[Elecraft] Troubleshooting KIO2

[Don Wilhelm]

Dave,

What is the serial number of your K2 - if it is below 3000 and has not 
been upgraded with the A to B mods, you could have damaged the MCU.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 5/27/2022 7:58 PM, Dave Sublette wrote:
> Interesting. Thanks!
>
> Dave
>
> On Fri, May 27, 2022 at 7:53 PM David Woolley <forums at david-woolley.me.uk>
> wrote:
>
>> It's going to be similar to the application circuit in section 7.1 of
>> <https://ftdichip.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/DS_FT232R.pdf>, except
>> that not all the wires may be connected, and, in particular, any that
>> conflict with the K2's use of a pin on the connector for Auxbus won't be
>> connected.  (The KIO2 documentation will tell you which pins are
>> actually used in a standard way.)
>>
>> It's just possible that they have left out the level convertors, as it
>> would probably work without them.
>>
>> Assuming it has the level convertors, the standard tool for looking at
>> what is happening will be something like this:
>> <
>> https://czh-labs.com/products/czh-labs-rs232-led-link-tester-module-db9-male-to-db9-female>
>>
>> (picked at random from a Google search.  If it doesn't have level
>> convertors, the LEDs may only light up for one state, of the nominally
>> bipolar signal.  (If auxbus is on one of the monitored pins, it might be
>> disrupted, but the resistor on the LED should ensure that there is no
>> permanent damage.  It would be better to do it on the end of the
>> official KIO2 to RS232 cable, though.
>>
>> Incidentally the S in USB stands for serial, but it is different, and
>> much more complex, serial protocol.
>>
>> Also, I found the price eye watering, given what is probably in it; the
>> problem with very low production run products.  Things like Arduino
>> throw in all but the level convertors and DB9 connectors, as just part
>> of something that sells for under GBP 10, although current Arduinos use
>> an AtMega microcontroller chip, rather than the FTDI chip.
>>
>> Before considering alternatives, do beware of the the vulnerable,
>> Auxbus, signal on the non-standard K2 connector.
>>
>> My PC motherboard was selected because it had a real RS232C asynchronous
>> port.
>>
>> --
>> David Woolley
>> Owner K2 06123
>>
>> On 27/05/2022 20:41, Dave Sublette wrote:
>>> It would be nice to have a schematic of the KUSB cable.
>>>
>>> If anyone has experience troubleshooting this sort of thing or knows
>> where
>>> to get more information, please let me know.
>>
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