[Elecraft] K2 Front Panel Extension

[Vic K2VCO]

Solosko, Robert B (Bob) wrote:

> The ability of software such as HRD to control a K2 is what gave me
> the idea for a hardware front panel extension that would interface
> through a KIO2. 

Both a software 'panel' such as HRD or N4PY or a hardware extension 
communicating via the KIO2 have one big problem:  they are too sluggish 
to provide the kind of response that I want from the controls.  This is 
probably in part because the interface has to wait for the 
microprocessor, but there are other factors that slow things down if you 
want to do more than just replace the buttons on the K2 with remote ones.

For example, N4PY allows you to set up each VFO with a different 
bandwidth; a nice feature for DX pileups, but impossibly slow for that 
purpose since it requires the simulation of several button presses.

Elecraft designed the computer interface for maximum compatibility with 
existing software (it's a superset of the Kenwood command set).  The 
K2's microprocessor is very heavily loaded and one of the things that 
impresses me is that Wayne managed to get the K2 to work so smoothly 
despite this!  However, the computer interface is not a high-performance 
one.
-- 
73,
Vic, K2VCO
Fresno CA
http://www.qsl.net/k2vco