[Elecraft] New Elecraft Product: K3/0-Mini Remote Front Panel

[iain macdonnell - N6ML]

On Fri, Mar 21, 2014 at 3:11 PM, Oliver Dröse <droese at necg.de> wrote:
>
>> The next assumption would be that the firmware on the K3/0-Mini operates
>> the same as on the K3/0, in that you can invoke the remote protocol by
>> holding MENU until you see "TERM".
>
>
> I suppose that's not needed (you do not need to do it on the "regular" K3/0
> afaik, it knows it's a "remote head").

Even if you use it without RRC's? I believe that the RRC senses when
the K3/0 is powered on, and it is the RRC that initiates the remote
protocol, not the K3/0.... but I don't have a K3/0 (either) to verify
that assertion with.


>> With the above assumptions, you should be able to get front-panel
>> controls, but you would not get remote audio or keying - that'd have to be
>> handled separately (if needed).
>
>
> Certainly wrong. Otherwise it would not work with the RemoteRig boxes, too,
> as you connect CW key or paddle as well as mic directly to the K3/0 mini.
> ;-) Audio is transferred from the mini's 15 pin socket to the RRC's AUX/MIC
> socket and speaker port. CW is routed to the I/O socket. So yes, ALL needed
> signals must be available on the 15 pin socket. ;-) See
> http://www.elecraft.com/K3-Remote/images/RRMINI%20Control%20Cabling.jpg

I was just saying that connecting only the serial part would not be
sufficient for audio and keying to work - additional cabling (*at
least*) would be required for that.

For CW keying with a paddle, I believe that the keyer in the RRC is
used - NOT the keyer in the K3/0... so I'm not sure how you would do
remote paddle CW without the RRC. AFAIK, there is NOT code in the K3
firmware to accept paddle input and relay it over the serial
connection to the remote K3.


> Not sure about RS-232 vs. TTL here, too. Let's see if Elecraft shines in.
> But what's sure if you want to use the K3/0 mini locally, i.e. without the
> RRC's, you'll have to make your own breakout cable to connect to a local K3.

I've since heard a rumour that such a cable may become available from
Elecraft in the future ;)

73,

    ~iain / N6ML