[Elecraft] K3 & RemoteRig

Thu May 21 13:17:47 EDT 2015

Mitch and all...

First, the term "remote" below refers to the tower site.  The control site is where the op controls the K3/0 or K3-mini.

The main issue is in trying to access the K3 Utility on the PC sitting next to the remote K3 while RemoteRig is connected.  We can use VNCRemote or TeamViewer to access K3 Utility on the remote PC.  Most importantly,  I am not trying to flash the K3 remotely over the Internet.   We just want communication between the K3 Utilty and the PC via RemoteRig's spare COM1 port.

Specifically, what I am trying to accomplish is saving/recalling the K3 profiles with the K3 Utility so that two ops using our remote site are not spending ten minutes tinkering our way out of the last guy's favorite settings.  It would have been great if the K3 had just enough internal storage to save profiles, even if for just two or three users.  But since that's not the case, we must rely on the K3 Utility to recall the profiles.  But RemoteRig gets in the way because it is attached to the K3's serial connector at the remote site.  As mentioned before, RemoteRig does have a spare COM1 serial port, supposedly for this purpose and CAT control.  Here's what I've done to date.  

1) All hardware flashed to the latest versions (K3 and RemoteRigs).   I am using the latest version of K3 Utility and also the beta version tried;
2) A high quality FTDI USB to serial COM port adapter connects between the PC and the RemoteRig's serial COM1 port. The USB and is assigned COM7 on the PC;
3) The PC has been checked to ensure the latest FTDI drivers;
4) On the remote side of the RemoteRig, there's a menu, "Serial Settings" to select different communication protocols for the RemoteRig's COM1 port (the port attached with the USB/serial converter);
5) Opening the K3 Utility and selecting COM7 should establish communication between the K3 Utility and the remote K3 THROUGH RemoteRig.  But it doesn't.  The K3 Utility keeps searching the port speed with no connection.
6) The RemoteRig manual seems to indicate it is possible to connect in such a way and even shows a picture detailing a device connected on RemoteRig's COM1.  

Has anyone had success in using the K3 Utility with RemoteRig connected at the same time?   

Paul, W9AC

-----Original Message-----
From: "Mitch Wolfson, DJØQN / K7DX" [mailto:dj0qn at gmx.net] 
Sent: Thursday, May 21, 2015 10:40 AM
To: Paul Christensen; elecraft at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 & RemoteRig

I was in Dayton when you sent this and a bit behind my mails. I believe I read most replies, so I will only answer the ones I do not believe were already answered (apologies for any duplication):

- Never turn monitor (CW or SSB) on while running remote. Even the slightest latency will drive you crazy. Use the RRC's sidetone for CW and there is no solution for SSB.

- You can change the RRC's CW sidetone volume by going into the control RRC's menu "CW settings" and change "Side tone -db" to a more reasonable level.

- Only one can access a K3 at a time. The other parties will receive a busy tone when attempting a connect. This will not disturb the other user, so trying it won't hurt anyone. We have implemented chat and logging systems to let us know who is using the station, there are a lot of solutions on the market.

The RemoteRig Forum at http://www.remoterig.com/forum/index.php is a wealth of information for anyone using RemoteRig.

73,
Mitch DJ0QN

Mitch Wolfson
DJØQN / K7DX
Neubiberger Str. 21, 85640 Putzbrunn
Skype: mitchwo - Home:+49 89 32152700 - Mobile:+49 172 8374436
Echolink: 3001 - IRLP: 5378

On 17.05.2015 04:08, Paul Christensen wrote:
> Still getting used to a recently installed RemoteRig used with my K3 
> and K3-mini.  A few questions:
>
> 1) Since the K3's RS-232 port is wired directly to RemoteRig, is there 
> a way to access control of the RS-232 port for firmware upgrades, 
> SDR-IQ control, etc.?  As it is, LP-Bridge doesn’t appear to apply 
> here since the K3 is not connected as a PC COM port;
>
> 2) Any means to monitor mic audio on the K3 mini while transmitting?  
> I've tried bringing up MON audio, but nothing heard.  I thought 
> perhaps the K3 mini would inject local mic monitor audio into the 
> receive audio.
>
> 3) K3 mini speaker audio is extremely loud and the CW sidetone is even 
> louder.  However, receive audio and sidetone in headphones is 
> excellent. It's as if there's a gain structure problem just ahead of 
> the speaker amp. Any way to easily reduce speaker amp gain after the 
> AF control?
>
> 4) Consider a situation where two K3 minis are each trying to access a
> K3 at the remote site.  When one of the K3 minis connects to the 
> remote site, will the other K3-mini's display read "busy" or in some 
> way let the user know that the K3 is being tied up by another user?
> Or, must we rely on the green PWR/connect light on RemoteRig?
>
> Tnx!
>
> Paul, W9AC
>
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