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A "My K3's coming question"

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KK7P

Re: A "My K3's coming question"

> Is that rear panel mic jack a true tip-ring-sleeve jack?

Yes, all the 3.5mm jacks in the K3 audio I/O panel are stereo; none are
mono. The Mic jack is a stereo jack wired as mono, using the tip and
sleeve and not connecting to the ring.

73,

Lyle kK7P

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n6wg

Re: A "My K3's coming question"

Thanks for the clarification, Lyle.
73, Bob N6WG

----- Original Message -----
From: "Lyle Johnson" <[hidden email]>
To: "elecraft" <[hidden email]>
Sent: Wednesday, November 07, 2007 10:00 AM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] A "My K3's coming question"

> > Is that rear panel mic jack a true tip-ring-sleeve jack?
>
> Yes, all the 3.5mm jacks in the K3 audio I/O panel are stereo; none are
> mono. The Mic jack is a stereo jack wired as mono, using the tip and
> sleeve and not connecting to the ring.
>
> 73,
>
> Lyle kK7P
>
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Don Wilhelm-4

Re: A "My K3's coming question"

In reply to this post by n6wg

Bob,

The problem with the K2 headphone jack has nothing to do with neither
mono or stereo nor with the contacts. There is a built-in independent
switch at the back of the jack body whose activating arm breaks and the
the path to the speaker remains open after the headphone plug is
removed. I have done postmortem disassembly of several of those jacks
and find the same fault with all of them - the switch activating arm in
the jack is a plastic lever and seems brittle to me.

That being said, the headphone jack in my K2 and many many others I know
of has not failed. Yes, the failure percentage is higher than one might
expect, but not all of them fail. Now, if the jack manufacturer would
just use a less brittle material for that activating arm, the entire
problem would be solved.

73,
Don W3FPR

Robert Tellefsen wrote:

> Lyle
> Is that rear panel mic jack a true
> tip-ring-sleeve jack or a simple mono jack?
> If simple mono, I'd be uncomfortable
> putting a stereo plug into it. Too many
> folks have had trouble with the K2's
> headset jack. I'm a bit leery of small
> jacks in general due to the small leaf
> springs in them.
>
>

n6wg

Re: A "My K3's coming question"

Thanks Don
I still have my K2 #12, and the jack is still good in it,
also. At present it sits to the side, though, as my
newer unit is on the desk on-line for Sweepstakes.
73, Bob N6WG

----- Original Message -----
From: "Don Wilhelm" <[hidden email]>
To: "Robert Tellefsen" <[hidden email]>
Cc: "elecraft" <[hidden email]>
Sent: Wednesday, November 07, 2007 10:28 AM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] A "My K3's coming question"

> Bob,
>
> The problem with the K2 headphone jack has nothing to do with neither
> mono or stereo nor with the contacts. There is a built-in independent
> switch at the back of the jack body whose activating arm breaks and the
> the path to the speaker remains open after the headphone plug is
> removed. I have done postmortem disassembly of several of those jacks
> and find the same fault with all of them - the switch activating arm in
> the jack is a plastic lever and seems brittle to me.
>
> That being said, the headphone jack in my K2 and many many others I know
> of has not failed. Yes, the failure percentage is higher than one might
> expect, but not all of them fail. Now, if the jack manufacturer would
> just use a less brittle material for that activating arm, the entire
> problem would be solved.
>
> 73,
> Don W3FPR
>
> Robert Tellefsen wrote:
> > Lyle
> > Is that rear panel mic jack a true
> > tip-ring-sleeve jack or a simple mono jack?
> > If simple mono, I'd be uncomfortable
> > putting a stereo plug into it. Too many
> > folks have had trouble with the K2's
> > headset jack. I'm a bit leery of small
> > jacks in general due to the small leaf
> > springs in them.
> >
> >

dave.wilburn

[OT] K2 & Navigator Interface

In reply to this post by Simon (HB9DRV)

Has anyone used the USInterface.com, Navigator, with the K2?
-

David Wilburn
[hidden email]
K4DGW
K2 S/N 5982

On Wed, 2007-11-07 at 14:03 +0100, Simon Brown (HB9DRV) wrote:

> FWIW I have a USInterface.com Navigator arriving soon. One USB cable to plug
> into the PC, the Navigator provides high-quality soundcard, COM ports, FSK,
> K1EL and nice knobs on the front.
>
> If you or anyone else is after a good solution then this is worth
> considering.
>
> Simon Brown, HB9DRV
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Julian G4ILO" <[hidden email]>
> >
> > That's useful, Simon. I've had a few direct replies about the serial
> > cable wiring but what about the audio connections? Would standard
> > 3.5mm to 3.5mm stereo jack cables suffice? Is any resistive attenuator
> > needed, such as I've used in the home made cables for most other
> > radios?
>
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Bruce Bowman

Re: A "My K3's coming question"

In reply to this post by Don Wilhelm-4

----- Original Message
>
> That being said, the headphone jack in my K2 and many many others I
> know of has not failed. Yes, the failure percentage is higher than
> one might expect, but not all of them fail. Now, if the jack
> manufacturer would just use a less brittle material for that
> activating arm, the entire problem would be solved.

Don-

I'm one of those that had to replace the jack. Any chance we're causing
it ourselves? e.g. too much soldering heat?

Bruce, NM5B
Santa Fe, NM

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srife

Re: [OT] K2 & Navigator Interface

In reply to this post by dave.wilburn

Yes David, I just bought that interface and have it working with the K2.

Stan Rife
W5EWA

David Wilburn <[hidden email]> wrote:
Has anyone used the USInterface.com, Navigator, with the K2?
-

David Wilburn
[hidden email]
K4DGW
K2 S/N 5982

On Wed, 2007-11-07 at 14:03 +0100, Simon Brown (HB9DRV) wrote:

> FWIW I have a USInterface.com Navigator arriving soon. One USB cable to plug
> into the PC, the Navigator provides high-quality soundcard, COM ports, FSK,
> K1EL and nice knobs on the front.
>
> If you or anyone else is after a good solution then this is worth
> considering.
>
> Simon Brown, HB9DRV
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Julian G4ILO"
> >
> > That's useful, Simon. I've had a few direct replies about the serial
> > cable wiring but what about the audio connections? Would standard
> > 3.5mm to 3.5mm stereo jack cables suffice? Is any resistive attenuator
> > needed, such as I've used in the home made cables for most other
> > radios?
>
> _______________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Post to: [hidden email]
> You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
> Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.):
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srife

Re: [OT] K2 & Navigator Interface

In reply to this post by dave.wilburn

I made my own cable. I used the 1/8" stereo plug for the RCV audio, and I believe I use a 1/8" mono for the TX audio because I have one of the Heil microphone adapter cables that breaks out the Keying and TX audio ckts to seperate 1/4" & 1/8" jacks accordingly. Made it pretty simple versus having to wire up a mic plug and switch that out all the time. I use a series of 1/8" & 1/4" (RadioShack) Y adapter cables and have my Heil headset hooked up all the time as well as the audio cables from the Navigator. Actually I have to disco the TX audio plug from the headset to eliminate the open microphone on TX while using the Navigator.

I used stereo and mono cables from Radio shack that were already made up. I just cut them in half and used which ever half had the right connector on it and soldered them all in to a DB25 male connector. Turned out kind of professional looking. That is probably the expensive route to go, but it still didn't cost the 48 bucks that US Interface wants for a made up cable. Since I was using the Heil microphone adapter cable, I would have had to modify their cable anyway.

Stan Rife
W5EWA

David Wilburn <[hidden email]> wrote:
Has anyone used the USInterface.com, Navigator, with the K2?
-

David Wilburn
[hidden email]
K4DGW
K2 S/N 5982

On Wed, 2007-11-07 at 14:03 +0100, Simon Brown (HB9DRV) wrote:

> FWIW I have a USInterface.com Navigator arriving soon. One USB cable to plug
> into the PC, the Navigator provides high-quality soundcard, COM ports, FSK,
> K1EL and nice knobs on the front.
>
> If you or anyone else is after a good solution then this is worth
> considering.
>
> Simon Brown, HB9DRV
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Julian G4ILO"
> >
> > That's useful, Simon. I've had a few direct replies about the serial
> > cable wiring but what about the audio connections? Would standard
> > 3.5mm to 3.5mm stereo jack cables suffice? Is any resistive attenuator
> > needed, such as I've used in the home made cables for most other
> > radios?
>
> _______________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Post to: [hidden email]
> You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
> Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.):
> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm
> Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com