[Elecraft] Re: WRONG SERIAL CABLE - FIXED for my K2

[James Hammons]

A word of caution might be in order before you break off pin 4.  While
pin 4 is not used on the KPA100 I/O, strangely it is used for EXT ALC
on the KIO2.  Also note that when the 3000+ revision boards were made
this connection to the control board o/i connector was retained.
While I don't find the EXT ALC used anywhere at present the KAT100 has
an input to this pin which is connected to a wire jumper position W7
presently unused but reserved for future use.  Wayne and company must
have something in mind.

I find Don's mod ingenious however I plan to wait for a comment from
Wayne or Eric before I break off this pin. It might not be protection
enough it you tried to plug in the connector live as you could likely
make some contacts anyway but we know better than to do this live
don't we?   My understanding is that the use of this connector was put
up for comment before it was used and board members insisted on using
the DB9 connector.  So in that sense we can't really blame Elecraft
unless you take the position that they shouldn't give the customer
what they want when it's bad for them.  We always have Elecraft repair
as a backup when we can't fix it ourself so if you have a K2 which you
can't fix, send it to them. =20

I do think with all the connectors with different wiring for the
external PA, tuner and transverters that some color coding would be a
good idea.  A sharpie does a good job of coloring metal.  I think we
should decide on a color code for the various connectors.  I would
suggest Red for the K2 since this would denote the danger lurking
here. the computer end could be left natural denoting it's safe.  Blue
for the external PA100 and the KAT100 since they are the same.  That
leaves Green for the transverters.  Black would be for the secret
KPA1500 and KGC2 external general coverage receiver.=20

James AI4CQ