[Elecraft] Can I split or share my ACC port?

[iain macdonnell - N6ML]

On Tue, Aug 7, 2012 at 1:43 PM, Hugh Bradley <hughbradley at gmail.com> wrote:
> I spend a lot of my time connecting and disconnecting accessories from the
> back of my K3 and I find this tedious.
>
> In my shack I have a, Expert 1K linear amp and a Microkeyer II which both
> like to use the ACC Port on the K3 I use a Remote-rig unit to control the
> K3 when I am away and this too needs the ACC.
>
> Instead of connecting one of these items at a time, is it OK to use a VGA
> cable splitter and have both or three connected simultaneously?
> Is this port a strictly one-at-a-time guy?

It depends which pins each device needs to use. You can certainly use
a HD15 "Y" on the ACC port if each device is using different pins
(e.g. band-decoder using AUXBUS, amp using band-data, FSK interface,
etc)... but you can get in trouble, for example, if multiple devices
try to use the band data pins.

Beware of cables splitters designed for VGA, though - since VGA
doesn't use all 15 pins, often the unused pins are not connected, or,
worse, shorted to ground!


> In addition to the issue with the ACC port, the accessories above (+ add to
> this a Signalink USB) I find that I am regularly having to change the plugs
> into  my:   Line-in , line-out, Paddle, Key, PTT and Speakers sockets and
> RS232 port.
>
> Which of these 'ports' can be shared or split and which will will only
> safely take one I/O?

You can probably get away with some splitting of audio lines, and the
keying inputs are just switches, so you can probably get away it there
too. Trying to use "KEY OUT" with splitter could produce unexpected
results, though.


> I am tempted to build an external 'Patch Box' to give me handier and easier
> access to the K3 back-panel .
>
> Has anyone built one of these or is it even necessary if the ports can be
> split and permanently shared?
>
> I believe that Y cables are available for the RS232 on the K3.
> Into how many RS232's can these be split?
>  2...3....4?
> I have an Expert-1K, a CAT, and a Steppir controller and a Remote-rig - all
> of which would like a place on the nipple!

You generally cannot split a serial port with a 'Y". Only one device
should be transmitting on a serial line. One exception is the SteppIR,
which can be configured to receive only on the serial line from the
K3, so it can track your K3's frequency. There's a design for a
splitter cable on the SteppIR website (or there was, when I last
looked).

73,

    ~iain / N6ML