[Elecraft] K3 - Band Decoder

Don Wilhelm w3fpr at embarqmail.com
Tue Apr 8 19:18:02 EDT 2008


Josh,

Since you already have the KRC2 set up to switch your antennas, I would 
suggest you use that with the K3.  Connect the K3 ACC pin 2 (AUXBUS) 
signal to KRC2 pin 6, connect the K3 Keyout signal (ACC pin 10) to KRC2 
pin 9, and Ground (ACC pin 5 or 12) to KRC2 pin 1.
The KRC2 needs 12 volt power which you can connect from the K3 AUX power 
output jack - it can either feed the coaxial power plug on the KRC2 or 
you can feed it into the KRC2 DE9 connector at pin 8.

Of course, you can design a new antenna controller from the K3 band 
outputs.  If you choose that route, remember that the K2 band outputs 
are open collector and need pullup resistors at your controller end.

73,
Don W3FPR

J. Heide wrote:
> OK, now that the Katiegram has arrived, I need to think about antenna switching. I have the following antennas that I want to use with the K3
> Windom for most all bands
> Yagi for 20 meters
> Yagi for 6 meters (goes to the XV50)
> Vertical for 160 meters
> Vertical for 6m FM (which is not used with the K2)
>
> Right now, I have a KRC2 that switches the 20m yagi and 160 vertical on antenna port 2 on the radio. Since the K3 has 4 band decoder (TTL?) lines coming out of it, it is easy enough to build logic to pull in the right relay. Can the "DIGOUT" line be used (with proper buffering, of course) to switch a relay for changing from horizontal to vertical on 6m? Basically, windom and 6 meter antennas to antenna port 1 (with the band decoder switching from windom to 6 meters, and digout selecting wither the vert or horiz) and the 20m beam and 160 vert switched on antenna port 2?
>
> I have several RelComm RDL-SR002 relays, one of which I am using with the KRC2 now, so quality relays are not a problem here.
>
> Sorry if this is a bit long, but without equipment in front of me, I have a hard time visualizing things. 
>
> 73
> Josh
> K6ZRX
>
>   


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