[Elecraft] K2 - KPA100 RS232 interface repair

[Jim Brown]

Hi Floyd,

I've owned and operated a pair of K2s, both of which I bought used. 
Elecraft makes it very clear that the DB9 connector on the K2 is NOT an 
RS232 interface, that it is not RS232 compliant, and that a standard 
RS232 cable should NOT be used. Rather, the DB9 connector provides both 
serial control AND several control functions.

The DB9 connector is a generic part, and can be used for many things 
besides RS232.  It is also well known that while the RS232 Standard 
defines voltage levels, MANY modern products produce far less than those 
levels.

I've owned a lot of gear in my lifetime, and the first thing I do is 
open the manual, study it, study the wiring of the various connectors, 
study the specs, and study the operating instructions.

73, Jim K9YC



On Sat,8/22/2015 1:28 PM, Floyd Sense wrote:
> Hi Don. I'm sure you're aware that the RS232 spec includes the 
> description of voltage levels, and if you're going to refer to an 
> interface as RS232 (as Elecraft does in many places) then you're 
> implying that the normal RS232 signal levels will be used.  A user 
> shouldn't be required to read a one hundred page manual before 
> plugging in a connector when every other such connector works in the 
> conventional way.  Having been a designer using RS232 interfaces 45 
> years ago, I would have been executed had I designed something like this.