Introduction

KAT500 High-Power Auto-Tuner & Smart Antenna Switch

The KAT500 Automatic Antenna Tuner is designed to be closely integrated with the Elecraft K3 transceiver and the Elecraft KPA500 amplifier although it may be easily used with other transceivers and amplifiers.

Overview

OVERVIEW

The KAT500 is a high power autotuner that can be used with both the K3S/KPA500 or with most any other HF amplifiers and transceivers. The KAT500 uses the same topology and high performance tuning algorithms as the popular autotuners in the K3S, KX3 and KX2. Typical matching range at 500 W is up to 10:1 on most bands. This also equates to a range of 3:1 for higher power levels, up to 1000 W.

The KAT500 has a front panel SWR display and three selectable antenna outputs. It is the same width and depth as the K3 and the KPA500, and it is just 1.5" high.

Features include:

Automatic band switching, covering the spectrum from 1.8 through 54 MHz.
Automatic antenna switching to connect one of three antennas according to the band selected.
L and C tuning element settings for lowest SWR are stored in memory for extremely rapid frequency and band changes.
Robust self-protection circuits that guard against damage from switching high-power RF or trying to match loads outside of its tuning range.
Static bleed resistor built in to avoid damage from normal static buildup on antennas.
Low profile enclosure that matches the footprint of the KPA500 and K3S, allowing the KAT500 to be placed on top or under either unit (the KAT500 is designed to support the weight of the KPA500)

PowerCombo

KPA500 & KAT500 PowerCombo Package

Plays Well With Most Popular Rigs!

Add more punch to your signal with Elecraft's Power Combo and take your transceiver to a full 500 watts out.

In addition to the K3 and K3S, the DXpedition-proven KPA500 and KAT500 combo is available for most recent Icom, Yaesu, Kenwood and Flex transceivers. We've taken the guesswork out of operating by providing cabling and instructions for some of the most popular rigs in shacks today.

Cables

Elecraft

Cable #	Transceiver Model	Notes
E100416 (Included w/ Amp)	Phono Cable works with most radio models. Please Select additional cable(s) below based on desired operating mode.	Standard Mode – Keying. Phono Keying Cable included with Amp. Amp/ATU selects band and freq. by using its internal frequency counter to measure TX freq. in this mode. Works with all radios with a keying output phono jack.
KPAK3AUX	K3, K3s	Enhanced Mode. Aux Cable set for KPA500 + second E850463 aux cable for KAT500. AUX Cable Set incl: 15-Pin to 15-Pin DE-15 + Key Line Interrupter adapter.

Cables for non-Elecraft Transceivers

Yaesu

Cable #	Yaesu Model	Notes
E100416 (Included w/ Amp)	Phono Cable works with most radio models. Please Select additional cable(s) below based on desired operating mode.	Standard Mode – Keying. Phono Keying Cable included with Amp. Amp/ATU selects band and freq. by using its internal frequency counter to measure TX freq. in this mode. Works with all radios with a keying output phono jack.
CBL-YAESUKEY	FT-817, FT818	Standard Mode – Keying. Incl. 8-pin MiniDIN to phono
CBL-YAE-BANDKEY	FT-920, FT990, FT1000 family, FT2000, FT5000, FT9000 family	Intermediate Mode. Incl. 8-pin DIN to DE15 cable for band data plus keying, plus Aux Cable to connect the KAT500 to the KPA500.
CBL-YAE-BKMINI	FT857, FT891, FT897, FT991	Intermediate Mode. Incl. 8-pin MiniDIN to DE15 cable for band data plus keying, plus Aux Cable to connect the KAT500 to the KPA500.
CBL-YAE-BKDIN10	FT450, FT1200	Intermediate Mode. 10-Pin MiniDIN to DE15 cable for band data plus keying, plus Aux Cable to connect the KAT500 to the KPA500.
CBL-YAE-BKDA15	FT3000, FTdx101 Family	Intermediate Mode. DA15 to DE15 cable for band data plus keying, plus Aux Cable to connect the KAT500 to the KPA500.

Icom

Cable #	Icom Model	Notes
E100416 (Included w/ Amp)	IC7300, 7600, 7700, 7851, 9100	Standard Mode – Keying. Phono Keying Cable included with Amp.
CBL-ICOMKEY	Icom "small" radios: IC703, 706, IC7000	Standard Mode. ICOMKEY to KAT500. Use Phono cable from the KAT500 to the KPA500. (Phono Cables incl. w/Amp & Tuner.).

Flex

Cable #	Flex Model	Notes
E100416(Included w/ Amp)	Flex 3000, 5000	Standard Mode – Keying. Phono Keying Cable included with Amp.
CBL-FLEX-PWRCMB	Flex 6000-family	Enhanced mode. Incl. KUSB cable for freq. data, null modem cable, gender changer to KPA500 (Phone Cable for keying incl. w/Amp)

Kenwood

Cable #	Kenwood Model	Notes
E100416 (Included w/ Amp)	Phono Cable works with most radio models. Please Select additional cable(s) below based on desired operating mode.	Standard Mode – Keying. Phono Keying Cable included with Amp. Amp/ATU selects band and freq. by using its internal frequency counter to measure TX freq. in this mode. Works with all radios with a keying output phono jack.
CBL-KENKEY	Kenwood TS140, 430, 440, 450, 570, 820, 830, 850, 930, 940, 950, 2000	Standard Mode-Keying. Incl. 7-pin DIN to Phono Keying Cable.
CBL-KENKEYM	TS-480	Standard Mode -Keying. Incl. 8-pin MiniDIN to Phono Keying Cable.
CBL-KENSER500	Kenwood 580, 590, 890, 990	Enhanced Mode - Keying & Freq. Data. Incl. DE9 to 3.5mm 7-Pin Din, and CBL-KENKEY

Standard Mode = Keying (amplifier to transmit mode) Amp’s internal frequency counter auto-selects band and ATU frequency.

Intermediate Mode = Intermediate Mode-Radios w/BCD band data lines only. Keying plus band switching prior to TX. Amp’s internal frequency counter selects ATU frequency.

Enhanced Mode = Keying & Frequency Data from radio select amplifier band and ATU frequency prior to TX.

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Specs

SPECS

Autotune Power Range: 10W — 100W
For optimum matching accuracy, tune with >20W.
Selectable Antenna Outputs: 3
Weight: 4.6 pounds ( 2.1 kg )

Frequency	Typical Matching Range and Power Limit
3 — 30 MHz	600W into 5 to 500 Ohms (10:1 SWR) 1000W into 16 to 150 Ohms (3:1 SWR )
1.8 — 2MHz	600W into 10 to 500 Ohms (5:1 Low Impedance, 10:1 High Impedance SWR) 1000W into 16 to 150 Ohms (3:1 SWR )
30 — 60MHz	500W into 5:1 SWR (10 to 250 Ohms)

Matching specified to a 1.0:1 to 1.6:1 resultant SWR. Power rating is ICAS (Intermittent Commercial and Amateur Service).

Accessories

Accessories

E980262 Power Cable, 3ft, APP to 2.1MM connector
E850463 KAT500 to K3S/K3 Enhanced Mode Cable
KXUSB - KXUSB USB Cable
KXUSBa Extra Cable - USB RS232 to 3.5mm Cable

Reviews

REVIEWS

KAT500 eHam Review
ARRL HQ Review
ELECRAFT KAT500 Autotuner interview with Eric Swartz

FAQ

FAQ

Q: Can I use a 5 or 10 watt radio with the KAT500?

A: The KAT500 can tune with as little as 10 W but we recommend 20 W to 100 W for best tuning accuracy. If the KAT500 has already stored a tuning memory for
the current frequency, it is possible to recall the tuned memory setting with
less than 10 W. The KAT500 measures transmit frequency to automatically
select tuning memories and antennas

Q: If I have a K3 with a KAT3 100W Auto Tuner, what do I do when using my
KAT500?

A: The KAT3 should be set to bypass in the K3's CONFIG menu when using the KAT500 to prevent unnecessary loss in signal strength.

Q: If I am using the AUX cable from the K3 to the KAT500 then to the KPA500, should I also connect the PA Key-Line on the KPA500?

A: No, do not connect the PA KEY cable from the K3 to the KPA500 when the KPAK3AUX cables are routed through the KAT500 to the amp. The KAT500 interrupts the PA key line via the aux cables when automatically tuning.

Manuals & Downloads

MANUALS & DOWNLOADS