Elecraft › [K2]

K2 connection to Laptop

Classic

List

Threaded

4 messages Options

Ray G3XLG

K2 connection to Laptop

Hi Guys

When I recently bought my K2, it came with the KPA100 watt amplifier & the
separate KAT100 watt ATU. I was advised to connect the K2 RS232 interface
(the KIO2) to the antenna tuner using a made up serial cable the vendor gave
me & it all works fine.

I now want to connect the K2 to a laptop to use the N1MM contest logging
program etc.

Does anyone know how do I do this & also connect to the tuner - if that is
necessary? (Sorry to be so dumb folks, but just returned to radio after 25
year absence!)

Also, I do not have any additional screened serial cable and my laptop
doesn't have a serial port anyway so am I right in thinking Elekraft can
supply additional cable with a USB/serial converter (the KUSB)?

73

Ray G3XLG

______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

Ray G3XLG

Don Wilhelm-4

Re: K2 connection to Laptop

Ray,

Take a look at the cable shown in the KAT100 manual. Yes, you can
expand the existing cable to include a serial port connection. Yes, if
you do not have a serial port on your computer, you will have to use an
RS-232 to serial adapter cable. Try to get an adapter which uses the
FTDI chipset. The K2 baud rate is 4800 and many adapters do not like to
run that slow. You may have to try several adapters before you find one
that works without problems.

The only part of that cable that is RS-232 is the part that connects to
the computer. Use ONLY the cable connections specified in the manual.
You can damage your K2 if you try anything else.

Think of the connector on the KPA100 exactly as it is marked - it is
labeled AUX I/O - there are only 2 RS-232 level signal lines in it, the
rest can be damage your K2 if subjected to RS-232 levels.
Unfortunately, the PC world has created a mindset that a DE-9 connector
is an RS-232 port, and nothing could be further from the truth - that 9
pin connector is just a connector, and can contain any kind of signals.

Build the special cable shown in the KAT100 manual and all will be
well. As far as I know, there is no assembled cable available from any
source.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 5/17/2011 4:30 AM, Ray Spreadbury wrote:

> Hi Guys
>
>
>
> When I recently bought my K2, it came with the KPA100 watt amplifier& the
> separate KAT100 watt ATU. I was advised to connect the K2 RS232 interface
> (the KIO2) to the antenna tuner using a made up serial cable the vendor gave
> me& it all works fine.
>
>
>
> I now want to connect the K2 to a laptop to use the N1MM contest logging
> program etc.
>
>
>
> Does anyone know how do I do this& also connect to the tuner - if that is
> necessary? (Sorry to be so dumb folks, but just returned to radio after 25
> year absence!)
>
>
>
> Also, I do not have any additional screened serial cable and my laptop
> doesn't have a serial port anyway so am I right in thinking Elekraft can
> supply additional cable with a USB/serial converter (the KUSB)?
>
>
>

______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

Ray G3XLG

Re: K2 connection to Laptop

Good Morning Don

OK I've found the full cable instructions in the KAT100 manual thank you, I
was looking in the K2 manual & didn't find it!

However, there appears to be a USB/RS-232 cable available from Elecraft i.e.
the KUSB. You'll find it in the Elecraft price list page on the website
under the K2 section described as a USB adaptor for the KIO2 or the KPA100,
now with an FTDI chipset. It's also referred to in the K3 section under K3
Utilities & Drivers and I quote "The K3 uses a standard RS232 port
implemented via a female DB9 for interfacing to external devices and
programs. If your computer has a standard serial port, all you will need is
a straight through serial cable with a male DB9 on one end and the proper
connector (usually a female DB9 or DB25) on the other end to plug into your
computer's serial port and you are all set. Most modern computers no longer
have serial ports but instead use USB (Universal Serial Bus) ports for
connecting to external devices. Elecraft provides the KUSB - USB to Serial
adapter to connect the K3 to these computers"

So, thanks for your help once again (!) Don, I think I'll talk to Elecraft
later today & see if it will do the trick for me, failing that I'll have to
get some shielded cable from them & make up the cable & plugs as they
suggest in the KAT100 manual

Regards
Ray G3XLG

-----Original Message-----
From: Don Wilhelm [mailto:[hidden email]]
Sent: 17 May 2011 13:32
To: Ray Spreadbury
Cc: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K2 connection to Laptop

Ray,

Take a look at the cable shown in the KAT100 manual. Yes, you can
expand the existing cable to include a serial port connection. Yes, if
you do not have a serial port on your computer, you will have to use an
RS-232 to serial adapter cable. Try to get an adapter which uses the
FTDI chipset. The K2 baud rate is 4800 and many adapters do not like to
run that slow. You may have to try several adapters before you find one
that works without problems.

The only part of that cable that is RS-232 is the part that connects to
the computer. Use ONLY the cable connections specified in the manual.
You can damage your K2 if you try anything else.

Think of the connector on the KPA100 exactly as it is marked - it is
labeled AUX I/O - there are only 2 RS-232 level signal lines in it, the
rest can be damage your K2 if subjected to RS-232 levels.
Unfortunately, the PC world has created a mindset that a DE-9 connector
is an RS-232 port, and nothing could be further from the truth - that 9
pin connector is just a connector, and can contain any kind of signals.

Build the special cable shown in the KAT100 manual and all will be
well. As far as I know, there is no assembled cable available from any
source.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 5/17/2011 4:30 AM, Ray Spreadbury wrote:
> Hi Guys
>
>
>
> When I recently bought my K2, it came with the KPA100 watt amplifier& the
> separate KAT100 watt ATU. I was advised to connect the K2 RS232 interface
> (the KIO2) to the antenna tuner using a made up serial cable the vendor
gave

> me& it all works fine.
>
>
>
> I now want to connect the K2 to a laptop to use the N1MM contest logging
> program etc.
>
>
>
> Does anyone know how do I do this& also connect to the tuner - if that is
> necessary? (Sorry to be so dumb folks, but just returned to radio after 25
> year absence!)
>
>
>
> Also, I do not have any additional screened serial cable and my laptop
> doesn't have a serial port anyway so am I right in thinking Elekraft can
> supply additional cable with a USB/serial converter (the KUSB)?
>
>
>

Ray G3XLG

Don Wilhelm-4

Re: K2 connection to Laptop

Ray,

Yes, Elecraft does have the KUSB USB to RS-232 cable available.

Do NOT plug that cable directly into the K2. You must use the cable
described in the KAT2 manual - connect the USB to serial adapter to the
PC end of the special cable.

The instructions on the website are for the K3 which has a dedicated
RS-232 port.

You should note that only TXD, RXD, and Signal Ground are connected in
that special cable. Other signals on the AUX I/O connector are internal
K2 signals needed by the KAT100 (and other external Elecraft devices
such as the KRC2 or the XV series transverters.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 5/17/2011 9:19 AM, Ray Spreadbury wrote:

> Good Morning Don
>
> OK I've found the full cable instructions in the KAT100 manual thank you, I
> was looking in the K2 manual& didn't find it!
>
> However, there appears to be a USB/RS-232 cable available from Elecraft i.e.
> the KUSB. You'll find it in the Elecraft price list page on the website
> under the K2 section described as a USB adaptor for the KIO2 or the KPA100,
> now with an FTDI chipset. It's also referred to in the K3 section under K3
> Utilities& Drivers and I quote "The K3 uses a standard RS232 port
> implemented via a female DB9 for interfacing to external devices and
> programs. If your computer has a standard serial port, all you will need is
> a straight through serial cable with a male DB9 on one end and the proper
> connector (usually a female DB9 or DB25) on the other end to plug into your
> computer's serial port and you are all set. Most modern computers no longer
> have serial ports but instead use USB (Universal Serial Bus) ports for
> connecting to external devices. Elecraft provides the KUSB - USB to Serial
> adapter to connect the K3 to these computers"
>
> So, thanks for your help once again (!) Don, I think I'll talk to Elecraft
> later today& see if it will do the trick for me, failing that I'll have to
> get some shielded cable from them& make up the cable& plugs as they
> suggest in the KAT100 manual
>
> Regards
> Ray G3XLG
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Don Wilhelm [mailto:[hidden email]]
> Sent: 17 May 2011 13:32
> To: Ray Spreadbury
> Cc: [hidden email]
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K2 connection to Laptop
>
> Ray,
>
> Take a look at the cable shown in the KAT100 manual. Yes, you can
> expand the existing cable to include a serial port connection. Yes, if
> you do not have a serial port on your computer, you will have to use an
> RS-232 to serial adapter cable. Try to get an adapter which uses the
> FTDI chipset. The K2 baud rate is 4800 and many adapters do not like to
> run that slow. You may have to try several adapters before you find one
> that works without problems.
>
> The only part of that cable that is RS-232 is the part that connects to
> the computer. Use ONLY the cable connections specified in the manual.
> You can damage your K2 if you try anything else.
>
> Think of the connector on the KPA100 exactly as it is marked - it is
> labeled AUX I/O - there are only 2 RS-232 level signal lines in it, the
> rest can be damage your K2 if subjected to RS-232 levels.
> Unfortunately, the PC world has created a mindset that a DE-9 connector
> is an RS-232 port, and nothing could be further from the truth - that 9
> pin connector is just a connector, and can contain any kind of signals.
>
> Build the special cable shown in the KAT100 manual and all will be
> well. As far as I know, there is no assembled cable available from any
> source.
>
> 73,
> Don W3FPR
>
> On 5/17/2011 4:30 AM, Ray Spreadbury wrote:
>> Hi Guys
>>
>>
>>
>> When I recently bought my K2, it came with the KPA100 watt amplifier& the
>> separate KAT100 watt ATU. I was advised to connect the K2 RS232 interface
>> (the KIO2) to the antenna tuner using a made up serial cable the vendor
> gave
>> me& it all works fine.
>>
>>
>>
>> I now want to connect the K2 to a laptop to use the N1MM contest logging
>> program etc.
>>
>>
>>
>> Does anyone know how do I do this& also connect to the tuner - if that is
>> necessary? (Sorry to be so dumb folks, but just returned to radio after 25
>> year absence!)
>>
>>
>>
>> Also, I do not have any additional screened serial cable and my laptop
>> doesn't have a serial port anyway so am I right in thinking Elekraft can
>> supply additional cable with a USB/serial converter (the KUSB)?
>>
>>
>>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>