[Elecraft] [K3] Various Updates

[Joel Black]

First, as soon as I saw it was available, I ordered the P3TX monitor. I don’t really care about looking at my waveforms, but I do like the ability to see my power out and SWR on the P3 and use the K3 meter for ALC. For $50 less than the W2 *and* to have it integrated therefore minimizing my station footprint is something I’ve been greatly anticipating.

In that respect (minimizing my station footprint), I am also looking forward to more specs regarding the KIO3B. I currently use a Creative Labs E-MU 0204 sound card for digital modes. This sound card allows me to detect JT65 / JT9 and Olivia 8-250 way down into the noise floor. I regularly decode JT65 at < -20. Being able to integrate the sound card with the K3 would be great, but I won’t do it at the expense of being able to “hear” those signals. I will eagerly await testing by others to see if the new interface will provide that level of detection. Are there specs for the KIO3B audio chip somewhere? 

As for RS232 / DB9 / DB25, I won’t get hung up on the “theory-crafting” aspect of the hobby that so many others enjoy to carry you out in the weeds with, but I will tell you that the standard is not followed everywhere. Sure, you get TX, RX, and Gnd, but don’t *dare* think you’ll get it where you expect on everything you encounter. At work, we use an FLC by GarrettCom that uses pins 1 and 6 for TX / RX on Ch 1, pins 2 and 7 for Ch2, pins 3 and 8 for Ch3, pins 4 and 9 for Ch4, and pin 5 for ground. Try to figure that out on your own in Alabama inside a substation in August with no breeze. :) Try to figure out that the device you’re trying to talk to uses DCE instead of DTE… All kinds of little nuances out there to encounter. In my job, I’ve seen lots of stuff like that and I dare say I have *not* seen it all. :)

73,
Joel - W4JBB