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K3/0 and KPA500

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hb9trt

K3/0 and KPA500

Hi

I try to connect the KPA500 with the Y-cable to the K3/100 (local) and would like to use it with the K3/0 (remote). This seems to work now, after some initial issue. But is it possible to switch the KPA500 from Operate to Standy and vice versa over the K3/100 or K3/0 (more important). Maybe with a micro on PF1 or something like that.
Is it also possible to switch the KPA500 on and off like the K3/0 which starts the K3/100 through the rigset?

I don't use the PA for every QSO, mostly not, but I have to decide in my Shack if I use the KPA500 allways or not.

vy 73
Reto

Brandon Hansen [KG6YPI]

Re: K3/0 and KPA500

Hello Reto,

It is possible to control the KPA500 while using the K3-Remote. A
MACRO for PF1 to power On/Off the amplifier can also be set. This setup
requires a custom cable to go from the K3 to the KPA500, along with
still connecting to the RemoteRig. You can find the information on
remote control of the KPA500 on Page 15 of our K3-Remote Owner's Manual.

K3-Remote Official Page
http://www.elecraft.com/K3-Remote/k3_remote.htm

K3-Remote Owner's Manual
http://www.elecraft.com/manual/K3_Remote_Owner_Manual_Rev_A.pdf

I hope this information help.

--
73,
Brandon Hansen, KG6YPI
831-763-4211 (x168)
K3-Remote Support
Elecraft

On 7/18/2012 4:22 AM, hb9trt wrote:

> Hi
>
> I try to connect the KPA500 with the Y-cable to the K3/100 (local) and would
> like to use it with the K3/0 (remote). This seems to work now, after some
> initial issue. But is it possible to switch the KPA500 from Operate to
> Standy and vice versa over the K3/100 or K3/0 (more important). Maybe with a
> micro on PF1 or something like that.
> Is it also possible to switch the KPA500 on and off like the K3/0 which
> starts the K3/100 through the rigset?
>
> I don't use the PA for every QSO, mostly not, but I have to decide in my
> Shack if I use the KPA500 allways or not.
>
> vy 73
> Reto
>
> --
> View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/K3-0-and-KPA500-tp7559361.html
> Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
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>
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Doug Joyce

Re: K3/0 and KPA500

In reply to this post by hb9trt

Hi Reto: I have been working on a K3/0 to a K3/100 + KPA500 system with a
friend of mine and have an alternative suggestion for remote control of the
KPA500 that may work for you.

Recall that the K3-Remote Owner's Manual Rev A, pg 15, has a section
"Controlling a Remote KPA500 from the Local Site"; however, it requires
modification of the K3 to KPA500 Cable and also impacts use of the PR6
preamp - all as discussed in the email from Brandon KG6YPI this morning..

Since I have a Dell D830 Notebook in the "Local" shack for control of the
RemoteRig RRC1258 units and for rotor and remote switching / control using
the MicroBit 1216 H and L units, I also use that Notebook computer for (a)
running RTTY (FSK) Tx mode (more about Rx later) using MMTTY and also (b)
for remote control & monitoring of the KPA500 using the KPA500 Util. Note
that when the Program mode 14 = K3 Twin is set in the Radio Settings of the
Control and Radio RRC (see pg 43 - 45 of the RRC User Manual, Rev A25),
then Com1 is available as a transparent serial channel between the Control
RRC and the Radio RRC over the internet (see pg 49). I use this Com1
channel for the KPA500 Util and get full functional control of the KPA500.
The problem in getting it to work was resolved (by Brendon at Elecraft) with
the addition of a null modem adapter in the serial line between the Com1
connector on the Radio RRC and the RS232 (PC) connector on the KPA500. You
also need to set the Com1 Serial settings to Mode-3 and the baud rate to
38400 on both the Control and Radio RRC's. Also in the Control RRC, if you
are going to use the USB port for RTTY, as I did, then you will want to set
the "Use USB Com Port as COM1" to NO.

For dual RTTY Rx, since the K3/100 includes the SubRx, I route both Main
and SubRx audio from the Control RRC Speaker (SP) to the AF Line input on an
old IBM PIII-600 (running two instances of MMTTY) through a pair of Timewave
DSP-9+ units. (I used the 2nd computer since the Dell notebook didn't have
dual channel Line input and the DSP-9+ units provide separate adjustable
speaker output for monitoring purposes.)

I have wiring block diagrams - if any one is interested just send me an
email to [hidden email]

Hope you find this useful.

73, Doug Joyce VE3MV

----- Original Message -----
From: "hb9trt" <[hidden email]>
To: <[hidden email]>
Sent: Wednesday, July 18, 2012 7:22 AM
Subject: [Elecraft] K3/0 and KPA500

> Hi
>
> I try to connect the KPA500 with the Y-cable to the K3/100 (local) and
> would
> like to use it with the K3/0 (remote). This seems to work now, after some
> initial issue. But is it possible to switch the KPA500 from Operate to
> Standy and vice versa over the K3/100 or K3/0 (more important). Maybe with
> a
> micro on PF1 or something like that.
> Is it also possible to switch the KPA500 on and off like the K3/0 which
> starts the K3/100 through the rigset?
>
> I don't use the PA for every QSO, mostly not, but I have to decide in my
> Shack if I use the KPA500 allways or not.
>
> vy 73
> Reto
>
> --
> View this message in context:
> http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/K3-0-and-KPA500-tp7559361.html
> Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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
>

hb9trt

Re: K3/0 and KPA500

Hi Brandon,

Thank you very much for the information. Now I had a look to the manual and the pinout of ACC (K3) and AUX1 KPA500. So I'll built a custom cable (8 wires should be enough) between this connectors instead of the original cable I got from elecraft. So It could work with the macro. I must find first 2 connectors, I haven't any here. But maybe I take a VGA cable and make some modifications.

If it works I'll give a note here.

vy 73
Reto

hb9trt

Re: K3/0 and KPA500

Hi Doug

Thanks for the alternate solution to control the KPA with a remote computer. So if I understand this right, the rig set devices supports transparent RS232 communication through the internet on the COM1 interface?
This sounds also very interesting for office use, where a computer is on the table :-)

Is a nullmodem cable necessary between the KPA500 RS232 and COM1 on the rig set device? On the other side (Remote) I think a regular serial cable is used or a serial to USB adapter.

vy 73
Reto/hb9trt

Doug Joyce

Re: K3/0 and KPA500

Hi Reto: a couple of points

1. No computer is necessary at the Remote / Radio site where the K3/100 and
KPA500 are located. Only need one at the Control / Local site (where most
hams would have one anyway).

2. A regular serial cable is used at the Conrol / Local site between the
Control RRC Com1 and the related Serial port on the local Computer. However
a null modem cable is needed at the Remote / Radio site between the Radio
RRC Com1 and the KPA500 RS232(PC) connector.

73, Doug VE3MV

----- Original Message -----
From: "hb9trt" <[hidden email]>
To: <[hidden email]>
Sent: Wednesday, July 18, 2012 2:01 PM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3/0 and KPA500

> Hi Doug
>
> Thanks for the alternate solution to control the KPA with a remote
> computer.
> So if I understand this right, the rig set devices supports transparent
> RS232 communication through the internet on the COM1 interface?
> This sounds also very interesting for office use, where a computer is on
> the
> table :-)
>
> Is a nullmodem cable necessary between the KPA500 RS232 and COM1 on the
> rig
> set device? On the other side (Remote) I think a regular serial cable is
> used or a serial to USB adapter.
>
> vy 73
> Reto/hb9trt
>
> --
> View this message in context:
> http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/K3-0-and-KPA500-tp7559361p7559385.html
> Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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
>

hb9trt

Re: K3/0 and KPA500

Hi Doug

Ok, so I have 2 possibilities to control the KPA500. The one with the macro is much more smart, because the serial port is free for future options as it was told here in this thread. So maybe a rotator will be come in future, but today only a wire antenna is active.

TGhe next problem will be if the KAT500 tuner is availlable. Maybe this tuner could be controled directly by the K3 and so no further action is necessary. I don't know. I'll order it, but I think it takes some time with it. Elecraft have some deleivery troubels in the last time (especialy KX3, which I ordered last year and got 1 week ago :-)) So I expect that also the KX3 production may delay the KAT500.

Today I'll get some connectors to make the cable. I think in a few hours I can tell more about success or not.

Thanks for your answers which helps me to solve the problem.

vy 73
Reto/hb9trt

hb9trt

Re: K3/0 and KPA500

In reply to this post by Brandon Hansen [KG6YPI]

Hi Brandon,

Today I build this custom cable and make the aditional connection between pin 11 (k3) and pin 8 (KPA500). Now it works with the makro I got. Until now it works every time without any issue.

I also see that only big failures which switches the KPA500 to standby (example: hi swr). It I "overdrive" the KPA500 no status will be posted to the K3. But this is ok.

In the meantime I made some nice qso's and it works as I'm at home. Very good remote system with the K3. I'm sure there will be many others how get lucky with it.

vy 73
Reto/hb9trt
(with k3/0 #0055)