Showing posts with label KPA500. Show all posts
Showing posts with label KPA500. Show all posts

Sunday, May 22, 2016

FTdx3000 and the Elecraft KPA500

Several fellows have asked about using the FTdx3000 with the Elecraft PKA500.  I think you will find K2WU's observations helpful. These are also available on the Elecraft Reflector. 


I use the 15 pin Linear jack on the back of the FTdx3000 to accomplish a few things. First of all, I use Yaesu pin 2 (TX GND) as the key line for the KPA500, rather than the Elecraft's separate phono cable. Secondly, I used Yaesu pins 4, 5, 6 and 7 to supply the band data to the amplifier rather than rely totally on the KPA500's auto-sense of the frequency. And, of course, pin 3 is the common ground for all of this. At least on the FTdx3000, ignore the KPA500's instructions about Yaesu pin 8 (TX INH)--just just leave it alone.

Also, I use Yaesu pin 11 (TX REQ) and ground out to a separate push-button switch. When pressed, this forces the FTdx3000 into a CW carrier (regardless of current mode), and I've set the menu #178 to let it output only 10 watts.

So in use, I put the KPA500 to operate, press my push-button switch which puts 10 watts out to the KPA500, which then generates about 200 watts into my tuner, which I quickly adjust if necessary. Let go of my push-button switch, and I'm good to go with about 25-30 watts preset on the FTdx3000 power.Jim, K2WU