anyone using a kpa500 amp with their 6000 radio?

Reggie-k6xr

K6OZY

I am using a Elecraft KPA500, KAT500, and W2 with DDUTIL 3 and the 6700. It works perfectly. Since we've been having ATU issues with the 6000, I have it disabled and have been using the KAT500 exclusively. With DDUTIL, this combo works great. The output of the 6700 is currently less than you select, so I have to set the power from the 6700 higher than on my 3000 in order to hit maximum output. I have the TX A output from the 6700 attached to the KAT500 PTT connector.

5Z4EE

I use it with the Flex 6500. No control cable is required other than the coax and the relay connection from the transceiver. The KPA500 detects the frequency input from the transceiver. About 40W drive is required for full output from the amp. I use a Palstar HF-Auto tuner.

Reggie-k6xr

thanks for all the responses!

Keith - AE5XN

I'm using the KPA500 and KAT500 as well with my 6700. They all work flawlessly together. As 5Z4EE noted, you just need to set the RF Power slider in SmartSDR to no more than 40 watts, and you're good to go. The only hookup I have between them is the RCA TX line (TX1 from 6700 to KAT500 TX, then the KAT500 TX Out to the KPA500's TX IN). I use the Elecraft utilities to control both if I need too, since that is also how you update their firmware. Keith - AE5XN

Kent Hufford

How is the W2 connected to the setup?
thanks,

Wim

Also have the KPA500 and just have the RF cable between the flex and it, my foot switch 
goes to the PTT input of both

Norm - W7CK

I'm using both as well and they work great.  I highly recommend using DDUTIL.  It will help to prevent you accidentally driving your amp with 100 watts.  You can set it up so that DDUTIL will drop the 6000 power output to a predetermined setting (20 watts in my case) when the amp is in OPER mode. When in STBY, the 6000 will be instructed by DDUTIL to run at 100 watts.  Quite cool I might add.  There are a lot of other nice features with DDUTIL as well.  FRSTACK is another great application. It gives you the ability to scan frequencies - great for 2 meters.  It also lets you set the squelch while operating in SSB for each slice you have open.  These are two wonderful tools!

Wim

Hi Norm,
do you mind posting some settings screen shots of how you have DDUTIL configured.
The auto power setting for when the PA is on is indeed usefull

George KF2T

Do you guys use the ALC line between the Flex and the KPA500? Just got my KPA built last night - very nice.

Walt - KZ1F

Not I George. It works fine. I do have an issue with ddutil starting and stopping the amp so I just use the on off buttons manually. I also have ddutil set up for controlling supply wattage based on band and it works fabulously for 30m where full on power is the same as tune, 12w, which produces a perfect 200w out. I use the kat500 outbound of the amp to control tuning for 160, 80, 40, and 30.

George KF2T

Thanks, Walt. No DDUtil for Mac, so am exploring options. May not need to worry.

Norm - W7CK

I don't use the ALC line either.  DDUtil takes care of making sure the output of the 6700 is held back to 22 watts when the amp is in OPR mode. 

I have only ever had a problem with starting or stopping the amp when the USB cable was not plugged all the way in on the amp or the tuner.  Otherwise it has been flawless....

K3SF

i use KPA500 with a LDG AT-1000pro tuner with flex 6300 and various Mac.
I dont use DDutil.
I have used ssdr running vmware fusion and also run dogparksdr.

I take advantage of low tune power setting and the ability to tune TX1 on and off

simple procedure
1. turn OFF  TX1...this disable the amp from being keyed
2. click tune...this applies about 25watts to the tuner and the amp..
                   .amp uses freq to determione band and tuner does auto tune function
3. turn ON TX1...back a full power

i have done this remotely on my wifi LAN in the livingroom using macbookpro

someone on the group has setup a profiles to turn TX1 on and off
but
you dont need to use profiles as radio setup makes it available in both ssdr and dogparksdr


simple to do..only three clicks...click click click..done....

paul K3SF

George KF2T

Sounds good, guys. Thanks.