , "Elecraft" Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KPA100 / KAT100 Question Date: Sun, 13 Oct 2002 12:03:34 -0500 HI Yes the KAT100 was designed with this in mind as one of the options Don Brown KD5NDB ----- Original Message ----- From: Jim Campbell Sent: Sunday, October 13, 2002 12:01 PM To: Elecraft Subject: [Elecraft] KPA100 / KAT100 Question I have seen the question asked several times, but don't recall seeing an answer. Will the KPA100 and the KAT100 go into the EC2 enclosure gracefully? I would like to keep my K2 as-is (i.e. with the KAT2) but have the utility of QRO operation if desired. Thanks, Jim W4BQP ++++++++++++++++++ Date: Sun, 13 Oct 2002 12:13:53 -0500 To: Jim Campbell , elecraft at mailman.qth.net From: Tom Hammond =?iso-8859-1?Q?N=D8SS?= Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KPA100 / KAT100 Question Jim: >I have seen the question asked several times, but don't recall seeing an >answer. Will the KPA100 and the KAT100 go into the EC2 enclosure >gracefully? I would like to keep my K2 as-is (i.e. with the KAT2) but >have the utility of QRO operation if desired. Due to FCC rulea and regs Elecraft does not (and for that manner CANNOT) support remoting of the KPA100. This having been said, there are at least a couple (probably more) users who HAVE remoted their KPA100, and probably a number more who will, once the KAT100 goes into production. Don't look for much 'remoting' info to be posted on this reflector, because such is not supported by Elecraft. However, I suspect you'll see one or more private sites which will address this possibility... 73, Tom Hammond N0SS +++++++++++++++++++ Date: Mon, 14 Oct 2002 13:12:12 -0400 To: "Andreas Hofmann" , From: Hank Kohl Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KAT100 and K2/100 questions At 10/14/2002 09:56 AM -0700, Andreas Hofmann wrote: >Hello all, > >I am thinking about getting the mentioned options for xmas, hi. > >1. Can I still use the tilt stand on the combined K2/100+KAT100? I believe it's a new tilt stand for the small EC. >2. I fell in love with 5W QRP. Can I switch between 5W and 100W by the >push of a button? No .... but by the twist of the power knob. >Or is it between max. QRP power (12-15W) and max. QRO >(100W)? 5W <--> 100W would be really sweet. Well, Practically 0 (zero) watts to 100 watts makes it really really sweet! 73 Hank K8DD >Thanks >Andreas, KU7T, K2 #2555 +++++++++++++++ Date: Mon, 14 Oct 2002 12:31:12 -0500 To: "Andreas Hofmann" , From: Tom Hammond =?iso-8859-1?Q?N=D8SS?= Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KAT100 and K2/100 questions Hi Andreas: >1. Can I still use the tilt stand on the combined K2/100+KAT100? If you get the KAT100-1 (the small case version), you can use the 1.5" (38mm) tilt stand and place the K2/100 ON TOP of the KAT100. This will raise the controls of the K2 up to just about the same level they would be at if the K2 was alone and using its own tilt stand. >2. I fell in love with 5W QRP. Can I switch between 5W and 100W by the >push of a button? Or is it between max. QRP power (12-15W) and max. QRO >(100W)? 5W <--> 100W would be really sweet. With the K2/100, power is adjusteble in 0.5W increments, all the way from 0.0W through 100W (and possibly a bit higher). If you wish to control QRP power levels 0.1W increments, you can either remove power from the KPA100 module (pull the cower cable), or you can disable it in MENU. 73, Tom Hammond N0SS +++++++++++++++ Date: Thu, 17 Oct 2002 08:39:08 -0700 From: Eric Swartz WA6HHQ - Elecraft Organization: Elecraft Cc: elecraft at mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KAT100-2 panels Will do! 73, Eric ===== "Dale C. Gorsuch" wrote: > For those of us who "think" they prefer the KAT100 in the dash one > version and have already ordered same, how about an addition to the > shopping cart for only the dash two panels for the EC-2, just in case we > have a change of mind? > > Dale K5AKW +++++++++++++++ Date: Thu, 17 Oct 2002 12:42:44 -0500 To: Dave Pomeory , elecraft at mailman.qth.net From: Tom Hammond =?iso-8859-1?Q?N=D8SS?= Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KPA100 KAT100 Dave Pomeory wrote: >I'm thinking that I would like to have the k2 qro but also want to go >portable. Can I power the K2 only without the KPA100 when the KPA100 is >installed in the k2... Yes it can. The KPA's DC line is diode-isolated from the K2 when DC power is not applied to the KPA via the back-panel jack. >... and Does the KAT100 draw significantly more power than the >KAT2? Thanks for the time and info. I'm one of the PRE-Field Testers for the KAT100, which, by the way, is working well... one small firmware timing glitch to exorcize and it may be ready to go to the rest of the FTs for a final beating-on. I am presently running my KAT100 with a 1-amp fuse in-line and have not had it blow. Wayne and I have discussed this and he believes that in a 'very worst case' condition, one in which ALL relays were activated and ALL LEDs were illuminated as well, the KAT100 could draw somewhere upwards of 1A. This having been said, I just ran a test on my KAT100, running it thru some really 'hairy' loads with my Fluke 187 DMM attached and set to MAX/MIN hold, so it'd record the highest and lowest current drawn thru the DC line to the KAT100. So far, worst case load current was 336mA, and best case load current was 55mA, with 196mA being the average. The KAT100 offers a display option for the LEDs in the SWR indicating portion of the front panel display, BAR or DOT mode. In the BAR mode, all LEDs below the highest illuminated LED are lit. In the DOT mode, only the 'active' LED is lit, thus requiring less current than the BAR mode. I hope this helps. 73, Tom Hammond N0SS ++++++++++++++++ From: "Lyle Johnson" To: Subject: RE: [Elecraft] KPA100 KAT100 Date: Thu, 17 Oct 2002 11:42:09 -0700 Hello Dave! > >... and Does the KAT100 draw significantly more power than the > >KAT2? Thanks for the time and info. The KAT100 does NOT use latching relays, while the KAT2 does. Thus, in any configuration where there is at least one relay energized, the KAT100 will draw more power than the KAT2. Whether the power to continuosuly energize the relays when the K2/KAT100 is turned on is signficiant or not is a judgment call you'll have to make :-) 73, Lyle KK7P +++++++++++++++++ Date: Thu, 17 Oct 2002 20:25:23 -0700 From: Wayne Burdick Organization: Elecraft To: Tom Hammond =?iso-8859-1?Q?N=D8SS?= Cc: Dave Pomeory , elecraft at mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] KPA100 current drain Tom Hammond NØSS wrote: > >... and Does the KAT100 draw significantly more power than the > >KAT2? Thanks for the time and info. > I am presently running my KAT100 with a 1-amp fuse in-line and have not had > it blow. Wayne and I have discussed this and he believes that in a 'very > worst case' condition, one in which ALL relays were activated and ALL LEDs > were illuminated as well, the KAT100 could draw somewhere upwards of 1A. Tom, I believe I said well *below* 1A. According to my calculations, the worst case is ~700 mA with all relays on and all LEDs on in "DAY" and "BAR" modes. This would be a very unusual situation. More likely the worst you'd ever see is what you already discovered--around 350--and average should be around 150-250. The KAT100 will include a jumper that allows you to permanently select "DOT" mode at the ATU if desired, overriding the K2's "GRPH" menu setting. 73, Wayne ++++++++++++++++ Date: Fri, 18 Oct 2002 18:45:29 -0700 From: Wayne Burdick Organization: Elecraft To: Elecraft Subject: [Elecraft] KAT100 & 18.132 MHz 17 meters is hopping (probably the other bands, too). I've been tuning around our chosen calling frequency (18.132) while doing final testing of the KAT100 firmware. Give me a call if you hear me on. Amazing what you can do with a dipole on this band. Speaking of which, the KAT100 tunes the 17-m dipole to 1.0:1 on 80-10 meters! 73, Wayne N6KR +++++++++++++++++ Date: Thu, 24 Oct 2002 16:11:26 -0500 To: w7qhd at webtv.net (Kurt Cramer), elecraft at mailman.qth.net From: Tom Hammond =?iso-8859-1?Q?N=D8SS?= Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KAT100 Kurt Cramer, W7QHD, wrote: >Does anyone know how remote the tunner can be from the K2? Can I use it >in a mobile instillation where it is mounted near the antenna rather >then at the operating position? I know it's not sealed for external >mounting, but can it be mounted inside, close to the antenna. Hi Kurt: Chances are that he probably CAN be remoted that far, however, I don't believe that any of us (the FTs) have ventured to that extent quite yet. At present (during the FT cycle) Wayne's asked that we connect the KAT100 to the K2 via a cable not to exceed 3 feet. I suspect that it won't take too long for one (or more) of the FTs to try remoting the ATU further from their K2... at least once the initial FTing is completed. 73, Tom Hammond N0SS +++++++++++++++++ Date: Thu, 24 Oct 2002 16:33:36 -0500 To: Pete Meier , elecraft at mailman.qth.net From: Tom Hammond =?iso-8859-1?Q?N=D8SS?= Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KAT100 Pete Meier wrote: >Obviously the KAT100 was designed for the K2, but will it work with other >radios as a basic autotuner? Presently, the KAT100 is designed to REQUIRE connection to the K2, in order to communicate between the two units. Maybe some day, they'll come out with an external tuner, but the KAT100 is not that device. Sorry, Tom Hammond N0SS +++++++++++++++++ Date: Thu, 24 Oct 2002 14:50:13 -0700 From: Wayne Burdick Organization: Elecraft To: Vic Rosenthal Cc: Pete Meier , elecraft at mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] KAT100 will be upgradeable to any future stand-alone ATU At present, we do not plan to offer a stand-alone tuner. However, if we did, you'd be able to easily upgrade the KAT100 to work stand-alone as well. So there's no risk in buying a KAT100. Any stand-alone ATU we offered would include all of the same functionality as the KAT100. What this means is that you'd be able to decide whether you wanted to connect it to the K2 via the control cable--or not. But using the control cable would give you all of the advantages of the KAT100 over other tuners when used with the K2, which include: - ANT1/2 button on the K2 controls KAT100 antenna switch (this switch would have to move to the front panel of a stand-alone ATU) - instant recall of stored per-band and per-antenna L/C settings - Automatic power reduction to 2 or 20 watts when the K2's TUNE switch is pressed - Auto-tune possible with as little as 0.2 watts in low-power mode - Direct display of power, SWR, and other data on the K2 LCD - ATU configuration and component-level troubleshooting directly from the K2 menu - K2's POWER control setting indicated by two LEDs; controls KAT100's dual-range SWR bridge - All LEDs have two brightness levels (set by K2's "LCD DAY/NITE" menu entry) 73, Wayne +++++++++++++++++ Date: Thu, 24 Oct 2002 20:28:14 -0400 (EDT) From: kc4kgu at ENTERZONE.NET To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] FT KAT100 assembly pics for those interested... I took pics while I was building my field test KAT100 today. If anyone is interested, they're at http://www.kc4kgu.com/kat100/ 73 de John - KC4KGU K2/100 #2490 +++++++++++++++++ Date: Wed, 06 Nov 2002 15:50:04 -0800 From: Wayne Burdick Organization: Elecraft To: Mike Harris Cc: Elecraft at mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] Re: KAT100-1 Mike, The reason that these connectors are only supplied with the KAT100-2 is that they are only useful if you have room in the enclosure for adding accessories. The KAT100-1 is very low profile: the top cover just barely clears the tops of the ATU relays. In fact the mating connectors for P3, P4, and P6 themselves would hit the top cover of the low-profile version of the tuner. The KAT100-2 is the same height as the K2, so there's plenty of room to make use of the connectors. The connectors are present in the KPA100-1 shown on the front cover because this was the first prototype KAT100, and it was tested in both the low- and high-profile enclosures. I can see how this would be somewhat misleading. Thanks for calling this to our attention. 73, Wayne N6KR Mike Harris wrote: > > Hi, > > I notice in the manual, page 11, that the connectors P3, P4 and P6 are only > supplied with the KAT100-2 version. This seems a little unnecessary... ++++++++++++ Date: Fri, 08 Nov 2002 19:24:45 -0800 From: Eric Swartz WA6HHQ - Elecraft Organization: Elecraft To: Dave Larson Cc: Elecraft at mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KAT100-1 shipping? They started shipping en mass yesterday. It will take a little over a week to catch up with our backlog. 73, Eric WA6HHQ From: "Lyle Johnson" To: Subject: RE: [Elecraft] Re: KIO2 Required if you Remote the KPA100? Date: Thu, 14 Nov 2002 11:08:22 -0800 Hi! > ...what do you do if you are buying the KAT100 in the > anticipation of upgrading to a KPA100 and want to operate > QRP with the KAT100 for the time being. It does not make > much sense to buy the KIO2 just to drive the KAT100 and then > not need it when the KPA100 is acquired a short time later. I have added a diagram and brief explanatory notes on my web page in case you want to do this... http://www.fidalgo.net/~wa7gxd 72/73, Lyle KK7P ++++++++++++++++ Date: Wed, 04 Jun 2003 12:24:59 -0700 From: Vic Rosenthal Organization: Transparent Software To: KS7J Shack Cc: elecraft at mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KAT100 "real" power rating KS7J Shack wrote: > would it be reasonable to use the > KAT100 with a non-Elecraft 200W rig Reasonable or not, it's impossible because the KAT100 depends on communication with the K2's processor to function. Wayne and Eric have mentioned the possibility of someday making a standalone unit in the future, but they haven't done it yet. Judging by the size of the toroids and the voltage ratings of the capacitors, it can definitely handle more than 100w. -- 73, Vic, K2VCO Fresno CA +++++++++++++++