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K2 Front Panel Extension

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Lemkes

K2 Front Panel Extension

I really like the idea of a Front Panel Extension for the K2 and have
seriously thought about building one myself. I like lots of knobs, switches
and buttons. I dislike having to do repeated "long presses" of a button to
cycle through the DSP filter bandwidths, for example. I'd much rather have
a button for each bandwidth for both the DSP and crystal filters. And, as
another example, I long press for "tune" several times a day, but never use
short press "Ant 1/2" except inadvertently when I'm trying to tune in a
hurry!
So, my K2 front panel extension, some day, will have single function
buttons with indicators, and be run by a dedicated computer mother board
that talks to the front panel and the K2.
73, Dick, AD7AF

Dick and Marty Lemke
PO Box 1038
Ocean Park, WA 98640
Tel. 360-665-2438
www.lemkestudios.com

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Don Wilhelm-3

RE: K2 Front Panel Extension

I already have a K2 Front Panel extension quite similar to what you are
discussing (Control through the KIO2). It is called Ham Radio Deluxe! And
it is as big as my computer screen or whatever I size it to. About the only
thing it can't do is adjust the AF Gain and the RF Gain. Besides that, it
is customizable so I can put the buttons in most any pattern that suits me.
And best of all it is free, a lobor of love by a very generous and talented
ham. It can also make many other brand transceivers have the same controls
as the K2.

Thanks Simon.

but most of the time, I end up using the original panel and find it
sufficient.

73,
Don W3FPR

> -----Original Message-----
>
> I really like the idea of a Front Panel Extension for the K2 and have
> seriously thought about building one myself. I like lots of
> knobs, switches
> and buttons. I dislike having to do repeated "long presses" of a
> button to
> cycle through the DSP filter bandwidths, for example. I'd much
> rather have
> a button for each bandwidth for both the DSP and crystal filters.
> And, as
> another example, I long press for "tune" several times a day, but
> never use
> short press "Ant 1/2" except inadvertently when I'm trying to tune in a
> hurry!
> So, my K2 front panel extension, some day, will have single function
> buttons with indicators, and be run by a dedicated computer mother board
> that talks to the front panel and the K2.
> 73, Dick, AD7AF
>

Leigh L. Klotz Jr WA5ZNU

Re: K2 Front Panel Extension

Administrator

In reply to this post by Lemkes

Maybe I will write a K2 control program for the 1802-based Cosmac Elf
2000 that was featured in Nuts & Volts this month, as a reprise of the
old Popular Electronics kit. It has front panel switches and an RS232
jack so it ought to work. I think it would need the GPIO daughterboard
for knobs though. There's a website at http://www.sparetimegizmos.com
with pix. Looks like lots of fun (and I have a partial kit on order).
It's another one of those couldn't-afford-it-when-it-came-out things...
73,
Leigh/WA5ZNU
On Mon, 28 Aug 2006 3:39 pm, Lemkes wrote:
> I really like the idea of a Front Panel Extension for the K2 and have
> seriously thought about building one myself. I like lots of knobs,
> switches and buttons.
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Solosko, Robert B (Bob)-2

RE: K2 Front Panel Extension

In reply to this post by Lemkes

Hi Don and everyone else,

The ability of software such as HRD to control a K2 is what gave me the idea for a hardware front panel extension that would interface through a KIO2. While a hardware front panel extension wouldn't have all of the capabilities and flexibility of HRD, the goal would be to have better and easier control over the K2 in a very small box that would take up much less space on my small operating desk and be much smaller and lighter to pack than a laptop when I travel with my K2... and I wouldn't have to negotiate with my wife over who gets to use the computer and when.

A hardware front panel extension could be very simple - say a 4X4 array of pushbuttons and associated LEDs - that could be done in a space just slightly wider that the dimensions of the push buttons on the right side of the K2 front panel. With 16 push buttons, 8 of them could be used for the xtal and AF/DSP filters, one for power on/off, 3 for tuning rate, one for clock, one for ANT tune and one for some other function. With a 4X5 array of buttons, there are even more possibilities, all within dimensions that are probably less than half of the K2 front panel width and probably about 1" deep. It could probably be designed to run off of an internal battery (for use when the K2 is running on it's internal battery) or from an external power source.

Question for everyone: If there would be a small hardware front panel extension with say 16 or 20 pushbuttons and LEDs (either associated with the buttons or for independent functions), what functions would you most want?

73

Bob W1SRB

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email]
[mailto:[hidden email]]On Behalf Of Don Wilhelm
Sent: Monday, August 28, 2006 7:14 PM
To: Lemkes; [hidden email]
Subject: RE: [Elecraft] K2 Front Panel Extension

I already have a K2 Front Panel extension quite similar to what you are
discussing (Control through the KIO2). It is called Ham Radio Deluxe! And
it is as big as my computer screen or whatever I size it to. About the only
thing it can't do is adjust the AF Gain and the RF Gain. Besides that, it
is customizable so I can put the buttons in most any pattern that suits me.
And best of all it is free, a lobor of love by a very generous and talented
ham. It can also make many other brand transceivers have the same controls
as the K2.

Thanks Simon.

but most of the time, I end up using the original panel and find it
sufficient.

73,
Don W3FPR

Darwin, Keith

RE: K2 Front Panel Extension

Well, that's a good question. Here's my initial list:
Xfil 1
Xfil 2
Xfil 3
Xfil 4
USB
LSB
CW
VFO Speed 1
VFO Speed 2
VFO Speed 3
AGC_F
AGC_S
AGC_0
Atten
PreAmp

... But it doesn't end there because I want more than just buttons. I
also want knobs:

VFO (larger knob mainly)
SideTone Vol (and a ST_Vol on/off switch to go with the pot)

... And, the most import part

Analog S-meter showing RX S-units & TX output (or ALC)

I'm not sure all of this is available or workable via. RS-232. I do
agree that a dedicated front panel would be far better than SW on a PC
because I don't want to be tied to a PC either in the shack or esp. on
the road.

- Keith KD1E -
- K2 5411 -

-----Original Message-----
From: Robert B (Bob)
Question for everyone: If there would be a small hardware front
panel extension with say 16 or 20 pushbuttons and LEDs (either
associated with the buttons or for independent functions), what
functions would you most want?

73

Bob W1SRB
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Ken Alexander-2

RE: K2 Front Panel Extension

In reply to this post by Solosko, Robert B (Bob)-2

--- "Solosko, Robert B (Bob)" <[hidden email]>
wrote:
> Question for everyone: If there would be a small
> hardware front panel extension with say 16 or 20
> pushbuttons and LEDs (either associated with the
> buttons or for independent functions), what
> functions would you most want?

I guess the simple answer would be: whatever
functions aren't currently accessible with a single
button-press. I've often thought of trying to do
something like this for my AOR AR-7030 receiver, which
has a rather extensive menu system that you access
with only a few buttons. It would be nice to have
everything accessible with its own dedicated button.

Seems to me that this could be easily implemented with
a small keypad and something like a Basic Stamp to
read the button presses and create the appropriate
serial output that the K2 would read.

73,

Ken Alexander
VE3HLS
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Vic K2VCO

Re: K2 Front Panel Extension

In reply to this post by Solosko, Robert B (Bob)-2

Solosko, Robert B (Bob) wrote:

> The ability of software such as HRD to control a K2 is what gave me
> the idea for a hardware front panel extension that would interface
> through a KIO2.

Both a software 'panel' such as HRD or N4PY or a hardware extension
communicating via the KIO2 have one big problem: they are too sluggish
to provide the kind of response that I want from the controls. This is
probably in part because the interface has to wait for the
microprocessor, but there are other factors that slow things down if you
want to do more than just replace the buttons on the K2 with remote ones.

For example, N4PY allows you to set up each VFO with a different
bandwidth; a nice feature for DX pileups, but impossibly slow for that
purpose since it requires the simulation of several button presses.

Elecraft designed the computer interface for maximum compatibility with
existing software (it's a superset of the Kenwood command set). The
K2's microprocessor is very heavily loaded and one of the things that
impresses me is that Wayne managed to get the K2 to work so smoothly
despite this! However, the computer interface is not a high-performance
one.
--
73,
Vic, K2VCO
Fresno CA
http://www.qsl.net/k2vco
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Darrell Bellerive

Re: K2 Front Panel Extension

In reply to this post by Solosko, Robert B (Bob)-2

Think soft keys. Not physically soft, but user programmable. If you placed
keys next to an LCD display the user could assign the key function from a
menu of choices. The function name appears next to the button on the LCD. One
could even change the name of the function for different languages etc.

And we need big well spaced keys with good solid feedback like the old HP
calculators. And rotary switches for mode and bandwidth, etc. And an analog
S-meter, and big well spaced knobs for AF gain, etc. and ...

Since finding a consensus for a new front panel or panel extension will be
virtually impossible, how about an interface board that will allow each user
to build their own front panel? Build your own front panel with the switches,
knobs, meters, and layout you prefer and simply connect them with wires to
the interface board.

Darrell VA7TO K2#5093

On August 29, 2006 06:56 am, Solosko, Robert B (Bob) wrote:
> Question for everyone: If there would be a small hardware front panel
> extension with say 16 or 20 pushbuttons and LEDs (either associated with
> the buttons or for independent functions), what functions would you most
> want?
>

--
Darrell Bellerive
Amateur Radio Stations VA7TO and VE7CLA
Grand Forks, British Columbia, Canada
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srife

RE: K2 Front Panel Extension

In reply to this post by Solosko, Robert B (Bob)-2

Would it be possible to just remote the front panel of the K2? I
want to run mine mobile, but do not have the room in the front of the
vehicle for the full size of the radio.

Stan Rife
W5EWA
Houston, TX
K2 S/N 4216

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email]
[mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Solosko, Robert B
(Bob)
Sent: Tuesday, August 29, 2006 8:56 AM
To: '[hidden email]'; Lemkes; [hidden email]
Subject: RE: [Elecraft] K2 Front Panel Extension

Hi Don and everyone else,

The ability of software such as HRD to control a K2 is what gave me
the idea for a hardware front panel extension that would interface through a
KIO2. While a hardware front panel extension wouldn't have all of the
capabilities and flexibility of HRD, the goal would be to have better and
easier control over the K2 in a very small box that would take up much less
space on my small operating desk and be much smaller and lighter to pack
than a laptop when I travel with my K2... and I wouldn't have to negotiate
with my wife over who gets to use the computer and when.

A hardware front panel extension could be very simple - say a 4X4
array of pushbuttons and associated LEDs - that could be done in a space
just slightly wider that the dimensions of the push buttons on the right
side of the K2 front panel. With 16 push buttons, 8 of them could be used
for the xtal and AF/DSP filters, one for power on/off, 3 for tuning rate,
one for clock, one for ANT tune and one for some other function. With a 4X5
array of buttons, there are even more possibilities, all within dimensions
that are probably less than half of the K2 front panel width and probably
about 1" deep. It could probably be designed to run off of an internal
battery (for use when the K2 is running on it's internal battery) or from an
external power source.

Question for everyone: If there would be a small hardware front
panel extension with say 16 or 20 pushbuttons and LEDs (either associated
with the buttons or for independent functions), what functions would you
most want?

73

Bob W1SRB

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email]
[mailto:[hidden email]]On Behalf Of Don Wilhelm
Sent: Monday, August 28, 2006 7:14 PM
To: Lemkes; [hidden email]
Subject: RE: [Elecraft] K2 Front Panel Extension

I already have a K2 Front Panel extension quite similar to what you are
discussing (Control through the KIO2). It is called Ham Radio Deluxe! And
it is as big as my computer screen or whatever I size it to. About the only
thing it can't do is adjust the AF Gain and the RF Gain. Besides that, it
is customizable so I can put the buttons in most any pattern that suits me.
And best of all it is free, a lobor of love by a very generous and talented
ham. It can also make many other brand transceivers have the same controls
as the K2.

Thanks Simon.

but most of the time, I end up using the original panel and find it
sufficient.

73,
Don W3FPR

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Steven Pituch

RE: K2 Front Panel Extension

Stan,
Go to the last photo at the bottom of this page:
http://www.elecraft.com/PictureGallery/old_pics3.htm
It shows how Andy Meng did it on a bicycle.

Steve, W2MY

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email]
[mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Stan Rife

Would it be possible to just remote the front panel of the K2? I
want to run mine mobile, but do not have the room in the front of the
vehicle for the full size of the radio.

Stan Rife
W5EWA

--
No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.1.405 / Virus Database: 268.11.6/430 - Release Date: 8/28/2006

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srife

RE: K2 Front Panel Extension

I saw that a couple of years ago. I had thought about just some kind
of extention cable, but not sure what kind of interference would be picked
up. Would have to make a dust cover/rf shield for the back of the front
panel, and the front of the K2.

I was hoping someone had experimented with that recently that could
give me some insight.

Stan Rife
W5EWA
Houston, TX
K2 S/N 4216

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email]
[mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Steven Pituch
Sent: Tuesday, August 29, 2006 8:07 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: RE: [Elecraft] K2 Front Panel Extension

Stan,
Go to the last photo at the bottom of this page:
http://www.elecraft.com/PictureGallery/old_pics3.htm
It shows how Andy Meng did it on a bicycle.

Steve, W2MY

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email]
[mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Stan Rife

Would it be possible to just remote the front panel of the K2? I
want to run mine mobile, but do not have the room in the front of the
vehicle for the full size of the radio.

Stan Rife
W5EWA

--
No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.1.405 / Virus Database: 268.11.6/430 - Release Date: 8/28/2006

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