[Elecraft] some advice if considering LP PAN, LP Bridge and your computer for K3 PSDR

[Dick Green WC1M]

I use a USB hub serial connection (two 8-port ByteRunner USB-to-serial
interfaces for a total of 16 ports!) for both of my K3s and have no problems
using LP-PAN, PSDR, etc. I also use an external USB sound card (the
recommended EMU-0200) and that works fine as well. I think it depends on
which brands you select, how old your computer BIOS is and how old your copy
of Windows is. YMMV.

I was able to do the resistor mod in the one radio I have that needed, but I
can see where others might not want to do it. I'm not real fond of working
with SMD either.

73, Dick WC1M

-----Original Message-----
From: Brian Pepperdine [mailto:brianpepperdine at sympatico.ca] 
Sent: Friday, September 30, 2011 10:34 AM
To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
Subject: [Elecraft] some advice if considering LP PAN, LP Bridge and your
computer for K3 PSDR


My apologies for a bit of divergence.
This concerns implementation of LP PAN and LP Bridge with PSDR for the K3.
Old hat perhaps, now that the P3 product exists.

In my case, living in Canada, I was not really willing to consider a P3 at
this time, with respect, as an Elecraft product.
We have 14% import GST tax as well as some high postage costs. 
As well,  a larger monitor to be used is better for my personal vision
situation.
Yes, I realize EU etc. has it worse re. obtaining a P3 as well.


Anyhow, the LP products are fine.
But if it was possible to go down bad roads getting them work, I took those
roads :)

So, caveats if you want to use LP products and the accompanying PSDR, with
your K3 (which IS wonderful):

-Do not use a USB hub serial connection. Most computers don't have a COMM
port these days, so be sure you have or are willing to get
a computer with some PCI and PCIe slots to put a COMM serial card into.

-Similarly, I advice a PCI based sound card. Firewire devices will likely,
possibly and probably only work IF you get a TI chipset based Firewire
interface, which are much less common as plug-in cards or on-board Firewire
in laptops. Certainly the device I had did not work with a non TI based
Firewire card.

-Lastly, if you have an older K3, be prepared or able to do or willing to
farm out the K3 IF I/0 modification. Yes, its only a resistor change, but
for me the SMD caught me blind-sided and I messed up. I killed some board
traces, killed the SMD JFET etc. Not pretty, not my finest moment, but first
time it was.
I fixed this with good help from Elecraft support and put in some wire paths
for the ruined traces and a leaded JFET.
(not an issue for K3s after a certain serial number..). Afterward, of course
I found some ideas on doing this better from Don Wilhelm. Such is fate.

Otherwise, now it all works very well. I am going to have good fun with this
now.

73
Brien 
VE3VAW
Toronto ON