[Elecraft] K3 CAT connection to SPE Amplifier information needed

[Bob Wilson, N6TV]

My new Serial Box (or "S-BOX") is specifically intended to be a flexible
interface between the K3/K3S, KX2, KX3 and an SPE Amp's CAT port.  It will
also do the same for an ACOM CAT port or an Elecraft KPA1500 3.5 mm stereo
"PC DATA" connector (for non-Elecraft radios).

A serial Y-Cable alone on the P3 may not work unless you take care to make
no connection from the SPE amp's CAT port to Pin 3 (TXD) of the P3's "PC
RS232" port.  I would need to see a schematic of the CBLP3Y to make sure,
but I think TXD line from the K3 must be connected to the P3 there, which
means you cannot connect anything else.

Has anyone ever found a CBLP3Y schematic?  If so, please share.

SPE amps use a DA-15 "CAT" connector.  To follow the K3's frequency data,
they require on that 15 pin connector:

Pin 1 = RS232 RXD  (DE-9 pin 2)
Pin 4 = Ground (DE-9 pin 5)
Pin 9 = RS232 TXD  (DE-9 pin 3)  (*)


(*) The TXD line should only be connected if the amp. *alone* is going to
"poll" the K3 for frequency data.  You cannot use a logging program on the
USB port to poll the radio at the same time as the amp, and you cannot
connect two TXD lines to each other in parallel.  To get the amp. to always
track the radio, you will need to have a logging programming polling the
radio continuously, or use CONFIG:AUTOINF 1, while letting the amp. "just
listen" on the RXD pin.

The S-BOX will be sold with a new 100% shielded Amphenol cable that has all
15 pins wired straight through.  It connects the DE-15 connector on the
S-BOX  to the DA-15 connector on the SPE CAT.  One can then break out any
pin on the SPE CAT connector via internal jumpers in the S-BOX, providing
easy access to any pin required (e.g. RXD RS-232, TXD RS-232, RXD-TTL,
TXD-TTL, Signal Ground, Amp Relay, Remote Power ON, ALC, TX Inhibit,
etc.).  Connect any SPE pin to an RCA connector on the S-BOX or to the
proper pins on the DE-9 serial connectors, using the jumper wires provided.

Stay tuned for more info. about the new S-BOX.

73,
Bob, N6TV

On Fri, Jul 20, 2018 at 8:43 PM, Barry Simpson <vk2bj at optusnet.com.au>
wrote:

> Thank you to all those of you who replied to my earlier query regarding
> band data information.
>
> I am now also looking for a way to provide a CAT interface to the SPE
> amplifier without using a separate computer program.
>
> My set up is a K3 fully upgraded with the RJ45 serial port which connects
> via the Elecraft custom cable to a P3.
>
> Both connectors on the P3 are DB9, ie normal serial connectors.
>
> As such, can I simply insert a further Y cable between one of the P3 serial
> ports and the incoming cable from the K3 and then use the extra leg (with a
> DB9 on the end) to connect to the SPE amplifier for CAT control ?
>
> Or is that idea too simple ?
>
> Any advice would be appreciated.
>
> Thanks and 73
>
> Barry  VK2BJ
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:Elecraft at mailman.qth.net
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to n6tv at arrl.net
>