Cable for K3 Aux I/O

[Tom-5]

Cable for the K3 Aux I/O

I found a source for cables for the K3 AUX I/O connector, which uses all
15 pins of a HD-15 connector. You can find many cables for the HD-15,
but almost all of them are for video extension cables. I found a source
of cables. They are made by L-Com (www.l-com.com <http://www.l-com.com>)
. They are available from Newark, and directly from L-Com. The part
numbers of concern are for a male to male cable. And why a male to male?
So you can cut the cable in half and have two cables, one for you and
one for your buddy, or your second K3!

The part number from L-Comm is CS2H15MM-5, for a five footer, (Newark #
is 88M8465), and the CS2H15MM-10, which is ten feet. (Newark # 30M8735).
I bought the five footer as Newark had those in stock. The cost is
around $ 27.00 each. L-Comm’s website shows their very own checkout
system. I called them and they do not have a minimum order, and they
take most credit cards.

So I cut my five foot cable into a four and one foot length. I found the
15 conductors surrounded by a foil shield, a drain wire for the shield,
and an overall woven out shield. The 15 conductors are all there. I
ohmed out the colors, and while they should be the same from cable to
cable, you might want to check out the color codes of your cable before
committing to these wires to your K3.

Pin # Color

1 Black (solid color)
2 Brown (solid color)
3 Red (solid color)
4 Orange (solid color)
5 Yellow (solid color)
6 Green, dark (solid color)
7 Blue (solid color)
8 Violet (solid color)
9 Gray (solid color)
10 White (solid color)
11 Pink (solid color)
12 Light Green (solid color)
13 Black with white strip
14 Brown with white strip
15 Red with white strip

I connected my cable to a captive wire barrier strip, plugged it into my
K3, turned off, but with 12 VDC power. I shorted the Violet wire, pin 8
(power on) to the light green, pin 12 (ground). My K3 turned on. This is
good news for me as my second K3 is at my 6 meter SSB remote site, and
these wires will be wired into a relay controller that comes off my
computer located there. Now, if there is a power bump, I don’t have to
make a trip up there!

Now, to convince L-Com to make a breakout HD-15 connector with captive
wire screws on it, like they do for the DB-9!

Tom Bosscher K8TB


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[Jim Brown-10]

On Fri, 29 Aug 2008 16:37:08 -0400, K8TB wrote:

>I found a source for cables for the K3 AUX I/O connector, which uses all
>15 pins of a HD-15 connector. You can find many cables for the HD-15,
>but almost all of them are for video extension cables.

This is NOT a good idea. First, parallel conductor cable is a lousy choice  
where RFI is a potential issue. Most uses of the AUX I/O connector should
use TWISTED PAIRS for immunity from RFI and noise. In general, TWISTING is
FAR more important than a cable shield in rejecting RFI and noise. Second,
most uses of the AUX I/O connector will require only a few circuits, not
all 15 pins.

Thus, a FAR better way to do this is buy some DB15 connectors, some CAT5
(or CAT6), and some connector hoods and wire them yourselves. Use one pair
per circuit -- for example, for FSK, orange to pin 1, orange/white to pin
5; for PTT, brown to pin 4, brown/white to pin 5. And so on.

73,

Jim Brown K9YC



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[Jerry Flanders]

You can get DB15HD breakout connector with captive wire screws at:

http://www.winfordeng.com/products/brk15hd.php

Read the comments I made on it on this reflector a couple months ago.

Jerry W4UK

At 04:37 PM 8/29/2008, K8TB wrote:
...
>Now, to convince L-Com to make a breakout HD-15 connector with
>captive wire screws on it, like they do for the DB-9!
>
>Tom Bosscher K8TB

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[AD6XY]

Just what I need - I was thinking of having a PCB made. It is possible to get these in the UK or alternatively can someone post me one on? The same goes for the 15 way cables. None of these lines carry RF and they are all filtered so RFI between them is not likely to be a big problem.

Mike

You may wonder why as they do international orders... the reason is the only shipping option appears to be $36, priority, which is a lot for a $16 item. Total after shipping and customs comes to $90.

I am also looking at the l-com option, it might be cheaper. They only do a female connector but that is what you need with a male-male lead. I wonder if anyone in the UK is interested in a group buy. The l-com boards are only $10 each.

Having seen the l-com, I might just build my own PCB but there is still the cable to get hold of if it is not to hang dongle style from the back of the K3.

Jerry Flanders wrote

You can get DB15HD breakout connector with captive wire screws at:

http://www.winfordeng.com/products/brk15hd.php

Read the comments I made on it on this reflector a couple months ago.

Jerry W4UK

At 04:37 PM 8/29/2008, K8TB wrote:
...
>Now, to convince L-Com to make a breakout HD-15 connector with
>captive wire screws on it, like they do for the DB-9!
>
>Tom Bosscher K8TB

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[Enno, PF5X]

L-Comm has one too (DGBH15FT): http://www.l-com.com/item.aspx?id=6726

-- Enno, PF5X

AD6XY wrote

Just what I need - I was thinking of having a PCB made. It is possible to get these in the UK or alternatively can someone post me one on? The same goes for the 15 way cables. None of these lines carry RF and they are all filtered so RFI between them is not likely to be a big problem.

Mike

You may wonder why as they do international orders... the reason is the only shipping option appears to be $36, priority, which is a lot for a $16 item.

Jerry Flanders wrote

You can get DB15HD breakout connector with captive wire screws at:

http://www.winfordeng.com/products/brk15hd.php

Read the comments I made on it on this reflector a couple months ago.

Jerry W4UK

At 04:37 PM 8/29/2008, K8TB wrote:
...
>Now, to convince L-Com to make a breakout HD-15 connector with
>captive wire screws on it, like they do for the DB-9!
>
>Tom Bosscher K8TB

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