Custom K2?
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Although none of us (AFAIK) are allowed access to the
control firmware source, its action is well specified and effectively forms an Application Programming Interface. It would be possible to put the K2 into a bigger box, remove the front panel and wire up a custom microcontroller to all the buttons, knobs, rotary encoder and LED signal strength meter - the API. The new controller would interface to a new much larger panel with, e.g., an analogue meter, simulating double key pressings with a single button, such as one marked "AGC Off", and many other more convenient features that the K2 can't do because of limited and already crowded panel area, and the necessity to keep the cost to that of a marketable product. Putting the current rotary encoder on the new panel, it might be possible to add variable speed tuning by having the new controller read the encoder and feed varying speed signals to the K2 encoder interface. Being more adventurous, it might be possible to implement IF shift by simultaneously operating the BFO setting and the tuning encoder. Being extravagant, a full colour display could replace the K2's LCD and one of those great old mechanical dials could be used. A larger speaker, internal power supply, - the K2 could be turned into a large base station with all kinds of new features. With the K2 control API, the new panel would be largely limited only by the implementor's imagination. If the Elecraft list members colaberated and shared the source code of the new microcontroller, this would open up a new dimension in customizing a K2. I see Andy, N8MX has gone a little way towards such a project: he has separated the display and put the K2 in a mounting on his bike in the first old picture gallery. Is the K2 worthy of such elaboration? Ian, G4ICV, AB2GR, K2 #4962, LP-100 #278 -- _______________________________________________ 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 |
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Why reinvent the wheel. Elecraft has put the functionality into the unit by
adding the K2 command set using the RS232 port. I do all you want and more using HRD (Ham Radio Deluxe) via a great control screen on my computer. All I do with the K2 is dust it once a week. Gregg, W9DHI K2 # 3075 LP-100 # 307 See pictures at http://forums.ham-radio.ch or at the LP100 forums group page. -----Original Message----- From: [hidden email] [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Ian Stirling Sent: Tuesday, February 20, 2007 4:40 PM To: [hidden email] Subject: [Elecraft] Custom K2? Although none of us (AFAIK) are allowed access to the control firmware source, its action is well specified and effectively forms an Application Programming Interface. It would be possible to put the K2 into a bigger box, remove the front panel and wire up a custom microcontroller to all the buttons, knobs, rotary encoder and LED signal strength meter - the API. The new controller would interface to a new much larger panel with, e.g., an analogue meter, simulating double key pressings with a single button, such as one marked "AGC Off", and many other more convenient features that the K2 can't do because of limited and already crowded panel area, and the necessity to keep the cost to that of a marketable product. Putting the current rotary encoder on the new panel, it might be possible to add variable speed tuning by having the new controller read the encoder and feed varying speed signals to the K2 encoder interface. Being more adventurous, it might be possible to implement IF shift by simultaneously operating the BFO setting and the tuning encoder. Being extravagant, a full colour display could replace the K2's LCD and one of those great old mechanical dials could be used. A larger speaker, internal power supply, - the K2 could be turned into a large base station with all kinds of new features. With the K2 control API, the new panel would be largely limited only by the implementor's imagination. If the Elecraft list members colaberated and shared the source code of the new microcontroller, this would open up a new dimension in customizing a K2. I see Andy, N8MX has gone a little way towards such a project: he has separated the display and put the K2 in a mounting on his bike in the first old picture gallery. Is the K2 worthy of such elaboration? Ian, G4ICV, AB2GR, K2 #4962, LP-100 #278 -- _______________________________________________ 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 |
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On Tuesday 20 February 2007 17:48, you wrote:
> Why reinvent the wheel. Elecraft has put the functionality into the unit by > adding the K2 command set using the RS232 port. I do all you want and more > using HRD (Ham Radio Deluxe) via a great control screen on my computer. All > I do with the K2 is dust it once a week. Because a Windoze computer doesn't hold a candle to a custom built panel. And I don't use Windoze. Ian, G4ICV, AB2GR, K2 #4962, LP-100 #278 -- _______________________________________________ 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 |
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Rig control software for people who use "real" computers (Fedora Core
here). http://www.hamsoftware.org/ Haven't used it, but saw your comment and did a quick google. This is the first one I ran across, may be others. Are you on Mac or Linux? Because there were quite a few choices for Mac also. David Wilburn [hidden email] K4DGW Ian Stirling wrote: > On Tuesday 20 February 2007 17:48, you wrote: >> Why reinvent the wheel. Elecraft has put the functionality into the unit by >> adding the K2 command set using the RS232 port. I do all you want and more >> using HRD (Ham Radio Deluxe) via a great control screen on my computer. All >> I do with the K2 is dust it once a week. > > Because a Windoze computer doesn't hold a candle to > a custom built panel. And I don't use Windoze. > > Ian, G4ICV, AB2GR, K2 #4962, LP-100 #278 > -- > _______________________________________________ > 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 > 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 |
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On Tuesday 20 February 2007 18:19, you wrote:
> Rig control software for people who use "real" computers (Fedora Core > here). http://www.hamsoftware.org/ Haven't used it, but saw your > comment and did a quick google. This is the first one I ran across, may > be others. Are you on Mac or Linux? Because there were quite a few > choices for Mac also. Multiplexing myself between my kubuntu/gnu/linux computer and cooking cream of scallion soup. I've recently switched to kubuntu from FreeBSD 6.1. Ian, G4ICV, AB2GR, K2 #4962, LP-100 #278 -- _______________________________________________ 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 |
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In reply to this post by Ian Stirling, G4ICV, AB2GR
On February 20, 2007 02:39 pm, Ian Stirling wrote:
> Although none of us (AFAIK) are allowed access to the > control firmware source, its action is well specified and > effectively forms an Application Programming Interface. > It would be possible to put the K2 into a bigger box, > remove the front panel and wire up a custom microcontroller > to all the buttons, knobs, rotary encoder and LED signal > strength meter - the API. Yes, but would require quite a bit of work. Something I have been thinking about myself as I find the K2 just too small, and too many functions require multiple key presses. Another option would be for Elecraft of offer a front panel alternative where each function of the radio would simply be an on/off or variable voltage source or sink on a pin(s) of a connector. Picture a front panel for the K2 with nothing more than a large multipin connector. One could then build their own front panel with the knobs, switches, meters that they desire, and connect them to the large multipin connector on this alternate K2 front panel. > > > Is the K2 worthy of such elaboration? Even with it's few problems, it is hard to beat a K2. -- Darrell Bellerive Amateur Radio Stations VA7TO and VE7CLA Grand Forks, British Columbia, Canada _______________________________________________ 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 |
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In reply to this post by Ian Stirling, G4ICV, AB2GR
Ian Stirling wrote:
> And I don't use Windoze. > > I use doors. ;) 73 de Larry W2LJ -- 73 de Larry W2LJ QRP - When you care to use the very least! http://www.w2lj.qrpradio.com http://w2lj.blogspot.com/ _______________________________________________ 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 |
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In reply to this post by Ian Stirling, G4ICV, AB2GR
On Feb 20, 2007, at 3:32 PM, Ian Stirling wrote: > On Tuesday 20 February 2007 18:19, you wrote: > >> Rig control software for people who use "real" computers (Fedora Core >> here). http://www.hamsoftware.org/ Haven't used it, but saw your >> comment and did a quick google. This is the first one I ran >> across, may >> be others. Are you on Mac or Linux? Because there were quite a few >> choices for Mac also. > > Multiplexing myself between my kubuntu/gnu/linux computer > and cooking cream of scallion soup. I've recently switched > to kubuntu from FreeBSD 6.1. There are a lot of good ham apps suitable for use with a K2 that are in the repositories for Ubuntu (and I assume kubuntu and xubuntu as well; they are all Debian derivatives): hamlib, gmfsk, xlog, tlf, to name a few I have used. 73 - Bob, N7XY _______________________________________________ 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 |
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So tempting... I haven't fiddled with Linux in a few years and might be
able to scrounge up a PC to run it on (I think all I'm missing for a working system amongst the parts I have is a power supply). Bob Nielsen wrote: > > On Feb 20, 2007, at 3:32 PM, Ian Stirling wrote: > >> On Tuesday 20 February 2007 18:19, you wrote: >> >>> Rig control software for people who use "real" computers (Fedora Core >>> here). http://www.hamsoftware.org/ Haven't used it, but saw your >>> comment and did a quick google. This is the first one I ran across, >>> may >>> be others. Are you on Mac or Linux? Because there were quite a few >>> choices for Mac also. >> >> Multiplexing myself between my kubuntu/gnu/linux computer >> and cooking cream of scallion soup. I've recently switched >> to kubuntu from FreeBSD 6.1. > > There are a lot of good ham apps suitable for use with a K2 that are > in the repositories for Ubuntu (and I assume kubuntu and xubuntu as > well; they are all Debian derivatives): hamlib, gmfsk, xlog, tlf, to > name a few I have used. > > 73 - Bob, N7XY > _______________________________________________ > 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 > _______________________________________________ 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 |
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