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K3/0 Mini

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Michael Marx

K3/0 Mini

Hi all

So I have a K3/0 Mini with the remoterig setup. My station is a K3, P3, KAT500 and KPA500. I want to be able to keep it all hooked up while installing the remoterig system. Is it possible to do this? It looks like I need to disconnect the ACC CABLE going to the KPA500 along with the RS232 line so the remoterig can be used. That pretty much disables the rest of the station. Am I missing something? I sure don’t want to disconnect half of my station everytime I want to use remote. I’d sure like any pointers on hooking this all up without disabling my station every time I want togo remote. Any help is sure appreciated

73 Mike WB0SND

Michael Marx
www.vacuumtubes.com
636-939-9190
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kb2mjeff

Re: K3/0 Mini

Hi Mike. I sold my K0 setup a few months ago. It worked perfectly for years, but wanted to bring my K3 with me for the winter so I replaced it with a remote IC-7300. While up there for the summer I used to switch to remote mode when I went to the shore for the weekend, if I remember right there were three connections to change. The PTT from foot switch to the remoterig box, the audio from local speaker to remoterig box, and the serial connection to local PC to the remoterig box. This took about a minute to switch over. I f I wanted to use the AMP and tuner I had to leave a local PC on running TeamViewer.

73 Jeff kb2m

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email] <[hidden email]> On Behalf Of Michael C. Marx
Sent: Tuesday, December 24, 2019 1:22 AM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: [Elecraft] K3/0 Mini

Hi all

So I have a K3/0 Mini with the remoterig setup. My station is a K3, P3, KAT500 and KPA500. I want to be able to keep it all hooked up while installing the remoterig system. Is it possible to do this? It looks like I need to disconnect the ACC CABLE going to the KPA500 along with the RS232 line so the remoterig can be used. That pretty much disables the rest of the station. Am I missing something? I sure don’t want to disconnect half of my station everytime I want to use remote. I’d sure like any pointers on hooking this all up without disabling my station every time I want togo remote. Any help is sure appreciated

73 Mike WB0SND

Michael Marx
www.vacuumtubes.com
636-939-9190
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Jim Rhodes-2

Re: K3/0 Mini

The ACC cable can be connected through a simple Y cable (I think I bought
mine from Elecraft) so that the remoterig box can be left connected all the
time. Or you can buy a YBox, or build your own like I did before they were
available. As for the PTT, I put together a box with 6 parallel RCA jacks
for PTT on one side and 6 more on the other side for KEYOUT. (I have amps
for the 2 meter and 70 cm transverters.) The only other connection I need
to worry about is the serial cable. I updated the i/o boards to the new one
with the USB connection so that I can leave both the serial and USB cables
connected at all times. So no cable switching when I want to go remote. I
live in an apartment building, so my KPA500 is packed away in a box for the
time being.

On Tue, Dec 24, 2019, 07:03 <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Hi Mike. I sold my K0 setup a few months ago. It worked perfectly for
> years, but wanted to bring my K3 with me for the winter so I replaced it
> with a remote IC-7300. While up there for the summer I used to switch to
> remote mode when I went to the shore for the weekend, if I remember right
> there were three connections to change. The PTT from foot switch to the
> remoterig box, the audio from local speaker to remoterig box, and the
> serial connection to local PC to the remoterig box. This took about a
> minute to switch over. I f I wanted to use the AMP and tuner I had to leave
> a local PC on running TeamViewer.
>
> 73 Jeff kb2m
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: [hidden email] <[hidden email]>
> On Behalf Of Michael C. Marx
> Sent: Tuesday, December 24, 2019 1:22 AM
> To: [hidden email]
> Subject: [Elecraft] K3/0 Mini
>
> Hi all
>
> So I have a K3/0 Mini with the remoterig setup. My station is a K3, P3,
> KAT500 and KPA500. I want to be able to keep it all hooked up while
> installing the remoterig system. Is it possible to do this? It looks like
> I need to disconnect the ACC CABLE going to the KPA500 along with the RS232
> line so the remoterig can be used. That pretty much disables the rest of
> the station. Am I missing something? I sure don’t want to disconnect half
> of my station everytime I want to use remote. I’d sure like any pointers
> on hooking this all up without disabling my station every time I want togo
> remote. Any help is sure appreciated
>
> 73 Mike WB0SND
>
>
> Michael Marx
> www.vacuumtubes.com
> 636-939-9190
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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
> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
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> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
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Don Wilhelm

Re: K3/0 Mini

All 15 pin Y cables are not the same. You need to have all 15 pins
connected from end to end. VGA cables will NOT work.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 12/24/2019 9:22 AM, Jim Rhodes wrote:

> The ACC cable can be connected through a simple Y cable (I think I bought
> mine from Elecraft) so that the remoterig box can be left connected all the
> time. Or you can buy a YBox, or build your own like I did before they were
> available. As for the PTT, I put together a box with 6 parallel RCA jacks
> for PTT on one side and 6 more on the other side for KEYOUT. (I have amps
> for the 2 meter and 70 cm transverters.) The only other connection I need
> to worry about is the serial cable. I updated the i/o boards to the new one
> with the USB connection so that I can leave both the serial and USB cables
> connected at all times. So no cable switching when I want to go remote. I
> live in an apartment building, so my KPA500 is packed away in a box for the
> time being.
>

Jim Rhodes-2

Re: K3/0 Mini

That's why I got mine from Elecraft.

On Tue, Dec 24, 2019 at 9:05 AM Don Wilhelm <[hidden email]> wrote:

> All 15 pin Y cables are not the same. You need to have all 15 pins
> connected from end to end. VGA cables will NOT work.
>
> 73,
> Don W3FPR
>
> On 12/24/2019 9:22 AM, Jim Rhodes wrote:
> > The ACC cable can be connected through a simple Y cable (I think I bought
> > mine from Elecraft) so that the remoterig box can be left connected all
> the
> > time. Or you can buy a YBox, or build your own like I did before they
> were
> > available. As for the PTT, I put together a box with 6 parallel RCA
> jacks
> > for PTT on one side and 6 more on the other side for KEYOUT. (I have amps
> > for the 2 meter and 70 cm transverters.) The only other connection I need
> > to worry about is the serial cable. I updated the i/o boards to the new
> one
> > with the USB connection so that I can leave both the serial and USB
> cables
> > connected at all times. So no cable switching when I want to go remote. I
> > live in an apartment building, so my KPA500 is packed away in a box for
> the
> > time being.
> >
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
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>
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> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>

--
Jim K0XU
[hidden email]
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Elecraft mailing list

Re: K3/0 Mini

In reply to this post by Michael Marx

Mike:

> On Dec 24, 2019, at 12:22 AM, Michael C. Marx <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> Hi all
>
> So I have a K3/0 Mini with the remoterig setup. My station is a K3, P3, KAT500 and KPA500. I want to be able to keep it all hooked up while installing the remoterig system. Is it possible to do this? It looks like I need to disconnect the ACC CABLE going to the KPA500 along with the RS232 line so the remoterig can be used. That pretty much disables the rest of the station. Am I missing something? I sure don’t want to disconnect half of my station everytime I want to use remote. I’d sure like any pointers on hooking this all up without disabling my station every time I want togo remote. Any help is sure appreciated

I know that others have responded to your query, but allow me to make some additional points.

1. I presume that you purchased the remoterig from Elecraft and that you have the RemoteRig cables from Elecraft to connect the remoterig not only to the K3/0-mini but the remote rig to the K3. These cables provide the critical interconnects needed for the K3/0-mini to function properly. The K3/0-mini manual does a nice job of explaining how to make the proper connections.

2. I use a y-adapter to connect the remoterig PTT cable to the PTT port of the K3 so that the PTT switch I use at the K3 will still function. There is no problem having both PTTs connected at the same time. This will allow the K3 go to into transmit by command of the remoterig or by the handswitch at the shack.

3. I use a stereo y-adapter to connect the Remoterig Audio cable to the Speaker port of the K3 so that audio will be fed to both outputs. This setup does cause my external speakers at the station to change volume when remote operating as it also provides audio to the Remoterig. In other words, the AF volume on the K3/0-mini will control both audio outputs. Since I’m not at the station when operating remote and no one is around, having the speakers active doesn’t bother anyone. If the K3 is located where audio might bother others, then either turn off the speakers (if they’re powered) or install a cutoff switch/unplug the speaker(s).

4. Keep in mind that the K3/0-mini controls what the K3 is doing as the K3/0-mini front panel is duplicating what the K3 is showing on its panel. That is, as you increase audio on the K3, it is also potentially increasing audio of speakers at the shack. If you set a parameter on the K3/0-mini, it is displaying what the K3 front panel is showing as that adjustment is made. One area to note is how microphone management is done. The Remoterig uses the rear mic connector of the K3. Thus, on the K3/0-mini, you must use the K3 Menu to set the mic source to the rear connector. If the mic connected to the K3/0-mini needs bias, you set that through the remoterig configuration. In other words, mic selection through the K3 menu has nothing to do with the mic input of the K3/0-mini itself; rather it determines the mic input used by the K3 itself. Both the 8-pin connector on the front panel of the K3/0-mini and the side Mic connector are active. Thus, mic selection using the K3/0-mini does determine whether the mic input is from the Remoterig (rear mic) or from the K3 itself (front mic).

5. Management of the KAT500 and KPA500 can be done several different ways. Clearly, basic operation of both units will work the same as before if the appropriate cable connections are installed as described in the Elecraft manuals. One can use a remote connection to a PC in the shack and use the Elecraft utilities. I prefer to manage the KPA500 with the Remoterig RC-1216H which provides a web-based display of the KPA500 front panel and is connected to the amplifier through a RS-232 connection. This allows me to manage the amplifier with any PC, Mac, iOS device, etc. I have port forwarding set up at the station so that I can access the RC-1216H directly. As the RS-232 connection is attached to the RC-1216H, I cannot use the KPA500 utility from the shack computer. However, I don’t see that as a problem.

The KAT500 can be managed using the PC in the shack and then remotely connecting to the shack computer to manage the KAT500 running on the shack computer. I manage the KAT500 one of two ways. I’ve installed a serial-to-ethernet converter (Lantronics) which allows me to directly connect to the KAT500 remotely and run the KAT500 utility on the PC where I am. Or, I can have the PC in the shack connect to that same serial-to-ethernet converter and run the KAT500 software on that machine. In this instance, I use VNC Connect to access the shack computer using any PC, Mac, iOS device, etc. Sidenote: If I didn’t have the RC-1216H, I’d probably be managing the KPA500 the same way.

6. Lastly, please keep in mind that if you’re intending to remotely operate from a significant distance from the shack, it is imperative that you test everything at the shack first. Setup the K3/0-mini and the Remoterig that goes with it on the LAN hosting the shack equipment and the Remoterig attached to the K3 and ensure that it works as intended. Ensure that you know that all connections are working as intended. With regard to cables going to to/from the Remoterig (both units), label each cable end. This will also ensure that you plug the correct cable into each socket the next time you setup at your remote location. At the station, having properly labeled cables will help keep track of what is plugged in where.

Over time and presuming that you intend to remote operatel extensively, you may also want to consider at some point how best to remotely manage equipment at the shack. This includes, but is not limited to remotely powering and controlling the antenna rotor, powering down and restarting equipment, remotely rebooting your modem/router/PCs, etc. In my case, I’m over 1,200 miles from my remote site. Over the years I’ve made numerous enhancements at the shack in an effort to reduce ’single point’ failures and improve reliability. Given that it may be a month or more between visits to the shack, I’ve learned that most of the effort to create a remote capability is not how to make the initial connections between amateur equipment, but setting up processes to reset/reboot/power on-off a myriad of devices that help the amateur experience but also be able to do some basic ‘reset’ of infrastructure remotely. A hung device (such as an Antenna Genius) is best resolved by powering it down and then powering it back up. And if you’re in a lightning prone area (such as South Georgia or Florida), being able to remotely disconnect coax connections (such as using a Paradan Antenna Disconnect) or even removing power from the K3 (e.g. shutdown the power supply) and other equipment may also be desired. In my case, I have the ability to remotely to power on/off the RRC-1226MKII at the shack, the KAT500, and the Power Supply that powers the K3.

Hope this helps,

Barry, WD4ASW
(Currently in Keller, TX)

>
> 73 Mike WB0SND
>
>
> Michael Marx
> www.vacuumtubes.com
> 636-939-9190
> ______________________________________________________________
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