[Elecraft] K2 & TR-log (long)

[Pete Hoover]

Gang:

	There have been a number of recent questions about using TR-log with the
K2. I wrote the following some time ago - hope it helps.

Pete, W6ZH
San Marino, CA

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	I use a modified version of the "Elecraft" K2 to Computer Cable. With the
KIO installed and this cable, as modified, TR-log can be used to key the
rig for CW, switch bands, change frequency within a band, work the RIT, and
change modes all from the keyboard of the computer. This in addition to
TR-log performing all of its usual extensive logging features.  All this
with one cable connected between the K2 and the serial port of the
computer. How? Read on:

The cable modifications are as follows: (unless otherwise specified, all
the Elecraft instructions pertaining to the construction of the cable are
to be followed - see pages 12 & 13 of the instruction booklet);
 
	At the PC end (female) of the cable, solder the white wire to pin#4 (new). 
	At the K2 end (male) of the cable, remove 1 1/2"(not 1/2") of the jacket,
and peel back and cut away the foil shield (new). 
	Remove 3/16" insulation from the end of the white wire.
	Trim the bare, red, green and black wire to 1/2" in length (now 1" shorter
than the white wire), and remove 3/16" of insulation from the three wires
(new).
	Solder bare wire to pin #1, red to pin #2, green to pin #3, and both black
and white wires to pin #5. The white wire will have 1" of slack at this
point(new). 
	6" from the K2 end (male) of the cable carefully remove about 3/4" of the
jacket of the cable, leaving as much of the foil as you can: find the white
wire, and pull it out of the cable, removing the slack at the K2(male)
connector end. This will give you a 1" loop of white wire - cut this loop
in the center, and remove 3/16" of insulation from each end. 
	The white wire that comes from the PC end (female) is the keying lead from
the computer. To this wire solder a 1K ohm resistor. Solder the other end
of this resistor to the base of a 2N2222A. Solder the white wire that goes
to the K2 end (male) to the emitter of the 2N2222A - this is now the ground
lead of the keying system. 
	A shielded two conductor cable is used to connect the 2N2222A to the K2
key jack. Solder the center conductor of the shielded cable to the
collector of the 2N2222A. The shield is soldered to the junction of the
emitter and the white wire that goes to the K2 end (male) of the cable.
	A suitable plug is soldered to the K2 end of the keying cable.

	That's it. I used a small plastic box to protect the 1K resistor and
2N2222A: one cable goes in one side (from the PC end of the cable) and two
come out the other side: one goes to the K2 end (male) DB connector and the
other to the key jack of the K2. This keying system may well work with
other logging programs such as CT and NA, providing they use pin #4 of the
PC DB connector for keying. 

	Page 19 of the KIO2 instructions give some information on how to set up
the configuration files for TR Log (now that Tree, N6TR (Mr. TR Log) is
building his own K2, I expect an elaboration of the K2 instructions). 

	If I am going to use the K2 for a contest, my TR configuration file
(logcfg.dat) for that contest will contain a line that reads:

	INPUT CONFIG FILE = K2-2MODE.CFG

	My TR directory contains another file called "K2-2MODE.CFG". This is
automatically loaded when the contest logcfg.dat is loaded, and has the
following lines:  

	KEYER OUTPUT PORT = SERIAL 1
	SHIFT KEY ENABLE = TRUE
	RADIO ONE BAUD RATE = 4800
	RADIO ONE CONTROL PORT = SERIAL 1
	RADIO ONE NAME = K2
	RADIO ONE TYPE = TS570

	For SSB contests, I use a foot switch wired to the PTT of the K2 mike jack
to activate the rig. If it is a dual-mode 'test (Field Day, etc.) CW keying
is still done via the serial port with no cable changes required (The
computer can be used to switch the K2 between modes!). The logging
functions of TR proceed without a hitch, regardless of mode.  	

	Even though TR Log is a DOS program, I have no trouble running it under
Win95 in a DOS window. TR Log is not free-ware. The latest version is 6.62,
released this week. For more info on TR Log, contact George Fremin III,
K5TR at: k5tr@kkn.net.

	Did I mention that I like TR-Log? No? OK, I do, but have no connection
with the author yada yada, etc. If you have any questions, ping me directly
as I get the digest and might take a while to pick up requests.

Pete, W6ZH
w6zh@ix.netcom.com
San Marino, CA
K2 SN#00043 
K1 SN#00553