Elecraft

[K3s] SteppIR Control

Classic

List

Threaded

4 messages Options

W0JFR

[K3s] SteppIR Control

I have a BigIR which won't connect to my K3 for frequency control It
worked prior to my move 10 months ago, but not now. I suspect a setting
problem. I use the K3 USB for rig control and audio, and trying to use
the RS232 RJ45 plug for the SteppIR. It appears the SteppIR is not
getting frequency information. How do I configure the Config > RS232 to
enable data to also go to the both USB and the RS232 port?
Thanks,
- 73, John, N0TA
______________________________________________________________
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]

John Simmons

Re: [K3s] SteppIR Control

K3 won't do both RS232 and USB at the same time. You'll have to put a
software shim in your PC to control the SteppIR.

--
73,
-de John NI0K
https://www.qrz.com/db/NI0K

John Reilly wrote on 7/31/2020 11:53 AM:

> I have a BigIR which won't connect to my K3 for frequency control It
> worked prior to my move 10 months ago, but not now. I suspect a
> setting problem. I use the K3 USB for rig control and audio, and
> trying to use the RS232 RJ45 plug for the SteppIR. It appears the
> SteppIR is not getting frequency information. How do I configure the
> Config > RS232 to enable data to also go to the both USB and the RS232
> port?
> Thanks,
> - 73, John, N0TA
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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]

Bob Wilson, N6TV

Re: [K3s] SteppIR Control

Hi John,

If you have *CONFIG: RS-232* set to *USB*, then both K3 serial ports are
fixed at 38400 baud, so you have to use that setting in the SteppIR
controller, and set the radio type to Elecraft (or Kenwood).

A custom cable is required to allow the SteppIR auto-track to work via the
K3 9-pin serial port at the same time. This is something I implement in my
Serial Box (S-BOX <https://bit.ly/S-BOX>) offering so that one can use
standard economical serial cables and omit all Y-adapters and expensive
custom SteppIR cables.

The serial cable connection from the SteppIR to the K3S serial port (via
the Elecraft RJ-45 to DE-9F adapter cable, P/N E980297) must make no
connection on Pin 3 (TXD), and Pins 7 and 9 must be shorted.

Finally, a logging program must be actively polling the K3, or CONFIG:AUTO
INF must be set to AUTO 1, or else the SteppIR won't get any frequency data.

If you are also connecting a P3 via the CBLP3Y, then a serial Y-cable or
S-BOX must be connected to the P3 "PC - RS232" port, with one side going to
the CBLP3Y male DE-9 connector, and the other side going to the SteppIR
cable.

73,
Bob, N6TV
https://bit.ly/S-BOX
https://bit.ly/Y-BOX

On Fri, Jul 31, 2020 at 12:36 PM John Simmons <[hidden email]>
wrote:

> K3 won't do both RS232 and USB at the same time. You'll have to put a
> software shim in your PC to control the SteppIR.
>
>
> --
> 73,
> -de John NI0K
> https://www.qrz.com/db/NI0K
>
>
> John Reilly wrote on 7/31/2020 11:53 AM:
> > I have a BigIR which won't connect to my K3 for frequency control It
> > worked prior to my move 10 months ago, but not now. I suspect a
> > setting problem. I use the K3 USB for rig control and audio, and
> > trying to use the RS232 RJ45 plug for the SteppIR. It appears the
> > SteppIR is not getting frequency information. How do I configure the
> > Config > RS232 to enable data to also go to the both USB and the RS232
> > port?
> > Thanks,
> > - 73, John, N0TA
> > ______________________________________________________________
> > 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]

Elecraft mailing list

Re: [K3s] SteppIR Control

In reply to this post by John Simmons

KIO3B Interface Option manual:

Monitoring RS232 Data
If you have a device such as a STEPP-IR antenna controller or pc program
that monitors the RS232 port, you
can continue to use it with the USB port active.
You can connect your device to the RS232 data in two ways:
1. Use the RJ-45 to DE-9S cable plugged into the RS232/USB port on the
K3 and sense the RS232 signals at the DE-9S connector.

2. If you have a P3 Panadapter connected to the K3, sense the RS232
signals at the connection to the PC connector on the P3. Never attempt
to sense RS232 signals at the XCVR connector.

Regards,

Mike VP8NO

On 31/07/2020 16:35, John Simmons wrote:
> K3 won't do both RS232 and USB at the same time. You'll have to put a
> software shim in your PC to control the SteppIR.
>
>
______________________________________________________________
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]