[Elecraft] Serial Connection for K2

Wed Nov 6 08:54:19 EST 2013

I had a converter with the prolific chipset and the driver created such 
problems in my computer that I had to reload the OS in my Win7 laptop! I 
found the Sabrent brand (They advertise FTDI chipset on the package) that 
worked flawlessly (used two with a single driver installed to control K3 
from a Win7 laptop) BUT the noise output with them was very high ... So now 
shopping around for ones with shielded cables. Anyway ... for the moment ... 
back to my HB Win2000 machine with real serial ports and NO issues. I am 
looking at Don's suggestion with the Edgeport unit.

My 2 cents.

73, Mike WA5POK

--------------------------------------------------
From: "John Lemay" <john at carltonhouse.eclipse.co.uk>
Sent: Wednesday, November 06, 2013 3:49 AM
To: <elecraft at mailman.qth.net>
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Serial Connection for K2

> I similarly spent ages hunting down noise from my PC and associated 
> cables.
>
> There are USB leads available which have a transparent outer sheath, which
> "show off" the silver plated screen. I thought this was just a gimmick, 
> but
> it turns out they were quite effective. Remember you'll probably need
> ferrites on both ends of the run with a minimum of one turn through each
> ferrite. For many purposes, just clipping a choke on the cable is not
> effective - depending on your frequency of interest and the level of 
> noise.
>
> Good luck !
>
> John G4ZTR
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net
> [mailto:elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Tom Blahovici
> Sent: 06 November 2013 06:28
> To: don at w3fpr.com; elecraft at mailman.qth.net
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Serial Connection for K2
>
> Hi,
> I see ebay has some 8 port Edgeports for $50.
> I'm looking to cut down on computer generate noise in my shack.  Currently 
> I
> have 6 or 7 usb to serial adapters.  I reduced noise quite a bit as shown 
> on
> the P3 using some ferrite cores but the whole mess is now quite a sore
> sight.  Not only that you need longer cables to wrap through those cores.
> So here's a few questions: is it better to run one high quality USB cable 
> to
> a  device such as an edge port and then run serial cables from there or 
> have
> many usb to serial converters and extensions?
> Anyone have a source for properly shielded USB cables?
> Thanks
>
> On Nov 5, 2013, at 8:54 PM, Don Wilhelm <w3fpr at embarqmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Tom,
>>
>> Use a USB to serial adapter with an FTDI chipset - the Prolific chipset
> does not like to run at the slower rate required by the K2.
>>
>> I have also had success with a Keyspan adapter.
>> If you want to go 'first class', use an Edgeport USB to serial 
>> converter -
> I have a 4 port model that works flawlessly.  Note that this is usually
> referred to as a 'converter' rather than an 'adapter' - it is often used 
> in
> commercial environments and is quite robust - those termed 'adapter' are
> usually intended for the consumer market, and the relative price indicates
> that fact.  When I bought mine, they were selling on Ebay for a very low
> price, someone had a big pile of used ones that he was selling off.
>>
>> 73,
>> Don W3FPR
>>
>> On 11/5/2013 8:08 PM, Tom Field wrote:
>>> I just completed the KPA100 and KIO2 mods for my K2. I have a new Dell
>>> desktop running Windows 8. I don't have a serial port on the machine.
> What
>>> is the recommended conversion from serial to USB?
>>>
>>> Tom F.
>>> KI6NRD
>>> Elecraft K2 #7432
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