KPA 500 REDUCES INPUT

KK2L
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Joined: Fri Oct 28, 2022 1:18 am

KPA 500 REDUCES INPUT

Postby KK2L » Fri Oct 28, 2022 2:33 am

Hello Everyone,

This is one of my first posts in a long time. Just got a 200D and am trying to use it with my KPA500. I am not concerned with band data right now but when I put the amp into OPER from STBY there is a significant reduction in the input signal for the radio. I am using 2.9.0.2 Thetis and the amp is directly in line with the radio. I use the same amp with other radios and do not have this issue. Any suggestions?

Thanks
Mark
KK2L (formerly WA2DIY)
dl4zbg
Posts: 159
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Location: JO41QG

Re: KPA 500 REDUCES INPUT

Postby dl4zbg » Fri Oct 28, 2022 11:13 am

Hello Mark,

my KPA500 is showing the same behaviour with my ANAN 10 and/ or my K3. You will notice that on 10m and on 6m especially.

73

Volker

DL4ZBG
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w-u-2-o
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Re: KPA 500 REDUCES INPUT

Postby w-u-2-o » Fri Oct 28, 2022 12:06 pm

That is very odd. How many S-units is it reducing signals by? Is this on all bands?

Are you absolutely sure it does not happen with other radios? Remember that Kenwood, Yaesu and Icom radios have poorly engineered, highly non-linear S-meters (possibly on purpose in order to claim "quiet" receivers). For instance, any signal level between say S-3 and S-6 will appear as almost no movement at all on a Japanese S-meter, they will all continue to sit around S-3. See this one example of how bad it is. Some google searching will turn up many other examples. This behavior could easily fool you into thinking the Elecraft is behaving differently with those radios.

I have owned a KPA500 for many years. It was first used with a Flex-3000. Then later an ANAN-100D. And finally my ANAN-8000DLE. In no case did it ever demonstrate that behavior on any band. But mine is a relatively early serial number. How old is your KPA500?

I'd recommend you call Elecraft and speak to them.

Not that this has anything to do with your problem, but you wrote you are using Thetis 2.9.0.2. The latest version of Thetis is 2.9.0.6

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