K3s using RS232 v USB?

[CX7TT]

Am in the process of setting up K3s and would like advice on the pro/con
of using RS232 via interface (mKII) to computer or simply USB port to
computer. One pro is obvious to me, such as eliminating the Hydra cable
between my microHam MKII and rig. BTW, the mKII is great piece of "kit"
which I have had for over 8 years, first on Orion II then K3 #250. Never
an issue, always worked perfectly...kinda like an autopilot, one never
thinks about what it does, until it fails.

As a heavy equipment operator, B777/787 (instructor pilot) the A/P is
engaged after take off and the jet flies itself (via computer inputs) to
touchdown in LU land 9 hours later; a total A/P failure has never
happened in those aircraft, what with redundancy, but if it did, it
would be like 9 hours of operating a dxpedition with paper log and bug.

As CX7TT/CW7T, made over 30k Qs in 10 years on all modes but mostly cw
and RTTY. Even did 1st moon bounce with W7GJ from MT to CX. So now you
have an idea of what and how I operate...throw in a little PSK and WSJT.

Now, I have looked for info on Nabble so as to not invent the wheel, the
K3s manual and Fred, KE7X, excellent K3s/P3 manual, Ch 10 KIO3B which
shows the many variations to configure and setup. I am not an EE or
electronics technician, simply an appliance operator, so I need you guys
to keep it simple!

I would like to know exactly what would be sacrificed by the convenience
of using the USB to computer vs an external interface. So what are the
con(s)?

Thanks for reading.

73
Tom
CX7TT, HP1/K6CT
K3s #ATENN

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[lstavenhagen]

The only con, really, is being tied to an RF-hash producing, frantic, freezing, crashing computer if you want to operate your radio. I'm a SW developer and I have to fight those things all day, every day so that's the indelible image in my mind when trying to mix my Mac with Ham Radio - so I tend to try to avoid having to use a computer for my radio ops if I can help it. Just give me a Vibroplex and a notebook&pen and I'm happy.

Otherwise, there are no negatives to using the USB support over the RS232 that I can see. I believe both Windows and MacOS already have driver support for the internals inside the K3S, so the basics like using the K3 utility and using its audio devices within applications with sound support is pretty much plug-and-play.

I believe the K3 utility worked out-of-the-box on my Mac with my K3S when I checked it over a few weeks ago.

73,
LS
W5QD

[Don Wilhelm-4]

Tom,

The only 'cons' that I can think of is the computer OS support for the
device in the K3S (which really is an internal USB to RS-232 adapter).
It will work just as well and likely better than an external USB to
serial adapter.
Support for USB to serial adapters was a bit 'flaky' back in 2008 when
the K3 was announced, but as time has gone by, I have found USB devices
are fully supported by most computers.

Of course, if the computer has real RS-232 ports, those are usually
independent of OS support issues - all OS variations I know about
support the RS-232 port directly - even if the computer does not have an
RS-232 port connection.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 3/3/2016 2:13 PM, [hidden email] wrote:
>
> I would like to know exactly what would be sacrificed by the convenience
> of using the USB to computer vs an external interface. So what are the
> con(s)?
>
>

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[Rick WA6NHC-2]

I've had far fewer issues with rig control via serial than via USB. If
there is stray RF in the shack (easy at QRO), the USB devices can 'go
wonky' (more than a driver issue, requiring a complete shut down to
power off, then rebooting to clear the actual USB hardware on the mobo)
but serial chugs along.

Rick nhc

On 3/3/2016 1:14 PM, Don Wilhelm wrote:

> Tom,
>
> The only 'cons' that I can think of is the computer OS support for the
> device in the K3S (which really is an internal USB to RS-232 adapter).
> It will work just as well and likely better than an external USB to
> serial adapter.
> Support for USB to serial adapters was a bit 'flaky' back in 2008 when
> the K3 was announced, but as time has gone by, I have found USB
> devices are fully supported by most computers.
>
> Of course, if the computer has real RS-232 ports, those are usually
> independent of OS support issues - all OS variations I know about
> support the RS-232 port directly - even if the computer does not have
> an RS-232 port connection.
>
> 73,
> Don W3FPR
>
> On 3/3/2016 2:13 PM, [hidden email] wrote:
>>
>> I would like to know exactly what would be sacrificed by the convenience
>> of using the USB to computer vs an external interface. So what are the
>> con(s)?
>>
>>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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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