[Elecraft] K3 Dead MCU Load

[Joe Subich, W4TV]

Every microHAM manual cautions against attempting to load 
firmware to a transceiver through Router and any of the 
microHAM interface hardware.  The K3 is no different. 

In some cases, firmware can be uploaded if the K3 and Router 
are already communicating and Router is set to "Disable router 
queries" or if the radio type is changed to "no radio (mode 
selected manually)."   However, in no case have I been able 
to salvage/resume a botched upload through Router and any 
microHAM interface.  

I keep a "real" serial port and/or a plain FTDI based USB to 
serial converter on my systems specifically for firmware 
uploads. 

73, 

   ... Joe, W4TV 
   

> -----Original Message-----
> From: elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net 
> [mailto:elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of TMorton
> Sent: Monday, January 26, 2009 10:57 AM
> To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
> Subject: [Elecraft] K3 Dead MCU Load
> 
> 
> After using 2.57 for several months I decided to upgrade to latest 
> software. Started the K3 Utility, V 1.1.6.3 and had it check 
> the website 
> for upgrade.
> This is from the K3 Utility log:
> 
> 13:31:24 K3 Utility Version 1.1.6.3
> 13:34:18 Opening connection to ftp.elecraft.com
> 13:34:18 Connected to Elecraft server. Please be patient, 
> this takes a 
> few seconds.
> 13:34:24 Copying files to C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\Application 
> Data\Elecraft\K3 Firmware
> 13:34:31 Copied hmcu0278.hex from Elecraft
> 13:34:35 Copied HDSP0198.HEX from Elecraft
> 13:34:40 Copied HAUX0198.HEX from Elecraft
> 13:34:43 Copied hfwnotes.rtf from Elecraft
> 13:34:45 Copied K3UtilityVersionInfo.txt from Elecraft
> 13:34:45 Copied 5 files from Elecraft to C:\Documents and 
> Settings\Owner\Application Data\Elecraft\K3 Firmware
> 13:34:45 Ready
> 13:37:28 K3 failed to enter MCU firmware load mode
> 13:37:36 MCU programming failed. Verify file source and 
> version. Turn the K3 off and back on, then re-try the 
> firmware load. 13:37:42 Ready 13:42:31 K3 is not responding 
> 13:42:31 K3 is not responding 13:42:33 Ready 13:43:57 K3 is 
> not responding 13:43:57 K3 is not responding 13:43:59 Ready 
> 13:49:50 K3 is not responding 13:49:54 K3 is not responding
> 
>  I tried turning on and off the rig, of course by having to kill the 
> power supply and holding the Power switch on until MCU LD 
> reappears...along with flashing TX led.
> I am using the microKeyer II as my interface and went to the 
> K3 port (3) 
> and clicked on the "disable router inquiries" before starting the 
> upgrade process.
> I did save the previous config using the K3 utility but now the K3 is 
> not responding to the com port so K3 utility is essentially dead...
> 
> Help!
> Tom