[Elecraft] K-Line system integration questions

[Lu Romero]

Thanks all for all the advice:

I ordered a Y connector from Winford Engineering.  Straight
through, so no worries.  Also some straight through cables
from the same source. I have always had good results from
these folks in the past.  The microKEYER will plug into one
socket, the other into the KPAK3AUX cable for amplifier
control.  Hope the microKEYER wont mind (Im sure if it did,
I would have heard from W4TV by now...)  

Good to know I dont need any serial control of the amp at
all.  That was not well explained in the manual, or I was
not looking closely enough (Anybody know what the AUX button
labled #13 on the KPA500 front panel does?  hi hi).

I have many spare USB to Serial dongles from a valued source
that work perfectly. One of the dongles will be put into
use, attaching it directly to the amp, and I will continue
my daisy chain rig control via the P3 socket downstream of
my mechanical serial switch. I will continue to use one USB
port for the microKEYER and the other from a direct "real"
serial port on my computer.

And I have many spare USB ports available on my Ham
computer, so that is an easy addition. The dongles I have,
which I use at work, stay put on their assigned ports as
well, and uRouter creates its own virtual ones for the
microHAM stuff, so all is good there.  

I think I am good to go... Will find out in a day or two
once I get the whole station reconfigured and back in
operation.  If anyone needs a very good used Ameritron
ALS600, I have one that needs a new home!

Thanks again for the help, fellow Elecrafters!

Lu Romero - W4LT
K3/P3/KRX3/KPA500/K1

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Message: 32
Date: Mon, 26 Nov 2012 10:50:11 -0500
From: "David Little" <dalite01 at bellsouth.net>
To: <elecraft at mailman.qth.net>
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K-Line system integration questions
Message-ID: <FA8842F8D1E449BDA2E059F3A8075655 at davidhp>
Content-Type: text/plain;    charset="us-ascii"


FWIW, you can find InsideOut Edgeport interfaces on eBay
that are usually
quite reasonable.

I have them in 2 port, 4 port and 8 port configurations.

The use a single USB connector and provide what the computer
sees as stable
serial ports that stay where you put them.

Each port can be configured, port number renamed, etc via
the Control panel
- System...

The USB ports have a tendency to wander around if you use
them in real world
situations.  

With all the problems associated by a difference in ground
potential,
mechanical switchboxes increase the chances for ground loop.

I am coming into this thread late, so apologies if this has
already been
covered. 

David
KD4NUE