K3 & KRC2
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Is the functionality of the KRC2 built into the K3, or is it still
necessary for interfacing to amplifiers and antennas? - 73. John. WØJFR _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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Hi John,
Both! The K3 works with the KRC2 for controlling complex antenna or transverter switching. But it also provides amplifier control signals, as well as 4 open-drain band-data outputs. These are discussed in the Owner's manual, in the "Rear Panel" section. Normally the band-data signals output a 4-bit binary code that works with 3rd-party band decoders, and/or transverter addresses that you select on a per-transverter basis. But we could also allow these to be used as 4 general-purpose, active-low relay enables for small relays, or as signals you could derive relay drive from. The could be mapped per-band using a PC utility. This would require additional firmware that we haven't written, pending a survey of how operators would like to use them. 73, Wayne N6KR On Oct 24, 2007, at 4:29 AM, John Reilly wrote: > Is the functionality of the KRC2 built into the K3, or is it still > necessary for interfacing to amplifiers and antennas? > - 73. John. WØJFR --- http://www.elecraft.com _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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The KRC2 actually has far more capabilities for controlling external
devices than the K3. The KRC2 has 16 individual high current, high voltage sourcing drivers and 16 high current sinking drivers. These are commonly used to control antenna selection relays (the sourcing drivers) and bandpass filters (sinking drivers), but also may be used for switching a wide array of devices. The outputs can be controlled from a wide array of triggers, not just band selection. This gives the KRC2 capabilities far beyond any other selector on the market, and far more than the K3 gives. The good news is that the K3 can directly control the KRC2, so the two can work together quite nicely. On Oct 23, 2007, at 6:26 AM, wayne burdick wrote: > Hi John, > > Both! > > The K3 works with the KRC2 for controlling complex antenna or > transverter switching. But it also provides amplifier control > signals, as well as 4 open-drain band-data outputs. These are > discussed in the Owner's manual, in the "Rear Panel" section. > > Normally the band-data signals output a 4-bit binary code that > works with 3rd-party band decoders, and/or transverter addresses > that you select on a per-transverter basis. But we could also allow > these to be used as 4 general-purpose, active-low relay enables for > small relays, or as signals you could derive relay drive from. The > could be mapped per-band using a PC utility. This would require > additional firmware that we haven't written, pending a survey of > how operators would like to use them. > > 73, > Wayne > N6KR > > On Oct 24, 2007, at 4:29 AM, John Reilly wrote: > >> Is the functionality of the KRC2 built into the K3, or is it still >> necessary for interfacing to amplifiers and antennas? >> - 73. John. WØJFR > > --- > > http://www.elecraft.com > > _______________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Post to: [hidden email] > You must be a subscriber to post to the list. > Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): > http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm > Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com - Jack Brindle, W6FB ------------------------------------------------------------------------ --------------------- _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
Re: K3 & KRC2
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In reply to this post by W0JFR
The KRC2 is usable with the K3, and provides a lot of capability,
however, you can also use simpler systems. There's BCD-encoded band data and you can get an antenna relay driver for about $20. that'll work with that- http://www.unifiedmicro.com/decoder.html. I'm planning to build a little circuit to take those BCD outputs and provide the ICOM band select voltage for my older ICOM amp. I'm starting the testing and calibration phase of the basic K3 assembly now, having started yesterday AM, and taking plenty of time out for other stuff, including nit-picking the manual. 73, doug Date: Wed, 24 Oct 2007 05:29:00 -0600 From: John Reilly <[hidden email]> Is the functionality of the KRC2 built into the K3, or is it still necessary for interfacing to amplifiers and antennas? - 73. John. WØJFR _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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In reply to this post by Jack Brindle
Please list what other triggers there are.
My wishlist for the KRC2 and K2: 1. Sense the Ant 1/2 switch on the K2, even when no Elecraft tuner is installed or connected, and sink or source outputs based on the state of this switch. 2. Sense the receive antenna menu option, even without the K160 module, and sink or source outputs based on the state of this menu option. 3. Allow the tune button on the K2, to lower power and the KRC2 to put out a tune signal to an external antenna tuner. 73, Darrell On Tuesday 23 October 2007 07:42, Jack Brindle wrote: >The outputs can be controlled > from a wide array of triggers, not just band selection. -- Darrell Bellerive Amateur Radio Stations VA7TO and VE7CLA Grand Forks, British Columbia, Canada _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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Darrell;
Nice suggestions. The best way to see what triggers the KRC2 can handle is to view the KIO2 command set. Whenever one of the parameters changes, and is reported out the serial port, the KRC2 picks it up, creating an internal event. The KRC2 personality will then determine whether that event does anything. The standard personality does just a few things (mostly just band changes), while the KRC2ACC personality makes use of most of the parameters. Note that for the KRC2 to see these events, it must be connected to the KRC2's serial IO and be set to use that data. See the KRC2 manual for jumper settings for serial mode. There are some problems inherent with a couple of the items you list involving availability of the information. For example, if the K2 control processor does not find a KAT-2 or KAT-100, it will not allow any further processing that requires those devices. Thus when you hit the ANT button on the front panel, it doesn't even try to communicate with the ATU, but simply puts up the LCD error message and goes on. Thus the KRC2 doesn't see anything that would tell it to do something. I believe the RXAnt selector behaves the same way, depending on the K160 module being present. However, if the 160 meter module is present, the RxAnt selector is a trigger for the KRC2, and it can make decisions based on RxAnt being switched on or off. The use of this trigger is not included in the standard KRC2 personality. As for the tune button, I don't believe it causes anything to be sent out on the serial port, which means the KRC2 cannot be triggered from it. This would be a great addition, but would require changes in the K2 program memory, something we probably won't be seeing for a while. It seems the engineer is a bit busy with other things at this time... ;-) If you have other suggestions or requests, give me a shout directly and we can discuss them. On Oct 24, 2007, at 1:37 PM, Darrell Bellerive wrote: > Please list what other triggers there are. > > My wishlist for the KRC2 and K2: > > 1. Sense the Ant 1/2 switch on the K2, even when no Elecraft tuner is > installed or connected, and sink or source outputs based on the > state of this > switch. > > 2. Sense the receive antenna menu option, even without the K160 > module, and > sink or source outputs based on the state of this menu option. > > 3. Allow the tune button on the K2, to lower power and the KRC2 to > put out a > tune signal to an external antenna tuner. > > 73, > Darrell > > > On Tuesday 23 October 2007 07:42, Jack Brindle wrote: >> The outputs can be controlled >> from a wide array of triggers, not just band selection. > -- > Darrell Bellerive > Amateur Radio Stations VA7TO and VE7CLA > Grand Forks, British Columbia, Canada > _______________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Post to: [hidden email] > You must be a subscriber to post to the list. > Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): > http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm > Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com - Jack Brindle, W6FB Elecraft Engineering ------------------------------------------------------------------------ --------------------- _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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In reply to this post by wayne burdick
Is there an easy way for the KRC2 and K3 to give an output for 6m? My problem - quite common I expect, is to switch antennas between HF and 6m. I bought a KRC2 and have just finished building it. However,I find there is not a 6m output. I suppose I could work on the NOT 6m principle and energise a relay based on it being any other band but that limits things a little.
It should be simple using the KRC2 configuration utility, but that has not yet heard of the 6m band. Mike
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Mike,
The coding for the K3 6 meter band is the same as the KRC2 60 meter band (and the KRC2 does not decode the 0000 combination used by the K3 for 60 meters). Connect the KRC2 to the K3 and verify that the /60 output goes to ground (check with ohmmeter) when the K3 selects 6 meters. I know this is the case for the K3 Band0 - Band3 ouputs, but I have not tried the KRC2 with the K3 yet - I am assuming that the AUXBUS settings are the same as the Band0-Band3 conditions, but then one knows about assumptions, it needs to be checked. 73. Don W3FPR AD6XY - Mike wrote: > Is there an easy way for the KRC2 and K3 to give an output for 6m? My problem > - quite common I expect, is to switch antennas between HF and 6m. I bought a > KRC2 and have just finished building it. However,I find there is not a 6m > output. I suppose I could work on the NOT 6m principle and energise a relay > based on it being any other band but that limits things a little. > > It should be simple using the KRC2 configuration utility, but that has not > yet heard of the 6m band. > > Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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