KOHJINSHA VERSA Beam User manual

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VERSA Beam
Antenna Controller
INSTRUCTION MANUAL
Please keep this manual after you read for maintenance purpose
Ｒev3.01 Jun. 2020

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
１． INTRODUCTION------------------------------------------------------------ 2
２． Adjustable Element Unit(AEU) ----------------------------------------------3
３． Front Panel ---------------------------------------------------------------- 4
４． Front Panel Controls
4-1．①POWER Button------------------------------------------------------6
4-2．②～⑨BAND Button-----------------------------------------------------6
4-3．⑩UP/DOWN Button ----------------------------------------------------9
4-4．⑪SET Button ---------------------------------- ------- -----------------9
4-5．⑫MANUAL/CAL.（CALIBRATION）-------------------------------------9
4-6．⑬CANCEL-------------------------------------------------------------10
4-7．⑭MODE/ADJUST --------------------------- ----- - ------- ------------11
4-8．⑮NORMAL Mode ---------------------------―------------―-----------13
4-9．⑯180°Mode ------------------------------------ ---------------- -----13
4-10．⑰DIPOLE Mode-------------------------------------------------------13
4-11．⑱AUTO/HOME Button -----------------------------------------------13
５． Rear Panel ------------------------------------------- ------------ ----------15
６． Before Start Using KA1
6-1. Check Initial SWR and SWR Adjustment ---------------- ------ ----------17
6-2. Calibration ------------------ ------------------- ----------------- - ------17
6-3. How to Adjust VSWR and Save the Setting -----------------------------19
6-4. Rain Mode and Snow Mode ---------------------------------------------20
6-5. Checking the Element Motion ------------------------ --------- ----------22
6-6. Remote Operation ------------------------------ ----- --- -------------- --22
6-7. What You Should Keep in Mind When You Measure SWR ------- ------ --22
6-8. Frequency Segment Width Change
6-8-1. For Regular VERSA BEAM Frequency Segment Width Change-- ---- --23
6-8-2. For VERSA Lite Frequency Segment Width--------------- - ----- ---- ---23
７． User Mode Settings
7-1．What You Can Do with User Mode ----------------------- -------- ------24
7-2．Start Your Controller with User Mode ---------------------------------- 26
８． Factory Default ------------------------------------------------------------- 27
９． Connecting Transceiver with Computer
9-1．Jumper Settings for Your Transceiver------------------------------------29
9-1-1.RS232C Interface(YAESU/KENWOOD/JRC/ELECRAFT) -- -------- ----30
9-1-2．ICOM(CI-V interface) transceivers--------------------------------------31
9-1-3．YAESU: FT1000/FT1021 ------------------------------------------- 32
9-1-4．KENWOOD TS950/TS850-------------------------------- ------ ----- 33
9-2．Setup with Your Computer --------------------------------- ------ ------ 34
9-3．Memory Setting for Your Transceiver ------------------------ ------ ----- 36
9-4．Memory Setting Table -------------------------------- ---------- ---------37
１０． Trouble Shooting ----------------------------------------------------------- 40
１１． Command Table ------------------------------------------------------------ 41
１２． Maintenance---------------------------------------------------
------ ------- 43

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1. INTRODUCTION
Thank you for choosing KA1 as one of your antennas. We are sure KA1 will make
your DXing more competitive as well as enjoyable.
You can adjust elements length by the controller in your shack which means you can
adjust not only SWR but also F/B ratio and gain of the antenna.
Please read this manual carefully to understand how KA1 works and how to use it.
KA1 is much heavier than ordinary Yagi antenna that has the same number of
elements. It also has some sharp parts which may hurt you if you touch them roughly.
Please be careful when you construct it or do maintenance.
CAUTION
Do not use AC adaptor or cable that doesn’t come with KA1.
Before installing KA1 on the tower, please make and confirm Adjustable Element Unit
(AEU) working on the ground.
Pull off the DC plug from the controller when you attach or remove the Amphenol
connector.
While in operation (elements are not fully out or home, in between), push HOME
button to get all the elements home position if you pull off the DC plug. Otherwise
KA1 may lose the accurate position. This should happen when you experience black
out.
* In case you don’t use VERSA Beam Antenna for long or you need to fix it, follow the
procedure a)
and b) written below.
a) First retract all element to HOME position by pressing HOME and SET.
b) After a) remove DC plug from your controller.

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3. ADJUSTABLE ELEMENT UNIT (AEU)
Figure 1
①Element Top
②Element
③Supporting Rubber
④Rubber Holder
⑤Element Housing
⑥Housing Cover
⑦Housing Gasket
⑧Coaxial Connector ( only AEU for driven element )
⑨Control Cable Connector
⑩Glass Fiber Tubing
Note: We named the unit assembled with ① to ⑨ listed above AEU.

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４．Controller Front Panel Buttons and Functions
■Button Names
Figure 2
①POWER
Press to power ON. LED comes to light on.
Press and hold to power OFF.
This function is disabled during the elements in motion.
One of the band LEDs comes on light when you turn power off to let you know
what band position the elements have been at.
While the controller power is off, in order to apply the brake on the stepping
motor small amount of electric current is running. That makes the controller a bit
warm. It is not a problem or failure .
In case of power outage or something happen like that, by turning on the
power VERSA antenna itself retracts all element to HOME position, and
then extends elements to the original position where it was before the
power turned off accidentally.
②～⑨ BAND
Elements move to the each band position that is selected by these buttons.
(②7MHz ③10MHz buttons don’t work for Model 203/204/205/206 )
⑩ UP/DOWN
Adjustment (moving segments within the band or fine tuning of factory set
element length)
Selection of settings.

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⑪SET
Set button for settings works like ENTER.
⑫ MANUAL/CAL.
* MANUAL: For you to adjust manually.
* CAL: CALIBRATION (Press and Hold); Elements moves to HOME position once
and then extend to the set frequency position.
⑬CANCEL
Cancel the immediate command selection.
⑭MODE/ADJUST
* MODE: Switch between each mode. NORMAL, 180°,DIPOLE
* JUST (Press and Hold): Element fine Tuning.
⑮NORMAL
For normal operation.
⑯180°( Reverse )
Switching the beam direction to opposite side. In this mode all the KA1 models
work as 3 element Yagi.
⑰DIPOLE
KA1 has gain on both side (front and back) working like a dipole, however it has
some gain.
⑱AUTO/HOME
* AUTO: Coordinate with your transceiver frequency.
* HOME (Press and Hold): All the elements are wound up to the home position.
⑲LCD
Displays antenna settings, frequency, and MODE.
〈Example LCD display〉
Your VERSA antenna is set
for18MHz band.
When you press 21M BAND button,
LCD shows above information.
The upper right number is time to
finish motion. 066 means 6.6
seconds. The number will disappear
after stopping motion.

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4 ．Detail Functions of Front Panel Controls
■4-1 ①POWER Button
Press the POWER button to power on the controller. Then Model Number, Software
Version, ROM Version, and Available Frequencies are shown.
The previous settings and the band will be shown some seconds later.
Refer to Figure 3 and 4. (Figure 3 shows the KA1-406 display)
■4-2 BAND Buttons ②～⑨
＊NORMAL Mode(⑮LED is on）
When one of BAND Buttons is pressed, elements will move to the displayed frequency
position.
While the elements are moving, the MODE LED is flashing. The LED stops flashing and
comes to light on when the elements stop at the position.
The band and frequency are shown on the LCD. There are two options of showing
this information. Read the following description carefully.
□Band & Frequency Display (While Manual Mode is selected.)
Band and Frequency are displayed on the LCD shown like below.
7M/14M/21M/28M bands are divided into 3 segments.
Each pressing of BAND Button switches the segment.
② 7M： 40m 7.000MHｚ/40m 7.040MHz/40m 7.120MHz
③ 10M： 30m 10.100MHz
④ 14M： 20m 14.050MHｚ/20m 14.150MHz/20m 14.250MHz
⑤ 18M： 17m 18.100MHｚ/
⑥ 21M： 15m 21.050MHｚ/15m 21.200MHz/20m 21.350MHz
⑦ 24M： 12m 24.950MHz
⑧ 28M： 10m 28.000MHｚ/10m 28.500MHz/10m 29.000MHz
⑨ 50M： 6m 50.100MHz
＊②7MHz band and ③10MHz band are not available for Model 203/204/205/206.
Figure 3:
Right after turning on the power.
This is shown only for some seconds,
then switch to Figure 4 looking.
seconds to switch to Figure 4
looking.
Figure 4
This shows the previous operation
mode was Manual, and the band was
14MHz.

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□Freq Region Display (While Manual Mode is selected)
② 7M ： 7.000-7.039MHｚ/7.040-7.079MHz/7.120-7.159MHz
③ 10M：10.100-10.149MHz
④ 14M：14.０50-14.099MHｚ/14.150-14.199MHｚ/14.250-14.299MHz
⑤ 18M：18.100-18.149MHz
⑥ 21M： 21.０50-21.099MHｚ/21.200-21.249MHz/21.350-21.399MHz
⑦ 24M： 24.950-24.999MHz
⑧ 28M： 28.000-28.049MHｚ/28.500-28.549MHz/29.000-29.049MHz
⑨ 50M： 50.100-50.149MHz
＊②7MHz band and ③10MHz band are not available for Model 203/204/205/206
□Freq Region Display（While Auto Mode is selected）
KA1 controller shows the same frequency as your transceiver shows.
Example: If your transceiver frequency「14.195MHz, you see the same number like
「14.195MHz」on the LCD.

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＊How to Change Frequency Display Format
Go to 「User Mode」to switch frequency display format. We would like you
to read 8-2 for more detail.
①Press and Hold the POWER button to turn off the power.
→②Press and holding the 7M button, press POWER button.
→“ User mode” is displayed on LCD (Figure 5), and then some seconds
later LCD shows the information like in Figure 6.
.
＊You can fine tune the element length for each band.(②7MHz～⑨50MHz)
⑩You can move one segment to another in the same band by UP・DOWN
button.
You can also change element length from the factory default and save the
new settings in the controller with ⑭ADJUST on a band.
You can try to fine tune because it is easy to go back to the factory default
settings on any band.
See next AUTO・MANUAL mode function.
Figure 5:
The LCD shows as above, and then
change to as Figure 6.
Figure 6:
Press ⑩UP or DOWN until you see
[05: Display Type].
Figure 8:
The controller is shut down
automatically some seconds after you
see the above.
You need to restart to activate the
User
mode you selected.
Figure 7:
Press ⑱AUTO/HOME. AUTO/HOME
button toggles from [000: Band&Freq]
to [001: Freq Region]. Press SET button
to determine.

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＊AUTO・MANUAL mode function
You can obtain factory default setting status by press and hold the BAND
button. If you do this operation in certain segment of a band, other
segments in the same band will get to factory default.
See Figure 9 and 10
■4-3 ⑩UP・DOWN button
＊UP・DOWN button is used for selecting commands, choosing segments, and
adjusting frequency.
■4-4 ⑪SET button
＊SET button determines the selected command or status.
＊You can confirm model number, software version, and ROM version by press
and hold this button. (See Figure 3)
■4-5 ⑫MANUAL/CAL.(CALIBRATION) button
＊MANUAL button
This button is used to adjust element length manually.
You can fine tune the antenna resonant frequency by ⑩UP・DOWN button.
In order to get back to factory default you need to press and hold the BAND
button of which you want to make the setting factory default. LCD
displays as below.
→Set default OK? blinking→⑪SET→Write complete →factory default
element length
＊Note The above operation deletes the previously set data.
Figure 10:
Showing the message while the settings
are going back to default. The mode LED
that you have selected is flashing on and
off while the elements are in motion.
Figure 9:
In Manual mode.
[Set default OK?] blinks on and off.
Press ⑪SET button.