[Elecraft] KPA 100 use as standalone PA; emulation of K2 with an interface; analyzation of aux bus protocol

[paul hippenmeyer]

Hi Don,

Many thanks for your answer and your ideas! Yes, i agree, this task 
would make same work ... therefore i asked :-)

I don't want to modifiy my KPA100 (in EC2 enclosure), still want to use 
it with my K2.

To use KPA100  with an other rig I would like to fully control it over 
the AUXBUS (and VRFDET signal for ALC), with an external uController. To 
do this, one must find out how K2 and KPA100 communicate. I hoped, that 
someone analyzed this communication protocol already...I would have to 
do this with a scope - a bit toilsome...


tnx es 73, paul
hb9axl






Am 11.11.2012 23:06, schrieb Don Wilhelm:
> Paul,
>
> I did not see a response to your question, but I believe the answer is 
> NO.
>
> I would suggest that would be a difficult task.  Could the KPA100 be 
> converted to a standalone amplifier, I think the answer is YES, but it 
> would require a substantial amount of work.  The bandswitching *could* 
> be accomplished by a multiposition manual switch or an add-on 
> frequency sensing device, and if the driving transceiver can 
> communicate the Transmit or Receive status, you *could* make the T/R 
> switch function properly.  Other functions depend on the K2 firmware 
> functions, such as the PA temperature which would in turn control the 
> fan speed.
>
> All in all, I do not think the benefit derived would be worth the cost 
> and effort.  If one has a KPA100 that could be used for the 
> "butchering" job, that is one thing, but if contemplating buying a 
> KPA100 kit and building it as a standalone amplifier seems to be more 
> expensive than purchasing one of the amplifiers in the 100 watt (or 
> greater) class.
>
> 73,
> Don W3FPR
>
> On 11/9/2012 2:57 PM, paul hippenmeyer wrote:
>> Hi all
>>
>> did anybody analyzed the aux bus protocol and built an interface, which
>> emulates the K2?
>>
>> 73, paul
>> hb9axl
>>
>
>