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This program is a purely experimental version! I take no responsibility for any damage to your devices. Use this software at your own risk. Pay special attention to the output power settings of the TRX. There is no guarantee that this software will always make the correct settings on the KPA500 or the TRX!
See explanations of the two application windows below.
This window mainly shows current information about the status of the KPA500. Some important data concerning the connected TRX are shown as well.
This line shows which band is active on the TRX as well as on the KPA500. They need to be the same. If for some reason that is not the case the displayed values turn red. If the KPA500 is switched off, the band shown is "-".
This is the bar graph showing the output power towards the antenna. Once the KPA500 is switched on it starts to work. It even will show the pure output power of the TRX while the KPA500 is in STBY mode. Pay attention to the right part of the bar (yellow and red). This shows that to much output power is produced and may result in emergency switch to STBY. The bar graph reflects the PWR LED strip on the device itself.
This is the bar graph showing the SWR of the antenna. Once the KPA500 is switched on it starts to work. It even will show the SWR while the KPA500 is in STBY mode. Pay attention to the right part of the bar (yellow and red). This shows that the SWR is to bad and may result in emergency switch to STBY. The bar graph reflects the SWR LED strip on the device itself.
These are status values of the temperature of the finals, the value of the high voltage and the current drawn by the PA.
This part shows any fault signaled by the PA. In case of an hard fault the button "Reset" clears the fault. Make sure to eliminate the reason of the fault before trying to reset. The values and texts shown are as per Elecrafts manual.
Those are static values shown for informational purposes only
The program constantly monitors the output power of the driving TRX. As long as the KPA500 is in STBY this value should be shown in green. If the KPA500 is in OPER mode the behavior is different: Once the TRX PWR reaches 37 W the value turns yellow, if it exceeds 39 W it is shown in red. Additionally the KAP500 is switched to STBY. In this case you might not be able to bring it into OPER any more. For this to achieve use the settings window to reduce the TRX power for the particular band.
This slider controls the minimum fan speed as it can be done in the settings menu of the KPA500. It two reads this value from the KPA500. So if you change it there it will be reflected in the slider as well. The setting of the slider is saved in the config file on exiting the program.
Sets the KPA500 into OPER mode. The KPA500 needs to be switched on for this to work. The button turns green if the KPA500 is in OPER mode. The Stby button turns to normal color. Switching to OPER mode on the KPA500 itself will have the same effect.
Sets the KPA500 into STBY mode. The KPA500 needs to be switched on for this to work. The button turns yellow if the KPA500 is in STBY mode. The Oper button turns to normal color. Switching to STBY mode on the KPA500 itself will have the same effect.
Switches the KPA500 on. The button turns green. Switching the KPA500 on using the button on the device itself will have the same effect.
Switches the KPA500 off. The button turns normal as all other buttons as well. Switching the KPA500 off using the button on the device itself will have the same effect.
Opens the settings windows described below
These sliders define the TRX driving power for the KPA500 per band. The value may vary between 9 and 39 W. If for some reason the TRX power in OPER mode of the KPA500 exceed 39 W (as shown in the main windows) this is the only place to change it. All values are stored in the config file and reed on program start from there.
These 3 values define the connection to the KPA500 and to the TRX
This is a numerical value showing the ID of the TRX taken from the hamlib list. You may get this list using the following command:
rigctl -l
This might either be serial device (eg /dev/ttyUSB0) or a network port in case of a rigctld is running somewhere in your local network (eg 192.168.1.1:4334). In the second case the Rig ID must be 2.
Defines the COM port the KPA500 is connected to. (eg /dev/ttyUSB1)
You can find an example of such a file in the code section of this repository.
{
"PWRperBand": {
"160 m ": 20,
"80 m ": 27,
"40 m ": 33,
"30 m ": 24,
"20 m ": 33,
"17 m ": 30,
"15 m ": 32,
"12 m ": 28,
"10 m ": 26,
"6 m ": 23
},
"hamlibRig": 3078,
"hamlibConn": "/dev/ttyUSB0",
"KPA500ComPort": "/dev/ttyUSB2",
"FanSpeed": 0
}
All values of this config file correspond to the appropriate values in the settings window. The only exception is the "FanSpeed" value corresponding to the slider in the Main Window.