[Elecraft] WRONG SERIAL CABLE - FIXED for my K2

[Sander Wissing]

Don,

OK, see I knew I was putting my foot in my mouth again ...

But then I agree, some completely different kind of plug would make that
obvious, rather than a normal serial connector.  Actually, I still love
the idea of a normal serial connector on the rig so that you don't have
to make up special cables, but then definitely 2 different plugs for the
different functions.  Point taken about the physical limitations
though...

I guess you just can't have everything on a rig this size :(

Thanks for explaining, I will just have to get a K2 and find out for
myself!

Cheers
Sander Wissing
ZR6SW
KX1 - #251


-----Original Message-----
From: Don Wilhelm [mailto:w3fpr@peoplepc.com] 
Sent: 23 December 2003 04:45 PM
To: Sander Wissing
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] WRONG SERIAL CABLE - FIXED for my K2

Sander,

The problem is that this connector is used for 2 different functions -
so it
IS fixing the problem by creating a special connector at the K2 end.

3 of the pins are for RS-232 level computer communication signals - TxD,
RxD, and signal GND.
4 (or maybe 5) of the remaining pins are to pass signals from one piece
of
Elecraft gear to another - AUXBUS, VRFDET, 12CTRL, and 8R (and from the
KIO2, but not the KPA100 - EXT ALC on pin 4).
These signals must be available for communications with external
Elecraft
'goodies' like transverters, the KAT100, and other boxes that are
external
to the K2.

If these internal K2 signals are subjected to RS232 voltage levels, the
K2
will be damaged internally, and this will surely happen if one plugs a
standard serial cable into the K2.  Several folks have accidently done
that.

I'm certain that in the future a different connector could be used
allowing
the DB9 to be used only for computer RS232 signalling, but for the
present,
there is not physical room for another connector on the KPA100, and the
K2
is rather full as well.  Some kind of 'dongle' may be possible, but that
is
a 'kluge' IMHO.

73,
Don W3FPR

----- Original Message -----
>
> These are all really clever ideas, but isn't this fixing the symptom
> rather than the problem?
>
> Why not just rewire the plug on the K2 side to use real serial cables?
> No danger of ever using the wrong cable again and a nearly endless
> supply of cables?
>
> One day when I get my K2 I will look into this for more than the 2
> seconds I spent on it now...
>