[Elecraft] K3 Macro button pad

[Lu Romero]

All:

Would 33 buttons be enough?

http://www.genovation.com/681.htm

Or maybe 24?

http://www.genovation.com/684.htm

We use these in a museum to play back videos from a RS232
controlled server, and they are very rugged and easy to
program.  You program them using the supplied software in
english, then when you press a button, the serial command
stream is sent out to the 232 port that makes functions
happen.

Once you program the key macros, you dont need a computer,
as it has built in non battery flash RAM inside.  Since we
now have a macro language for external control of the K3 via
the RS232 port, you could program functions as macros into
this thing, label the button with the function and have at
it.

I have a PS2 version of the model 684 that I use with
N1MMLogger that I have programmed multiple keyboard key
presses (like for setting split and other functions) that
works perfectly.  Ive had it for almost two years now and it
works just fine.  

I have also used it on a microHAM microKEYER2 in place of a
standard PS2 keyboard to send CW message memories
standalone, that works fine too.

Of course, YMMV, but if it can share the RS232 port with
something else (I haven not tried it), or if you just want
to send macros and have nothing connected to the 232 port,
this might solve your problems.

Just a thought.  I have found a lot of relatively
inexpensive widgets to make our museum work well.  This is
just one of them.  Some translate into Ham apps, some dont. 

Lu Romero
W4LT
K3 #3192



Date: Fri, 21 May 2010 09:11:36 -0500
From: "Jim Miller KG0KP" <JimMiller at STL-OnLine.Net>
Subject: [Elecraft] Fw:  K3 Macro button pad
To: "Elecraft Reflector" <elecraft at mailman.qth.net>
Message-ID: <4ECBDB3DB472466194AE1082B00C2FA4 at HMJM500>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed;
charset="iso-8859-1";
    reply-type=original


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jim Miller KG0KP" <JimMiller at STL-OnLine.Net>
To: "Elecraft Reflector" <elecraft at mailman.qth.net>
; "Val" <val at vip.bg>
Sent: Friday, May 21, 2010 8:36 AM
Subject: [Elecraft] K3 keypad Ascessory


> These 21 - dedicated macro keys ??
> 73,d e Jim KG0KP
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Val" <val at vip.bg>
> To: <Elecraft at mailman.qth.net>
> Sent: Friday, May 21, 2010 1:55 AM
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Son of K3
>
>
>> Well, there is P3 - the largest display, someone could
image. And the
>> software could bring out there all needed information,
alongwith
"analog
>> S-meter".  Band buttons, mode buttons - there is also an
easy solution.
>> Imagine a thiny box 1/2" x 1/2" x 10.7", the same style
and
paint as K3 -
>> there is a place for 17 original keys. It could be
mounted on the top and
>> secured to the top-front 2D fasteners. I would buy such
an accesory. Or
>> similar side mounted key box with 3 x 7 = 21 keys.
>>
>> 73 Val  LZ1VB
>>
>>>After ownning K3 from the beginning, my request would be
>>>for an "armchair"  version of K3. There would be an
analog
>>> S-Meter, large LED/LCD display, band  buttons, mode
buttons.
>>