[Elecraft] K3/Mini 0

[Dennis]

Got my new K3 Mini 0 today.  Since I didn't order the cable, I made one 
to take the
DB15 to the TTL only.  I'm using existing cables that I had already made 
to connect the Remote
Rig box to a keyer, microphone, and PTT footswitch, and the Mini works 
fine with my
Remote station.

When it arrived, I checked and I thought it was on firmware 4.83, which 
means I needed
to upgrade the firmware but I'm not sure how to connect the Mini to the
computer to get the upgrade.  I tried the USB cable, and it created two 
comports, but the
K3 Utility doesn't see the Mini when I attempt to use either of the 
Comports.  I had already
hooked up an RS232 cable to the Remote Rig Control box at Com1, and N1MM 
Logger
software is happily communicating with the Mini, but again, the K3 
Utility 1.13.5.9 doesn't
see the Mini using that comport.  I know the firmware updating 
recommendation is not to do
it through another piece of equipment, but if the K3 Utility doesn't 
even see the Mini its not
an option.  So, how do I update the firmware?  Since I went through 
this, I unplugged the
TTL cable from the RR box, and now the Mini shows me the actual firmware 
that it has
installed is 4.86, so no upgrade is currently needed, but I will 
probably need to update it
sometime in the future.

I was quite disappointed in the manual, particularly in what it didn't 
cover.  I already have a
working remote station, so I don't need all the diagrams that show how 
to hook up a
remote station using the RR boxes.  I do need more information on the 
Mini itself.
On the left side there are 3.5mm connectors for Spkrs and Mic; are those 
stereo or mono
jacks?  The Mic connector- would that be selectable in the firmware as 
the RPL, and the
front 8-pin connector the FPL?

On the right side, we have the USB port and the DC in.  Both 
self-explanatory, given that
cables are supplied for those two.

On the back, we have key, paddle, and ptt jacks.  Are these stereo or 
mono jacks?  If I had
the cabling from the DB 15 to the Aux/Mic and the I/O inputs on the 
Remote Rig, could I
then connect the computer keying to key, my paddle to paddle, and a 
footswitch to the PTT,
and the connections would then be passed on to the Remote Rig box?

Is there any way to CW key the Mini by sending CW on the DTR line and 
PTT on the RTS
line, via N1MM?  I've played with this for a little while, but haven't 
found a solution yet.

Thanks for assistance with any of the above matters.

Dennis W1UE