[Elecraft] k2 rs232 to usb

[Fred Jensen]

On 4/21/2012 8:27 PM, Guy Olinger K2AV wrote:

> Be careful.  The DB9 socket on the back of the K2 is ***** NOT ***** RS232.

No it definitely isn't and you gotta read the manual, it's pretty 
explicit about this.

> In WWII the military solved this ghastly problem by having a gazillion
> multi-pin plug and socket layouts, so you could ONLY plug something in
> where it actually matched up wire for wire.  If your dog could get the plug
> in on his own it was right.  No doubt saved a few lives.

Alas, my friend Leo Endres, engineer and philosopher was right when he 
said, "The problem with Lessons Learned is -- they rarely are."

A well known USAF stealth airplane of moderately recent vintage, which 
really didn't want to fly and, left to its own devices, had the glide 
angle of a brick, so it was totally dependent on its electronic 
stabilization systems.  Even moving on the ground, the control surfaces 
were constantly correcting.  Unfortunately, it did allow [at first] the 
pitch and roll gyros to be misconnected which happened once to my 
knowledge.  Scream down the runway, pull the stick back, turn over 
inverted and ... land.  Pilot walked away, thank God.

This situation also exists inside the K2, the 12VDC and RF connectors to 
the KAT2 or KAT100 if they're there, will gladly interconnect with not 
great results.  All it takes is some real care when you're doing things 
in there, sort of like paying attention when you're driving.  Try not to 
have a glass of wine or a beer with dinner before working on your radio.

73,

Fred K6DGW
- Northern California Contest Club
- CU in the 2012 Cal QSO Party 6-7 Oct 2012
- www.cqp.org