[Elecraft] K2 and K3 Key/Phone Connections

[Geoffrey Mackenzie-Kennedy]

Don,

I agree with Don, W3FPR, that a connection central box or "Breakout Box", is 
a good plan.  The box which I built uses toggle switches (each with an 
ON-OFF LED indicator) rather than rotary switches, because frequently I want 
to listen to two, sometimes but not often to three, of my receivers at the 
same time, or switch quickly between transmitters. The beauty of a Breakout 
Box is its versatility, and of course there is no risk of damaging 
connectors while plugging/ unplugging them.

Thinking ahead, if you add later more functions to your box such as mic 
audio, DC power control etc, the number of cables entering the box can 
become quite large.  To get rid of the rat's nest of cables entering my 
Breakout Box, I have been looking into the possibility of using a single 
fiber optic cable between the box and each of my receivers and transmitters 
to carry the audio and control signals.  But this scheme would be difficult 
to implement with the K3, and probably with any other commercial "amateur" 
transmitter/ receiver.

73,

Geoff
LX2AO


On July 18, 2012 at 6:13 PM, Don KB1YBG wrote:

> Hi All,
> Now that I've added a K3 the plugs for Key and Headphones have changed to
> 1/4" I'm thinking about building a connection central box with a rig
> selection switch to switch these to the desired rig.  I currently have 
> four
> rigs and plugging / unplugging these doesn't make sense, let alone the 
> fact
> that plug sizes differ.
> Any ideas about doing this?  Any commercial solutions?  At this point I'm
> only interested in Keys/Paddles and headphones.  If I do any data modes it
> most likely would be only with K3.
>
> Thanks,
> Don