[Elecraft] Fwd: K3 Failed DSP Firmware Download

[Don Wilhelm]

  Craig,

I am glad to hear you had success.

Unfortunately, many of similar problems are OS and USB to serial driver 
related.  The USB cable itself is not the problem, but the available 
drivers to support it for the various OS versions seems to be the 
biggest problem.

 From my recall, the older KUSB with the prolific chipset is problematic 
with Vista and Win7 OS because Prolific does not have current drivers 
for those OS.  Is this a Microsoft problem or is it a prolific chipset 
problem - I am not to be a judge, but it is a problem for the end user.  
There is no clear indication of who to point the "blame finger" 
toward.   Buyer Beware - real serial ports seem to cause few 
difficulties.  If you have a choice, use the native PC serial port 
rather than the USB to serial adapter.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 2/5/2011 10:54 PM, craig at thephotoman.com wrote:
> Thanks for the input, Don.
>
> I deleted the old firmware file in my local folder, and reloaded just 
> the latest DSP files. Worked perfectly. I really don't think the USB 
> cable is the issue. Anyway, I'm a happy camper!
>
> Craig W6WL
>
> On 2/5/2011 7:07 PM, Don Wilhelm wrote:
>>  Don,
>>
>> I have trouble blaming the problem on the K3 when the real problem 
>> lies with the Operating System and properly operating drivers (or 
>> lack thereof) for the USB to serial adapters.
>>
>> Use of a desktop computer for the hamshack is quite desirable IMHO - 
>> mine sits under the desk and the monitor, keyboard and mouse takes up 
>> less space than a laptop.  If the particular desktop does not come 
>> with serial ports, there are cards available that will add native 
>> serial ports to a desktop.  Laptops are quite another story, although 
>> PCMCIA serial port cards are available and should be more reliable 
>> than USB to serial adapters.
>>
>> Desktop computers with serial ports are available at bargain prices 
>> in the off-lease category (I like the IBM off-lease, many of which 
>> have 2 serial ports).  Most are loaded with WinXPpro and cost less 
>> than $150, and are more than adequate for a dedicated ham-station 
>> computer.  Sure, you have to spend additional dollars for a monitor, 
>> but that is small change compared to laptop prices.  The flexibility 
>> offered by a desktop far exceeds the "convenience" of a laptop for 
>> ham use, and is much more reliable (a laptop is a "throw-away" device 
>> if it stops working).
>>
>> 73,
>> Don W3FPR
>>
>> On 2/5/2011 9:49 PM, don Swetzig wrote:
>>> I needed to make a real rs232 cable to get mine to work 
>>>
>>> The usb adaptors don't work very well including the ones elecraft sell.
>>>
>>> It's time to work on robustness on the loader instead on new features.
>>>
>>> This is a problem that will damage the K3 reputation if it is not 
>>> addressed.  As there are not many pc's that have the real ports 
>>> anymore.
>>>
>>> Don
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> KD8NNU
>>>
>>> Sent from my Palm Pre on the Now Network from Sprint
>>> On Feb 5, 2011 8:28 PM, 
>>> craig at thephotoman.com<craig at thephotoman.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> -------- Original Message --------
>>>
>>> Subject:     K3 Failed DSP Firmware Download
>>>
>>> Date:     Sat, 05 Feb 2011 18:21:05 -0800
>>>
>>> From: craig at thephotoman.com<craig at thephotoman.com>
>>>
>>> To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> I hope someone can help me as I tried to update the firmware onto my K3
>>>
>>> this afternoon. I first tried it five times getting ERR DSE E0000202 on
>>>
>>> the K3, and xE200006 on the K3Util screen with the details as "DSP1
>>>
>>> verification failed, and version verification number failed. Then I
>>>
>>> deleted the K3Util program, and connected an Ethernet cable to my
>>>
>>> laptop, then reloaded the K3Util software. Tried another five tines 
>>> with
>>>
>>> the same error results. I read all the notes online, and I'm stumped.
>>>
>>> All the other firmware loads fine.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Craig W6WL
>>>
>>>
>>>
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>>
>
> -- 
> Craig Smith
> Craig W Smith Photography
>
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