[Elecraft] K2 Loses FT8 Rig Control Connection

[Murray]

I have a K2 with the KIO2 and KSB2 options. I am using WSJT-X with a 
USB/serial adapter connecting my PC to the KIO2 for rig control. I have 
a male-male 1/8" audio cable connecting the K2 headphone jack to the PC 
microphone input. With this arrangement, I can receive FT8 well. It 
receives so well that I want to try transmitting even though I only have 
5 or 10 watts from the K2.

I then have connected another male-male 1/8" audio cable from the PC 
headphones connector to the K2 microphone input on the K2 front panel. I 
make this K2 connection using a Y-cable with a Kenwood type mic 
connector on one end and 1/8" female connector and 1/4" female connector 
for a PTT footswitch (not used for FT8). This is actually an accessory 
cable for Heil headsets.

The second I plug in the audio cable to the K2 microphone Y-cable, I 
immediately lose synch and the RS-232 connection fails. I thought 
incorrect audio level might be causing a problem but I've tried many 
different audio input levels with no luck. I don't understand why making 
the audio input connection would affect the rig control connection.

I should note my PC has a combo audio jack so I must use a Y-adapter to 
access both the input and the output audio. This adapter works fine on 
FT8 with a different transceiver.

Has anybody experienced this?

73,
Murray VA1CQ


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