[Elecraft] [acom-list] Re: Elecraft K3 and ACOM 2000A

[Nick - VE3EY]

Hi Dick and Val
Thanks for sharing this valuable info with the group.

Similar to Bill, W6WRT after I fixed my CAT cable to exclude TXD line my
entire setup started working but later on I realized it wasn't working
reliably. On some occasions,  amp would not detect the frequency change
until after I started spinning the VFO knob.  This was while I had the
Win-Test logging program running and polling my K3.  Autonfo on my K3 is
set to "nor".

On some bands the amp refused to follow the frequency.   For example, I
would switch the radio to 20 meters but the amp for some reason thought it
was still on 15.   If I turn the CAT off on the Acom's RCU unit and
transmit some RF, the amp would correctly switch to 20 and tune up.
Without changing anything else and while the K3 and Win-Test were still on
20m, if I turn the on the CAT on the RCU unit, the amp would jump back on
15m for some reason.

The whole thing started working reliably after I took LP Bridge out of the
picture.   In Win-Test if I define the radio on the real COM port the PC is
connected to the K3 and change the pooling from "Auto" to 300msec the amp
works well.   I changed the band numerous times and Acom followed without a
hitch.

In my case LP-Bridge seems to be confusing the amp but I can't tell why.
LP-Bridge does read everything correctly from the  K3 and Win-Test works
perfectly along with it.

73,  Nick
ve3ey



On Sat, Sep 13, 2014 at 10:33 AM, Dick Dievendorff <dick at elecraft.com>
wrote:

> I don't have an ACOM, SteppIR-controller, or Expert 1-KFA.
>
> I'd suggest that you don't want two TxD connections on an RS-232 "Y"
> connector.  You need one from the PC to the K3. I don't think you want TxD
> from K3 to ACOM.
>
> RS-232 is not a protocol that permits two senders. It's ok to "sniff" the
> Rx
> line, multiple receivers.
>
> I doubt that the ACOM (or the Expert) polls the K3.  I bet they are passive
> listeners.
>
> You need frequency messages to be presented to the ACOM on QSY.
>
> The "normal" technique for this is to turn on K3 Auto Info (a K3 menu
> configuration selection). Then as you QSY (or actually, your QSY stops),
> the
> K3 sends a message with the new frequency.
>
> If you are running a logging program, it probably polls the K3 for
> frequency
> often, and the ACOM can "sniff" those responses, and then the K3 Auto Info
> isn't as necessary.
>
> Some loggers don't mind if you leave Auto Info on. It's just extra
> information on change and the logger can either ignore or exploit those
> unsolicited messages.
>
> However it's possible that some loggers might not deal well with unexpected
> messages that can occur in "auto info" mode. Then K3 Auto Info has to be
> turned off (or the logging program needs to learn to deal with unexpected
> auto info messages).
>
> I think you're close, but I wouldn't connect two senders...
>
> 73 de Dick, K6KR
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Elecraft [mailto:elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Bill
> Turner
> Sent: Saturday, September 13, 2014 7:03 AM
> To: acom-list at yahoogroups.com
> Cc: Elecraft
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] [acom-list] Re: Elecraft K3 and ACOM 2000A
>
> ------------ ORIGINAL MESSAGE ------------(may be snipped)
>
> On Sat, 13 Sep 2014 12:36:40 +0600, UA9CDC wrote:
>
> >I do not have ACOM2000 but I use the same arrangement with Expert 1-KFA
> >and K3. Logging program polls the radio and the amp only "listens" for
> >K3 response to learn the operating freq. When you terminate logger
> >there is no polling anymore. Therefore the system does not work as
> >expected. This is normal.
>
> REPLY:
>
> So the K3 does not send data unless polled? OK, now things make more sense.
> This explains why, if you're not using the Y connector to your computer,
> your data cable must have the TXD wire so the ACOM can poll the K3.
>
> Is my assumption correct? The ACOM does poll the K3 in that case?
>
> Things are finally coming clear. I wish this had been explained in the ACOM
> manual.
>
> Many thanks to all who replied on this issue.
>
> 73, Bill W6WRT
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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 dick at elecraft.com
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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 nick.ve3ey at gmail.com
>