K3: external VFO control

[Edward R Cole]

I guess this might be considered a subject covered by remote
operation of the K3, but I have a specific need to be able to control
VFO-A in my K3 from another sw program.

I am implementing MAP65 vs 2 which performs JT65 over a 90-KHz
bandspan decoding every JT65 signal in the 90-KHz window,
simultaneously.  MAP65 has the ability to also transmit JT65 on a
specific frequency (but that requires frequency control of the
radio).  MAP65 currently is built to control SoftRock, FUNcube,
SDR-IQ, IQ+. and WSE.  I will be writing Joe K1JT about adding the K3
to that list and he may need details on how to control the K3 VFO.

This application to the K3 is not just a benefit to me as there are
several K3 owners that utilize JT65 and would use MAP65, as well.  I
should explain that MAP65 is primarily designed for eme use on VHF
(this has no particular application to JT65HF).

73, Ed - KL7UW

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[N0AZZ]

I would be interested in that also if it were available.

73,
Fred/N0AZZ

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email]
[mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Edward R Cole
Sent: Wednesday, September 12, 2012 1:32 AM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: [Elecraft] K3: external VFO control

I guess this might be considered a subject covered by remote operation of
the K3, but I have a specific need to be able to control VFO-A in my K3 from
another sw program.

I am implementing MAP65 vs 2 which performs JT65 over a 90-KHz bandspan
decoding every JT65 signal in the 90-KHz window, simultaneously.  MAP65 has
the ability to also transmit JT65 on a specific frequency (but that requires
frequency control of the radio).  MAP65 currently is built to control
SoftRock, FUNcube, SDR-IQ, IQ+. and WSE.  I will be writing Joe K1JT about
adding the K3 to that list and he may need details on how to control the K3
VFO.

This application to the K3 is not just a benefit to me as there are several
K3 owners that utilize JT65 and would use MAP65, as well.  I should explain
that MAP65 is primarily designed for eme use on VHF (this has no particular
application to JT65HF).

73, Ed - KL7UW

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[Holger Schurig-2]

Controlling the VFO A (or B) is easy from software. Just refer the
Author to the K3 & KX3 Programmers Reference Manual.

http://www.elecraft.com/manual/K3&KX3%20Pgmrs%20Ref,%20E2.pdf

(PS: I'd wish Elecraft would stop using & and spaces in file names. &
is a nuisance on the Linux command line, because it normally sends
programs into the background ...  once can escape them, so it's not
really a harm, but still a nuisance. The same for spaces. Those %20
simply look ugly in URLs)


Okay, back to topic. Here's an excerpt from that document:

FA and FB (VFO A/B Frequency; GET/SET)

SET/RSP format:  FAxxxxxxxxxxx;  or  FBxxxxxxxxxxx;  where xxxxxxxxxxx
is the frequency in Hz. Example: FA00014060000;  sets VFO A to 14060
kHz. The Hz digit is ignored if the K3 is not in FINE mode (1-Hz
tuning; use SWT49). If the specified frequency is in a different
amateur band than the present one, the K3 will change to the new band,
and will automatically report the new values of parameters that may
have changed 7
. Notes: (1) Band changes typically take 0.5 seconds; all command
handling is deferred until this process is complete. (2) If the
specified frequency is over 30 MHz and is within a valid transverter
band (as specified by the operator using the K3's XVTR menu entries),
the K3 will switch to that transverter band. If the specified
frequency is outside the range of 500 kHz-30 MHz and 48-54 MHz, the K3
will switch to the amateur band closest to the requested one, and the
last-used VFO A and VFO B values for that band will be retrieved.
If the VFOs are linked (non-SPLIT), FA also sets VFO B to the same
frequency as VFO A.



So, basically the software sends  SWT49;   (note the semicolon) to the
K3, and whenever it needs a new VFO A frequency, it sends
FA00014060000; (again note the semicolon).

Simple, eh?


Holger, DH3HS
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[Greg Troxel]

  I guess this might be considered a subject covered by remote
  operation of the K3, but I have a specific need to be able to control
  VFO-A in my K3 from another sw program.

See the 'hamlib' library.
  http://sourceforge.net/apps/mediawiki/hamlib/index.php?title=Main_Page

It already has K3 support, and if it turns out something is missing, you
can add it and submit it back to the project.

(And I second the "spaces and ampersands in filenames are awkward".
It's almost like Unix people putting backslahes in filenames :-)

73 de n1dam
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