Kessler AT-AUTO User manual

AT-AUTO(tm)Operating Manual
Firmware Version 3.00
Kessler Engineering, LLC
Beavercreek, Ohio
USA
15 February, 2023

Copyright 2023
Kessler Engineering, LLC
Beavercreek, Ohio
(Firmware Copyright 2005, 2023)

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Contents
1 Introduction 2
2 Automatic Mode 10
2.1 QuickstartGuide ................................. 10
2.2 DetailedOperation ................................ 11
3 Manual Mode 16
3.1 QuickstartGuide ................................. 16
3.2 DetailedOperation ................................ 16
3.3 BypassMode ................................... 19
4 Installation 21
4.1 Unpacking..................................... 21
4.2 Location...................................... 21
4.3 Electrical Connection and Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
4.3.1 DCPower ................................. 22
4.3.2 Vintage Rig Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
4.3.3 FlexRadioSetup............................. 23
4.3.4 IcomRigSetup .............................. 24
4.3.5 Icom Rig With HF Amplifier Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
4.3.6 Kenwood Rig Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
4.3.7 TenTec Omni VII/Jupiter Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
4.3.8 YaesuRigSetup ............................. 35
4.3.9 CX-AUTO(tm)Setup ........................... 37
5 AT-AUTO(tm)QRO Keyline 43
5.1 Retrofitting to Older AT-AUTOs(tm)...................... 43
5.2 Electrical Connection and Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
5.3 Operation ..................................... 45
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6 Firmware Configuration 47
6.1 GeneralDescription................................ 47
6.2 Accessing the Service Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
6.2.1 DisplaySWR ............................... 49
6.2.2 Adjust A-D Inputs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
6.2.3 Erase Match Memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
6.2.4 AdjustSerialI/O............................. 50
6.2.5 ConfigureRadio.............................. 52
6.2.6 Configure RF Bypass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
6.2.7 Configure RF Output . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
6.2.8 SetupIcomCI-V ............................. 59
6.2.9 SetStartupMode............................. 62
6.2.10 SetupAuto-Tune ............................. 62
6.2.11 Configure QRO Keyline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
6.2.12 Tx/RxFreqSplit............................. 66
6.2.13 SettoDefaults .............................. 68
6.2.14 SetupMulti-Rig.............................. 70
7 Firmware Update Guide 72
8 Rear-Panel Pinouts and Interface Cables 79
8.1 External Tuner Handshake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
8.2 Radio/Computer Serial Data Interface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
8.3 Radio/Computer Serial Data “Y” Interface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
9 Remote Control 84
9.1 GeneralDescription................................ 84
9.1.1 Example Command Strings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
9.1.2 Sub-Command Structure and Data Syntax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
10 Analog Power Meter 89
11 Operating Tips 93
11.1QROOperation.................................. 93
11.2 CI-V Passive Listening . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
11.3 CAT Passive Listening . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
12 Internal Jumper Settings 95
13 User Manual Summary of Changes 98
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14 Firmware Revision Summary of Changes 99
14.1 New Firmware Features / Changes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
14.2BugCorrections.................................. 105
15 Software License Agreement 109
16 Service and Warranty 110
17 Frequently Asked Questions 111
17.1 Serial Port Related Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
17.2 Memory-Related Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
17.3 Radio-Interfacing Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
17.4 General Usage Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
17.5 Firmware-Specific Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
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List of Figures
1.1 FrontPanelView ................................. 3
1.2 Top View (Cover Removed) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
1.3 RearPanelView ................................. 7
1.4 Functional Block Diagram . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
3.1 Example Manual Mode Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
3.2 Example Bypass Mode Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
4.1 Vintage Transceiver /Amplifier to AT-AUTO(tm)Connection . . . . . . . . . 23
4.2 Icom Transceiver to AT-AUTO(tm)Connection................. 24
4.3 Icom Transceiver with IC-PW1 to AT-AUTO(tm)Connection . . . . . . . . . 27
4.4 Icom Transceiver with IC-PW1 to AT-AUTO(tm)Connection and QRO Key-
lineControl .................................... 28
4.5 Icom Transceiver with Tokyo Hy-Power HL-1.5KFX to AT-AUTO(tm)Con-
nection....................................... 30
4.6 Kenwood Transceiver to AT-AUTO(tm)Connection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
4.7 Omni VII Transceiver to AT-AUTO(tm)Connection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
4.8 Yaesu Transceiver to AT-AUTO(tm)Connection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
4.9 CX-AUTO(tm)to AT-AUTO(tm)electrical connections when operating Icom
Transceivers.................................... 38
4.10 CX-AUTO(tm)to AT-AUTO(tm)electrical connections when operating with-
out CI-V equipped Transceivers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
4.11 Dual CX-AUTO(tm)to AT-AUTO(tm)electrical connections for operating with
multiple radios and multiple antennas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
5.1 QROKeyline ................................... 44
5.2 QRO Keyline Connections (Other Connections Omitted for Clarity) . . . . . 45
5.3 Automatic Mode with QRO Keyline Enabled . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
6.1 LCD Display - Service Menu Exit Prompt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
6.2 Service Menu Options and Flowchart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
6.3 Service Menu Option – Display SWR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
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6.4 Service Menu Option – Adjust A-D Inputs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
6.5 Service Menu Option – Erase Match Memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
6.6 Service Menu Option – Adjust Serial I/O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
6.7 Service Menu Option – Baud Rate & Stop Bit Options . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
6.8 Service Menu Option – Configure Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
6.9 Service Menu Option – Rig Types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
6.10 Service Menu Option – Configure Bypass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
6.11 Configure RF Bypass Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
6.12 Service Menu Option – Configure RF Output . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
6.13 Configure RF Output User-Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
6.14 Service Menu Option – Setup Icom CI-V . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
6.15 Setup Icom CI-V Sub Menus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
6.16 Service Menu Option – Set Startup Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
6.17 Set Startup Mode Submenu Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
6.18 Service Menu Option – Setup Auto-Tune . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
6.19 Setup Auto-Tune Submenu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
6.20 Service Menu Option – Configure QRO Keyline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
6.21 Configure QRO Keyline Submenu Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
6.22 Service Menu Option – Tx/Rx Frequency Split . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
6.23 Tx/Rx Frequency Split Enable/Disable by Band . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
6.24 Toggling Tx/Rx Window Direction via Mode Pushbutton . . . . . . . . . . . 67
6.25 Adjusting Tx/Rx Frequency Boundary via Tune-Select Knob......... 67
6.26 Tx/Rx Window Direction and Frequency Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
6.27 Service Menu Option – Set to Defaults? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
6.28 Service Menu Option – Setup Multi-Rig? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
6.29 Configure QRO Keyline Submenu Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
6.30RadioSelectionMenu............................... 71
8.1 Interface Cable Diagrams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
8.2 Radio/Computer Serial Data “Y” Interface Cable Diagrams . . . . . . . . . 83
10.1 Meter Board Adjustment Locations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
12.1JumperLocations................................. 96
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List of Tables
1.1 Front Panel Controls as shown in Figure 1.1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
1.2 Internal Components as shown in Figure 1.2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
1.3 Rear Panel Components as shown in Figure 1.3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
1.4 Specifications ................................... 9
2.1 Automatic Mode Control Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
3.1 Manual Mode Control Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
3.2 Bypass Mode Control Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
6.1 Suggested Serial I/O Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
6.2 AT-AUTO(tm)Compatible CAT/CI-V Radios . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
6.3 Supported Radio Capabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
6.4 Configure RF Output Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
6.5 Setup Icom CI-V Submenu Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
6.6 Supported SWR Tuning Thresholds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
6.7 Configure QRO Keyline Submenu Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
8.1 Rear Panel Connector Descriptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
9.1 Remote Control Command Set . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
9.2 AT-AUTO(tm)Response to Read Status Command . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
9.3 AT-AUTO(tm)Response to Read Power Command . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
12.1JumperSettings.................................. 97
17.1 Feedline Match Losses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
17.2 100’ Feedline Match Loss for 1.0:1 SWR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
17.3 100’ Feedline Match Loss for various SWR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
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Thank-You!
At Kessler Engineering, we endeavor to make your ham radio hobby more enjoyable and
trust that our products will bring you many years of faithful service. We Thank-You for
the confidence that you have placed in us and in our products. 73!
Dr. Donald J. Kessler, Ph.D.,
President, Kessler Engineering, LLC
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Chapter 1
Introduction
Kessler Engineering is pleased to bring you the AT-AUTO(tm)- An American made, fully-
automatic impedance matching network designed to tune antenna systems from 1.8 MHz
to 54 MHz. Featuring a robust, precision roller inductor with silver-plated hardware, and a
high-voltage differential variable capacitor in a classic T-Match circuit configuration, the AT-
AUTO(tm)provides a very broad impedance matching range and includes both unbalanced
(coaxial) and balanced RF outputs.
Designed to handle a 1500 W continuous carrier, and with no gaps in frequency coverage,
the AT-AUTO(tm)is well-suited for Amateur Radio, CAP, MARS, Military, and Government
HF radio applications. Under microprocessor control, the AT-AUTO(tm)continuously moni-
tors forward and reflected power, and when appropriate, automatically adjusts the T-Match
circuit for optimum performance without requiring operator intervention.
Although designed for fully automatic operation, the AT-AUTO(tm)also enables the user
to manually tune or adjust match settings via the uncluttered front-panel controls. The
meter circuitry features Average, Peak, and Peak & Hold display of forward and reflected
power, along with SWR. The meter power range (300 W/3000 W) is selected by a front-panel
pushbutton.
The AT-AUTO(tm)controls are illustrated in Figure 1.1, and are described in Table 1.1
(page 4). An internal view of the AT-AUTO(tm)and component descriptions are shown in
Figure 1.2 (page 5) and Table 1.2 (page 6), respectively, while the rear panel features are
shown and described in Figure 1.3 (page 7) and Table 1.3 (page 7). A functional block
diagram of the AT-AUTO(tm)is shown in Figure 1.4 on page 8. AT-AUTO(tm)hardware
specifications are shown in Table 1.4 on page 9.
The AT-AUTO(tm)firmware is subject to periodic updates. As improvements are
made and new features are added, the user may update the AT-AUTO(tm)firmware directly
from the Kessler Engineering website. See page 72 for more detail.
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