[Elecraft] K2 with MacOS Classic

[Jack Brindle]

As a Mac fan myself, I have lots of information to help. In fact,  
both Wayne and I here at Elecraft are primarily Mac users (but we use  
Windows and other systems as well). Connecting a Mac to the K2 is  
very easy, involving only three wires of the Mini-Din 8 bundle. The  
Mini-Din 8 appeared on all Macs from the Mac Plus until Async serial  
was dropped in favor of USB around the year 2000. The connectors are  
still used in several USB-Serial adapters, most notably the Keyspan  
dual-serial devices.

I usually fabricate a serial cable by taking an existing Mini Din-8  
to Mini Din-8 cable and cutting it in half, then installing a male  
DE-9 with hood onto the cut end of the cable. You will need to make  
the following connections:

Mini Din-8	DE9M (most folks call it a DB9M)
5			2
3			3
4			5

Identifying the Mini Din-8 pins can be difficult. The pins you need  
are in the middle row. The gap between pins 4 and 5 is noticeably  
larger than that between pins 3 and 4. You don't need to connect any  
other leads from the Mini Din-8 - in fact doing so could cause  
problems in the K2.

As for Mac software and information, there is a wealth of info at the  
Mac Ham radio web site:
http://www.machamradio.com/

Most users have upgraded to MacOS X systems, but there are still  
quite a few folks still using older systems. Much f the older  
software still works just fine, and is there just for the asking or  
downloading!

Good luck - if you need anything else, just ask.

On Nov 22, 2005, at 12:06 PM, Bekir Kemal Ataman wrote:

>> RS-232 is a protocol.
>> DB-9 is a connector (so is your mini-DIN).
>> RS-232 via an RJ45 is still RS-232 (as it would be over 4 pair of
>> field-telephone wire).
>
> I did not know that. Thanks for the info.
>
>> Sounds like you are good to go!
>
> Will do.
>
> 73!
> BKA (TA2RX)
>
> ----------------------------------
> Bekir Kemal Ataman
> ArchiMac BBS Sysop & Webmaster <http://www.archimac.org/>
>
>
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-Jack Brindle, W6FB
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