KPA-500 and the KPAK3AUX Cable - lessons learned

[Peter Chamalian]

I know the instructions for the KPA-500 say not to use a standard SVGA
cable.  The special KPAK3AUX cable is the way to go.  But that cable is too
short for the arrangement I had for my station so I thought I could use a
standard SVGA expansion cable (female connector on one end, male on the
other).

 

What I didn't fully digest is that the wiring is incompatible!  I thought
the difference was merely the removal of a few pins from a standard SVGA
cable.

 

Nope, that doesn't work!  So if your station requires a longer cable than
the KPAK3AUX you can either purchase two cables and put them in series or
you can make up your own.  Don't use a standard SVGA cable at all.

 

In my case, I just rearranged the equipment.

Pete, W1RM

 

______________________________________________________________
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

[k6dgw]

Some of the pins in an SVGA cable are cross-connected.  It won't work,
many have pointed that out, despite which, I tried.  For me, the
Elecraft KPAK3AUX cable is too long :-)  Already waaaayy too many wires
and cables back there coiled up.

'Nother subject:  So far, most of the Elecraft model numbering/lettering
"scheme" seems to be working, one can sort of figure out what the gizmo
is from it's "name."  This cable may be testing the limits, since there
are several different KPA's, at least two of which are relevant to a K3.
  EL/XXX-nnn nomenclature next?  If you've never served in the US
Military, that may not make much sense, but it works for them and
they'll buy just about anything. :-)

73,

Fred K6DGW
- Northern California Contest Club
- CU in the 2011 Cal QSO Party 1-2 Oct 2011
- www.cqp.org

On 9/13/2011 1:58 PM, Peter Chamalian wrote:

> What I didn't fully digest is that the wiring is incompatible!  I thought
> the difference was merely the removal of a few pins from a standard SVGA
> cable.
______________________________________________________________
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

[Rick Tavan N6XI]

There are, however, 15-pin straight-through cables available that you can
use with a circuit interrupter (female-male D-Sub connector). I got a six
foot cable, just about right in my station. You simply pull the unwanted
pins from the D-sub. This is the same technique Elecraft uses with their
too-short, custom  KPAK3AUX cable and its interrupter although you'll want
to pull a few more pins.

/Rick

On Tue, Sep 13, 2011 at 1:58 PM, Peter Chamalian <[hidden email]> wrote:

> I know the instructions for the KPA-500 say not to use a standard SVGA
> cable.  The special KPAK3AUX cable is the way to go.  But that cable is too
> short for the arrangement I had for my station so I thought I could use a
> standard SVGA expansion cable (female connector on one end, male on the
> other).
>
>
>
> What I didn't fully digest is that the wiring is incompatible!  I thought
> the difference was merely the removal of a few pins from a standard SVGA
> cable.
>
>
>
> Nope, that doesn't work!  So if your station requires a longer cable than
> the KPAK3AUX you can either purchase two cables and put them in series or
> you can make up your own.  Don't use a standard SVGA cable at all.
>
>
>
> In my case, I just rearranged the equipment.
>
> Pete, W1RM
>
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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
>

--
Rick Tavan N6XI
Truckee, CA
______________________________________________________________
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