[Elecraft] K3 & RemoteRig

Thu May 21 15:11:39 EDT 2015

I must not have been communicating this very well.  We are NOT trying to
flash the K3 through the Internet.  We simply want the K3 Utility to connect
to the K3 while RemoteRig is connected and running.   The purpose is only to
save/recall profiles.  Nothing more.  However, Elecraft Support just
confirmed this is impossible when RemoteRig is connected, and that's a huge
disappointment for us -- but it's the reality of the situation.    

Paul, W9AC

-----Original Message-----
From: Chris Tate - N6WM [mailto:ctate at ewnetinc.com] 
Sent: Thursday, May 21, 2015 2:52 PM
To: Paul Christensen; dj0qn at arrl.net; elecraft at mailman.qth.net
Subject: RE: [Elecraft] K3 & RemoteRig

Attempting to flash the firmware through the RRC is a no go.  I have to go
up to the remote site periodically to bypass the RRC rs232 and update the
firmware on the K line at my station.  Its a bit dangerous because I do
believe you get get the utility to talk to the K3 through it... I think this
is specified clearly in the manuals.. but its been a while since I went
through them.
________________________________________
From: Elecraft [elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net] on behalf of Paul
Christensen [w9ac at arrl.net]
Sent: Thursday, May 21, 2015 10:17 AM
To: dj0qn at arrl.net; elecraft at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 & RemoteRig

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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