[Elecraft] KPA500 serial interfaces

[Andy Durbin]

 "The Serial Box<https://bit.ly/S-BOX> (S-BOX) was specifically designed to make it easy to connect multiple devices in parallel to any transceiver's serial port, including a PC, KPA500, KAT500, KPA1500, SteppIR Controller, Kessler AT-Auto, Shackmaster SM-8, etc. "

My configuration requires one device to be the routine polling device but has to allow for another device to break that polling interface and insert different commands to the destination equipment.

E.g - 1. OmniRig polls my TS-590 and my TS-590/Elecraft interface listens to the responses.  When I want to set the TS-590 power, or initiate a TX Tune, my TS-590/Elecraft interface disconnects OmniRig, attaches the local RS232 source, sends the power command, then returns control to OmniRig.    The supplemental commands are timed to only be sent in the "window" where OmniRig is not sending a command.  (It's actually a bit more complicated than that because initiating a TX Tune first inhibits the amplifier key line then, when key inhibit is confirmed, it initiates TX Tune with a specific power setting,  returns TS-590 to receive mode, waits until RX mode is confirmed, then re-enables the amplifier key line.)

E.g -2.  The KAT500 utility may be polling my KAT500 but I disconnect it and send the KAT500 commands to change L, C, bypass, antenna side, etc.  Again this is is done without disrupting KAT500 utility polling as the commands are only sent in the "window" between the utility polls.   Depending on an option setting the TS-590/Elecraft interface can be the primary KAT500 polling device and the utility is not needed.

Examples 1 and 2 were implemented a while ago and are mature and reliable.  The next step is to integrate the KPA500 so OPER/STBY are fully integrated in my power control scheme.

So, sorry, but your interface doesn't come close to meeting my requirements.

73,
Andy, k3wyc