[Elecraft] K3s USB failure?

[Jack Brindle]

Check the pins on the RJ-45 connector on the K3S. They can be damaged if you accidentally insert something besides the RJ-45 plug. You may be able to straighten them, but if that object was metal and the K3S was powered on at the time there is probably going to be other damage.

I would remove the cable from the P3, then resigner it just to make sure. Also, to make sure - if the RJ-45 is _not_ plugged into the K3S, does the USB communications work properly? I think that is what you are indicating. If so, the connector and the cable are suspect.

73!
Jack, W6FB



> On Jun 23, 2019, at 4:34 PM, Peter Dougherty <lists at w2irt.net> wrote:
> 
> Hmm. This is interesting. I never disconnected the P3, and it sat on my main operating desk all weekend. It was just the K3s that went outside (sunny/dry and less than 10 feet from my shack desk). 
> 
> I disconnected all the cables from the back of the K3s inside, brought it out, connected it to my spare PSU, plugged it into the computer and everything came up perfectly and I was ready to go in under a minute.
> 
> This afternoon I brought it in, reconnected all the cables and that's when I noticed the problem. I didn't touch either of the DE9 plugs on the P3, and they're tightened down securely on that panadapter end. But something is definitely amiss from the other end; either the RJ-45 plug on that cable, or the connector on the radio itself. Again, if I wiggle the connector, power the radio down, and restart Commander or N1MM (or the K3 Util), it MAY work. Or not.
> 
> - pjd
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Jack Brindle <jackbrindle at me.com> 
> Sent: Sunday, June 23, 2019 6:54 PM
> To: Peter Dougherty <lists at w2irt.net>
> Cc: Bill Johnson <k9yeq at live.com>; Elecraft at mailman.qth.net
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3s USB failure?
> 
> Make sure that BOTH DE9 connectors are firmly plugged onto the P3. I ran not this situation myself over the weekend. The serial data needs to flow through the P3 and back to the K3S where it is then used. If one of the DE9s is not properly connected you won’t have a full path and the USB will not work properly.
> 
> In my case I forgot to connect the top DE9 onto the P3 and things didn’t;t work. As soon as the connector was plugged in, the software (N1MM+) became very happy.
> 
> 73!
> Jack, W6FB
> 
> 
>