[Elecraft] Difficulty with K3 Utility RS232 Interface

Wed Jun 24 18:05:28 EDT 2009

I would appreciate the same consideration as is being given Craig.  I 
reported this issue on April 24 as follows:

*** begin quote ***

 >On this subject I offer the following:

 >Just today, I attempted to save my K3 configuration using a fresh newly
 >downloaded K3 Utility.  The "save configuration" option failed with the
 >following notice:

 >+--------------------------------
 >|  Window title:  POWER ON BANNER ERROR
 >|
 >|   Error Msg:  K3 Get command failed to return the expected response |
 >  |   after several attempts.
 >+--------------------------------

 >Does this look familiar to any one?

 >I am moving up from MCU 2.46/FPF0.02/DSP1_1.92    ...yeah, I
 >know--ancient history.   :-)

 >Is it possible that the K3 Utility assumes it will only be used to
 >update from some MCU version more recent that 2.46?  ...say the first
 >one that introduces the 'power on banner' feature?

 >Since I could not get a backup of the existing configuration, I did not
 >attempt to do an upgrade.

 >Thoughts appreciated,

 >Richard
 >K5BWV

 >====================================================

***end of quote***

Richard Davis
K5BWV

=====================================================

Dick Dievendorff wrote:
> The K3 commands used to save the K3 configuration have been in the MCU
> firmware, unchanged, for as long as the save configuration capability has
> been offered. I don't believe that this is the issue.  (It's not a bad
> guess, though!)
> 
> I and the rest of the K3 support team will continue to work with Craig to
> resolve this problem.  One-of-a-kind problems are very much worth digging
> into, so that we solve the problem and make the necessary changes so that
> others aren't inconvenienced in the future. That's one of the several ways
> products improve. Maybe it's marginal hardware somewhere along the path.
> I've made several software changes that add or adjust retries to better
> tolerate marginal hardware issues.  Maybe I can make an adjustment that
> solves Craig's problem with his existing hardware.
> 
> I'll be adding a diagnostic trace to the K3 Utility save/restore config so
> that Craig can capture and send me the details of the command stream that is
> causing problems. Maybe I can supply a software change to get Craig (and
> other future users) past this problem. 
> 
> Dick, K6KR
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net
> [mailto:elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Iain MacDonnell -
> N6ML
> Sent: Wednesday, June 24, 2009 9:55 AM
> To: craig at powersmith.net
> Cc: elecraft at mailman.qth.net; support at elecraft.com
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Difficulty with K3 Utility RS232 Interface
> 
> 
> Hi Craig,
> 
> This is a guess, but I suspect that your current firmware is too old to
> support saving its configuration with the up-to-date K3 Utility - it's
> probably trying to use some command that doesn't exist in that firmware,
> to read some configuration.
> 
> It sounds like your RS232 setup is working fine. If it was me, I'd "bite
> the bullet" and go ahead with the firmware update... but you may be less
> adventurous ;)
> 
>      ~Iain / N6ML
> 
> 
> 
> Craig D. Smith wrote:
>> I am trying to do a "configuration save" with the latest released K3
>> utility.  I'm using a straight-thru 6 foot RS232 connection and get an
> error
>> message saying "K3 Get command failed to return the expected response
> after
>> several attempts".  I posted a help request on the reflector about this a
>> week or so ago, and Dick Dievendorff was kind enough to respond with some
>> possible ways to remedy the problem.  He suggested that it was possibly a
>> bad cable.  I bought a new cable, and it behaves identically.  BTW, both
>> cables look fine with a continuity check.  Straight-thru in each of the 9
>> pins and the shells.  He also sent me a couple of non-released versions of
>> the K3 Utility, thinking that they might help the situation.
> Unfortunately,
>> they behaved similarly.  So I'm ready to move past the cable and software
>> and look at the hardware.
>>
>> I've tried the obvious things like reseating the RS232 connectors.  Also,
> I
>> get the same message when running the I/F at each of the 4 speeds.  This
>> same RS232 I/F to the K3 works flawlessly with the K3 Utility in terms of
>> reading and changing filter parameters and CW memory bank contents.  It
> also
>> works perfectly for rig control/logging with both N3FJP and N1MM contest
>> software.  I have had absolutely no problems with noise from the computer
> or
>> with RF in the shack.  The K3 is SN 608, so has over a year under its belt
>> with never any other RS232 I/F problem.  I've also used this same I/F
>> several months ago to do a configuration save and install new K3 firmware.
>> It worked just fine then.  
>>
>> The present situation is that I'm running version 2.02 firmware and would
>> very much like to update it to version 3.11 so that I can have access to
>> some of the latest features.  But I'm hesitant to try a firmware install
> if
>> the RS232 I/F is "flakey".  The last thing I want is to have the K3
> totally
>> inoperable due to a botched attempt at a firmware upgrade.
>>
>> I saw that there was a mod in the modification list that removes the 100
> uH
>> inductor from the RS232 return line.  Thought this was worth a try, so
>> jumpered out the inductor.  Unfortunately no change in the situation.
> While
>> I had the RS232, ACC I/O board out of the K3, I checked to see if there
> was
>> anything else obvious there.  Nothing definitive, but a couple of things
> to
>> note:
>>
>> The RS232 Application note states that "Do not use the metal shell of the
>> RS232 or ACC connectors for chassis ground.  They are normally isolated
> from
>> the chassis."  On my board, the RS232 connector shell is isolated and the
>> ACC connector shell is tied to frame ground.  Is this normal?  What is the
>> reason for wanting the shells isolated?  Can this contribute to the
> problem
>> I'm having?
>>
>> There is a deviance between the latest K3 schematic and my RS232 hardware.
>> On both the RXD out and TXD in lines, my hardware has a 220 ohm resistor
> in
>> series with the inductors.  No resistors are shown in the schematic.
> Please
>> clarify.
>>
>> Unfortunately, I have no other computer here with RS232, so can't try
>> changing computers.  
>>
>> What should I try next ?????
>>
>> I'm copying the reflector in case anyone else would like to offer
>> suggestions.
>>
>>
>>  Thanks and 73
>>                       .... Craig AC0DS
>>
>>
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