[Elecraft] KX3 will it work as K3/0

Mon Dec 17 10:31:32 EST 2012

Mitch

Thank you for pointing to the answer from Wayne.

73,
Fred/N0AZZ

-----Original Message-----
From: Mitch Wolfson DJØQN [mailto:dj0qn at gmx.net] 
Sent: Monday, December 17, 2012 9:12 AM
To: Fred Smith
Cc: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KX3 will it work as K3/0

Fred,

This question comes up often.....here is a detailed answer from Wayne,
hopefully this will help.

73,
Mitch DJ0QN

-------- Original Message --------
Subject:     [KX3] Using the KX3 to control a remote KX3, K3, or K2 
(limited and experimental)
Date:     Fri, 7 Sep 2012 10:19:17 -0700
From:     Wayne Burdick <n6kr at elecraft.com>
Reply-To:     KX3 at yahoogroups.com
To:     Gary Slagel <gdslagel at yahoo.com>
CC:     Elecraft Reflector <elecraft at mailman.qth.net>, KX3 at yahoogroups.com

Gary wrote:

 > I'm wondering if it would be easy to set up a kx3 to k3 remote  > option
as it seems the kx3 architecture is pretty similar to the k3.

Hi Gary,

The front panels of the KX3 and K3 are quite different, so there can't
really be a 1-to-1 correspondence of KX3 controls mapping to K3 controls.

That said, the KX3 does have the ability to do very limited remote control
of another KX3, K3, or even a K2. This feature is presently experimental and
incomplete, but feel free to give it a try. (All public releases of KX3
firmware have included this feature...we just haven't said much about it
yet.)

NOTE: The KX3 *does not* implement the ultrafast rig-control protocol that
is present in the K3 and K3/0. Instead, we created a moderately fast version
of the traditional "autoinfo" mechanism (AI). What this means is that if you
want the best remote-control performance, you should control a remote K3
with another K3 or a K3/0, not a KX3.

Using the KX3 as a Controller:

First, you'll need to connect the two rigs together somehow. The simplest
method, and the one recommended for trying the remote-control feature, is to
use a "null-modem" cable. For example if you're using two KX3s, connect
their ACC1 jacks together using a 3-conductor cable that has the tip and
ring connections cross-wired. If the remote rig is a K3 or K2, you can make
a cable with a DE9 at that end and a 3.5 mm plug at the KX3 end, again
cross-wiring the RXD and TXD signals.
You could also use the internet or even wiFi, with PCs or RemoteRig boxes as
intermediaries, and we'll have an app note on that at some point.

Next, go into the menu at the KX3 intended to be used as the controller and
set AUTOINF to RIG CTRL. This puts the KX3 into a benign, no-transmit,
no-RX-audio state, and causes most control changes to be sent to the remote
radio. If the remote rig is a K3, its sub receiver is turned OFF by the KX3,
since a KX3 front panel has no way to control the sub receiver yet.

IMPORTANT: As with RemoteRig installations, audio in/out and CW keying are
handled separately--not through the controller. That is, you can't use the
local KX3's mic, phones, or key jacks; you have to either wire the
corresponding devices to the remote rig directly, or provide dedicated media
channels for these. The RemoteRig boxes do this. You connect the mic, key,
and headphones directly to them, not to the controlling KX3 (or K3, or
K3/0). At the remote end, these signals are then connected to the
appropriate connectors on the K3 (etc.).

In a future release we might be able to send CW from the controlling
KX3 by embedding the characters in command packets, as well as allow the use
of the MSG play buttons.

At present the KX3 can control the following functions on a remote
radio:

VFO A
VFO B
Mode
AF gain
Filter BW (PBT on the KX3, WIDTH on the K3) RIT offset RIT clear

We hope to greatly expand this set of functions in the future. But again, if
want full control of a remote K3, you'll need another K3 or a K3/0.

73,
Wayne
N6KR

On 17.12.2012 15:55, Fred Smith wrote:
> Has anyone tried this or is it possible?
>
>   
>
> I'm sure someone has considered it and I would like to do that with 
> one. I was thinking of buying the K3/0 for remote use but if the KX3 
> would do it also that would be the path I will take. I guess part of 
> it is just the cool factor of the KX3 even if I don't get out much for 
> mobile use. Ever since I saw a friend's KX3 at breakfast one day I had 
> to admit it had the "WOW FACTOR".  Like nothing any other small QRP 
> SSB/CW/Digital rig I had ever seen.
>
>   
>
> Or I guess I could say an excuse to buy another Elecraft radio and 
> that does not take much of one at all.
>
>   
>
> 73,
>
> Fred/N0AZZ
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:Elecraft at mailman.qth.net
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email 
> list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>
>
> --
> Mitch Wolfson
> DJØQN / K7DX
> Neubiberger Str. 21, 85640 Putzbrunn
> Skype: mitchwo - Home:+49 89 32152700 - Mobile:+49 172 8374436
> Echolink: 3001 - IRLP: 5378