[Elecraft] K3S and P3 pinout/cable stuff... (How to drive yourself mad integrating an SPE amp into your system)

[Clay Autery]

In my efforts (more of a quest now it seems) to comprehend the K3s and 
P3 pinouts for RS-232 and ACC, et al., I have become convinced it is a 
conspiracy to drive me nuts.<grin>
Trying to figure this all out so I can build a custom cable to connect 
all the following with the indicated functionality:

K3s (to computer via USB, to P3 via CBLP3Y or NEW custom cable 
incorporating CBLP3Y wiring with additions to add SPE)

P3 (using CBLP3Y or custom to accomodate additional Y to SPE for 
RS-232/common)

SPE 1K-FA (CAT, KEY/RELAY, ALC (failsafe only), Remote On, and TX INH 
via CAT connector, AND RS-232 direct to computer via USB)

External Tuner (Denon MLT-2500 for now, Palstar HF-Auto eventually whent 
eh SPE will go in favor of a KPA1500 and this ALL becomes moot)

Questions:

1) Does the K3s adhere to RS-232 standards on signalling?
2) Is the pinout on the RS-232/P3 Port (8P8C, aka RJ45 jack) static, or 
do the signal lines change based on some logic setting in the firmware?
3) The E980297 cable (RJ45 to DE9F) pinout has DTR and RTS and the 
CBLP3Y does not....  Is this because when this cable is used, the 
connection to the computer is via a serial cable from the P3's PC port 
(serial)?  And with the CBLP3Y, the DTR/RTS traffic goes to the computer 
via the USB cable?
4) Is the K3S a DTE or DCE device?

The TXD/RXD/GND signalling appears to change depending on how the K3s 
"sees" the computer.  Or I am seriously confused... maybe both.  <smile>

_*Bottom Line:*_

Can someone give me a DEFINITIVE pinout for ALL 8 pins on the K3S' 
RS232/P3 Port?

Pin 1 is (appears to be secondary/second/#2) an RS-232 Common (ground)
Pin 2 primary RXD or TXD?
Pin 3 secondary RXD or TXD?
Pin 4 is (appears to be primary/first/#1) an RS-232 Common (ground)
Pin 5 primary RXD or TXD?
Pin 6 Secondary RXD or TXD?
Pin 7 is DTR
Pin 8 is RTS

Bottom of Page 19 in K3S manual gives the RJ45 pinout as follows when 
using the E980297 cable:

_*RJ45           DE9F (P3 XCVR)*_
1 NC
2 RXD__________2 (RXD)
3 NC
4 Common_______5 (Common/GND)
5 TXD__________3 (TXD)
6 NC
7 DTR__________4 (DTR)
8 RTS__________7 (RTS)

I need to know what 1,3, and 6 are called on the K3S RS232/P3 (RJ45 port 
before I can figure out the rest of the puzzle.... they are obviously 
TXD/RXD/GRN set, and #1 is for sure the second ground as shows 
continuity with the other ground using a meter.  But it looks like there 
is either a traffic direction change on some of the signal lines or 
there's a wired in "null modem" crossover somehow when the computer 
connection goes from the serial cable between P3 and computer versus the 
USB cable between the K3s and computer.

Until I verify exactly what each pin is as connected with the CBLP3Y to 
P3 and USB from K3s to computer and which way traffic is flowing on each 
sig line, I won't know where to patch in the SPE's RX232 and TX232 lines.

Probably should have just had Dan Tassel make the cable(s), but I like 
making my own cables, and I want to go a bit beyond the "minimum".

73,

-- 
______________________
Clay Autery, KY5G
MONTAC Enterprises
(318) 518-1389