[Elecraft] K-Line system integration questions

[Ed Muns]

Dick K6KR has covered the issues well.  To expand Dick's advice on the
RS-232 switch, here is some more detail.

microHAM products that provide K3 Serial CAT control via their USB
connection to your PC cannot be used with the K3 Utility for firmware
upgrades.  You will need to use a direct Serial connection to your PC with
the K3 Utility.  That means disconnecting the microHAM Serial connection
from the K3 and then connecting a Serial cable to your PC.  (The latter can
be a Serial COM port on your PC or via a USB-Serial adapter such as Dick
describes below).  Therefore a simple manual switch is handy so you can
switch between CAT control with the microHAM box and K3 Utility usage via
the direct Serial connection.  Connect the common DB9 port of the switch to
the K3 Serial connector and then each of the switched DB9s to the microHAM
K3 Serial DB9 and the direct Serial DB9 cable respectively.  This assumes
that the "2x1 RS232 manual switch" is what we think it is ... a SPDT DB9
switch.

Ed W0YK

 

Dick K6KR wrote:
> Your RS-232 switch is just what the doctor ordered for K3 and 
> P3 firmware updates.
> 
> The KPA500 serial port is not daisy chained with the K3 and 
> P3.  The KPA500 uses a separate RS-232 port to the PC, and 
> its "other" 9-pin back panel connector is intended for 
> Kenwood transceivers.
> 
> I have been very happy with a Gearmo 4-port USB to serial 
> adapter that uses the FTDI chip set:
> 
> http://www.amazon.com/FT4232HL-Professional-Retention-Certifie
> d-Microsoft/dp
> /B004ETDC8K
> 
> The four ports go to a P3 (daisy chained to a K3), a KPA500, 
> a KAT500 (adding a KXSER cable for DB-9 to 3.5mm TRS plug) 
> and another with KXSER for
> KX3 or XG3 or W2.
> 
> This enables me to use my logging program (N1MM) and the KPA 
> and KAT500 Utilities concurrently, and I don't have to fiddle 
> with cables or change COM port numbers on programs.
> 
> Your assumptions on the Y cable are correct.
> 
> My configuration is slightly different in that I don't use a 
> microKeyer right now (mine worked great, no complaints), but 
> in a temporary station I found that I could key the radio 
> acceptably with the N1MM CW keying through the same serial 
> port it uses for CAT control (through the Gearmo USB to 
> Serial adapter) and therefore don't need the Y on the K3.

Lu W4LT wrote:
> I now have the "complete" K-Line and Im wondering how others 
> here have hooked up their system.  Although I dont mind 
> researching and doing the integration myself, so as not to 
> reinvent the wheel and save time, how have others on this 
> reflector dealt with these issues?
> 
> Here is what I have:
> 
> - K3
> - P3
> - KPA500
> - microHAM microKEYER 2
> - N1MM Logger/Logger 32
> - 2x1 RS232 manual switch
> 
> I use a microHAM microKEYER2 for rig control and DVK.  I have 
> a manual RS232 switch that either delegates the MK2's Serial 
> output *OR* a direct feed from my computer's COM port to the 
> Elecraft system's input, currently the P3's serial port.  
> When updating rig and panadaptor software, I always use the 
> direct feed from the computer serial port, and NOT through 
> the microKEYER. 
> 
> My question now becomes:  Where do I insert the KPA500 in 
> this chain of serial devices, or do I need to at all?  The 
> KPA500 manual specifically states that you cannot "Daisy 
> Chain" through the amplifier's serial ports.  I have always 
> been successful daisy chaining through the P3, so if I have 
> to chain them together for control, who is "first" in line 
> (nearest to the computer)?  Or do I now need a SEPARATE 
> serial port for the KPA500?
> 
> Also, I use N1MM Logger and Logger32.  These software 
> packages read and control the rig via the microKEYER 2's CAT 
> interface via USB and microHAM uRouter.  The cable for the
> microKEYER2 has a plug that mates to the AUX port on the K3.
>  This port on the K3 will now need to go to the KPA500 via 
> the KPAK3AUX cable. I use a MFJ 998 autotuner, therefore, I 
> will have to put the interruptor in line with this cable, and 
> will have to use the RCA PA Key cable as well, through the 
> MFJ998 and then to the KPA500 for amp PTT control during 
> tuning or High SWR events.  Do I now need a "Y" cable at the 
> K3's AUX port as well to handle the comms to the amplifier 
> and the microKEYER Aux port needs?  Can I assume that this Y 
> cable has to be a "straight thru"
> DB-15 cable with the pins paralelled to the two outputs, or 
> is there yet another special cable that is needed to make all 
> of this work together?
> 
> Anybody have a similar configuration out there that works 
> well that can get me started down this integration process?