[Elecraft] K3: USB port - and SteppIR antennas

[Julian, G4ILO]

Joe Subich, W4TV-4 wrote:
> 
> 
> Go to www.newegg.com or www.tigerdirect.com ... you can find dozens
> of quality motherboards from more than half a dozen top quality board
> houses with at least one and in some cases two serial ports.  Even
> the Intel chip set *INCLUDES* two serial ports - Intel simply does
> not provide the interface circuits and connectors on their commodity
> motherboards.
> 
> 

That's true, though beside the point. Motherboards have expansion slots in
them and the purpose of those slots is to add in boards. RS232 boards with 2
or 4 ports cost no more than the equivalent number of USB to serial
adapters, are electrically quieter and less prone to compatibility issues.
Technologically RS232 is a better solution for computer control of a radio.
True you need a separate connection for audio, but then some people want to
connect their radio's audio input and output to something other than a
computer, for example a TNC.



> The lack of serial ports on many consumer level computers is simply a
> COST REDUCTION MEASURE - not a statement about the technology.
> 

Exactly. Why foist serial ports on Aunt Mabel who only wants to connect a
mouse, keyboard and printer to her PC?

The trouble with following fashion when it comes to technology is that in
ten years time the USB port could be as out of date as 1970s flares today.
One day it will be replaced with something else and then those USB ports on
the Icom rigs will be useless while we'll still be able to get RS232 to
whatever-it-is adapter cables to use with our K3s.

-----
Julian, G4ILO. K2 #392  K3 #222.
* G4ILO's Shack - http://www.g4ilo.com
* KComm - http://www.g4ilo.com/kcomm.html
* KTune - http://www.g4ilo.com/ktune.html

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