Time to send a short update about what’s going on at RF-KIT

RF2K-S production

Over the last year we, as well as others, did have many issues acquiring components. We are happy to secured all needed components for the next few hundred RF2K-S productions. Plan is to shorten our delivery time to 6 weeks when cached up with the backlog.

Hamfest
 

• We attended Hamcation 2023
• RF-KIT will attend Hamvention 2023
  We look forward to meet you at our booth 3901 and 3902
• We’ll attend Ham Radio 2023 in Friedrichshafen 23-25 June

ARRL

ARRL have chosen the RF2K-S for W1AW studio 1
Two RF2K-S are delivered and installed at W1AW

I guess you all have seen the RF2K-S product review in October 2022 QST
If not, here is a link to the review http://rf-kit.de/files/RF2K-S_ARRL_review.pdf

 

User
 

• RF2K-S is again on the biggest Cruise Ship in the world.
  Jean-Paul XE1C who was using his RF2K-S on “Harmony of the Seas” last year cruising in the Mediterranean Sea took his RF2K-S back home to Mexico after his assignment.
  On his new assignment he bought a second RF2K-S and the RF2K-S is again on the biggest Cruise Ship.
  
  
• We do see more contest station who move towards the RF2K-S
  Product stability and features is what contesters like about the RF2K-S
  
  
• VY1AAA/ VY1AA Jay is also happy with the RF2K-S at his remote station for the NW territory section NT
  
  
• D4C Monteverde Contest Team Club also moved to the RF2K-S
  
  

We do appreciate that the RF-KIT Groups.io has such high attention.
As of today we have more then 1808 members

We from the RF-KIT team do appreciate how HAM's do help each other on B26 Groups.io

       Real Ham sprit !

Service center
 

Due to the many RF-KIT amplifier we delivered to the US we decided to
have a second USA repair center.

Gary K0GX will handle out of warranty repair beside John KF6I from Island amplifier.

All warranty repair need to go to John KF6I at Island Amplifier

Lee VK3GK is our sales and service center for Oceania

Europe and rest of the world is still handled by RF-KIT Germany

73’s
Reinhard DH3NAB and team

Release features:

• Implemented API
  We would like to thank Dave WO2X for his test effort and valuable feedback. Great job !

With this API ( Application Programming Interface ) the RF2K can be controlled from  any program like Note-Red

You’ll find the documentation on our website under Docu
JSON file for download is also there.

• Minor bug fixes

Upgrade procedure:

This update can be installed using the build in update function

What’s next?

• Amplifier TCI command structure extension
• Revisit and improve existing functions
• Update documentation with the new functions

Vy73 de DH3NAB 

Reinhard and Team

All datas are  collected from Internet

see here

All who have received the RF2K+ controller upgrade KIT.

Due to a missing jumper on the new controller your RF2+ will behave as an RF2K-S with fast TX switching.

The fast TX switching will end up in Hot Switching and will destroy you amp !!

Please ensure you’ll perform an online update before you use your upgraded RF2K+

Minimum SW version is G92C110
SW version can be seen on bottom right on the main display

Bottom left on main display you must see “B26 RF2K+ “

CONTROLLER JUMPER !!!

Beside the described Jumper settings in the upgrade procedure you MUST SET JUMPER “C” else you’ll not be on the RF2K+ SW.

Jumper C was not delivered with the already shipped KIT and you can solder the pins together if you don’t have any spare jumper.

Next delivery ( not packet jet delivery ) will have the jumper.

Please apologize for the late change.

73

Reinhard DH3NAB

We would like to inform you that we needed to release a bug fix SW updae which is mandatory to all RF2K-S and RF2K+ with new controller.

Release features:

Bug fix for SW identification of RF2K-S and RF2K+
To identify the version of your amp we introduced jumper C on the controller.
During boot up the SW is reading the status of this jumper and behaves like an RF2K-S or RF2K+
Timing issue in the controller could boot your RF2K-S  as an RF2K+ which is incorrect.
We fixed the issue and it has been tested by Betta Tester as well.

• 
  Upgrade procedure:

This update can be installed using the build in update function.

What’s next?

• Amplifier TCI command structure extension as there are no TCI or CAT commands defined for amplifier.
• Updating User Manuals to include latest changes.

Vy73 de Reinhard DH3NAB

We would like to inform you that we released G91C109 which you can online upgrade starting today July 30.

With this release RF2K-S and RF2K+ with controller upgrade are the first amplifier who supports Expert Electronics SunSDR TCI command structure.

Release features:

• SunSDR TCI support with frequency taken from EESDR
  The Host IP address to use is not the SunSDR radio but the IP address of you PC with EESDR
  
  
• 6m Tuner usage now possible
  On 6m most antennas are mono-band antennas and don’t need much tuning. Therefor only manual tuning is possible on 6 with limited L and C combination. Up to 255nH and 51pF are allowed. Due to the 100kHZ segmentation just a few settings are need to be stored to cover the 6 band.
  
  
• On QSY Tuner will go automatically in AUTO if in MAN.
  
  
• Minor bug fixing
  
  

Upgrade procedure:

This update can be installed using the build in update function.

Once upgraded you need to install TCI in the Interface / TCI - Menu

What’s next?

• Amplifier TCI command structure extension as there are no TCI or CAT commands defined for amplifier.
• Updating User Manuals to include latest changes.

At this point I would like to say thank you to the Expert Electronic team for their very professional support to get to this stage.

I also wish all SunSDR users fun with the new feature.

Vy73 de DH3NAB

Reinhard and team

We would like to inform you that we released G82C100 which you can online upgrade starting today.

With this release we completed all promised features and even more.
Some of the already implemented features we’ll be revisited and improved in the future.
We’ll not stop making the RF2K one of the most advanced amplifier.

Release features:

• Implemented Cross needle display
  You can switch between the displays just touch the power reading area
  
  
• Implemented Contest Display.
  Contest Display can be selected in Menu Display Type.
  You can size the display with VNC to a much smaller area of your PC display
  and still have the most important information visible.
  You might change your VNC Scaling to your needs
  
  
• Implemented display parameter in in Linux config.sys
  This should fix the issue with black screen after booting up the amp
  
  
• Implemented Tuner Off on a per band base
  You can now select on which band you like to use the build in tuner on a per band base.
  This way you don’t have to store bypass for any given band you don’t need the tuner.
  The RF-KIT Logo is displayed in the Tuner area clearly indicating that the tuner is of.
  
  
• Implemented Band Data output on the DB-15 connector
  
  
• Minor bug fixing
  
  

Upgrade procedure:

Due to some changes in the Linux system you need to reboot the RF2K-S twice.
Just follow the instruction on the display.

What’s next?

• TCI interface Integration together with SUNSDR
  Go all IP.
• +++++

Have fun

Vy73 de DH3NAB

Reinhard and team

Effective immediately, the RF-KIT RF2K-S, 1,500 Watt Power Amplifier will no longer be available for purchase through DX Engineering, Inc.

General product sales and technical support is available at RF-KIT POWER AMPLIFIER.

Product sales and technical support for USA and Canada is available through:

Island Amplifier USA

John Stanford, KF6I
1260 Vina Del Mar Ave.
Placentia, CA  92870

(714) 412-7399

wb8svn @ gmail.com

Technical support will also continue to be provided by RF-KIT POWER AMPLIFIER.

Reinhard Förtsch
Heuleithe 14
91322 Gräfenberg
Germany

Phone: +49 (0) 9192 - 99 66 89
Email: info @ rf-kit.de
Website: rf-kit.de

Customers who have purchased RF2K-S amplifiers from DX Engineering that are still under the one-year warranty can receive service from Island Amplifier USA.  For information, contact John Stanford, KF6I, wb8svn @ gmail.com, (714) 412-7399. Visit Island Amplifier USA’s website at islandamplifier.com.

About RF-KIT

Headquartered in Grafenberg, Germany, RF-KIT is widely recognized for its high-performance power amplifiers—made for hams by hams. The success of the B26-PA RF1K2 amplifier led to the creation of the company and the development of the legal-limit B26-PA RF2K​+ model. The solid state RF2K-S (1.8-30 MHz and 50-54.2 MHz) is the company’s latest amplifier, featuring low-noise fans, dual LDMOS devices rated at 3,400 watts, and silent and fast PIN diode switching.

About Island Amplifier USA

Island Amplifier USA was founded by John Stanford, KF6I, in 2014. Island Amplifier USA offers BEKO Elektronik Sales and Service for U.S., Canada and Central America and now as well for RF-KIT; Island Amplifier offers professional HF amplifier repair service as well as restoration products to extend the life of legacy ALPHA ETO AMPLIFIERS.

We would like to inform you that we released G73C94 which you can online upgrade starting later today.

Release features:

• Changed antenna selection.
  Now you can assign more than one antenna per band.
  Last used antenna will be used returning to the band.
• Changed antenna selection on main display.
• Implemented support of an external antenna switch.
  Supporting up to 16 antennas with stored tuner values..
• Changed some naming in the menu structure
• Reset button will turn red when error
• Sleep Timer implemented
• Display On/Off implemented
  This feature came too late for the documentation but is a kind of self-explaining.
• Minor bug fixing

Also today we release the updated User Manual in German and English (can befound in Docu aera).

Some of the features out of the last SW release were not described in the user manual, so it was time to do some work on documentation as well.
 

Joerg DF9LJ did a video about his antenna switching using the external antenna switch feature.

I recommend to watch that video for a better understanding about the new feature.

https://youtu.be/Sv7Jwvotogw

Upgrade procedure:

This upgrade may be installed using the built in update function.

What’s next?

• Band Data output
• Cross needle power meter
• Contest display
  Minimum info and control of the RF2K-S to fit on a busy display.
• +++++

 
Have fun

Vy73 de DH3NAB

Reinhard and team