[Elecraft] KX3 PTT Issue

[James Bennett]

Thanks Wayne - you are correct - that XMIT button does it, although my installation makes it cumbersome to use that method. I will look into the ACC2 option in the morning. I do see that my KX3 has a “splitter” plugged into the ACC2 jack and I labelled it “PTT: KPA500”. I have my station set up so I can run the KPA500 behind the KX3 is desired. So I’m figuring I got that connector cable from Elecraft for this purpose. It has a single male TRS plug and two jacks: one RCA and the other is teensy, looks like 2.5mm. More investigation needed here….(I can hardly remember what I had for dinner, tonight let alone what that cable was gotten for!)

Thanks, Jim


> On   Wednesday, Nov 12, 2014, at  Wednesday, 6:20 PM, Wayne Burdick <n6kr at elecraft.com> wrote:
> 
> Jim,
> 
> The KX3's mic jack has some special wiring to work with the MH3. As alternative, you can use the ACC2 jack (2.5 mm) to wire in a PTT switch. This is discussed in the KX3 owner's manual -- see the ACC2 IO menu entry. This would allow you to use the mic jack with your headset/mic.
> 
> Also note that the "XMIT" switch functions exactly like PTT, and is conveniently located close to the mic jack.
> 
> 73,
> Wayne
> N6KR
> 
> 
> 
> On Nov 12, 2014, at 6:15 PM, James Bennett <w6jhb at me.com> wrote:
> 
>> Need a little help on this one. I have an inexpensive mic/headset that has a three connector plug (TRS). If I plug it into the Mic jack on the KX3, it works fine, although I have to use VOX, which, having an 18 month old in the house, is not a good choice! I've only made a few SSB QSO's (I'm primarily a CW op), but audio reports I get lead me to believe this mic is acceptable.
>> 
>> OK, while on CW I don't always like using QSK. So I built a small PTT switch that has a momentary button and an on/off toggle switch. I plug this into the mic jack. It has a four connector plug - TRRS. My switches short ring 1 and ring 2 together. Works great. 
>> 
>> When I decided to try some occasional SSB, I had the problem of only ONE mic jack. So, I purchased an "octopus" connector. It has one TRRS male plug and three female TRRS jacks. I plug my headset mic into one jack and my homebrew PTT switch into another. When I'm on CW, all works fine - I press the PTT, the KX3 goes into transmit and I send CW with my paddle. But on SSB, things no longer work. If I put the KX3 into VOX, that works. If I put the KX3 into PTT mode and press my PTT switch, the radio goes into transmit, but speaking into the mic produces no audio! 
>> 
>> I put my VOM on the octopus leads. They are all as they should be - straight through on each connector - nothing cross connected. I've tried it with MIC BTN set to OFF and PTT. Neither makes it work.
>> 
>> What do I have set wrong that's causing this strange behavior?
>> 
>> Jim Bennett / W6JHB
>> Folsom, CA
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> Elecraft mailing list
>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>> Post: mailto:Elecraft at mailman.qth.net
>> 
>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>> Message delivered to n6kr at elecraft.com
>