K3S K-line cabling
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I have upgraded my K3 with the KIO3B interface, so my PC is now connected via the USB port on the radio.
My question relates to the cabling for the complete K-line: K3S KPA500 KAT500 and P3 The cabling diagrams, even in the latest KAT500 manual, show the PC connected via the PC jack on the KAT500. As noted, my K3 with KIO3B is connected to a PC via the USB port on the radio. Which connection should I be using? What difference does it make? I also need to get band data to my Ultrabeam antenna controller (like a Steppir). Where should I sniff the band data and will a simple Y cable do that? 73, David G3WGN M6O ______________________________________________________________ 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] |
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David,
Download the latest P3 manual and look on page 5. You will need the CBLP3Y cable. The KAT500 and KPA500 use the AUX cables and not the serial data. The PC connection shown in the KAT500 manual is for connection to the PC for use of the KAT500 Utility and has nothing to do with the normal serial data between the K3 and the P3. To get the serial band data to your antenna controller, use a "Y" cable at the PC connector on the P3. There are other ways of connecting things as shown on page 6 of the P3 manual, but you will have to connect the PC to the PC connector on the P3 and not use the internal USB to serial adapter included in the KIO3B, but you will still have the USB soundcard that is internal to the K3. 73, Don W3FPR On 10/27/2019 12:08 PM, David Aslin G3WGN wrote: > I have upgraded my K3 with the KIO3B interface, so my PC is now connected via the USB port on the radio. > My question relates to the cabling for the complete K-line: K3S KPA500 KAT500 and P3 > The cabling diagrams, even in the latest KAT500 manual, show the PC connected via the PC jack on the KAT500. As noted, my K3 with KIO3B is connected to a PC via the USB port on the radio. Which connection should I be using? What difference does it make? > > I also need to get band data to my Ultrabeam antenna controller (like a Steppir). Where should I sniff the band data and will a simple Y cable do that? > 73, David G3WGN M6O ______________________________________________________________ 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] |
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Hi David! Great to hear form you...
To expand a little on Don’s excellent info, The PC connection for both the KAT500 and KPA500 are mostly used for remote control and firmware update. While you can send data to them from a transceiver (usually Kenwood) to control things, for your situation, that’s not what you want to do. As Don notes, you want to connect the AUX/IO connectors from the K3 to the KAT500, then from the KAT500 to the KPA500. The big advantage is that frequency and some control information is carried from the K3 to the KAT (using the Auxbus), which it uses to determine antenna and LC selections. The KPA communicates over the Auxbus to the K3 to tell it its status (causing K3 to set power level if that is enabled). This is the only form of serial communications that flows between the three units, and some don’t listen (the KPA) or talk (the KAT). Of course the two units are also watching the K3’s Band lines, which also goes into the selection determination. To summarize, the PC connections on the KAT and KPA are really useful for remote control (usually with the KPA and KAT utilities, although some control programs also use them. For what you want, the AUX IO ports need to be connected. Lastly, be sure to use a cable with all 15 pins connected straight through. Do NOT use a VGA cable. They play with the signals in those cables, connecting several together, which will mess things up for us. Hope you are enjoying CQWW this weekend; we miss you in NCCC! 73! jack, W6FB > On Oct 27, 2019, at 9:56 AM, Don Wilhelm <[hidden email]> wrote: > > David, > > Download the latest P3 manual and look on page 5. You will need the CBLP3Y cable. > > The KAT500 and KPA500 use the AUX cables and not the serial data. The PC connection shown in the KAT500 manual is for connection to the PC for use of the KAT500 Utility and has nothing to do with the normal serial data between the K3 and the P3. > > To get the serial band data to your antenna controller, use a "Y" cable at the PC connector on the P3. > > There are other ways of connecting things as shown on page 6 of the P3 manual, but you will have to connect the PC to the PC connector on the P3 and not use the internal USB to serial adapter included in the KIO3B, but you will still have the USB soundcard that is internal to the K3. > > 73, > Don W3FPR > > On 10/27/2019 12:08 PM, David Aslin G3WGN wrote: >> I have upgraded my K3 with the KIO3B interface, so my PC is now connected via the USB port on the radio. >> My question relates to the cabling for the complete K-line: K3S KPA500 KAT500 and P3 >> The cabling diagrams, even in the latest KAT500 manual, show the PC connected via the PC jack on the KAT500. As noted, my K3 with KIO3B is connected to a PC via the USB port on the radio. Which connection should I be using? What difference does it make? >> I also need to get band data to my Ultrabeam antenna controller (like a Steppir). Where should I sniff the band data and will a simple Y cable do that? >> 73, David G3WGN M6O > ______________________________________________________________ > 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] 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] |
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Jack,
Don't use a 15 pin straight through - not all pins are to be connected. My recollection is that 1 or 2 pins Must Not be connected to the K3! Use the manual if not using the Elecraft Aux cable sets. Because not all VGA cables are the same - you can use a VGA cable if you positively confirm that all 15 conductors pass through and No conductor is hooked to each other. Some VGA cables tie the coax shields together at one or both ends - these cables should not be used. I had a half dozen VGA cables - the second cable I checked was one to one with no pins shorted together. I broke off the pin(s) not to be connected and voilà free cable from the junk shelf. If in doubt - buy the Elecraft cables or make your own from the information in the Elecraft instruction books. I recommend using the Aux cable sets to interconnect the K3, KPA500 & KAT500. The seem to operate as a single unit in 3 boxes. Only thing I'd love to see is for the K3 "Tune" button to put the KPA500 in Stby & Tune the KAT500. 73 George AI4VZ -----Original Message----- From: Jack Brindle via Elecraft Hi David! Great to hear form you... . . . Lastly, be sure to use a cable with all 15 pins connected straight through. Do NOT use a VGA cable. They play with the signals in those cables, connecting several together, which will mess things up for us. Hope you are enjoying CQWW this weekend; we miss you in NCCC! 73! jack, W6FB -- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. https://www.avast.com/antivirus ______________________________________________________________ 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] |
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George;
I agree with your assessment. When developing new firmware, I use a standard cable for testing. But in my station, I use custom-build cables that use only 10 or 11 wires plus shield. I believe the the very first cable we tested with used only 10 lines between the KPA500 and K3 (there was no KAT500 at that time). But, if you are buying them, use the standard we outline in the KPA500 manual. The KPAK3AUX cable does this very well. 73! Jack, W6FB > On Oct 27, 2019, at 2:51 PM, Gmail - George <[hidden email]> wrote: > > Jack, > Don't use a 15 pin straight through - not all pins are to be connected. My > recollection is that 1 or 2 pins Must Not be connected to the K3! > Use the manual if not using the Elecraft Aux cable sets. > > Because not all VGA cables are the same - you can use a VGA cable if you > positively confirm that all 15 conductors pass through and No conductor is > hooked to each other. > Some VGA cables tie the coax shields together at one or both ends - these > cables should not be used. I had a half dozen VGA cables - the second cable > I checked was one to one with no pins shorted together. I broke off the > pin(s) not to be connected and voilà free cable from the junk shelf. > > If in doubt - buy the Elecraft cables or make your own from the information > in the Elecraft instruction books. > > I recommend using the Aux cable sets to interconnect the K3, KPA500 & > KAT500. The seem to operate as a single unit in 3 boxes. > Only thing I'd love to see is for the K3 "Tune" button to put the KPA500 in > Stby & Tune the KAT500. > > 73 > George AI4VZ > > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Jack Brindle via Elecraft > > Hi David! Great to hear form you... > > . . . > > Lastly, be sure to use a cable with all 15 pins connected straight through. > Do NOT use a VGA cable. They play with the signals in those cables, > connecting several together, which will mess things up for us. > > Hope you are enjoying CQWW this weekend; we miss you in NCCC! > > 73! > jack, W6FB > > > > -- > This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. > https://www.avast.com/antivirus > ______________________________________________________________ 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] |
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In reply to this post by Don Wilhelm
Don, many thanks for this.
The mist is at last clearing. I have the CBLP3Y connected as per the P3 manual and all works well. I now understand that the 'PC' jack is predominantly for firmware updates/Elecraft Utility and remote operation. It was naming several connectors 'PC' across all the boxes that had me confused about where the shack PC should connect. It's on the USB and staying there ;-) Will buy/make a suitable Y cable to connect the antenna controller to the P3 PC connector. Thanks again, 73, David G3WGN M6O -----Original Message----- From: Don Wilhelm [mailto:[hidden email]] Sent: 27 October 2019 16:56 To: David Aslin G3WGN <[hidden email]>; [hidden email] Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3S K-line cabling David, Download the latest P3 manual and look on page 5. You will need the CBLP3Y cable. The KAT500 and KPA500 use the AUX cables and not the serial data. The PC connection shown in the KAT500 manual is for connection to the PC for use of the KAT500 Utility and has nothing to do with the normal serial data between the K3 and the P3. To get the serial band data to your antenna controller, use a "Y" cable at the PC connector on the P3. There are other ways of connecting things as shown on page 6 of the P3 manual, but you will have to connect the PC to the PC connector on the P3 and not use the internal USB to serial adapter included in the KIO3B, but you will still have the USB soundcard that is internal to the K3. 73, Don W3FPR On 10/27/2019 12:08 PM, David Aslin G3WGN wrote: > I have upgraded my K3 with the KIO3B interface, so my PC is now connected via the USB port on the radio. > My question relates to the cabling for the complete K-line: K3S KPA500 > KAT500 and P3 The cabling diagrams, even in the latest KAT500 manual, show the PC connected via the PC jack on the KAT500. As noted, my K3 with KIO3B is connected to a PC via the USB port on the radio. Which connection should I be using? What difference does it make? > > I also need to get band data to my Ultrabeam antenna controller (like a Steppir). Where should I sniff the band data and will a simple Y cable do that? > 73, David G3WGN M6O ______________________________________________________________ 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] |
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In reply to this post by Elecraft mailing list
Hi Jack, likewise great to reconnect!
Thanks for your info which together with Don's has helped clarify my thinking (see my reply to Don). Had a play in CQWW with the 4-el Ultrabeam on a luffed-over trailer tower. Average antenna height - 10ft. Worked around the Caribbean and east coast and even managed an ATNO (D68). Just shows anything radiates! Building up now to CQWW CW. Really miss the NCCC fellowship! Hope to see at least some old friends at Dayton next year. 73, David G3WGN M6O and still WJ6O -----Original Message----- From: Jack Brindle [mailto:[hidden email]] Sent: 27 October 2019 19:07 To: David Aslin G3WGN <[hidden email]> Cc: [hidden email] Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3S K-line cabling Hi David! Great to hear form you... To expand a little on Don’s excellent info, The PC connection for both the KAT500 and KPA500 are mostly used for remote control and firmware update. While you can send data to them from a transceiver (usually Kenwood) to control things, for your situation, that’s not what you want to do. As Don notes, you want to connect the AUX/IO connectors from the K3 to the KAT500, then from the KAT500 to the KPA500. The big advantage is that frequency and some control information is carried from the K3 to the KAT (using the Auxbus), which it uses to determine antenna and LC selections. The KPA communicates over the Auxbus to the K3 to tell it its status (causing K3 to set power level if that is enabled). This is the only form of serial communications that flows between the three units, and some don’t listen (the KPA) or talk (the KAT). Of course the two units are also watching the K3’s Band lines, which also goes into the selection determination. To summarize, the PC connections on the KAT and KPA are really useful for remote control (usually with the KPA and KAT utilities, although some control programs also use them. For what you want, the AUX IO ports need to be connected. Lastly, be sure to use a cable with all 15 pins connected straight through. Do NOT use a VGA cable. They play with the signals in those cables, connecting several together, which will mess things up for us. Hope you are enjoying CQWW this weekend; we miss you in NCCC! 73! jack, W6FB > On Oct 27, 2019, at 9:56 AM, Don Wilhelm <[hidden email]> wrote: > > David, > > Download the latest P3 manual and look on page 5. You will need the CBLP3Y cable. > > The KAT500 and KPA500 use the AUX cables and not the serial data. The PC connection shown in the KAT500 manual is for connection to the PC for use of the KAT500 Utility and has nothing to do with the normal serial data between the K3 and the P3. > > To get the serial band data to your antenna controller, use a "Y" cable at the PC connector on the P3. > > There are other ways of connecting things as shown on page 6 of the P3 manual, but you will have to connect the PC to the PC connector on the P3 and not use the internal USB to serial adapter included in the KIO3B, but you will still have the USB soundcard that is internal to the K3. > > 73, > Don W3FPR > > On 10/27/2019 12:08 PM, David Aslin G3WGN wrote: >> I have upgraded my K3 with the KIO3B interface, so my PC is now connected via the USB port on the radio. >> My question relates to the cabling for the complete K-line: K3S >> KPA500 KAT500 and P3 The cabling diagrams, even in the latest KAT500 manual, show the PC connected via the PC jack on the KAT500. As noted, my K3 with KIO3B is connected to a PC via the USB port on the radio. Which connection should I be using? What difference does it make? >> I also need to get band data to my Ultrabeam antenna controller (like a Steppir). Where should I sniff the band data and will a simple Y cable do that? >> 73, David G3WGN M6O > ______________________________________________________________ > 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] 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] |
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In reply to this post by George Danner-2
Just purchase the correct cables from Elecraft. This approach works
100% of the time. Go cheap, dig out your own or roll your own. Then trouble shoot the issues. How much money and time was saved? For a few dollars saved, it isn't worth it. 73 Bob, K4TAX On 10/27/2019 4:51 PM, Gmail - George wrote: > Jack, > Don't use a 15 pin straight through - not all pins are to be connected. My > recollection is that 1 or 2 pins Must Not be connected to the K3! > Use the manual if not using the Elecraft Aux cable sets. > > Because not all VGA cables are the same - you can use a VGA cable if you > positively confirm that all 15 conductors pass through and No conductor is > hooked to each other. > Some VGA cables tie the coax shields together at one or both ends - these > cables should not be used. I had a half dozen VGA cables - the second cable > I checked was one to one with no pins shorted together. I broke off the > pin(s) not to be connected and voilà free cable from the junk shelf. > > If in doubt - buy the Elecraft cables or make your own from the information > in the Elecraft instruction books. > > I recommend using the Aux cable sets to interconnect the K3, KPA500 & > KAT500. The seem to operate as a single unit in 3 boxes. > Only thing I'd love to see is for the K3 "Tune" button to put the KPA500 in > Stby & Tune the KAT500. > > 73 > George AI4VZ > > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Jack Brindle via Elecraft > > Hi David! Great to hear form you... > > . . . > > Lastly, be sure to use a cable with all 15 pins connected straight through. > Do NOT use a VGA cable. They play with the signals in those cables, > connecting several together, which will mess things up for us. > > Hope you are enjoying CQWW this weekend; we miss you in NCCC! > > 73! > jack, W6FB > > > ______________________________________________________________ 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] |
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