[Elecraft] K3 and logging software/CW Skimmer Issues

[Don Wilhelm]

Mark,

First, the SignaLink will not work as a soundcard for CW Skimmer, you 
need a soundcard that has both the right and left channels - the 
SignaLink only has a left channel implemented in hardware.  That is OK 
for data modes when connected to the Line In and Line Out jacks on the 
K3, but will not work for the use with an SDR receiver with I and Q outputs.
Secondly, to use CW Skimmer, you need to connect the K3 IF output (KXV3 
or KXV3A required) to some SDR receiver - an 8MHz softrock, an LP-Pan, 
or an SDR receiver tuned to the K3 8 MHz IF.
The I and Q outputs from the SDR receiver are fed to the left and right 
channels of a soundcard (it must have both channels).  You tell CW 
Skimmer which soundcard to use.

Then for the Com port(s), you need a piece of software that provides 
'Virtual Ports' - LP Bridge is one of those and is available free and is 
well supported by the author Larry Phipps N8LP) who is also quite 
helpful (see the LP-Pan Yahoo group for a lot of help).  The way 
LP-Bridge works is that it connects to the K3 on its 'real port' (like 
your SignaLink at com8), and then provides virtual ports that your other 
applications (like CW Skimmer) require to communicate with the K3.  CW 
Skimmer connects to one of the virtual ports formed by LP-Bridge. You 
should be able to connect LP-Bridge to the K3 through your SignaLink Com 
port.  Your logging program would connect to one of the LP-Bridge 
virtual ports (but a different virtual port than CW Skimmer).

If you have gone far enough to install all that hardware and software, 
you may as well also install NaP3 to yet another virtual port on 
LP-Bridge and have a Panadapter capability too - but you may need a good 
quality external soundcard for that.  There are several recommendations 
in the LP-Pan Yahoo group.

Download LP-Bridge and install it, and I believe what is being said here 
will become apparent once you see the display of the virtual ports.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 11/26/2013 8:37 AM, pastormg2 at verizon.net wrote:
> Good Morning, this is Mark Griffin, KB3Z. I  and currently using N3FJP AC Log program which is connected to my K3 via Com Port 8. But I downloaded CW Skimmer last evening and the interface that I use is the Signallink USB which is connected to Com Port 10. I have transceiver control with AC Log on Com Port 8. But when I use CW Skimmer on Com Port 10 I lose transceiver control because AC Log is using it.
>
> Has anyone ran into this issue and if so is there a way that I can share Com Port 8 between 2 applications? I have read that there are solutions, but not sure where to look. Thanks for all your help/suggestions. Mark Griffin, KB3Z
>