Official Palstar LA-1K 1000W Amplifier User Group

API and remote control for la1k- was Re: Antenna switch assignment

dsmith@... (David Smith) — Fri, 04 Apr 2025 14:26:26 -0700

regarding this post:La1k serial commands

Serial port protocol; I should get a raspberry pi hooked up to it.

i could easily add a web service with api control endpoints with a pizero if these commands work out. There’s some detail not included like read vs write

73s,

David AF6HO

Re: Antenna switch assignment

bjrehmer@... (Brian Rehmer) — Wed, 02 Apr 2025 12:53:53 -0700

Guys,

I received the updated firmware from Mark at Palstar.

Brian

KC4KK

Re: Antenna switch assignment

ab8sz@... (ab8sz) — Wed, 02 Apr 2025 06:46:16 -0700

Please unsubsribe me.

On 3/26/2025 8:42 PM, Sterling Reynolds via groups.io wrote:

Re: Antenna switch assignment

n3ozd@... (Sterling Reynolds) — Wed, 26 Mar 2025 17:42:57 -0700

I saw the same but someone in this thread received 1.09xx from Palstar so I am not sure that 1.08s is the latest and greatest.

Sent from Tom Reynolds

Re: Antenna switch assignment

billyrpark@... (Billy Parkinson) — Wed, 26 Mar 2025 17:39:02 -0700

Sterling,

I looked at Palstar website just the other day, still shows 1.08s as being current.

Billy Parkinson
KG5RQZ
WRYA510
HH 11724
COR RACES 306

Re: Antenna switch assignment

JERRY@... (Jerry Raia) — Wed, 26 Mar 2025 06:46:09 -0700

The web site still shows 1.08s

73,
Jerry
WX1FLY

Re: Antenna switch assignment

bjrehmer@... (Brian Rehmer) — Tue, 25 Mar 2025 11:58:27 -0700

Kent,

For the Ant switch issue, no change.

Re: Antenna switch assignment

bjrehmer@... (Brian Rehmer) — Tue, 25 Mar 2025 11:52:39 -0700

I think they are behind in updating the website. Best guess here. Also, Mark passed along serial port protocol. See below. It would be nice get PC app going for it.

// UART_Receive_Unload_Test

// Remote Computer Commands :

// AAx; AMP Antenna x = 1,2 or 3

// AMx; AMP Mode x=1 Operate , x=2 Standby

// IFXXXXXXXX; X= 8 Digits of frequency in kHz blank digits are "0" (ie 21 MHz = IF00021000; )

// ALxxxx; x= 0000 to 4095

// ARx; AMP RS232 x=0 Kenwood interface (power on default) , x=1 automatic status mode

// UART_Transmit_Setup_Test

// Remote Status Data :

// ADfffff;m;ppp;ss;a;b;vv;iii;ttt;llll;k;u;x;<CR>

// fffff = frequency in kHz, five spaces indicates not a valid frequency detect

// m = mode, 1 = operate , 2 = standby

// ppp = power, if in standby, power in watts, if if operate power value in watts times 10

// ss = SWR value times .1

// a = antenna 1 2 or 3

// b = band, 1 = 160M, 2 = 80M, 3 = 40M, 4 = 20-15M, 5 = 12-10M, 6 = 6M

// vv = Vd in volts

// iii = Id amps times .1

// ttt = temp in degrees C '___' indicates no reading

// llll = ALC value 0000 to 1023

// k = keying status, 0=no keying, 1= Tx Wait, 2= Tx Amp, 4= Tx Bypass,

// 6= Fault Fq 7=Fault SWR, 8=Fault Temp

// u = Power up mode, 0 = last used , 1 = standby

// x = activity indicator sequence of /,-,\,|

// <CR>

// ALC Reference values reading on 12 - 2017

// voltage set value

// 0 35

// -1 125

// -2 214

// -3 303

// -4 396

// -5 484

// -6 569

// -7 654

// -8 742

// -9 830

// -10 922

// -11 1023

Re: Antenna switch assignment

n3ozd@... (Sterling Reynolds) — Tue, 25 Mar 2025 11:16:14 -0700

I was wondering the same thing. I currently have 1.08s running. The Palstar site shows 1.09b I believe.

Tom - t

Sent from Tom Reynolds

Re: Antenna switch assignment

billyrpark@... (Billy Parkinson) — Tue, 25 Mar 2025 09:40:24 -0700

A little off topic, if the latest firmware is 1.09xx, why does Palstar not have it available on their website?

Billy Parkinson
KG5RQZ
WRYA510
HH 11724
COR RACES 306

Re: Antenna switch assignment

tuneupmagic@... (tuneupmagic (null)) — Sun, 23 Mar 2025 08:00:08 -0700

On Sun, Mar 23, 2025 at 06:25 AM, Brian Rehmer wrote:

Yes, I talked to Mark at Palstar and he provided latest version.

Brian, KC4KK, good to know Mark hooked you up with the latest version of the LA-1K firmware. Btw, Mark emailed me on June 1, 2023 (nearly 2 years ago) that he would share with Palstar's President & CEO & Chief Engineer, Paul Hrivnak, that there's a need for the LA-1K to have separate band annunciators for 30m/60m (no typo) that will result in a display change, with antenna switching capability.

Hopefully, they will eventually get the 30m/60m thing done, and resolve their "12-10M" and "20-15M" antenna switching issues while they are at it. They need to have a separate button on the "SELECT BAND" screen for each of the Ham bands.

73,
Ray
KJ5MI

Re: Antenna switch assignment

k9ztv@... (Kent Trimble, K9ZTV) — Sun, 23 Mar 2025 07:31:05 -0700

And the change in behavior is ... ?

73,

Kent

K9ZTV

Re: Antenna switch assignment

bjrehmer@... (Brian Rehmer) — Sun, 23 Mar 2025 03:25:32 -0700

Yes, I talked to Mark at Palstar and he provided latest version. When I received the amp was built late 2023 it had 1.09b.

There was no change in behavior that I can see after update.

Re: Antenna switch assignment

tuneupmagic@... (tuneupmagic (null)) — Sun, 23 Mar 2025 02:05:07 -0700

On Sat, Mar 22, 2025 at 07:05 PM, Brian Rehmer wrote:

And, got latest firmware 1.09e installed

Brian, KC4KK, the Palstar official website https://www.palstar.com/en/la1k/ is showing 1.08S as the latest firmware for the LA-1K.

Did someone from Palstar advise you v1.09e is the latest LA-1K firmware?

73,
Ray
KJ5MI

Re: Antenna switch assignment

bjrehmer@... (Brian Rehmer) — Sat, 22 Mar 2025 16:05:34 -0700

Ray,

you are right buttons are 20-15 and 10-12. And, got latest firmware 1.09e installed

Re: Antenna switch assignment

tuneupmagic@... (tuneupmagic (null)) — Sat, 22 Mar 2025 12:48:33 -0700

On Sat, Mar 22, 2025 at 01:03 PM, Brian Rehmer wrote:

Using the amp now I see band buttons are 10-12 and 15-17.

Brian, KC4KK, are you sure that's correct? My LA-1K, with firmware 1.08S, showing 12-10M and 20-15M on its "SELECT BAND" screen.

Your LA-1K could have a different firmware installed.

73,
Ray
KJ5MI

Re: Antenna switch assignment

bjrehmer@... (Brian Rehmer) — Sat, 22 Mar 2025 10:03:51 -0700

Guys,

On page 4 of the Users Manual under Additional Features,

- Automatic band selection when transmitting.

- Automatic antenna selection of last antenna output when band selected

Reading this before I purchased the amp, I expected band=160, 80, 40, 20, 17, 15, 12, 10 and 6 m to be selectable. No 30m due to FCC power limit.

Using the amp now I see band buttons are 10-12 and 15-17. Note, band selects choose the power amplifier harmonic filter. This unfortunately seems to only allow seperate antenna selection for 17 and 15 or 12 and 10 m.

Re: Antenna switch assignment

tuneupmagic@... (tuneupmagic (null)) — Sat, 22 Mar 2025 09:24:14 -0700

On Fri, Mar 21, 2025 at 10:54 PM, Brian Rehmer wrote:

Ray,

I would really like to just discuss the antenna switch issue.

So, Brian, KC4KK, what are your thoughts on Billy, KG5RQZ, saying "The LA-1K is RF sensing to band changes, but not antenna changes."? I can think of one scenario that isn't entirely true.

73,
Ray
KJ5MI

Re: Antenna switch assignment

davenlr@... — Sat, 22 Mar 2025 08:39:34 -0700

You have been "discussing" for two years and it is getting really old. Why haven't you sold it if you hate it so much?

For me, and my 6 antennas, it has been the best piece of equipment I have purchased.

Re: Antenna switch assignment

rickpp@... (VE3PP) — Sat, 22 Mar 2025 07:26:23 -0700

I can email you with regards to the antenna switch issue if you would like to discuss it further. If you want to email me my email is good on QRZ.
Rick VE3PP