[Elecraft] KX3 Macros

[Jim Bennett]

Hi Emory -

Yep, I'd like a couple more programmable buttons, too. I also run a logging program on my Mac - MacLoggerDX - and am going to ask the developer if he has any way (or plans for) to send macros to the KX3, or K3. Since that program uses my KX3-->computer port, I can't run it and the KX3 utility at the same time. I suppose that running the KX3 utility would also be a way of having additional macros, but I haven't read up on that because of my logging program using the port.

On the KX3 and K3 sharing - it works real slick! My first suggestion is to spend the $30-something dollars for that KE7X book on the KX3 - has some great info in it, including several diagrams in the back on EXACTLY how to have the KX3 share "stuff" with the K3. In my situation, I have the RF output from each radio going into a Daiwa two position coax switch. The output port of that switch goes to my KPA500 amp, and the RF output of the KPA500 goes to the KAT500 auto tuner. The tuner is connected to three different antennas: an 88 foot long doublet for 40-6 meters, an 80 meter Inverted L, and a 160 meter Inverted L. Of course, I have the requisite 15-pin connectors running between the K3, KPA500, and KAT500. I've got on order from Elecraft the special RCA adapter cable that will run from the KX3 ACC2 jack to the back of the KAT500. This is needed if you plan on having the K3 powered off when you run the KX3. Otherwise, as I found out, the powered off K3 pulls the PTT down on the KPA500 and ugly stuff happens. Anyway, Fred's book shows and explains how it works, and it DOES work! I can run my KX3 barefoot if I want, or I can run it through the KPA500 and get 190 watts output with 12 out of the KX3. If I want to run PSK31 at 25 watts out, I can dial the KX3 back to 2 watts and the KPA500 gives me 25. That's the lowest it goes. Dropping the KX3 power below 1.8 watts causes the KPA500 to drop back to zero out. But that's fine with me.

Hope that helps!

73, Jim / W6JHB


On   Tuesday, Jan 14, 2014, at  Tuesday, 10:40 AM, WM3M wrote:

> Jim,
> I too would like more buttons to use.
> I know Wayne has mentioned doing it but not done yet.
> If you don’t mind I have a question for you, how do you share the KAT500/KPA500 between the K3 and the KX3?
> I have been wanting to do that but had not figured out a good way, please let me know.
> Thank you... 73
> Emory  WM3M
> 
> -----Original Message----- From: Jim Bennett
> Sent: Tuesday, January 14, 2014 12:55 PM
> To: Elecraft Reflector Reflector
> Subject: [Elecraft] KX3 Macros
> 
> After recently reading (and re-reading, several times!) Fred Cady's excellent book on the KX3, I was thinking about some of the functions I'd like to have in macro form. I already have PF1 set to switch the AGC from Fast to Slow and PF2 set to turn off or on the backlight. I've got the KX3 sharing a KAT500/KPA500 and several antennas with a K3. It would be nice to have another macro function that would allow me to set the KX3's internal tuner to Bypass, w/o having to go into the Menu and hunt for it. Fred's book notes that PF1 and PF2 were the only keys available at time of writing the book, but more were planned for a future firmware release. The owner's manual I got with the KX3 made no mention of any other keys being available. Have any been added but not incorporated into the manual, or is this still on the drawing board?
> 
> Tnx, Jim / W6JHB
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