[Elecraft] microHAM K3 cables ...

[Joe Subich, W4TV]

Rick, 

> But Joe - the K3 has rear panel connectors that are far 
> better for cabling to external boxes. Forget about the 
> Kenwood standard 8-pin front panel mic connector! Make up 
> your cables with standard phone and phono plugs and keep the 
> clutter behind the rigs where it belongs.

I don't see microHAM doing two versions of the K3 cable but it 
is up to the guys in Slovakia.  

According to the documentation in the K3 FAQ, there are some 
issues in not supporting the front panel mic connector.  First 
is the inability to pass electret bias (Kenwood standard is bias 
on pin 6 and an RC network in the microphone as shown in the FAQ). 
The second is the lack of the up/down/function keys via the rear 
panel (when they are supported).  

Anyone who wants a "clean" front panel and does not need the 
added mic functions can always get a female cable mount Foster 
(CE8 at www.buxcomm.com) and make a short Foster to 1/8" and RCA 
pigtail to connect mic and PTT to the rear panel connectors or 
remove the Foster from the microHAM cable, clip the extra wires, 
put heat shrink on the two pairs (1 & 7 for mic, 2 & 8 for PTT) 
and install their own 1/8" and RCA connectors.  This means that 
the standard "Kenwood wired" MH2 and Proset K2 (assuming they 
use the Heil iC cartridge) will not work with the rear panel 
connections since the microphone or AD-1 adapter should 
include the RC network.  

73, 

   ... Joe Subich, W4TV 
       microHAM America 
       http://www.microHAM-USA.com 
       http://groups.yahoo.com/group/microHAM 
       support at microham.com