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DATA Jack for K2??

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jperelst

DATA Jack for K2??

Is there any chance that Elecraft will develop a data jack add-on kit for
the K2?

I do a lot of PSK and other digital modes with mine, and it's a pain to use
the mic plug and headphone jack as my connection points to the radio (if for
no other reason than the fact that I would like to be able to hear things as
I tune across the band). I would much rather have a data jack that inputs
and outputs digital data like the Yaesu FT-897.

Jon
KB1QBZ
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2rGarry

Re: DATA Jack for K2??

Jon Perelstein wrote

Is there any chance that Elecraft will develop a data jack add-on kit for
the K2?

I do a lot of PSK and other digital modes with mine, and it's a pain to use
the mic plug and headphone jack as my connection points to the radio (if for
no other reason than the fact that I would like to be able to hear things as
I tune across the band). I would much rather have a data jack that inputs
and outputs digital data like the Yaesu FT-897.

Jon
KB1QBZ

Well Jon, I also like to listen as I tune the band and it is easy to do if you get a "Y" splitter to plug into the headphone jack. They are available here at the dollar stores (low quality but adequate) or at our equivalent to Radio Shack for more dollars but better quality. I do use a rigblaster which takes care of the connection to the mic issue but all that is needed is a second connector wired appropriately and then you would have to unplug the mic whenever you wanted to operate digi modes.

72

Garry/Ve7ajj
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Julian, G4ILO

Re: DATA Jack for K2??

In reply to this post by jperelst

Jon Perelstein wrote

Is there any chance that Elecraft will develop a data jack add-on kit for
the K2?

I do a lot of PSK and other digital modes with mine, and it's a pain to use
the mic plug and headphone jack as my connection points to the radio (if for
no other reason than the fact that I would like to be able to hear things as
I tune across the band). I would much rather have a data jack that inputs
and outputs digital data like the Yaesu FT-897.

If you have the AF filter board installed then there is a take-off point on it that can be used to bring fixed level audio to a socket on the rear panel.

Transmit is not such an easy solution. Since you need to attenuate the signal from the computer I suspect you could feed it in parallel with the mic input and connect to a 3.5mm jack socket or other connector dangling off the back of the mic plug. Since I rarely use phone I never bothered to do that as it wasn't much trouble to swap the mic plugs over.

Some years ago Pauli EA3BLQ (SK) developed a board that did exactly what you are asking for. I have never understood why Elecraft did not adopt it and put it into production as an official K2 option as they did with the DSP board. I am sure there would be a demand for it even now, after all the K2 is still a current product. Although I don't use my K2 much now I would buy one just to fill that gap in its functionality.

Julian, G4ILO. K2 #392 K3 #222 KX3 #110
* G4ILO's Shack - http://www.g4ilo.com
* KComm - http://www.g4ilo.com/kcomm.html
* KTune - http://www.g4ilo.com/ktune.html

Don Wilhelm-4

Re: DATA Jack for K2??

There *was* a board available to provide higher level fixed audio out of
the K2 - look at the K2 Specific Files on Tom Hammond's website
www.n0ss.net - you are looking for the W3FPR Fixed Audio Output
information. Tom no longer has boards, but will send you the board
image to allow you to make your own. Complete documentation is
available to download.

With the fixed audio board in place, the rest is easy, but is easiest to
do with a switch outside the K2 - to disconnect the microphone to the
data input and route the PTT from whatever switching arrangement you use
for data modes to the mic connector. If you also route the Fixed Audio
output to an unused microphone pin, all signals are available at the
microphone jack. For one example of this implementation see the
Switchbox for K2 data modes on my website www.w3fpr.com (yes, I probably
should update that article - will do when I have the time!) - the
principles are there in the article and it includes isolated data
input/output, so it serves as the complete data mode interface.

73,
Don W3FPR

Julian, G4ILO wrote:

> If you have the AF filter board installed then there is a take-off
> point on
> it that can be used to bring fixed level audio to a socket on the rear
> panel.
>
> Transmit is not such an easy solution. Since you need to attenuate the
> signal from the computer I suspect you could feed it in parallel with the
> mic input and connect to a 3.5mm jack socket or other connector dangling off
> the back of the mic plug. Since I rarely use phone I never bothered to do
> that as it wasn't much trouble to swap the mic plugs over.
>
>
>

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jperelst

Re: DATA Jack for K2??

Thank you all for your replies.

I should have known that Don Wilhelm already has a solution to the problem!!

As I understand it, all this is happening in audio frequencies versus radio frequencies. Am I correct that I could breadboard all the necessary circuitry outside the rig and not have to worry about creating PC boards in the rig?

Jon
KB1QBZ

Don Wilhelm-4

Re: DATA Jack for K2??

Jon,

Yes, it is audio, so the only problems with breadboarding is the
possibilities of inadvertent ground loops and/or RF pickup by the
circuit(s). Remember that mic levels are quite low, and that level is
what you will be driving the K2 with.
So the answer depends on just how rough *your* 'breadboard' circuit is.
I would recommend putting the fixed audio output board in the K2 - the
raw K2 audio is low level and balanced, and you need a source of single
ended audio output. While one of the microHAM cable implementations
draws audio from one side of this balanced signal, the level is lower
than ideal.
All the rest can be done outside the K2 in a small box. How small
really depends on the size of the transformers you use in the audio
lines - you can salvage small transformers from defunct computer modem
boards, they work well. Alternately, you can follow Jim Brown's
recommendations to bond the computer and radio together and perhaps
eliminate the transformers.

73,
Don W3FPR

jperelst wrote:

> Thank you all for your replies.
>
> I should have known that Don Wilhelm already has a solution to the problem!!
>
> As I understand it, all this is happening in audio frequencies versus radio
> frequencies. Am I correct that I could breadboard all the necessary
> circuitry outside the rig and not have to worry about creating PC boards in
> the rig?
>
> Jon
> KB1QBZ
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
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>

jperelst

RE: DATA Jack for K2??

Thanks Don.

As always, you are a treasure.

Jon

KB1QBZ

From: Don Wilhelm-4 [via Elecraft] [mailto:[hidden email]]
Sent: Tuesday, February 09, 2010 1:56 PM
To: jperelst
Subject: Re: DATA Jack for K2??

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oe9fwv

Re: DATA Jack for K2??

In reply to this post by Julian, G4ILO

Julian, G4ILO schrieb am 9 Feb 2010 um 4:20:

> Some years ago Pauli EA3BLQ (SK) developed a board that did exactly what
> you are asking for. I have never understood why Elecraft did not adopt it
> and put it into production as an official K2 option as they did with the
> DSP board. I am sure there would be a demand for it even now, after all the
> K2 is still a current product. Although I don't use my K2 much now I would
> buy one just to fill that gap in its functionality.

I was lucky and got one of these boards and it works just fine.
All information about the circuit diagram and film pictures are available
at Pauli's website, so it would be not too difficult to make the boards.
To create Eagle files it would be necessary to do some "reverse
engineering".
I gave this information to Jon already in a private mail.

73! de Werner OE9FWV

--
I'm desperately trying to figure out why kamikaze pilots wore helmets.

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