[Elecraft] K3S K-line cabling

[Jack Brindle]

George;

I agree with your assessment. When developing new firmware, I use a standard cable for testing. But in my station, I use custom-build cables that use only 10 or 11 wires plus shield.
I believe the the very first cable we tested with used only 10 lines between the KPA500 and K3 (there was no KAT500 at that time). 

But, if you are buying them, use the standard we outline in the KPA500 manual. The KPAK3AUX cable does this very well.

73!
Jack, W6FB

> On Oct 27, 2019, at 2:51 PM, Gmail - George <gdanner12 at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> Jack,
> Don't use a 15 pin straight through - not all pins are to be connected. My 
> recollection is that 1 or 2 pins Must Not be connected to the K3!
> Use the manual if not using the Elecraft Aux cable sets.
> 
> Because not all VGA cables are the same - you can use a VGA cable if you 
> positively confirm that all 15 conductors pass through and No conductor is 
> hooked to each other.
> Some VGA cables tie the coax shields together at one or both ends - these 
> cables should not be used. I had a half dozen VGA cables - the second cable 
> I checked was one to one with no pins shorted together. I broke off the 
> pin(s) not to be connected and voilà free cable from the junk shelf.
> 
> If in doubt - buy the Elecraft cables or make your own from the information 
> in the Elecraft instruction books.
> 
> I recommend using the Aux cable sets to interconnect the K3, KPA500 & 
> KAT500. The seem to operate as a single unit in 3 boxes.
> Only thing I'd love to see is for the K3 "Tune" button to put the KPA500 in 
> Stby & Tune the KAT500.
> 
> 73
> George AI4VZ
> 
> 
> 
> 
> -----Original Message----- 
> From: Jack Brindle via Elecraft
> 
> Hi David! Great to hear form you...
> 
>     . . .
> 
> Lastly, be sure to use a cable with all 15 pins connected straight through. 
> Do NOT use a VGA cable. They play with the signals in those cables, 
> connecting several together, which will mess things up for us.
> 
> Hope you are enjoying CQWW this weekend; we miss you in NCCC!
> 
> 73!
> jack, W6FB
> 
> 
> 
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