[Elecraft] K2 Loses FT8 Rig Control Connection

[Don Wilhelm]

Murray,

What microphone is your K2 wired for?  Check the microphone 
configuration header on the front panel if you don't know - the info on 
plugging the header is in the KSB2 manual.

I don't know the wiring for that Kenwood adapter, but it may be 
connecting to the wrong pin for your K2 mic wiring.
If your mic is configured for either Elecraft or Kenwood, it should work.

Have you checked the speaker (or Line) output settings in the computer?  
They may be too high.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 3/11/2022 2:01 PM, Murray wrote:
> 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.
>