[Elecraft] Fwd: K3 Failed DSP Firmware Download

[Ron D'Eau Claire]

Your experience apparently reflects that of most K3 owners, Lu. 

That's no comfort for those who do have problems, but it's almost impossible
to fix something until it can be made to fail on command by the one who is
doing the fixing.

When the problems are concentrated on a statistically small number of
setups, it's natural to assume the problem is associated with those
installations.

I've loaded almost every firmware update over the past 3+ years into K3 S/N
10 using three different computers running both Windows Xp and Vista through
one of several different USB/232 dongles. The only failure was when I
accidentally pulled the plug on the K3 in the middle of a transfer, and that
only took a couple of minutes to correct and reload following the procedure
for a forced MCU load in the manual. 

Good observation about the plumbing Lu. I'll remember that. Even though the
K3 is an amazing bit of technology, sometimes I long for the rough
simplicity of the homebrew station I started out with years ago, Hi!

Ron AC7AC

-----Original Message-----
From: elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Luis V. Romero
Sent: Sunday, February 06, 2011 9:46 AM
To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Fwd: K3 Failed DSP Firmware Download


I see posts like these often here, and (knock on wood) I have *never*
experienced any problem whatsoever in loading firmware into my K3 (#3192)
since I have owned it.  I dont understand why there is so much angst
regarding firmware updates!

The computer I use is a Dell GX280 mini desktop.  It has one "real" serial
port, and a whole bunch of USB ports.  Since I have a MicroKeyer2 and
microHAM STRONGLY SUGGESTS folks *not* try to upload software through the
MK, I have a simple, stupid, manual $3 RS232 switch set up between the
computer, the MK and the radio (see the picture on my QRZ page.  It makes a
nice stand for my wattmeter).  One side of the switch puts the MicroKeyer
into the radio.  The other side of the switch puts the "real" serial port
into the radio.  I switch the rig's input between serial devices that way,
and have never had a problem with EITHER device.

I have also uploaded firmware from my older Dell Lattitude C400 into #3192
(and several other K3's) using a Saelig "industrial"  USB to Serial adaptor.
I believe the Saelig unit has FTDI USB chips.  The neat thing about the
Saelig unit is that it has two red LED's inside a little window that give
you visual feedback that the device is communicating.  If the LED's are
flashing, its talking!  It also has a really long USB cable, so no extension
serial cable is needed.  Just plug it right in to the radio's serial port
and go.  

I use over 40 of these Salelig adaptors at work to connect things like
printers and bar code scanners to computers and have never had an issue with
them controlling absolutely any device I throw at them under Win2k, Win XP
and Win7.  Two control a custom robotic arm in our museum and have been
working reliably since 2005.  OTOH, I have had lots of problems with Belkin,
Radio Shack and "EBay special" USB adaptors in the same applications.  

The Saelig ones cost $20 delivered.  YGWYPF.  

I find the method of updating the K3 just fine.  As far as adding
sophistication, I always refer back to my childhood idol, Lt Cmdr.
Montgomery Scott of Starfleet:

"The more complex they make the plumbing, the easier it is to stop up the
drain".

-lu- W4LT
K3 #3192

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